Quality Lab Technician

Quality Lab Technician

The Quality Lab Technician implements and records laboratory testing methods to ensure product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. This role performs analytical testing on raw materials, intermediates, and finished products, supports plant cleaning verification, and ensures timely and accurate release of test results within a flavor manufacturing quality control laboratory.

• Implement and set up new laboratory software systems, including SAGE, to support data capture and reporting.
• Perform analytical tests on raw materials, intermediates, and finished products using instruments such as FTIR, densitometers, refractometers, flash point testers, and pH meters.
• Monitor plant cleaning activities by conducting regular swabbing of production equipment to verify sanitation effectiveness.
• Log samples into the laboratory database, maintain accurate records, and ensure proper traceability of all tested materials.
• Organize, catalog, and maintain the retain sample library to support investigations and reference testing.
• File and maintain sample folders and documentation in an orderly and compliant manner.
• Compare test results against established specifications and standards to determine product acceptance or rejection.
• Conduct taste tests and sensory evaluations to support flavor quality verification.
• Perform daily calibration checks and routine maintenance of laboratory equipment to ensure accurate and reliable measurements.
• Assist research and development teams with tasting panels and related evaluations.
• Create and maintain reports on expired materials and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders.
• Identify, document, and promptly report food safety issues or deviations in accordance with internal procedures.
• Develop and implement new laboratory procedures and methods based on trends, data analyses, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Conduct shelf-life evaluations for finished products and raw materials to assess product stability and quality over time.
• Clean and maintain laboratory equipment and glassware to uphold a safe and organized work environment.
• Retrieve, prepare, and send documents related to internal transfers and laboratory activities as needed.

• Experience with wet chemistry techniques in a laboratory environment.
• Ability to perform raw materials testing and interpret analytical results.
• Experience implementing and setting up laboratory software systems such as SAGE.
• Knowledge of good manufacturing practices (GMP) within a food or flavor manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with HPLC and gas chromatography in a quality control or analytical setting.
• Understanding of food manufacturing processes and flavor creation concepts.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to perform calibrations on technical laboratory instruments.
• Proficiency in using analytical equipment such as FTIR, densitometers, refractometers, flash point testers, and pH meters.
• Ability to identify and report food safety issues in a timely and accurate manner.
• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university in Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or a related science field, or one year of related experience and/or training.

• Experience working in a quality control laboratory within the food or flavor industry.
• Familiarity with sample management, including logging, retaining, and cataloging samples.
• Experience supporting tasting panels and conducting sensory evaluations.
• Ability to develop and implement new laboratory procedures based on data trends and analyses.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills for laboratory records and expired material reports.
• Interest in gaining hands-on experience in a laboratory setting, particularly for individuals new to the industry.

The role is based in a flavor manufacturing quality control laboratory that involves working around strong smells and regular flavor tasting. The lab is a decent-sized facility where typically three to four people work together at a time. Team members have individual workstations equipped with computers for documentation, data entry, and report writing. The…