Enterprise Food Technologist - Thermal Processing

About Amy's

At Amy's Kitchen, we're more than just a food company-we're a family-owned, proudly independent organic, and vegetarian food company on a mission. As a Certified B Corporation, our purpose is clear: to make it simple and enjoyable for everyone to eat well.

We're committed to crafting authentic, mouthwatering dishes using only the finest organic ingredients sourced with care. From farm to table, we ensure top-notch quality in every bite, making healthy eating accessible and convenient for all. At Amy's, we're not just serving meals; we're serving up a taste of goodness, one delicious dish at a time.

Perks are as delicious as our meals!

Comprehensive health plans with Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, plus Flexible Spending Accounts. Mental health support with Modern Health to nourish your and your family's mental well-being. 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match and Financial Wellness support at no cost to plan for the future. Referral Rewards and Scholarship Program to celebrate and invest in our teams. Tuition Reimbursement Program to fuel your educational pursuits. Paid parental leave for new parents. Paid Time Off for vacations and sick days, with 9 paid US Holidays annually to savor those special moments. Amy's product discount reimbursement to keep your pantry stocked, plus remote gym discounts to keep you moving and grooving! Join us and indulge in a career where the benefits are as fulfilling as our food!

This position is working in the Food Safety and Sensory Department, is primarily responsible for auditing activities and documentation associated with the thermal process of Amy's Low Acid Canned Foods (LACF) as well as supporting overall regulatory compliance with both domestic and international requirements.

This position also identifies deviations and areas for corrective action working in close association with peers within the FSS team, and the Canning Production department to assure compliance on a consistent basis. This position will identify areas for continual improvement in our recordkeeping and process documentation practices and create and/or maintains all associated documentation such as checksheets, training material, tracking forms etc.to assure that proper documentation is in place and that they remain current. This individual will support the development of training related to process documentation and food safety requirements.

This role will engage activities at and with Amy's process authority, including the development of new products, process deviations thermal penetration studies, and updates to Amy's processing letters as needed. This role additionally supports ongoing production at Amy's co-manufacturing locations producing acidified or low acid canned/jarred food by ongoing production paperwork review, isolation, and placement of product on hold, and development of continuous improvement and corrective action processes.

This position will be located at an Amy's facility that has a Low Acid Canned Food production line.

Review daily production files and work with co-manufacturers of Acidified Foods in accordance with Amy's requirements and 21CFR Part 114.
• Assist in various retort or canning trials, such as process validation work for new or reformulated LACF and Acidified, new equipment or processing changes, can/end/packaging issues, and continuous improvement projects
• Work in conjunction with Amy's R&D department in the development of new Amy's Kitchen products requiring heat processing or an FDA-filed thermal process.
• Conduct annual Formula Comparison review of all canned and acidified products
• Lead Canning CCP training developed by the Thermal Processing Team.
• Maintain training records, training plans and certificates for training activities related to LACF functions at all Amy's facilities.
• Manage pre-purchase sampling of raw materials in canned products.
• Participate in non-conformance review meetings and communicate dispositions and action items.
• Performs special projects as required.
• Other duties may be assigned.

It is the responsibility of all employees to uphold the mission of the Amy's Food Safety and Quality Policy. This includes following all Food Safety and Sustainability programs and participating in all required training.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• This position requires an BS degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in LACF production and food manufacturing experience.
• Two years of experience in thermal process development or canning R&D/quality assurance is preferred but not required.
• SQF Practitioner and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) training preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and assertive skills, necessary to maintain effective and cordial intra department working relationships while, at the same time, come to resolution/agreement on Amy's requirements.
• Must be capable of analyzing data and communicating findings in a clear and concise manner.

Language Skills

• Ability to speak clear English and communicate with R&D/Technical staff with regard to thermal process experiments and food sample preparation.
• Ability to effectively present information to all levels of management as well as technicians.
• Ability to speak Spanish is preferred but not required.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to use simple math concepts such as adding subtracting, multiplication, and division in working with product formulas and inventories of equipment.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to understand statistical charts and data.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where direction is being given by R&D or Tech Service staff.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Certificates, Licenses, Registration

Successful completion of Better Process Control School.

Travel

Estimated travel requirements are a minimum of 10%.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment is usually wet or humid, may experience some extreme cold weather. The employee will work near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.