Quality Assurance Technician

About PopUp Bagels PopUp Bagels isn’t just a bagel company—we’re a cultural movement. Our stores are small, our vibes are loud, and our energy is contagious. From signature neon and iconic bullhorns to our “Not Famous but Known” mirror, we’ve reimagined not only how a bagel is made, but how it’s enjoyed: Grip, Rip and Dip! With a cult-like following, a massive social presence, and collaborations with leading companies, partners, and Brand Ambassadors, PopUp Bagels is defining a new food lifestyle brand. We keep things simple—but we do them really, really well. And our customers agree. The Opportunity We’re looking for a Quality Assurance Technician who cares deeply about getting the details right and isn’t afraid to speak up when something isn’t. You’ll play a hands-on role in protecting the quality, safety, and consistency of everything produced during your shift. You’ll be on the production floor conducting inspections and audits, monitoring critical quality checks, investigating issues, and partnering with Production, Shipping, Procurement, Maintenance, Sanitation, and other teams to resolve problems. This is a role for someone who can make informed decisions, take ownership, and confidently defend those decisions in a fair and collaborative way. You’ll also have the opportunity to build your leadership capabilities and help strengthen the food safety and quality culture as PopUp Bagels continues to grow. What You’ll Do Protect Quality & Food Safety Conduct internal quality and food safety audits to verify compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. Monitor production-line quality checks, including weight verification, labeling accuracy, lot-code traceability, defect identification, and corrective-action follow-up. Perform organoleptic (sensory) evaluations of finished products. Serve as a quality resource on the production floor, reinforcing food safety standards, GMPs, and quality expectations. Assist with trailer inspections and verify temperature-monitoring records to maintain cold-chain integrity and shipping compliance. Own Quality Systems & Documentation Manage monitoring, calibration, and verification plans. Organize and schedule laboratory pickups in accordance with sample plans. Maintain accurate, organized quality documentation, including inspection reports, non-conformance records, job aids, and product specifications. Create and update product specifications across all departments. Support labeling processes by coordinating updates, verifying label accuracy, and maintaining compliance with regulatory and customer requirements. Assist Quality Assurance leadership with audit readiness, compliance activities, and initiatives that support product consistency and operational excellence. Investigate, Solve & Improve Identify quality and food safety issues proactively and conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to determine why problems occur. Investigate non-conformances, customer complaints, process deviations, and product quality concerns and drive sustainable solutions. Partner with cross-functional teams to implement effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). Track corrective actions through completion and verify their effectiveness to prevent recurrence. Identify opportunities to improve quality systems, reduce defects, strengthen food safety practices, and improve operational performance. Collaborate & Lead Work closely with the Senior Manager of Quality Assurance and teams across Production, Shipping, Procurement, Maintenance, Sanitation, Warehouse, and other departments. Communicate quality concerns clearly and constructively, helping teams understand both the issue and the path to resolution. Demonstrate leadership through accountability, effective communication, sound problem-solving, initiative, and ownership. Help build and maintain a strong food safety and quality culture across the operation. What You Bring Required / Preferred Experience 1–2 years of experience in food manufacturing, food safety, quality assurance, production, or a related environment preferred. Strong understanding of food safety principles, quality systems, and regulatory compliance requirements. Experience in dairy manufacturing or food processing is highly desirable. Cold-chain experience preferred. Basic HACCP or PCQI certification/knowledge preferred. Food Protection Manager ServSafe certification mandatory within first 90 days of employment if not already obtained. Skills & Mindset Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills. Excellent attention to detail with the ability to recognize issues before they become bigger problems. Ability to work independently, make informed decisions, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Demonstrated initiative, ownership, and leadership potential. Proactive problem-solver who is comfortable conducting RCA, following issues through to resolution, and holding teams accountable to corrective actions. Confident communicator who can make and defend quality decisions while maintaining positive, productive relationships. Comfortable using Microsoft Office, OneDrive, SharePoint, Excel, and Outlook. Physical Requirements The following requirements are representative of the physical demands of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with qualifying disabilities. Ability to work in cold-temperature environments, including freezer and cooler areas. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform physically demanding tasks as needed. Work Environment This is a hands-on role that moves between warehouse, production, and office environments. You’ll work in a fast-paced food manufacturing setting, including freezer and cooler areas. You should be comfortable working independently, collaborating with multiple teams, spending time on the production floor, and making quality-related decisions that directly support food safety, product consistency, and operational success. Location: Marietta, GA Reports to: Senior Manager of Quality Assurance Schedule & Compensation $20.00–$23.00 per hour Full-time | 6:00 AM–3:00 PM Weekend availability is required periodically. If you’re someone who takes pride in doing things right, knows when to ask questions, and has the confidence to speak up when quality or food safety is at stake, we’d love to meet you. Come help us make really, really good bagels—and make sure we’re doing it the right way. Additional Role Note: The duties of this position may change from time to time. PopUp Bagels reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of PopUp Bagels or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general work level. It is not intended to be all-inclusive. PopUp Bagels is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, age, ancestry, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related condition, unemployment status, gender identity or expression, transgender status or gender dysphoria, marital status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, national origin, citizenship, disability, covered veteran and/or military status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, familial status as that term is described under other protected statuses or any other characteristic as protected under applicable federal, state and local law.