Advanced Lab Technician

Darigold Careers • Sunnyside, WA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Darigold is seeking an Advanced Laboratory Technician to join its Sunnyside team. Reporting to the Lab Supervisor, this role supports daily laboratory operations and ensures quality- and food-safety-related work is completed accurately and efficiently. The technician performs analytical, chemical, and microbiological testing of ingredients, environmental and in-process samples, and finished products, and supports the facility food safety plan through critical control point and preventive control verification.

The position includes product sampling and testing, results documentation and reporting, environmental pathogen swabbing, data analysis, equipment calibration and maintenance, inventory support, and adherence to standard operating procedures and good laboratory practices. The technician helps maintain the facility’s food safety and quality management systems, supports continuous improvement and training, and may lead projects to strengthen facility quality programs. This role requires close communication with QA management, plant management, operations, and other departments.

Requirements

• Demonstrated good laboratory practices.
• Dairy science, food safety, food science, or laboratory techniques certifications.
• Attain and maintain WSDA-approved Appendix N Certified Industry Analyst and Plant Sampler licenses.
• Understanding of FDA, USDA, CODEX, and other relevant dairy-product regulatory standards; basic understanding of PMO and FSMA requirements.
• Attain and maintain HACCP, PCQI, and SQF certifications.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office products and database systems such as LIMS, Oracle, SafetyChain, or Smartsheets.
• Ability to type at least 40 words per minute.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to perform analytical and microbiological tests that produce results consistent with standards or with testing by a recognized laboratory.
• Intermediate understanding of food microbiology and serial dilutions, and familiarity with plating methods and preparation of different media.
• Strong communication skills to support teamwork across departments, including maintenance, utilities, and production.
• Critical-thinking and troubleshooting skills to address issues and identified non-conformances.
• High aptitude for critical work and measurement, demonstrated through education, training, and at least 2 years of laboratory experience.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, prioritize tasks, and meet goals while ensuring product quality.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with advanced laboratory equipment such as FT-IR machines, chromatographs, and PCR machines.
• Proficiency with statistical software and data-analysis tools for interpreting complex data sets.
• Experience training, mentoring, and coaching staff across departments.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Perform analytical, chemical, and microbiological testing of ingredients, environmental samples, in-process samples, and finished products.
• Carry out routine laboratory duties, including finished-product and in-process testing, sampling, grading, product inspection, and troubleshooting.
• Collect samples, conduct required testing, document results, manage out-of-specification notifications and retests, and enter data into systems for product releases.
• Notify supervisors and QA and plant management promptly of out-of-specification results, and perform follow-up work to confirm or rule out affected product.
• Maintain the environmental swabbing program, track and report results, and conduct environmental and investigative pathogen swabbing according to program standards.
• Accurately record, retain, and analyze testing data; identify trends and help perform root-cause analysis for quality events.
• Perform preventive maintenance and calibration, run standards, calibrate equipment, and ensure testing methods meet established standards.
• Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and keep the laboratory clean and operational; stock culture media, buffers, and reagents.
• Collect raw and pasteurized samples for plant inventory through milk component testing and support product standardization.
• Follow standard operating procedures, good laboratory practices, safety protocols, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Report food-safety risks and quality issues immediately and hold at-risk products for review.
• Participate in and support the plant’s quality improvement plan and help maintain the facility’s food safety and quality management systems.
• Verify preventive controls, critical control points, and prerequisite programs, and maintain annual laboratory proficiency testing and verification of laboratory tasks.
• Assist with training new employees, developing LSOPs and OPLs, coaching operations staff, and troubleshooting sample or equipment issues.
• Support fellow laboratory technicians and sanitation technicians, and assist with training and certification of laboratory technicians.
• Lead projects as needed to strengthen facility quality programs and contribute to the facility’s food safety culture and continuous improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned by plant management.

Benefits

• Health and wellness benefits, subject to eligibility and location-specific contract terms.
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.
• Pension contribution.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Premium pay for off shifts (night and swing) and vacation relief, where applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed