Quality Assurance Technician (Food Manufacturing)

Salary Range: $22.00 - $24.00 per hour

Benefit Eligible: Yes

Location: Onsite in Mesa, AZ

Shift: 1st Shift (5:30 AM - 2:30 PM)

Classification: Non-exempt, full-time

Reports to: Quality Assurance Supervisor

About the Company

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures were born from a simple but radical idea: real food can heal — people, animals, and the planet. When Paleovalley co-founders Autumn and Chas Smith saw how industrialized food was affecting human health and the health of the land, they refused to play along. Autumn’s own journey of healing through nutrient-dense foods lit a fire that became Paleovalley. From there, the mission grew roots, sprouted wings, and eventually expanded into Wild Pastures to bring regeneratively raised meats directly to families nationwide.

Today, Paleovalley crafts deeply nourishing snacks and supplements made with organic ingredients and honorable sourcing. Wild Pastures connects small American farmers practicing regenerative agriculture with customers who believe better food is worth fighting for. Every product, every partnership, and every decision is guided by a commitment to real ingredients, regenerative practices, and the belief that health is built from the soil up.

We’re a team of grounded doers, curious thinkers, bold builders, and warm humans who like to laugh while doing meaningful work. We're growing quickly, fueled by purpose and a shared desire to repair the food system one thoughtful choice at a time.

If you feel energized by impact, drawn to mission, and ready to join a company rewriting the future of food, we’d love to meet you!

About the Opportunity

This role plays a critical part in protecting product integrity and ensuring smooth daily operations in our manufacturing facility. As a Quality Assurance Technician, you’ll help uphold food safety, quality, and compliance standards by serving as a consistent, detail-driven presence on the production floor. Your work directly supports our mission to deliver trustworthy, high-quality health and wellness products to customers who rely on us.

What You’ll Do

• Perform pre-operational inspections to verify equipment readiness, sanitation effectiveness, and compliance prior to production start-up
• Execute hourly operational quality checks, including documentation verification, steel checks, and in-process inspections
• Conduct daily GMP walks and audits to ensure adherence to food safety, quality, and regulatory standards
• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant quality documentation in alignment with cGMP and Good Documentation Practices
• Monitor production floor activities and proactively identify quality or food safety risks before they escalate
• Partner closely with Production and Sanitation teams to guide corrective actions and reinforce standard operating procedures
• Support compliance with USDA, FDA, HACCP, and internal quality programs through consistent oversight and verification
• Track, analyze, and report quality findings, deviations, or non-conformances to Quality Management
• Assist with batch record review and verification to ensure completeness and accuracy prior to product release
• Serve as a visible quality presence on the floor, reinforcing expectations around GMPs, food safety, and operational discipline

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• 6 months to 1+ year of experience in a food, beverage, supplement, or nutraceutical manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and basic food safety principles
• Experience performing quality, operational, or GMP-related checks in a regulated environment
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to complete accurate, timely documentation
• Ability to work reliably on a consistent schedule and remain on your assigned shift
• Comfort spending the majority of the workday on the production floor in a manufacturing environment
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including standing, walking, and lifting up to 25 pounds
• Legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer

Bonus Points

• Experience working in a USDA- or FDA-regulated food or dietary supplement manufacturing facility
• Familiarity with SQF, HACCP, PCQI, or other food safety and quality systems
• Prior exposure to sanitation programs or EMP/ATP verification (oversight or auditing, not execution)
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Interest in health, wellness, and producing high-quality products customers can trust

Our Commitment to You

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer-paid dental/vision and a small monthly medical premium for employees; dependents may be added at employee cost
• Generous Paid time off to support balance and rest
• Paid sick time for when you need it
• Six (6) paid holidays each year
• Paid parental leave for growing families
• 100% company-paid Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• 401(k) with up to a 4% company match after one year of service
• Monthly product stipend or access to perfectly imperfect damaged product so you can enjoy the nutrient-dense foods you help bring to others

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This role takes place in a manufacturing/warehouse environment and may involve exposure to varying temperatures, noise, and airborne particles. Employees must follow all safety guidelines and use required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The position requires regular standing, walking, bending, reaching, and the ability to lift and move items up to 50 pounds. Work may involve operating or working near machinery and other equipment. These physical demands are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Compliance & Employment Practices

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are proud to be equal opportunity employers. All employment decisions — including hiring, promotion, discipline, and termination — are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] to let us know. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable laws.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer. At this time, Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas, including but not limited to H-1B, TN, or OPT.

This role is open until filled.

EEO Statement:

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are equal opportunity employers. Employment and processes, including decisions to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, are based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

E-Verify:

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures participate in E-Verify, the federal program for electronic verification of employment eligibility.