Quality Assurance (QA) Technician (3rd Shift) - 3rd Shift

Kettle Cuisine, LLC.; Everett (WA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance

Accrued PTO and Sick Leave

Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave

Life and Disability Insurance

Job summary

Kettle Cuisine is seeking a Quality Assurance Technician for 3rd shift at the Everett, WA plant. You will perform analytical tests (pH, sodium, color, moisture) and verify HACCP/FSMA compliance, supporting on-floor QA and troubleshooting food safety issues.

The role requires a 2-year technical degree or 4-year program in Food Science or Quality, HACCP knowledge, and strong attention to detail. The company offers comprehensive benefits and a shift-based compensation plan.

Qualifications

• 2-year technical degree or 4-year college program in Food Science, Quality or related field.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of HACCP and USDA/FDA regulations.
• HACCP certification preferred. Inventory and database management experience preferred.
• Ability to identify and create processes and write procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform analytical testing including pH, sodium, color, drain weight, water activity, brix & moisture.
• Verifications of food safety and quality checks per HACCP/FSMA and Preventive Control Programs.
• Ensure sanitation practices meet regulatory requirements and provide QA on the floor.
• Assist QA management with data collection for product and process improvements.
• Ensure GMP requirements are followed and local, state, and federal regulations are met.
• Perform daily sanitation checks (APC, ATP) and environmental monitoring.
• Assist QA and R&D during batch runs and conformance checks of ingredients, packaging, and finished product.

Skills

Attention to detail

Team player

Strong communication

Problem solving

Education

Food Science degree

Quality assurance training

Tools

MS Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Job description

At the heart of our company is a deep passion for creating fresh, healthy, and artisan-quality food that brings people together. We honor the craft of artisan cooking, using scratch-made stocks, hand-chopped herbs, and only the highest-quality ingredients, complemented by cutting-edge technology. This allows us to deliver consistently safe, exceptional products on a large scale.

But it’s not just about the food. Our culture is built on principles that shape how we grow, both as individuals and as a team. One of our core values, Honoring Development, guides us to actively seek out, celebrate, and nurture one another’s talents, strengths, and interests. By fostering each other’s growth, we strengthen our relationships and capabilities, driving both personal and professional success.

We also believe in Honoring Each Other. We surround ourselves with passionate people who share our love for great food. Through mutual respect and collaboration, we create an environment where employees are empowered to thrive, building trusting, and rewarding relationships with our clients, partners, and one another.

If you’re looking for a place where your skills, passion, and ideas can flourish, we invite you to explore the opportunities available within our dynamic and supportive team.

b Summary

Ensures all records pertaining to HACCP, Pre-requisite programs, and SSOPs are reviewed for accuracy and any deficiencies are identified Supply ordering for quality-related equipment, supplies, and services. Reporting of internal and external Quality and Production-related metrics.

Role and Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Perform analytical testing including but not limited to pH, sodium, color, drain weight, water activity. brix & moisture.

Performs verification of food safety and quality checks established in the KC-Everett Plant’s HACCP/FSMA and Preventive Control Programs.

Ensure Food Safety and Regulatory compliance of sanitation practices. Provide on the floor QA support to help with the investigation and troubleshooting of any food safety quality, or process control related issues.

Assists QA management in the collection of data for the purpose of improving products and systems as necessary as it relates to food safety and quality (Statistical Process Controls)

Ensure work areas on the floor follow plant GMP requirements and meet all local, state and federal regulations.

Perform verification system checks to ensure sanitation systems are on track including daily pre- operational sanitation checks (inspections, APC, ATP, and Environmental monitoring.)

Assist QA and R&D as needed during special batch runs.

Assist QA and Operations in conformance checks of ingredients, packaging, and finished product to ensure they meet established specifications.

Work in a safe manner and follow all Kettle Cuisine standards, along with Federal, State, and Local regulations for occupational safety.

Assist QA and site in accomplishing the KC-Everett Plant and QA departmental goals and objectives.

Qualifications and Experience

2-year technical degree or 4-year college program in Food Science, Quality or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Strong knowledge and understanding of HACCP and USDA/FDA regulations

HACCP certification preferred. Inventory and database management experience preferred.

Ability to identify and create processes and write procedures.

Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or of the business community.

Thrives in a challenging, entrepreneurial atmosphere; open to change and creating change.

Computer skills - extensive knowledge of MS Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) and an email system.

Technical Experience:

Required attributes

Ability to multitask with an extremely high level of attention to detail.

Excellent interpersonal skills, team player, generates enthusiasm, and builds effective working environment.

Strong communication skills, both oral and written.

Positive attitude and motivated by contributing to the overall success of the team

Able to develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Creative problem-solving skills

Obsessive attention to detail, well organized, and able to juggle many projects at once

Comfortable moving at a fast pace and in ambiguous environments

Passionate about food

Willing to address difficult situations head-on with patience and respect

Within the Kettle Cuisine Team You Are Expected To:

• Model and support Kettle’s Core Values and safety culture
• Create a culture of accountability & performance
• Drive a focus on quality and continuous improvement
• Plan work, track results and resolve variances

LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY

Works with little supervision, but work is reviewed. Exercises discretion within areas of responsibility.

Recommends actions and alternatives to supervisor and others.

Position has little to no contact with customers.

Position makes indirect contribution to efforts that generate moderate levels of revenue.

Decisions or actions may have a moderate impact on other departments and/or external relationships of the organization. Errors are usually detected after the fact and may result in moderate interruption and delays in work output.

Compensation: $21.00-$26.00/hour (DOE) plus shift differentials if applicable ($1 on 2nd shift, $2 on 3rd shift)

Kettle Cuisine offers the following benefits at low cost or no cost:

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Accrued Paid Time Off (PTO) and Sick Leave
• Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Life Insurance and Disability Insurance

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL EFFORT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Corporate Trainer encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Physical Demands/Efforts

Work requires occasional physical exertion, including some lifting of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Mental & Visual Demands

Work performed by this position requires moderate concentration to effectively execute moderately complex tasks.

Work occasionally requires some degree of visual effort for periods of time.

Work Environment and Hazards

Employee works in a manufacturing setting with some exposure to heat, cold, dust, or other factors of minor inconvenience.

The position has some exposure to hazards that might cause minor injury.

Must have availability and flexibility to work different shifts and days, sometimes for weeks at a time, to provide support and training to all of our employees. Must be able to work weekends and overtime as required.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Kettle Cuisine complies with all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws. This means we will not discriminate against qualified individuals with a disability in any phase of the employment relationship including application for employment, hiring, promotions and/or advancement opportunities, termination, compensation, training and any other conditions or privileges of employment.

CORE VALUES

Kettle Cuisine takes the utmost pride in its people, products and reputation. Each employee is expected to understand and live our Core Values every day.

Honor Food – We create and produce the best tasting, safest, all-natural recipes that strive for perfection in every batch, from bench to kettle

Honor Each Other – We seek to develop trusting, respectful and mutually rewarding relationships with all our team members and business partners

Honor Development – We recognize and nurture each other’s talents, strengths and interests in order to further strengthen and grow our team

Honor Innovation – We continually strive for creative and sustainable ways to achieve excellence

Pay Range for Quality Assurance (QA) Technician (3rd Shift)

The Quality Assurance (QA) Technician (3rd Shift) base pay range $21.00 - $26.00/hourly. The listed salary range represents Kettle Cuisine’s good faith estimate for this position and represents the minimum and maximum for new hire salaries for the Everett, WA location only. Ranges will be reviewed on a regular basis. An employee’s rate of pay within the range is determined by their qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated performance over time. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth. The Quality Assurance (QA) Technician (3rd Shift) position is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package. Kettle Cuisine and all its legal entities comply with all federal, state, and local minimum wage laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kettle Cuisine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions at Kettle Cuisine are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

Kettle Cuisine will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Core Values

Kettle Cuisine takes the utmost pride in its people, products and reputation. Each employee is expected to understand and live our Core Values every day.