Quality Assurance Technician

Job Description Job Description Job description Now Hiring: Quality Assurance Technician — Gold Coast Bakery 1590 E St. Gertrude Place, Santa Ana, CA 92705 $18.00–$22.00/hr + benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, PTO, Retirement) Before you apply, make sure you can do the following. If you can't, please don't apply: * You can work a flexible schedule — 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift, based on business needs * You can work in a fast-paced bakery production environment (moderate to high noise levels, temperature changes) * You can handle all major allergens present in the plant (Egg, Wheat, Milk, Soy) * You can perform repetitive lifting, bending, grasping, reaching, pulling, and climbing throughout your shift * You can lift/carry up to 50 lbs regularly, and occasionally more If you're good with all of that, here's what the job involves: This role is a Quality Assurance Technician working within our Quality Assurance Department, reporting to the QA Manager/Director. You'll verify finished goods quality and food safety, audit against specifications, and serve as a food-safety resource on the production floor. What you'll do: * Verify finished goods baked quality and safety through auditing and reporting against specification (flavor, aroma, appearance, compliance) * Use instrumentation such as thermometers, metal detectors, calculators, scales, gauges, calipers, rulers, and ovens * Identify, isolate, and report poor-quality or potentially unsafe food materials * Conduct periodic sanitation, GMP, and cGMP inspections, including the daily QC/QA walkthrough * Perform pH and TTA testing on sourdough sponge and bread, and daily product scoring * Verify metal detector logs and thermometers each shift for HACCP compliance * Maintain shelf life studies, QC daily files, and reports * Place product on HOLD/RELEASE as needed * Assist the QA Manager/Supervisor with regulatory and independent inspections/audits * Keep the lab and all equipment clean and orderly, and follow all safety requirements What we're looking for: * High School Diploma or equivalent work experience * Bilingual - English and Spanish (must) * Minimum 1–2 years of experience in a food manufacturing environment, with knowledge of food safety programs (FDA, HACCP, GMP, Allergen Programs) * Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating/maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals * Basic computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) * Strong oral, written, and communication skills; bilingual (Spanish) a plus * Experience with scientific methodology, root cause analysis, continuous improvement, or SPC a plus * Willing to wear required PPE and follow all safety rules * Team player who can work with minimum supervision, with a high degree of initiative and flexibility Schedule: Full-time, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift (varies by business needs) Candidates within 10 miles preferred Gold Coast Bakery participates in E-Verify