testing specialist, SODO 8 Innovation & Testing Lab

Socket.dev; Washington; On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Starbucks Coffee Company is seeking a Testing Specialist for the Support Center Coffeehouse and Learning Lab in Washington state. You will deliver exceptional customer experiences rooted in Green Apron Service and help shape the future of Starbucks.

This role blends customer connection, operational excellence and innovation as you evaluate new concepts, capture feedback, and contribute ideas to improve products, services and experiences in a live retail environment.

Job description

Now Brewing – testing specialists, Support Center Coffeehouse and Learning Lab! #tobeapartner

From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of company. One that not only celebrated coffee and the rich tradition, but that also brought a feeling of connection. We are known for developing extraordinary leaders who share this passion and are guided by their service to others.

As a Testing Specialist in the Support Center Coffeehouse and Learning Lab, you will deliver exceptional customer experiences rooted in Starbucks Green Apron Service while helping shape the future of Starbucks. This unique role blends customer connection, operational excellence and innovation, providing opportunities to evaluate new products, processes and experiences in a live retail coffeehouse environment.

Working directly with customers and partners, you will prepare and serve food and beverage products, support testing activities, capture feedback and observations, and contribute insights that help shape future products, services and experiences. Success in this role requires a passion for customer service, curiosity, adaptability and continuous learning while maintaining high standards across both Starbucks core offerings and emerging concepts.

This role offers a unique opportunity to deliver great Starbucks experiences today while helping define the experiences of tomorrow.

As a Testing Specialist, you will:

• Deliver exceptional customer experiences and operational excellence: Prepare and serve food and beverage products, create meaningful customer experiences, and ensure testing activities are executed consistently, accurately and safely.
• Create meaningful customer connections: Deliver experiences rooted in Starbucks’ Green Apron Service by anticipating customer needs, fostering genuine connections, and creating moments that make customers feel welcomed, valued and inspired.
• Help shape what’s next: Observe customer, partner and operational experiences, capture feedback and learnings, and identify opportunities to improve customer and partner experiences.
• Support continuous improvement and innovation: Partner with cross-functional teams to evaluate new concepts, identify opportunities and risks, and contribute ideas that enhance the customer experience, operational effectiveness and business outcomes.
• Maintain testing environments and operational standards: Support testing readiness, maintain organized and safe workspaces, and ensure compliance with operational, food safety and testing standards.
• Embrace curiosity and continuous learning: Quickly learn new products, processes, technologies and service models while seeking feedback, asking questions, and contributing to a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement.

We'd love to hear from people who:

• Have experience in retail, hospitality, operations, quality assurance, testing, research, or similar environments where precision and consistency matter.
• Are skilled at observing, evaluating and documenting processes, experiences and outcomes.
• Use data, feedback and critical thinking to identify opportunities, solve problems and improve performance.
• Communicate findings clearly and effectively to support informed decision-making.
• Thrive in team-based environments and partner effectively with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Balance strong attention to detail with the ability to understand broader business and customer impacts.
• Adapt quickly to new products, technologies, processes and ways of working.
• Are energized by experimentation, continuous learning and helping shape what’s next.
• Have prior barista experience (preferred).

As a Starbucks partner, you (and your family) will have access to medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, and other voluntary insurance benefits. Partners have access to short-term and long-term disability, paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, paid vacation from date of hire*, sick time (accrued at 1 hour for every 25 hours worked), eight paid holidays, and two personal days per year. Starbucks also offers eligible partners participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, a discounted company stock program (S.I.P.), Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock), incentivized emergency savings, and financial well-being tools. Additionally, Starbucks offers 100%25 upfront tuition coverage for a first‑time bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, student loan management resources, and access to other educational opportunities. You will also have access to backup care and DACA reimbursement. Starbucks will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to, providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, and in accordance with its plans and policies. This list is subject to change depending on collective bargaining in locations where partners have a certified bargaining representative. For additional information regarding partner perks and more detailed information about benefits, go to https://www.starbucksbenefits.comstarbucksbenefits.com.

*If you are working in CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, NE, ND or RI, you will accrue vacation up to a maximum of 120 hours (190 in CA) for roles below director and 200 hours (316 in CA) for roles at director or above. For roles in other states, you will be granted vacation time starting at 120 hours annually for roles below director and 200 hours annually for roles director and above.

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job‑related knowledge and skills, experience, geographical location and internal equity. At Starbucks, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

Starbucks Coffee Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.

Starbucks Coffee Company is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] or 1 [phone].