Quality Assurance Technician

Job Location:

Central Kitchen Oregon
- Portland, OR 97214

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Salary Range: $23.18 - $24.72 Hourly

Travel Percentage:
None

Job Shift: Swing

Job Category: QA
- Quality Control

Full-Time | Hourly (Non-Exempt) $23.18 - $24.72

Help us create unbelievable ice cream with quality and care!

We’re seeking a Quality Assurance Technician to help ensure every batch of Salt & Straw ice cream meets our standards for quality, consistency, and food safety. Working alongside our production and R&D teams, you’ll inspect ingredients and finished products, perform laboratory testing, investigate concerns, and help keep our processes accurate and reliable.

Reporting to the QA Supervisor, you’ll divide your time between the QA lab and production floor. This role is a great fit for someone who enjoys hands-on work, asks thoughtful questions, notices the details, and supports teammates with clear communication and care.

• Inspect raw materials, in-process production, and finished ice cream products against company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Collect samples and perform physical, chemical, and microbiological testing on ingredients and finished products.
• Monitor and document production controls, including temperature, pH, and sanitation.
• Conduct environmental swabbing and support investigations, root cause analysis, and follow-up swabbing when positive results occur.
• Perform ATP and allergen-specific testing before equipment release and help production teammates meet sanitation requirements.
• Investigate quality concerns with production teams, implement corrective actions, and help prevent recurring issues.
• Maintain accurate testing records, product specifications, and QA documentation.
• Review daily production records for completeness, accuracy, and supervisor sign-off.
• Verify calibration of thermometers, scales, and other equipment.
• Support internal audits, laboratory procedures, training, and continuous improvement.
• Help ensure teammates follow Good Manufacturing Practices, food safety programs, and operating and sanitation procedures.
• Listen thoughtfully to teammates’ questions and concerns, provide helpful guidance, and work across teams to resolve issues.

• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Bring either 2+ years of QA/QC experience in food manufacturing or 4+ years of experience in commercial food preparation, manufacturing, production, or a food warehouse environment. Ice cream or dairy QA/QC experience is preferred.
• Understand food safety principles and applicable regulations, including HACCP and FSMA.
• Pay close attention to detail and enjoy investigating problems.
• Communicate clearly, listen actively, and work comfortably both independently and alongside other teams.
• Have good counting and math skills and experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Can work efficiently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while maintaining quality and safety standards.
• Are fluent in English.
• Have flexibility for occasional weekends, holidays, or overtime to support production needs.
• Experience with laboratory equipment and microbiological testing, a related science degree, HACCP or PCQI certification, and SQF experience are preferred.

• Standing, walking, sitting, bending, pushing, and pulling.
• Frequent lifting up to 35 pounds and often lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Working in a QA lab and a cool production environment, with occasional time in refrigerators and freezers.
• Working in production areas that may be loud, wet during cleaning, or include restricted spaces.
• Wearing hearing protection and other personal protective equipment as required.

Reaso…