Quality Lab Technician

We are looking for a Quality Lab Technician to join our MGP team in Lawrenceburg, IN. As a Quality Lab Technician, you are responsible for scheduling, preparing, and conducting appropriate analyses of samples in a timely manner. Quality Lab Technicians are also responsible for determining if ingredients and finished products meet specifications. This role is also responsible for accurately documenting test results and entering those in the Enterprise Resource Program (SAP) to ensure adherence to customer and internal specifications in support of the company’s quality program within all strategic platforms.

What will you do?

Quality Analysis

• Make acceptance or rejection decisions for finished products and raw materials.
• Perform quality control testing and recordkeeping on incoming raw materials/ingredients, in-process samples and outbound finished products to ascertain whether they meet or exceed specifications.
• Execute all necessary daily tests in all areas to assist all managers and or operators with process.
• As a member of the Alcohol Panel, perform alcohol organoleptic analysis to assess grain, new alcohol production, aged bourbon/whiskey, and alcohol shipment samples.
• Prepare reagents, standards and media, following Good Laboratory Practices, to support laboratory activities.
• Monitor inventory of consumable supplies and report needed supplies.
• Assist in the accurate storage and disposal of retained samples; assisting with disposal of retains into re-distillation containers for return to the distillery.
• Perform daily housekeeping tasks necessary for efficient laboratory operation.
• Conduct necessary testing on all incoming spirts, ensuring proper documentation (certificate of analysis is received and review for accuracy).
• Conduct Ethyl Carbamate testing on all whiskey/bourbon distillate samples.
• Report non-conformances to targets or specifications.
• Obtain necessary DDG samples for daily, weekly, monthly compositing and testing.
• Coordinate with operators and managers to troubleshoot production quality problems and help find a solution.
• Participate in special projects in distillery with regards to sanitation of fermenters, bacterial contamination testing, etc.
• Participate in all departmental training initiatives.

Instrument Maintenance

• Perform routine maintenance on all laboratory instruments to ensure accurate results.
• Perform daily and weekly calibrations and standards to ensure accurate and consistent instrument results.
• Interpret daily check samples and audit results to maintain instrument integrity.
• Create a clean laboratory environment for the continued maintenance of instruments many of which are sensitive to dust.

Product Development/Innovation

• Assist in sensory evaluations of experimental products and aged whiskey’s.
• Support the sales group by conducting required tests, and documenting the analysis per customer requirements.
• Participate in tasting set-up for customer visits.

Data Maintenance

• Post test results in SAP and to other agreed-upon test result reporting methods for internal use.
• Report out of specification results to necessary individuals or departments.
• Generate COAs for customers that require additional information on their COA.
• Maintain and store plant quality records for easy access of results.

What do you need to bring to the table?

• Bachelor’s degree in a science-based field.
• One year of basic laboratory techniques is preferred.
• Previous experience with a quality management system is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of laboratory instruments, sensory evaluation experience, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) training; safety and environmental knowledge and/or training.
• Ability to be a service provider to Operations and Customers in support of the platforms.
• Accurately analyze samples and make disposition decisions.
• Effectively organize sample workload and prioritize analyzes.

What will we provide you?

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Short-term/long-term disability
• Life insurance
• 401(k) / 401(K) Matching
• PTO

Who are we?
MGP Ingredients is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions. Its Distilling Solutions segment provides bourbons, whiskeys, ryes, gins and vodkas to craft and multinational brands. MGP’s own Branded Spirits business is growing following the 2021 acquisition of Luxco, a top spirits producer, bottler, supplier, and importer. Ingredient Solutions delivers nutritional, functional wheat- and pea-based ingredients aligned with consumer trends. The company operates in locations across the Midwestern U.S., and overseas in Northern Ireland and Mexico.

We anticipate the base salary for this position to be $22.00hr. This anticipated salary is not, however, a promise of any specific salary for any specific employee, which is always dependent on factors such as actual candidate background, experience, education, skills, and work location. If your desired base salary falls outside of this range, we hope you'll still apply as there may be other positions that better align.