Innovation Tech

Ken Grossman started Sierra Nevada in 1980 with a hand‑built brewhouse and the odds stacked against him. That passion forever changed the course of American craft brewing and launched a beer revolution that's in full force today. Turns out, good beer can do a lot of good, and Sierra Nevada became a cornerstone for both its innovation and its care for the Earth and its people.

We’re committed to advancing a culture of inclusion and believe diversity in all its forms makes us stronger. We keep pushing boundaries, whether that’s in the brewhouse, with sustainability, or in the great outdoors.

The Innovation Tech 1 plays a critical hands‑on role in executing Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s innovation agenda. This front‑line operations position supports the development and execution of new beverage concepts by operating and maintaining the pilot brewing systems in both Chico and Mills River. Working closely with the Innovation Manager and cross‑functional teams, the Innovation Tech 1 helps bring new ideas to life—from grain to finished package.

The ideal candidate possesses a strong working knowledge of brewing operations, including raw material handling, wort production, fermentation, and packaging preparation. They consistently operate with a focus on safety, product quality, and process excellence, ensuring all trial batches meet rigorous standards and target specifications. In addition to production support, the Innovation Tech 1 will contribute to early‑stage ideation and recipe development, bringing creativity, consumer awareness, and a passion for high‑quality, defect‑free products to every project.

This is an excellent opportunity for a brewing professional looking to expand their impact on new product development and help shape the future of Sierra Nevada's portfolio through hands‑on innovation.

We’re committed to our employees and work hard to prove it. For starters, we’re offering $24.59 to $38.00 hourly compensation for this role. Individual offers are based on skills, experience, and qualifications, and geographical location.

But base pay is just the beginning. We support your future by offering a generous 10% company match on 401(k) contributions, providing learning and development opportunities, and fostering your safety at work with ongoing trainings, state‑of‑the‑art equipment, and preventative care. We offer medical, dental, and vision insurance, an onsite medical clinic, as well as mental health and well‑being benefits including paid sick leave.

We foster a culture of work‑life balance and always encourage employees to use and enjoy their generous paid time off.

• Proficiently brews and works on Pilot Brewing systems to include the Pilot Brewhouse, Pilot Cellar operations, and Pilot Filtration. Stages materials and prepares for brewing according to set recipes and schedules, including staging all materials.
• Proficiently works on all Innovation/Small batch equipment
• Proficiently operates Pilot Racker (keg filling), including CIPs and traceability in computer systems.
• Proficiently operates all barrel transfer equipment and beer movement (including driving flatbed for Chico technicians)
• React appropriately when limits identified by SOP’s are exceeded and escalates abnormalities
• Follow all SOPs and best practices for brewing operations (Brewing, Cellar, and Filtration) in a safe and efficient manner; create SOPs as needed; evaluate and recommend practice changes for existing SOPs
• Perform CIP of brewing vessels, tanks, process lines, fermenters, centrifuges, filters and yeast brinks including assembly and disassembly of process lines and loops; mixes and uses chemicals safely
• Maintain an organized, sanitary, and safe work area by cleaning up messes quickly after created, keeping tools in appropriate places after use, and sterilizing any item that may contact product immediately after use
• (Chico, CA only) This role is responsible for production and support the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Safe Quality Food (SQF) System as defined in the SQF Code. There will be Safety, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Food Safety and…