Quality Assurance Lab Technician (Night Shift)

About Aurora Organic Dairy

Aurora Organic Dairy is committed to delivering organic dairy integrity, from cow to carton, to everyone, everywhere. Guided by our focus on animals, people, and planet, we produce high-quality organic dairy products while caring for our cows, supporting our employees, investing in our communities, and operating with responsible stewardship. Our team is driven by values that include organic commitment, compassion, teamwork, excellence, transparency, entrepreneurial thinking, and stewardship. At AOD, every role contributes to meaningful work that supports safe, high-quality food, a respectful workplace, and a more sustainable future.

Purpose

The QA Lab Technician is responsible for in-process and finished product quality and food safety, maintaining accurate records, leading investigations and plays a primary role with ensuring the highest standard of our products.

Essential Responsibilities

• All plant personnel have the responsibility to monitor and report any deviations from our food safety and quality programs to your immediate supervisor.
• Collect and perform testing on finished product at designated time periods including, but not limited to: butterfat, particle size, and freezing point.
• Verify packaging is correct at all stages.
• Verify raw milk loads prior to receipt.
• Perform visual inspections, ATP swabbing, and H2O2 residual testing.
• Perform sensory evaluations on finished product.
• Perform daily calibration checks and maintenance on lab equipment.
• Maintain accurate and complete laboratory testing records.
• Lead role in identifying deviations related to quality or food safety, conducting investigations, identifying root cause and implementation of corrective actions.
• Prepare various chemicals for use in a safe manner.
• Perform various testing and verifications as needed including, but not limited to: allergens, rework, slurries, and CIPs.
• Collect and perform testing on barn samples provided by each load received for components, herd health, and microbial growth.
• Perform plating primarily using the petri-film method and maintain a clean work area.
• Pipette incubated samples to be tested using EPIC (a bioluminescence system which detects ATP).
• Perform weekly cleaning of lab area and other assigned MSS items.
• Plays a key role in driving awareness around QFS, Sanitation and GMPs.
• Participate in the site’s food safety walk through program with identifying.
• Hold responsibilities in helping keep the site SQF, FDA and SMB audit ready at all times. 
• Any additional tasks delegated by the Quality Supervisor or Quality Manager.

Skills and Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma required, bachelor’s degree in science field preferred.
• Experience: Manufacturing experience with an emphasis in food and QFS preferred.
• Technical Proficiency: Competency in Microsoft Windows and Office preferred.
• Skills: Good communication skills. Ability to prioritize and multi-task is required.

Work Environment

• The Quality Assurance Lab Technician works primarily in a laboratory setting within a manufacturing facility. The work environment includes exposure to typical manufacturing conditions such as noise, temperature variation, and the presence of food-grade chemicals and cleaning agents. The lab area requires adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements, and food safety protocols at all times. The role involves frequent movement between the lab and the production floor and may require working in refrigerated or temperature-controlled areas.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to sit for extended periods of time; Must be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time. Must be able to bend, stoop, kneel or crawl; reach grasp and lift up to 25lbs regularly and up to 50lbs occasionally.

EEOC

Aurora Organic Dairy is an equal opportunity employer. The company prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment against applicants and employees based on any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. The company also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, consistent with applicable law.