Overnight Lab Technician

Job Title: Laboratory Technician - Beverage Manufacturing

Job Description

This role supports a high-volume beverage manufacturing facility by performing laboratory testing, monitoring product quality, and ensuring strict adherence to food safety and quality standards. The Laboratory Technician conducts chemical and physical analyses on raw materials, in-process products, treated water, and finished goods, and works closely with production teams to maintain compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices and quality system requirements. This position plays a key role in safeguarding product integrity, improving process efficiency, and helping to deliver safe, high-quality beverages to consumers.

Responsibilities

• Follow all health and safety policies and procedures, adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) while working in warehouse and production areas.
• Adhere to food quality and food safety standards, including Safe Quality Food (SQF) and other applicable quality system requirements.
• Ensure all products being run conform to product specifications as outlined in the SAP system, and conduct analysis on raw deliveries, syrup batches, and treated water.
• Perform chemical and physical analysis on raw materials, intermediate processing materials, and packaging materials, and determine whether materials are acceptable or unacceptable for use.
• Maintain accurate, legible records of all tests and retests performed and complete all required reports, such as work orders and action reports, in a timely and thorough manner.
• Evaluate finished products against current standards by performing audits to monitor all aspects of finished product quality and packaging integrity.
• Check process control parameters to ensure proper equipment application and operation, including performing secure seal checks, closure torque checks, and seaming checks.
• Start up production lines accurately and on time by pre-confirming flavors to be run, setting carbo-trol and flow mix parameters, and verifying product parameters.
• Complete flavor changes accurately and efficiently by confirming the correct flavor, adjusting carbo-trol and flow mix settings, and ensuring product parameters are met.
• Work closely with all departments to improve product quality, increase production efficiencies, increase yields, and eliminate out-of-specification or damaged product.
• Ensure accurate test results by maintaining proper operation, cleanliness, and calibration of laboratory equipment.
• Maintain a high standard of laboratory cleanliness at all times, including benches, equipment, and surrounding areas.
• Use available time effectively by assisting other technicians or production personnel, filing, preparing reagents, photocopying audit sheets, checking held products, emptying reference samples, reading micro plates, checking inventory supplies, and overseeing repacks as needed.
• Complete special projects and other reasonable duties as assigned by the Lead Hand or Management.
• When more than one shift is operating, communicate clearly with the incoming technician about any issues that may affect product quality or scheduling.
• At shift change, clean all equipment and benches used for your line, and ensure the floor is mopped if not already completed.
• Wait for your replacement before leaving the laboratory, and if your replacement is late, inform the Lead Hand on shift or contact the QA Manager.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying root causes of quality issues, participating in troubleshooting activities, and supporting corrective and preventive actions.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience working in a laboratory environment, ideally within food, beverage, or related manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of chemistry and laboratory practices, including preparation of reagents and operation of analytical equipment.
• Proficiency in documentation, with the ability to maintain accurate, legible records of tests, retests, and reports.
• Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy when performing tests, recording data, and evaluating results.
• Experience with troubleshooting and root cause analysis in a quality assurance or quality control setting.
• Understanding of microbiology, biology, and quality control principles as they relate to food and beverage production.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and quality systems, including HACCP and Safe Quality Food (SQF) requirements.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, SAP, and PowerPoint for data entry, analysis, reporting, and communication.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems in a results-oriented manner, with a focus on improving quality and efficiency.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage repetitive tasks while maintaining accuracy and focus.
• Capability to work effectively under pressure from deadlines, production quotas, and accuracy demands.
• Ability to stand or walk continuously throughout the shift in a lab or manufacturing environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Food Science, Quality, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of quality systems such as GMP, HACCP, and SQF; formal certification is considered an asset.
• Experience in quality assurance, quality control, or batch record review within a manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to beverage or food production processes, including handling of syrups, treated water, and packaging materials.
• Experience with SAP or similar enterprise systems for managing product specifications and quality data.
• Ability to adapt to change in a fast-moving, high-volume production environment.
• Strong communication skills to effectively coordinate with cross-functional teams and other shifts.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in quality and process performance.

Work Environment

The position operates in a combined laboratory and manufacturing environment within a high-volume beverage production facility. Work is highly repetitive and involves continuous standing or walking throughout the shift. The role requires regular visual and sensory focus, often using one or two senses at a time to monitor tests, equipment, and product quality. The environment includes pronounced pressure from deadlines, production quotas, and accuracy requirements, and the Laboratory Technician must maintain concentration under these conditions. Laboratory work involves frequent use of analytical instruments, preparation of reagents, and handling of product and packaging samples. Production support activities may take place in warehouse and production areas, where Good Manufacturing Practices are strictly enforced. The role requires consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as specified for lab and manufacturing areas, and adherence to all health and safety procedures. Collaboration with other technicians and production personnel is frequent, including shift handovers and coordination across departments to support continuous operations. Must be able to work overnights and weekends.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Brandon, FL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $19.00 - $21.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Brandon,FL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 22, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.