QC Tech

Job Title: QC Technician Job Description
The QC Technician supports food safety and quality programs by performing laboratory testing, monitoring production lines, and ensuring all products meet established specifications and regulatory requirements. This role focuses on accurate testing, proper documentation, and active participation in food safety and quality systems within a busy, high-volume manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities
- Ensure all parameters of food safety and product quality are consistently adhered to and maintained in the laboratory and designated production areas.
- Calibrate laboratory and line equipment to ensure accurate and reliable test results.
- Collect in-process and finished product samples and perform standardized qualitative and quantitative testing to verify conformance to specifications.
- Perform and record product evaluation tests in accordance with HACCP plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and other food safety and quality programs.
- Accurately document and record all required information in the computer system following SOPs and established data entry protocols.
- Conduct ATP testing as part of the allergen control program to verify sanitation effectiveness.
- Perform microbiological testing as required to support food safety verification.
- Maintain a retain sample library, ensuring proper storage, labeling, and traceability of product samples.
- Recognize quality deficiencies and initiate appropriate follow-up actions to address nonconformances.
- Identify and isolate product that does not meet quality or safety standards and ensure it is properly held and controlled.
- Perform QC tasks including product sampling, line monitoring, auditing, laboratory testing, and equipment calibration to ensure compliance with specifications.
- Hold products that do not meet quality standards and determine appropriate dispositions in line with company policies and procedures.
- Interpret and understand all information contained within product specification sheets.
- Maintain detailed knowledge of the quality characteristics and requirements for each product packaged.
- Conduct laboratory testing procedures such as brix, refractive index, pH, density, sensory evaluation, weights, moisture analysis, and related tests.
- Operate and maintain laboratory instruments including pH meters, viscosity meters, and gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GCMS) equipment.
- Understand and comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety regulations, and all applicable SOPs.
- Collaborate with production and quality teams to support continuous improvement of food safety and quality processes.
- Support production operations across all required days to ensure the laboratory is staffed in alignment with production schedules.
Essential Skills
- Experience in quality control within a food manufacturing or laboratory environment.
- Hands-on proficiency using pH meters, viscosity meters, UV-visual measurement equipment, and related laboratory instruments.
- Ability to perform food-related laboratory testing including brix, refractive index, pH, density, sensory evaluation, weights, and moisture analysis.
- Strong understanding of food science or chemistry principles applied to quality control and product testing.
- Working knowledge of gas chromatography techniques and equipment (GCMS).
- Familiarity with HACCP plans, GMPs, SOPs, and food safety and quality programs.
- Ability to accurately document test results and maintain organized records in computer systems.
- Capability to recognize quality deficiencies and take appropriate corrective actions.
- Ability to wear a half-face respirator when working with specific chemicals in production.
- Willingness and ability to work evenings, weekdays, and some weekends in support of production schedules.
- Demonstrated interest in working in and remaining within the food industry.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- AA, BA, or BS degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related scientific field, OR at least 1 year of food quality control experience with specific lab testing responsibilities.
- Experience conducting laboratory procedures such as brix, refractive index, pH, density, sensory evaluation, weights, and moisture testing in a food production setting.
- Background in wholesale flavor, color, or ingredient manufacturing is beneficial.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high quality and food safety standards.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume production environment.
- Comfort with rotating schedules and adapting to changing production needs.
- Reliability and flexibility to support a 6-day workweek when required.
- Interest in long-term career growth in food science, quality assurance, or laboratory roles.
Work Environment
This role is based in a laboratory setting within a busy food manufacturing facility, focusing on testing food products for pH, viscosity, and other quality parameters. The environment supports high production volumes, with production operating 7 days a week and the lab staffed to align with these operations. The QC Technician works primarily on second shift, typically from 4:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, with the expectation of working a 6-day week that includes one weekend day on a rotating basis. Weekend shifts on Saturday or Sunday may have different hours than the regular weekday shift, and scheduling aims to avoid back-to-back weekends when possible, though this may occur to cover sick time or vacations. The facility operates two production shifts Monday through Saturday and one shift on Sunday morning, requiring flexible lab coverage. Work involves routine use of laboratory equipment such as pH meters, viscosity meters, UV-visual measurement devices, and GCMS, as well as occasional use of a half-face respirator when handling specific chemicals in production. The culture emphasizes strong food safety and quality standards, continuous production support, and offers sick time for consultants and fully paid benefits upon conversion to permanent employment. Attire is typical for a food manufacturing and laboratory environment, including appropriate protective equipment and compliance with safety and hygiene requirements.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Commerce, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $20.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Commerce, CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 11, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Commerce,CA. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.