Who We Are:
Born in a humble shed on the back-forty of the family vineyard, Firestone Walker is a California beer company like no other – founded by two brothers-in-law who simply wanted to make the perfect beer. Now a regional craft brewery, our singular purpose remains – to craft the world’s best beers. Passionately in pursuit of the perfect beer… and never satisfied.
Job Summary:
As a Quality Technician I, your role will be to ensure the quality of products throughout production. It will require daily interactions with production processes and personnel from all areas of the brewery. When performing this role, you will be required to pull samples from tanks, kegs, barrels, production lines and water sources to perform analytical, microbial, packaging or sensory analysis in laboratory environments. These tests are critical in maintaining the overall quality of what is produced at the brewery. A high degree of accuracy and efficiency will be required.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
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Analytical
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Complete sample collections for fermentation and brewhouse testing
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Ensure general cleanliness of the lab and instrumentation, performs routine maintenance on laboratory equipment and can troubleshoot basic analytical issues.
- Maintain QC analytical database; includes, but is not limited to data entry, record keeping, trending, data analysis and follow-up with brewing and cellaring teams on concerning data.
- Run routine testing such as bitterness units, color, VDKs, alcohols, end gravities, pHs, haze, and other testing as required.
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Work safely and maintain a clean & safe working environment at all times; understand hazards and utilize the appropriate personal protective equipment
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Micro
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Complete sterile sample collection from all production areas including fermentation tanks, CIP and P3 water samples, oak barrel samples, bright beer tanks, whiskey barrel samples, packaged product, filtration samples, production water samples (DAW, ROW and ozone), and additional samples as requested.
- Provide sterile sample containers to packaging staff for micro sampling
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Plate a variety of in process, finished product and water samples for microbial analysis
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Ensure micro supplies are maintained correctly to ensure sterility before use
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Prepare media, sterile water, sterile saline and other reagents as needed.
- Complete inventory of micro supplies and update order list.
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Clean and autoclave micro equipment.
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Sensory Analysis
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Run, record and analyze results from sensory panels
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Run panel testing for true to type and release tastings on all packaged products
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Complete threshold testing
- Complete age profiles to test flavor stability and shelf life
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Complete descriptive panels for beer flavor attributes and threshold testing
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Complete preference and difference tests
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Complete raw material tasting, including CO2, RO and de-aerated water
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Complete bright beer and fermenter release testing
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Maintain the warm and cold beer libraries in an organized
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Packaging
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Complete BBT release testing and run/check that AE, alcohol, color, pH, micro, CO2 and DO are correct
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Complete package testing for CO2, TPO, DO, HSO, AE, alcohol, density, pH, bottle fill heights, crimp checks, secure seal testing, seam checks on cans, and keg testing and sample collection
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Pull Micro/Sensory/Analytical samples
- All Function Areas
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Complete all initial and on-going assigned safety training
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Required Data Entry
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Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
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Degree in microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or food sciences is preferred
- At least 2 years of prior experience in a quality monitoring position in a production environment preferred
Other Skills and Abilities:
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Ability to work well in a team environment and manage multiple tasks
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Ability to take initiative, act promptly and be proactive with minimal supervision
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Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing
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Ability to communicate and present information effectively for shift handoff
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Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
- Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent
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Ability to perform mathematical analysis and statistical inference, analysis and report on findings
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Rely heavily on multiple types of communication forms to pass information to team members and management
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Excellent organizational skills
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Able to teach and train others
- Knowledge of brewing & fermentation process a plus
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Ability to operate and use a PC computer and be proficient in Microsoft Office suite of programs
Work Environment/Physical Demand:
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Regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects and tools.
- Required to talk or hear
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Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, or crouch
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Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, rarely lift and/or move up to 100 pounds with assistance
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Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
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Employee is in lab and production environments
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Noise, dust, variable temperature and use of production chemicals are also typical in this work environment
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Employee may be required to work in confined spaces, and work with high pressure steam
Equipment and Machinery Used:
- DMA 4500/Alcolyzer Plus, Spectrophotometer, Microscope, Autoclave, Hydrometer, Zahm Nagel, Orbisphere, Hach 6110, Haffman Gehaltemeter, Secure Seal, CMCKUNKE Gauges, SEAMetal Double, Seam Analyzer, Centrifuge, Rotech Keg, Anton Paar CBox, Nibem Foam Stability Tester, GC, Auto-titrator, Turbidity meter, Vacuum manifold
What Firestone Walker Offers:
Health Insurance 100% employer paid premiums for employee medical, dental, vision, & life insurance
Flexible Savings Account (FSA)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company sponsored paid parental leave
Paid Sick Leave
401(k) retirement plan including company paid profit sharing & 4% safe-harbor matching
Accrued PTO (rate of 13 days per year)
10 paid holidays per year
Employee discount of 50% off food, beer, and merchandise
Periodic beer giveaways for employees 21+
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.
Firestone Walker is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any protected class.
