Quality Assurance Technician Micro Lead (Days)

Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, LLC; Abilene (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Performance-based incentives

Quarterly bonuses

Referral bonuses

Job summary

Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, LLC is hiring a Quality Assurance Technician Micro Lead (Days) in Abilene, TX. The role leads the sanitation program and microbiology sampling, plating, and reporting to support the facility's Master Sanitation Program.

You will oversee compliance audits, provide training, and work with production and maintenance teams to ensure GMP and quality standards are met. Starting pay ranges from $26.59 to $33.00 per hour with bonus opportunities and comprehensive

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s/Associates in Food Science or related field preferred.
• Technical training in food microbiology or microbiology; hands-on lab experience preferred.
• Experience in beverage manufacturing and ISO/USDA/FDA environments desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and monitor Master Sanitation Program requirements.
• Review cleaning records to identify gaps affecting microbiology.
• Conduct microbiology sampling, plating, and reading.
• Generate leadership reports on sanitation program effectiveness.
• Provide sanitation and microbiology training to QA and production teams.
• Support audits and corrective actions as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Problem solving

Audit/inspection

Training others

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor’s/Associates degree in Food Science/Engineering/CI

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

SAP

Job description

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Quality Assurance Technician Micro Lead (Days)

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Location: Abilene, TX, US, 76901

Job Location: Abilene,TX
Work days/Shift Hours – Monday-Friday 5 AM- Complete

Compensation: Starting pay ranges from $26.59 to $33.00 per hour, based on experience. Additional earning opportunities may include performance-based incentives, quarterly bonuses, referral bonuses, and comprehensive benefits.

General Purpose

The QA Tech, Lead is responsible for insuring compliance, effectiveness, and sustainability of the overall sanitation program for the facility. The primary means of accomplishing this will be by providing leadership and oversight to the overall execution of the facilities Master Sanitation Program and microbiology requirements for collecting, plating, and reading microbiology samples.

The QA Micro Tech will also be responsible for executing these duties directly on a routine basis:

• Monitoring the completion of Master Sanitation Program requirements
• Reviewing cleaning and sanitizing activity and records for both manual and automated cleaning processes to identify gaps that could or are leading to microbiological growth
• Conducting actual microbiological sampling, plating, and reading activities
• Generate reports for leadership on the effectiveness of the Master Sanitation Program
• Initiate and lead Master Sanitation Program related corrective actions
• Provide sanitation and microbiology training to other team members in production, maintenance, and quality assurance

Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the applicable Quality Manuals/Policies.
• Responsible for the development, support, implementation and maintenance of the QA Departments part in the ISO systems (Food Safety, Safety, Quality and Environmental) as required.
• Responsible for selecting sites for weekly pre-operational inspection.
• Maintain laboratory Standard Operating Procedures and Safety Manuals.
• Responsible for inventorying and submitting purchase requests for Micro related laboratory supplies.
• Perform CCNA proficiency test for microbiological analysis when required.
• Responsible for preparing microbiological test media's aseptically.
• Responsible for training new QA techs on microbiological analysis including sample collection, dilutions, plating, reading and use of aseptic techniques.
• Responsible for verification of Daily incubator temperatures.
• Responsible for conducting research and special projects as and when required.
• Keep Quality Assurance Supervisor, Lead Lab Tech and Production Supervisor informed on any quality issues throughout shift.
• Responsible for assisting with any announced & unannounced audits.
• Responsible for having a flexible schedule to meet the demands of the business needs.
• Communicate daily/weekly microbiological results to management.
• Track, monitor, and implement preventive maintenance of applicable QA equipment.
• Complete the train the trainer course. Perform training as necessary.
• Demonstrate and in-depth understanding of Infinity QS SPC system. Troubleshoot Infinity software.
• Ability to monitor, operate, and troubleshoot water treatment system as necessary.
• Ability to collect and submit required water samples for THMs, monthly sodium analysis and annual water testing.
• Ensure Master Sanitation Schedule is followed for assigned QA areas.
• Must comply with all Company Food Safety, Safety, Quality and Environmental Policies and Standards, including facility/company GMP Policy.
• Must comply with all Company Safety policies and Standards. Proper safety attire is required.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED; Bachelor’s or Associates Degree in Food Science, Technical/Engineering Field, Continuous Improvement/Project Management preferred.
• Technical training in food microbiology or overall microbiology required; training must include sampling techniques, plating techniques, plate reading, and overall good practices in microbiology; Actual demonstrated working experience greater than two years in microbiology may be accepted as a replacement for training.
• Two years of food microbiology program experience required; experience in a beverage manufacturing industry preferred
• Experience working within an ISO management system or USDA/FDA environment required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in an auditing or inspecting against organizational standards role. Prefer ISO Auditor Certification.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications – EXCEL, WORD, Power-Point, Outlook, SAP
• Experience with statistical analysis preferred
• Experience in training others required
• Ability to interact with multiple levels of leadership, generate clear and concise written reports, and interact with teams in problem solving activities required.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain Texas or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. Please inform us at [e-mail] if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.