Quality Technician

Position Summary The Quality Technician supports Zweigle’s quality assurance program on the production floor of our ready-to-eat meat processing plant. This role helps ensure red hots, white hots, sausage, co-pack, and other products meet food-safety and quality standards under USDA/FSIS inspection, the plant HACCP plan, SSOPs, GMPs, and SQF requirements. The Technician works in raw, in-process, and finished-product areas performing inspections, measurements, sample collection, documentation review, audits, and hold/release support. Success depends on careful observation, accurate records, and polite, professional communication with production, sanitation, maintenance, sales, and quality teammates. This role is built for someone with a solid food-safety or quality foundation who can work independently on the floor, protect product integrity, and grow with Zweigle’s quality and sanitation team. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Product Inspection and Testing Perform quality inspections on raw materials, in-process product, and finished meat products against specifications and plant standards. Use lab and measuring equipment to check product attributes such as weight, temperature, pH, appearance, package integrity, and other assigned checks. Monitor critical control points and quality checkpoints on the floor. Use statistical process control (SPC) to identify shifts and trends in data points heading out of specification limits and elevate out-of-specification results immediately. Support incoming-material and finished-product checks as assigned, including visual and documentation review before use or shipment. Holds, Release, and Label Control Tag, hold, and reject product that does not meet food-safety or quality standards; document holds clearly and notify the appropriate supervisor. Assist with product-release activities only after required inspections, tests, and records are complete and acceptable. Verify label accuracy, lot coding, pack date, and related marking against approved artwork and production records. Help prevent mislabeled, underweight, or nonconforming product from leaving the facility. Audits, Documentation, and Regulatory Support Review quality and food-safety documentation for completeness and compliance with HACCP, SSOP, GMP, SQF, USDA/FSIS, and applicable labeling rules. Conduct assigned internal audits, pre-op or operational checks, and floor walkthroughs; report nonconformances promptly and follow them to closure as directed. Maintain accurate, timely records in the plant’s quality, hold, and ERP systems as used by the facility. Support USDA/FSIS inspection activity by having records available, answering factual questions within scope, and escalating issues to Quality leadership. Help enforce plant food-safety protocols, including HACCP, SQF, USDA, GMP, and any certified-program requirements that apply to assigned products. Sampling, Trials, and Customer Quality Collect, identify, and handle samples for in-plant checks and outside laboratory testing according to sampling plans and chain-of-custody practice. Support data collection on new-product trials, process changes, and co-pack runs as assigned by the Quality Assurance & Sanitation Manager. Help investigate customer complaints related to product safety or quality; gather product, records, and facts and report findings to Quality leadership. Participate in mock recalls, traceability exercises, and related food-defense or crisis drills as required. Communication, Safety, and Continuous Improvement Maintain open, polite, and professional communication with production, sanitation, maintenance, warehouse, sales, and QA teammates. Participate in pre-shift, quality, and food-safety meetings and share floor observations that affect product or process. Follow plant hygiene, allergen, chemical, and PPE rules at all times while working on the floor. Follow lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures when work involves equipment that has been isolated for inspection, sampling, or quality support. Recommend practical improvements to inspection methods, records, or floor practices that strengthen quality and food safety. Support other QA tasks and projects as assigned by the Quality Assurance & Sanitation Manager or designated Quality leadership. Qualifications Required Two to five years of experience in food manufacturing, or a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field (food science, microbiology, animal science, or related). Working knowledge of food safety, quality control, or HACCP; HACCP certification or the ability to obtain it within a reasonable time after hire. Familiarity with USDA/FSIS, SQF or equivalent GFSI, GMP, and basic labeling or finished-product release concepts. Must have experience using statistical process control (SPC) and the ability to identify shifts and trends in data points heading out of specification limits. Strong attention to detail and accurate, timely documentation. Proficient in Microsoft Office, with an emphasis on using and manipulating data in Excel. Ability to work in plant conditions that include heat, cold, humidity, wet or slippery floors, and noise. Reliable attendance for the typical Monday–Friday day shift, including flexibility for overtime, weekends, and off-shift coverage during peak production. Uses polite and professional communication with coworkers, supervisors, inspectors, and other visitors to the floor. Ability to work legally in the United States and pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen. Preferred Experience in further-processed or ready-to-eat meat products. Prior work in a USDA-inspected plant and comfort interacting with inspection personnel. Hands‑on use of basic QA tools (thermometers, scales, pH meters, calipers) and sample handling. Experience supporting holds, label checks, customer‑complaint investigation, or new‑product trials. SQF practitioner exposure, PCQI, or other recognized food‑safety credentials. Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Uses SPC and quality data to identify defects, process drift, and documentation gaps, including shifts and trends in data points heading out of specification limits, and reports them clearly. Records results accurately the first time and does not release product on incomplete information. Clear, polite, and professional communication on a production floor. Proficient in Microsoft Office, with an emphasis on using and manipulating data in Excel (entry, sorting, filters, charts, and basic analysis of quality and SPC results). Able to use email and the plant systems used by Quality. Ability to follow written SOPs, HACCP plans, sampling plans, and sanitation or hygiene rules. Team-oriented, willing to learn Zweigle’s products, specifications, and plant layout. Comfortable in a fast‑paced, cold, wet, and seasonally high‑volume plant. Continuous‑improvement mindset focused on food safety and product quality. Physical Demands and Work Environment Work is primarily on the production floor in raw, cooked, packaging, and warehouse areas at the Rochester, NY facility, with some time in a quality office or lab area. Daily exposure to noise, wet floors, humidity, and temperature extremes, including refrigerated and freezer areas and hot processing or cooking areas. Frequent standing and walking on concrete; bending, reaching, and climbing stairs as needed to inspect product and collect samples. Ability to lift, push, or pull up to 40 pounds regularly (cases, sample totes, and similar); occasional heavier assisted lifts. Must wear required PPE, including hair net, beard net if applicable, ear protection, safety glasses, slip‑resistant footwear, and additional protection as the job requires. Must follow all plant hygiene and safety protocols when entering production areas. Additional Requirements Must pass pre‑employment background check. Must pass pre‑employment drug screen. Must be able to work legally in the United States. Commitment to Zweigle’s values of quality, family heritage, food safety, and continuous improvement. This position protects product quality, food safety, and customer confidence at Zweigle’s. The successful candidate will be a careful, floor‑based technician who documents what they see, speaks up when product is at risk, and works professionally with every department that touches the product. Zweigle's is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Benefits 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Disability insurance Employee discount Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off #J-18808-Ljbffr tsu.edu