QA Bacteriologist

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.

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
• 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

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

• 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.

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

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