Quality Technician
Who we are: Established in Raleigh, NC in 2018, Next Century Spirits blends traditional techniques and unique finishing technologies to create enhanced distilled spirits. Our patented post distillation filtering and finishing technology creates a tool for the traditional distiller to expand their repertoire of achievable flavors and aromas while improving quality, maintaining consistency, and reducing supply chain issues. This technology allows for tight control over the entire production process, resulting in the ability to create bold and unique flavor customization options for brands to choose from to expand product portfolios and fulfill market needs. As we have matured so to have our aspirations of developing our own portfolio of brands.
Reports: Vice President of R&D and Quality
Location: Zebulon, NC
Schedule: Hourly, 1 of 3 shifts (7:00am-3:30pm; 8:00am-4:30pm; 9:00am-5:30pm) M-F
Pay Range: $20-25 per hour
Primary Duty: The Quality Technician is responsible for ensuring products and materials meet company quality standards through laboratory testing, raw material inspections, in-process bottling inspections, and finished product evaluations. This role supports daily manufacturing operations by performing quality checks, documenting results, managing nonconforming materials and quality holds, and maintaining compliance with company procedures and applicable regulatory requirements. The Quality Technician works closely with Manufacturing, R&D, and Supply Chain to identify quality concerns, support investigations, and help ensure the consistent production of safe, compliant, and high-quality products.
Position Responsibilities:
- Perform routine quality inspections on raw materials, in-process products, finished goods, and packaging components according to established procedures.
- Conduct laboratory testing including proof, turbidity, sensory evaluation, and other required analytical tests.
- Perform in-process bottling line inspections including fill volume, torque, coding, label placement, package integrity, and hourly quality checks.
- Inspect incoming raw materials and packaging components and release acceptable materials for production.
- Identify, document, and quarantine nonconforming materials or products and support investigations and corrective actions.
- Complete quality documentation accurately, including inspection records, laboratory data, bottling check sheets, and nonconformance reports.
- Maintain quality holds and ensure proper identification, segregation, and disposition of held materials.
- Follow established quality procedures, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), safety requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Maintain laboratory equipment and work areas through routine cleaning, calibration, and preventive maintenance.
- Support Manufacturing, R&D, and Supply Chain by communicating quality concerns and helping resolve quality issues.
- Assist with Quality Management System (QMS) documentation and other quality activities as assigned.
- Promote a culture of quality, food safety, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance.
This Job Might Be for You If:
- You enjoy solving problems. You love taking on difficult challenges and finding creative solutions. You don’t get flustered easily. If you don’t know the answer, you will dig to find it.
- You pay attention to the details. As far as you’re concerned, anything worth doing is worth doing right, every single time. You stay focused, and nothing falls through the cracks on your watch. But you are also willing to listen to feedback and take directions as needed.
- You are highly collaborative. You recognize that anything we create can always be done better when we do it together.
- You are motivated and driven. You volunteer for new challenges without waiting to be asked. You’re going to take ownership of the time you spend with us and truly make a difference.
- You are a strong multi-tasker. You can handle, manage, and lead multiple projects at the same time.
- You thrive in a changing environment. You have the resilience and flexibility to adapt in a constantly changing and fast-moving organization.
- You have strong communication and presentation skills. You know that clarity of communication enables the team to move faster.
- You want to work in an industry that is a ton of fun . . . with people who are a ton of fun.
Required Qualifications:
- Be 21 years of age or older, and willing/able to taste alcoholic beverages.
- Education Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Food Science, or a related scientific field with 0–1 years of relevant laboratory or quality experience; or
- Associate degree in a related field with 2–3 years of relevant laboratory or quality experience; or
- High school diploma or equivalent with 3–5 years of relevant experience in a quality, laboratory, manufacturing, or food/beverage environment.
- Understand GMP for lab and production settings and maintain food safety regulatory standards.
- Have strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.
- Be a strong team player; have experience in bringing teams/individuals together to deliver project results through strong thought and executional leadership.
Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
