Quality Assurance Technician

Petit Pot; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k)

PTO

Sick Leave

Job summary

Petit Pot is seeking a QA Technician in Emeryville, CA to ensure production paperwork is complete, organized, and audit-ready. This role maintains GMP, SQF, and organic certifications, checks ingredients, batches, and finished products, and conducts required testing with timely record-keeping.

The ideal candidate has QA experience in food manufacturing, strong numerical and organizational skills, and the ability to communicate across departments.

Qualifications

• Has QA experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work with numbers, perform calculations, and use mechanical skills.
• Identifies food safety concerns or risks and works independently with limited supervision.
• Communicates well with all departments and management levels.
• Maintains strong organization and accuracy in record-keeping.
• Willing to attend related training programs; Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain understanding of regulatory issues for production paperwork, filing, and audits.
• Ensure all customer requirements and preferences are met in paperwork.
• Collect production paperwork and locate any missing documents.
• Provide reporting and retraining for incomplete or non-compliant records.
• Organize paperwork per filing system and review CCPs, specifications, and customer needs.
• Place any non-conforming product on QA hold and inform QA Manager as needed.
• Release product and support audits by customers or regulators.
• Assist with audits and ensure products meet customer and product requirements.
• Keep work areas and equipment within SQF standards and properly clean.
• Ensure PPE is worn and equipment is calibrated and functioning.

Skills

QA experience

Numerical ability

Food safety awareness

Independent work

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Bilingual (Spanish)

Education

GED or High School Diploma

Tools

Refractometer

Salt Titrator

Acid Titrator

pH Meter

Color Meter

Moisture Meter

Viscometer

Consistometer

Gages

Torque meters

Job description

Pay Rate: $24 - $28/hour (Depending on experience)

Department: Quality

Reports To: QA Manager

Schedule:

Monday through Friday shifts: 4:00AM - 12:30PM (Weekend availability a plus!)

OR

Saturday and Sunday shifts

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), PTO & Sick Leave

ABOUT PETIT POT

Petit Pot is a growing food manufacturing company based in Emeryville, CA. We produce high-quality French-inspired desserts and are proud to be a Certified B Corporation, balancing purpose and profit while considering the impact of our decisions on our employees, customers, community, and the environment.

POSITION SUMMARY

The QA Technician is responsible for ensuring that all production paperwork is completed, collected, organized, reviewed, and filed to the satisfaction of all pertinent regulatory agencies and customers. Ensure the site is always audit-ready by maintaining GMP, Organic, SQF, and any other certifications. Ensure the quality of all incoming ingredients, batches, and finished products. Perform required quality testing of products and records accurate product specifications in a timely manner. The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of food safety protocols, quality control processes, and regulatory compliance in the food manufacturing industry.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain a solid and up-to-date understanding of all regulatory issues pertaining to the completion, review, and filing of production paperwork.
• Maintain a solid and up-to-date understanding of all customer requirements and preferences pertaining to the completion, review, and filing of production paperwork.
• Collect all production paperwork, ensuring that any missing paperwork is located.
• Provide aggressive reporting and retraining for all incomplete, incorrect, or non-compliant paperwork.
• Organize paperwork per established filing system.
• Review paperwork, ensuring that all process CCP’s, quality specifications, and customer requirements have been met. Any product affected by deviations or missing records must be reported to QA Manager and placed on QA hold.
• Manage filing systems such that all completed and reviewed records are maintained and accessible for the time required by customers and regulatory agencies.
• Release product.
• Provide assistance/support as needed with the customer, government, and third-party audits.
• Ensure all products meet the customer and product requirements.
• Always keep all work areas and equipment within SQF standards and clean.
• Ensure all personal protective equipment is always properly worn.
• Ensure all equipment is set up, calibrated, and functioning properly throughout your shift.
• Keep all equipment that is used clean, in your area always, and prepared for the next run.
• Perform several checks to the batches such as Color, pH & sensory, vacuum and % solid.
• Obtain batch samples by opening kettles, turning off agitators, ladle the samples, place samples in beakers, and take them to QC Bench for testing.
• Obtain liquid ingredient samples from bulk containers and perform testing on them.
• Recommend adjustments be made to batches by adding or subtracting ingredients.
• Monitor the Filler Machine and lines by checking the weights, charts, codes, labeling, pasteurizer temperatures and perform hourly finished product analysis.
• Verify codes and charts very closely - the ink can run dry and codes can be set wrong.
• Perform visual checks and record results, weigh product on calibrated scales, obtain and bring the samples to the QC bench for testing, perform tests, and record results.
• Place batches of finished products on hold as required.
• Copy batch cards as required for kitchen operators.
• All other assigned duties required during your work period.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• GED or High School Diploma
• Previous QA experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work with numbers, perform calculations, and possess mechanical abilities.
• Ability to identify food safety concerns or risks.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, with limited supervision.
• Communication skills: must be able to communicate and work closely with all departments and management levels.
• Keep up with a fast-paced work environment and record data as required in a timely manner.
• Strong organizational ability.
• Good communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Ability to attend and successfully complete related training programs.
• Spanish (Plus, not required)

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS USED

• Use the following equipment: Refractometer, Salt Titrator, Acid Titrator, PH Meter, Color Meter, Moisture Meter, Viscometer, and Consistometer, various gages, torque meters and other equipment as required.
• Handcarts and pallet jacks.
• Forklift (not all QC Techs.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• SQF Certified (Plus, not required)
• PCQI Certified (Plus, not required)
• HACCP Certified (Plus, not required)
• Experience in the food manufacturing industry required.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations, quality standards, and production best practices.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, process improvement, or waste reduction is a plus.
• Experience in dessert, dairy, pudding, or refrigerated food production is a plus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Varied temperature work areas.
• The environment is very wet, slippery, and has continuous forklift traffic.
• Handle and work around various moving equipment and chemicals.
• Frequent use of hot/cold water to perform checks and clean equipment and area.
• Frequent lifting objects < 30 lbs. and pushing/pulling of objects less than <80 lbs. on carts.
• Long term standing, constantly moving around on foot, frequent bending, and constant climbing of stairs. (Must work in all areas where the product is and test where testing equipment is located.)

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

Employment with Petit Pot is at-will, meaning either you or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law.

E-Verify Notice

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Petit Pot participates in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. For more information on E-Verify, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT STATEMENT

Petit Pot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability (mental or physical), medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

As a Certified B Corporation, Petit Pot is committed to using business as a force for good — providing fair wages, safe and respectful working conditions, and growth opportunities for every team member. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and the needs of the organization.