QA Bacteriologist

Department: Plant

Location:

Weston, OR, US, 97886

At Lakeside Foods and our family of companies, we're committed to providing wholesome foods to enrich people’s lives through food. We are a culture that pursues our vision of growth and innovation with passion, confidence, and commitment. We are strongest together – valuing collaborative contribution, transparency and new ideas to enable change and growth. We are committed to an inclusive and respectful environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance, and there’s a seat at the table for you.

Grow Your Career Where Quality Comes First

At Lakeside Foods, we bring wholesome, high‑quality food from farm to table—and quality is at the heart of everything we do. We are currently seeking a Quality Assurance Bacteriologist to join our QA team in Weston, OR. This is a hands‑on laboratory role where your work directly supports food safety, plant sanitation, and product excellence.

If you enjoy laboratory work, thrive in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, and are passionate about food safety, we’d love to meet you.

What You’ll Do

As a QA Bacteriologist, you will play a critical role in maintaining food safety and quality standards by performing bacteriological testing and supporting plant QA initiatives.

Key responsibilities include:

Preparing, plating, and analyzing bacteriological samples
Creating dilution blanks and composite samples
Preparing and analyzing media for APC, E. coli, Coliform, Yeast & Mold, and Staphylococcus
Operating laboratory equipment, including autoclaves
Performing in‑plant line checks
Reading, analyzing, and following technical test procedures
Promoting and supporting GMPs, HACCP, and Food Safety programs
Cleaning and maintaining lab equipment
Using computer systems and QA software to document results
Supporting plant safety and food safety programs as needed

What You Bring

Required qualifications:

High School Diploma or GED
At least one year of related laboratory or food manufacturing experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
Ability to read and interpret safety rules, procedures, and technical documentation
Basic math skills including ratios, percentages, and data interpretation
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
Working knowledge of or willingness to learn food safety principles

Preferred strengths:

Experience working in a food manufacturing or QA laboratory setting
Familiarity with microbiological testing methods
Comfort working in a plant environment with PPE requirements

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

Regular standing, walking, reaching, and use of hands
Ability to lift up to 10 lbs regularly and up to 50 lbs occasionally
Work around moving equipment, wet/humid conditions, and loud environments
Required use of PPE including bump cap, hearing protection, and hair net
Strict personal hygiene and sanitation practices are required

Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Why Lakeside Foods?

Stable, growing company with deep agricultural roots
Team‑oriented, safety‑focused culture
Opportunity to build valuable QA and food safety experience
Be part of a company that feeds families across the country

Ready to Apply?

If you’re looking to make a tangible impact on food quality and safety while growing your career in manufacturing QA, apply today and join the Lakeside Foods team.

Lakeside Foods and our family of companies welcomes people of all backgrounds and the varied ideas they bring to the workplace. Being an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer is part of our heritage and culture. We recruit, hire and promote employees based on qualifications and merit, without regard to race, religion, age, gender, disability, marital or veteran status. Lakeside Foods participates in E-Verify.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities