Sous Chef

Maggiano's Little Italy; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Maggiano's Little Italy in San Jose, CA seeks a Sous Chef to lead daily kitchen operations, mentor cooks, and ensure every dish meets our standards of quality and consistency.

Join a high-volume, Italian-American kitchen and collaborate with the Executive Chef to uphold culinary standards, manage prep and line checks, and contribute to guest experiences that reflect our approachable elegance.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of management experience in a full-service restaurant.
• Strong command of Italian-American cuisine and classic cooking techniques.
• Proven ability to lead, train, and motivate a kitchen team.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and health code compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily kitchen operations, ensuring seamless execution during service
• Coach and develop line cooks, prep cooks, and kitchen teammates
• Maintain food quality, consistency, and presentation standards across all menu items
• Perform line checks to guarantee every dish meets Maggiano's specifications
• Manage food production, prep lists, and inventory to minimize waste
• Uphold sanitation and food safety standards in compliance with health regulations
• Step into any kitchen station as needed to support the team during high-volume periods
• Collaborate with leadership to control food costs and drive operational excellence

Skills

Management experience

Italian-American cuisine knowledge

Team leadership

Food safety knowledge

Job description

Job Title

Sous ChefPosted: 9/30/2026Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 / year

Location

CA, San Jose

Location

3055 Olin Ave., Suite 1000
San Jose, CA 95128

Description

At Maggiano's, we believe great food brings people together. Our scratch-made Italian-American classics and warm, family-style hospitality have made us a destination for life's most meaningful moments — from anniversaries and graduations to everyday dinners that become lasting memories. Rooted in the tradition of 1940s Little Italy dinner houses, we blend timeless recipes with quality ingredients and genuine hospitality. We call it "approachable elegance" — an upscale experience without the pretense. If you're passionate about culinary craft and creating experiences that make people feel special, this is where you belong.

The Role

As a Sous Chef, you are the heartbeat of our kitchen — leading the line, mentoring cooks, and ensuring every dish that leaves the pass reflects Maggiano's commitment to quality and consistency. You'll partner with the Executive Chef to uphold our culinary standards while developing the next generation of kitchen talent. This is more than a job — it's a path to growth. Many of our Executive Chefs started in this role, and we're committed to developing leaders who share our passion for Italian-American cuisine and hospitality. You'll have the opportunity to refine your craft, shape a high-performing team, and make a real impact on the Guest experience every single day.

What You’ll Do

• Lead daily kitchen operations, ensuring seamless execution during service
• Coach and develop line cooks, prep cooks, and kitchen Teammates
• Maintain food quality, consistency, and presentation standards across all menu items
• Perform line checks to guarantee every dish meets Maggiano's specifications
• Manage food production, prep lists, and inventory to minimize waste
• Uphold sanitation and food safety standards in compliance with health regulations
• Step into any kitchen station as needed to support the team during high-volume periods
• Collaborate with leadership to control food costs and drive operational excellence

What You Bring

• 2+ years of management experience in a full-service restaurant
• Strong command of Italian-American cuisine and classic cooking techniques
• Proven ability to lead, train, and motivate a kitchen team
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and health code compliance
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
• Able to perform essential job functions in a dynamic restaurant environment, which may include exposure to varying temperatures, noise levels, and peak-hour demands
• Able to move throughout the restaurant, retrieve items from shelves and storage areas, and transport supplies weighing up to 30 lbs, with or without reasonable accommodation

Equal Opportunity

Brinker International is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to workplace diversity, workplace working and workplace fun. The way we see it, life is short, so you might as well work happy.

Maggiano's Little Italy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and e-Verify Employer.

At Maggiano's Little Italy we strive to celebrate the differences that make a good company great and to leverage individual strengths to create an innovative, inclusive and unified team