R&D Technician
Location: Union, KY (has to be in person & already live in the area)
Experience: No experience required
Salary Range: Paid upon experience, depending on experience (based on R&D / lab technician benchmarking in Northern Kentucky & Greater Cincinnati).
Experience: Entry level - 5 years
R&D Technician — Union, KY
The Problem We’re Solving
Traditional quality control is reactive, paper-heavy, and disconnected from the rest of the business — problems get caught late, documentation lags behind production, and QC ends up seen as a bottleneck instead of a partner.
We're not building that. We're building a modern, tech-enabled quality operation that moves at the speed of the business — one that catches issues before they become failures, keeps materials and data moving cleanly, and works hand-in-hand with R&D, Operations, and our customers.
We're looking for a hands-on Quality Control Lab Technician who's excited to test, document, and help materials and products move from dock to release faster and smarter.
Who We Are
Steuart Nutrition exists to glorify God by creating life-giving products.
We're scaling our Kentucky operation toward $100M+ output, powered by robotics, AI-enabled operations, and disciplined quality systems that support both innovation and execution.
If you want to work with amazing brands and help guarantee that every product that reaches them is exactly what it's supposed to be — you'll thrive here.
The Opportunity
We're seeking a curious, detail-oriented Quality Control Lab Technician who wants to be deeply involved in materials management, laboratory testing, and product release.
This isn't a bench-only role — it's hands-on, cross-functional, and foundational to how raw materials become safe, compliant, market-ready products:
- Overseeing the check-in, inspection, and release of incoming raw materials and packaging components
- Executing in-house lab testing and documenting results with precision
- Coordinating outbound testing with external labs to keep results on schedule
- Creating and managing Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for materials and finished products
- Collaborating with Quality, R&D, and Operations on specifications and investigations
You'll be part of a growing quality function with real influence on products, processes, and outcomes.
What You’ll Support
- Checking in, inspecting, and releasing incoming raw materials and packaging components
- Pulling samples and conducting in-house lab tests per SOPs and product specifications
- Coordinating send-out testing for finished goods and raw materials as needed
- Creating finished blend, finished product, and lot-specific COAs
- Collecting, recording, and organizing test and inspection data
- Maintaining lab organization, cleanliness, calibration, and equipment readiness
- Partnering with the Site Quality Manager to investigate out-of-specification (OOS) results
- Following SOPs while helping improve and refine them over time
Why You’ll Love This Role
- You'll work on real products that go to market
- You'll learn from quality leaders, engineers, and operators
- You'll gain exposure to regulatory science — HACCP, FDA, and NSF standards
- You'll work in a faith-driven environment where integrity matters
- You'll have room to grow into senior technical or quality roles
- You'll be part of a mission-driven, high-performance culture
What Success Looks Like in Year One
- Consistent, accurate check-in and release of incoming materials
- Reliable, independent execution of in-house lab testing
- COAs created accurately and turned around within 24 hours
- Strong documentation and data integrity
- Smooth collaboration with R&D and Operations during trials and investigations
- Growing technical confidence and ownership
Must-Have Traits
- Love the mission
- Curious, detail-oriented, and organized
- Hands-on and eager to learn
- Strong work ethic and follow-through
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, regulated, evolving environment
- Clear communicator and strong team contributor
- Alignment with our mission, values, and “work is worship” mindset
Experience Requirements
- 0–2+ years in a lab, quality, manufacturing, or technical support role preferred
- No degree required — capability, discipline, and character matter most
- Science background (chemistry, biology, food science, or similar) is a strong plus
- New to the industry / freshly graduated is a strong plus
- Enjoys connecting with people + strong communication skills
- Experience with food, nutrition, supplements, or manufacturing is a plus
- Comfort with documentation, SOPs, and basic data tracking
- Willingness to learn new tools, equipment, and processes
Your Future Here
As the company grows, this role can develop into:
- Senior Quality Control Technician
- Quality Assurance Specialist
- Quality / R&D Hybrid Role
If This Sounds Like You…You love learning. You like working with your hands and your mind. You care about doing things right. And you want to help build products that matter — with purpose, integrity, and excellence at the center. Apply!
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
Application Question(s):
- Hi, thank you for applying for this position. In a paragraph of at least 6 sentences, please answer the following questions:
1. What about our mission + values excites you? And why?
2. Describe the team environment where you do your best work.
3. When you miss a goal, what do you usually attribute it to?
4. Tell me about a time something went wrong at work that wasn’t your fault. What did you do next?
Work Location: In person
