Thermopac Quality Tech

• Location 1609 Stone Ridge Drive,Stone Mountain, GA, 30083,United States
• Base Pay $19.73 / Year
• Job Category Quality, Food Manufacturing
• Industry Food Manufacturing
• Employee Type Hourly Non-Exempt
• Required Degree High school
• Manage Others No

• Name Kayte Edelen
• Email

The Quality Technician is responsible for performing routine product testing, microbiological analysis, equipment calibrations, line audits, environmental monitoring, and laboratory support activities to ensure products are manufactured safely, consistently, and in compliance with customer, regulatory, and internal quality standards.

This role serves as a critical support function to plant operations by providing timely, accurate, and reliable analytical results used to guide production decisions and maintain product quality. The Quality Technician must understand not only how to perform required testing, but also why the testing is performed, how the results impact product quality and food safety, and how batch adjustments may influence analytical outcomes and product characteristics.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, technically curious, and capable of working collaboratively across departments in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This position works closely with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Quality leadership to support continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and compliance with food safety and quality requirements.

• Perform routine analytical, microbiological, and sensory testing on in-process products, raw materials, environmental samples, and finished goods in accordance with established procedures and specifications.
• Conduct testing including, but not limited to:
  • Salt
  • pH
  • Brix / Solids
  • Titratable acidity (TA)
  • Viscosity
  • Fat
  • Water activity
  • Drain Weight
  • Color
  • Sensory evaluation
  • ATP swabs
  • Microbiological plating and analyzing
• Conduct sensory evaluations and product grading activities to assess product appearance, texture, flavor, aroma, consistency, and overall acceptability.
• Perform product cutting, sample preparation, and grading evaluations in accordance with product specifications and quality standards.
• Accurately interpret and document analytical and microbiological results in laboratory records, production documentation, and electronic systems as required.
• Understand the purpose and importance of each test and how results impact product quality, food safety, shelf life, process performance, and customer requirements.
• Recognize trends, abnormal results, or out-of-specification conditions and promptly communicate concerns to Production and Quality leadership.
• Assist Production and Sanitation teams by providing timely feedback regarding product quality and process performance.
• Develop a foundational understanding of how process or batch adjustments may affect analytical results, product consistency, texture, flavor, moisture, viscosity, pH, microbial activity, or other product characteristics.
• Support investigations related to product defects, deviations, holds, or nonconformances as directed.

• Perform routine calibration and verification activities on laboratory and production testing equipment according to established schedules and procedures.
• Maintain calibration records accurately and ensure equipment remains compliant and audit-ready.
• Perform calibration activities including, but not limited to:
  • pH meters
  • Thermometers
  • Water activity meters
  • Brookfield viscometers
  • Moisture analyzers
  • ATP systems
  • Incubators
  • Other laboratory instrumentation
• Identify malfunctioning or inaccurate equipment and elevate issues appropriately.
• Assist with preventive maintenance and routine care of laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Prepare and maintain testing solutions, reagents, media, standards, and supplies as required.

• Conduct routine production floor audits to verify compliance with GMPs, food safety requirements, process controls, sanitation standards, and operational procedures.
• Perform pre-operational inspections to verify equipment cleanliness, line readiness, allergen controls, and sanitation effectiveness prior to production startup.
• Conduct ATP swabbing and verification activities to assess sanitation effectiveness and escalations accordingly.
• Perform environmental monitoring program (EMP) swabbing in accordance with established environmental monitoring procedures and schedules.
• Collect, label, document, and submit environmental and product samples accurately and in compliance with testing requirements.
• Verify production documentation, line checks, product identification, labels, and operational controls for accuracy and compliance.
• Monitor adherence to sanitation, allergen, housekeeping, and operational standards throughout the facility.
• Communicate observations, concerns, and opportunities for improvement professionally and effectively to Operations and Quality leadership.
• Support…