Quality Technologist

Downeast Cider House; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

16 PTO days in your first year

Paid holidays and sick days

401(k) with company match

Health & dental insurance from day one

Cider allowance

Job summary

Downeast Cider House is seeking a Quality Technologist in East Boston, MA. You will ensure every cider meets high standards for quality and safety through regular testing and detailed record-keeping. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, skilled in laboratory procedures, and able to communicate effectively across departments. Benefits include health insurance from day one, a 401(k) plan, and 16 PTO days in your first year. A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and experience in a manufacturing environment are preferred.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with basic lab equipment, pH testing, and density measurements.
• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple testing streams at once.
• Ability to share technical data clearly with non-technical teams.
• A 'whatever it takes' attitude and desire to grow within a high-performance team.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate, detailed records of all formulations, experiments, and test data.
• Perform daily testing on all liquid production, including spec verification.
• Execute sterile sampling and microplating for raw materials and finished products.
• Lead sensory evaluations and monitor shelf-life testing.
• Perform regular packaging checks and assist with data collection for quality projects.
• Take full ownership of laboratory equipment maintenance.

Skills

Attention to detail

Hands-on experience with lab equipment

Organizational skills

Proactive communication

Reliability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Engineering

Tools

Basic lab equipment

Job description

Location: East Boston, MA (in the Boston Harbor Shipyard)
Schedule: Full-Time (First or Second Shift availability required)
Pay Rate: $60,000 - $85,000 (commensurate with experience), 10% yearly bonus

Mission of the Role

As a Quality Technologist at Downeast, you are the guardian of our liquid. You’ll be on the front lines, ensuring every drop of cider meets our high standards for quality, consistency, and food safety. Our production runs at a breakneck pace, and you provide the essential data and testing—from spec verification to microplating—that keeps us from ever compromising on the product.

What you’ll do

• Laboratory Excellence: Maintain accurate, detailed, and organized records of all formulations, experiments, and test data. No data, no cider.
• Quality Testing: Perform daily testing on all liquid production, including spec verification, product profile checks, and benchtop mixing.
• Microbiology & Sampling: Execute sterile sampling and microplating for raw materials, blends, and finished products to ensure everything is clean and safe.
• Sensory & Shelf Life: Lead sensory evaluations (yes, tasting the cider) and monitor shelf‑life testing to ensure it stays fresh from the tank to the glass.
• Operational Support: Perform regular packaging checks and assist with data collection for specialized Quality and Production projects.
• Lab Upkeep: Take full ownership of laboratory equipment maintenance and general upkeep. If the lab isn’t dialed in, the product isn’t either.

Who you are

You are a technical expert with an obsession for detail. You understand that in QA, "close enough" isn’t an option. You are a proactive communicator who can work across departments to solve problems before they hit the can. You’re comfortable in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, you’re tech‑savvy, and you have the stamina to stay on your feet and move through the cellar and lab with ease.

Must‑haves

• Lab Fundamentals: Hands‑on experience with basic lab equipment, pH testing, and density measurements.
• Organization: Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple testing streams at once.
• Communication: Ability to share technical data clearly with non‑technical teams.
• Reliability: A "whatever it takes" attitude and a desire to grow within a high‑performance team.

Bonus points if you have

• A Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Engineering.
• 1+ year of quality experience in a manufacturing setting (bonus points for beverage/fermentation).
• Experience with sensory testing and basic statistics.
• A background in microbiology.

What we offer

• 16 PTO days in your first year
• Paid holidays, sick days, and bereavement leave
• Paid parental leave
• 401(k) with company match
• Health & dental insurance from day one
• Company‑provided short‑term disability coverage
• Cider allowance (How big is your fridge?)

All offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background check, conducted after a conditional job offer has been made.

We like to hire the way we like our cider: unfiltered. We are proud to hire regardless of gender, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, or anything else that makes us who we are.