QA Laboratory Technician I

Job Description Job Description QA Laboratory Technician I
Location: Commerce, California
Pay Rate: $26.00 – $28.00 per hour
Position Overview
Our client, a large food production organization, is seeking a QA Laboratory Technician for an onsite, three-month contract engagement in Commerce, California. The role supports the quality laboratory that verifies product safety and specification compliance for a high-volume production facility.
This position suits a detail-driven technician who understands that quality data only has value when it is accurate, timely, and properly documented. It offers exposure to food safety testing in a regulated environment alongside an experienced quality team.
Key Responsibilities
You will collect samples from raw materials, in-process production, and finished goods on a defined schedule, following sampling plans precisely and maintaining chain-of-custody and labeling accuracy throughout.
You will perform routine analytical and microbiological testing according to established methods, which may include pH, titratable acidity, moisture, viscosity, weight and fill checks, sensory evaluation, and environmental and product micro testing using approved procedures.
You will record results accurately in laboratory information systems and quality records, compare results against specification, and immediately flag out-of-specification or out-of-trend findings to quality leadership so that product disposition decisions can be made promptly.
You will maintain laboratory equipment through routine calibration and verification, prepare reagents and media, keep the laboratory clean and organized to GLP standards, support environmental monitoring programs and sanitation verification swabbing, and assist with documentation for internal and third-party audits.
You will support hold and release decisions by ensuring that testing for each production lot is completed and documented on time, escalating delays that could affect product disposition. You will also assist with investigations into quality deviations, customer complaints, and out-of-specification results by retrieving records, performing retesting where directed, and documenting findings clearly for the quality team.
Requirements
A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Prior laboratory, quality, or food manufacturing experience is required, with demonstrated care in following written procedures exactly.
You must have strong attention to detail and accurate recordkeeping habits, along with basic computer literacy including data entry into quality or laboratory systems and use of spreadsheets.
You must be able to work onsite in a production and laboratory environment, stand for extended periods, handle laboratory chemicals safely with appropriate personal protective equipment, and work the assigned shift including weekends where the production schedule requires.
Preferred Qualifications
An associate or bachelors degree in food science, biology, chemistry, microbiology, or a related field is preferred. Prior food or beverage quality laboratory experience is highly valued.
Familiarity with GMPs, HACCP, SQF, or FSMA requirements is advantageous, as is hands-on experience with environmental monitoring programs, aseptic technique, or laboratory information management systems. Bilingual English and Spanish capability is a plus.
Experience with rapid microbiological methods, ATP swabbing, or allergen test kits is valued. Familiarity with statistical process control concepts, exposure to laboratory audits by customers or certification bodies, and any prior involvement in method verification or proficiency testing programs are all advantageous.
Compensation and Benefits
This engagement pays an hourly rate in the range of $26.00 to $28.00, based on experience, across a three-month contract with a defined end date.
You will gain practical experience in a regulated food quality laboratory, working with established methods and an experienced quality team, and build a skill set that transfers well across food, beverage, and consumer goods manufacturing. Extension or conversion may be possible depending on performance and organizational need.
This is a contract engagement placed through our recruiting team. We work closely with our contract professionals throughout the assignment, from onboarding and first-week check-ins through to end-of-contract planning, and we actively look for the next opportunity for people who deliver well. Many of our contract placements lead to extensions, repeat assignments, or permanent conversion.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available during the application and interview process on request. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the engagement.