QA Operations Support (QAOS) Technician

About us

At the forefront of farming and food, UPSIDE Foods  is innovating new ways to produce real meat, without the need to breed, feed and slaughter animals. Our process begins with an animal cell, which is cultivated and harvested as meat. UPSIDE Foods is a mission-driven company focused on bringing to meat lovers an authentic product that is truly humane, sustainably produced, nutritious and delicious! We are now expanding our team of dedicated professionals across disciplines to make better meat for a better world.

About this job

The Quality Assurance Operations Support (QAOS) Technician will assist in establishing and enforcing the food safety and quality systems that will come to define cultivated meat food production, processing, and packaging processes required to ensure safe and delicious meat food products for consumers at pilot and commercial scale. The QAOS Technician will become knowledgeable with the products, processes, and company priorities as they relate to the QA lab, plant testing and plant HACCP/Preventive Controls monitoring. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the processes and testing conducted in a food testing laboratory, and is eager to accept the challenges and pitfalls that will surely manifest in this newly created industry. This is an hourly paid, alternative work schedule (4/10), role in a food manufacturing facility with production 7 days a week. Schedule may vary, but must be open to working evening/night hours and weekends, as needed.

Responsibilities include…

• Support Implementation of the Food Safety & Quality Management System that will be the pillar of manufacturing cell-cultured meat and an example for this new way of making food.
• Support the checkout, start-up, commissioning and validation of the plant and labs.
• Results oriented and driven to serve their internal and external customers while implementing the regulatory strategy, systems and programs in order to meet all corporate goals and objectives.
• Demonstrable ability to support both FDA and USDA relationships, inspection regimens, post-market compliance plans, adverse event reporting, and label approval processes associated with the plant.
• Possess and portray a strong commitment to Quality and Food Safety throughout the UPSIDE Foods organization.

About you…

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience, in a relevant field (food science, food manufacturing, biology, etc.), with emphasis or familiarity in food manufacturing within FS/QA departments. 
• Knowledge of food manufacturing and the ability to perform chemical and microbiological analyses associated with FSMA/HACCP/HARPC programs.
• A collaborative nature that works well independently and with others to build a healthy professional environment to produce delicious, safe meat products.
• Able to carry up to 40 pounds. Ability to stand up for long periods of time while monitoring operations and performing daily tasks. Able to don Personal Protective Equipment (safety glasses, gloves, footwear, lab coats or coveralls) on a daily basis, as well as hearing and dust protection as needed.
• Knowledge of chemistry and microbiology methods/assays used in food and pharma manufacturing.
• Knowledge of food safety and quality management systems for meat food production or other food production, especially fermentation or bioprocess-based.

Who you’ll work with…

• Work in concert with and support the Food Safety staff, Operations staff and Regulatory team. The Food Safety & Quality Assurance team is responsible for Analytical and Microbiology labs, Good Manufacturing Practices(GMPs), maintenance of lab and plant floor equipment and calibration programs, day to day oversight of testing outlined in the plant Food Safety and HACCP plans and overall participation in the food safety and quality programs. 
• While we expect growth in all functions in the next 1-2 years, this role will most frequently interact with our R&D and Tech Ops teams.

Key Contributions in First Year…

• Ability to complete all core lab and plant responsibilities independently and contribute to team projects to further build out the QMS.
• Assist in plant employee training, monitoring and verifications.
• Participate in GMP audits, identifying non-conformances and implementing corrective actions.
• Take on additional lab responsibilities such as inventory, 5S, and planning.

UPSIDE Benefits!

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 90-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• 3 Weeks PTO Accrued Annually
• DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Council and People Engagement Programs
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.