Food Safety/Quality Assurance Technologist

Smithfield Foods•Clinton, NC

About The Position

As part of Smithfield’s Food Safety & Quality Assurance team, the Food Safety/Quality Assurance Technologist helps ensure products meet quality and food safety standards. The role performs routine sanitation checks, enforces HACCP and USDA requirements, and tracks products throughout production to identify issues and support corrective actions. The technologist monitors quality by grading products and documenting results, and by overseeing sanitation, temperatures, and good manufacturing practices. The role works with production teams to resolve issues, investigate root causes, improve processes, and support quality programs through training and performance assessment. The position is performed in office and plant settings, where conditions may include wet or humid areas, extreme heat or cold, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, chemicals, and moderate to loud noise.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required; the company may waive educational requirements for internal candidates with at least four years of company experience.
Ability to complete required forms in English, including reading and writing in English.
Knowledge of quality assurance principles, food science, meat processing, and USDA regulations.
Ability to create, interpret, and maintain technical documents, reports, and manuals.
Effective written and verbal communication across teams and stakeholders.
Experience using monitoring equipment, analyzing data, and responding to regulatory or customer inquiries with evidence-based decisions.
Proficiency in office software and ability to interpret and follow written, oral, and visual instructions.
Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Frequently stand for prolonged periods; walk; handle or feel with hands; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree preferred.
Ability to collaborate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining a respectful, approachable, and team-oriented attitude.

Responsibilities

Conduct routine process, metal detection, cooking, and chilling inspections to verify products meet quality standards.
Identify and act on out-of-spec products, interpret customer specifications, and collaborate with teams to resolve issues.
Address deficiencies, identify root causes of failures, and support continuous improvement and quality programs.
Support training, specification reviews, and initiatives to improve product quality and reduce waste.
Help develop and enforce HACCP programs and monitor critical control points.
Ensure food safety protocols are followed throughout production.
Ensure USDA requirements are met and assist with updating food safety documentation.
Perform pre-operational sanitation checks and follow up on cleaning and sampling procedures.
Report food safety issues, recommend corrective actions, and support plant training on deficiencies.
Step in for or delegate responsibilities in the absence of key personnel.
Perform other duties as assigned.