PM Lab Tech I

Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services, the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the United States, is seeking to add a Laboratory Technician I to our Lab and Quality Control Teams.

Laboratory Technician I is responsible for supporting lab and winemaking staff with day-to-day activities such as: upkeep of laboratory cleanliness, organizing lab supplies, sampling wine and wine precursors, maintaining inventory of laboratory supplies and chemicals. Laboratory Technician I is expected to formulate solutions required for chemical analysis. Additionally, Laboratory Technician I supports the Quality Control department on an as needed basis. Longer working hours during harvest season are required, during which Laboratory Technician I will perform fermentation checks. Other ancillary tasks and projects will be provided on an as needed basis.

Reports to: Lab Manager

Hours: 2:30pm - 11:00pm

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a safe work environment in all work facilities.
• General upkeep of laboratory.
• • Maintain orderliness of samples, surfaces, chemicals, equipment, and instrumentation.
• Sample from tanks and barrels.
• Sample receiving and sample prep.
• • Wine from various stages of production through to final product evaluation.
  • Grape barriers and juice during harvest.
• Perform fermentation checks during harvest.
• Maintain inventory of lab supplies to support seamless operation.
• Ensure that chemicals are properly labeled.
• Accurate data entry.
• Assist with special projects as required; support laboratory needs or projects as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Check that wine and materials are correct and meet client specifications.
• Perform QC checks at start-up and throughout the run to ensure that the wine and final product meet quality specifications.
• Perform testing during the quality control checks (i.e., vacuum, torque, volume, dissolved oxygen, CO2).
• Perform case checks at the end of the line to ensure packaging compliance.
• Advise Line Leads & Management of deviations in quality and will have the authority to stop the line if necessary.
• Alert others to defective product and document and participate in the QC hold procedure.

• College chemistry coursework is not required, but candidates with the ability to demonstrate having taken such courses will be given higher consideration.
• Minimum of 1 year of production laboratory work experience
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts.
• Commitment to high standards and attention to detail.
• Ability to understand and adhere to SOPs, GMP principles and plan, reports (Good Documentation Practices).
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills; able to manage priorities and workflow.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of various teams.
• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within changing priorities with enthusiasm.

Physical demands and working conditions:

• Lift up to 50 pounds and carry up to 50 pounds over short distances.
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, stretch, reach, grasp, crouch, turn, and kneel.
• Must be able to see and read documents, labels, samples, etc., as well as visually recognize anomalies (or other indicators) in data; should have a well-developed sense of smell and taste.

Established in 2007 in Northern California by wine industry veterans Rebecca Faust and Bruce Lundquist, Rack & Riddle was founded with the mission to craft superior sparkling wines. Through years of steadfast dedication and thoughtful expansion, Rack & Riddle has become the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the United States with 3.5 million cases of capacity. An exceptional winemaking team dedicated to the mastery of sparkling wine supported by state-of-the-art technology, delivers turnkey grape-to-bottle, wine-to-bottle, and private label sparkling wine services with tank sizes ranging from 500 to 100,000 gallons. Four modern wineries located in Healdsburg, Geyserville and Lodi specialize in Méthode Champenoise, Charmat, and in-line carbonation solutions producing the best of all things sparkling. The company prides itself on being an upstanding member of the communities in which it operates and is committed to operating fairly, ethically, and sustainably.

Rack & Riddle is a drug-free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This role’s compensation is anticipated to fit within the stated range. These figures represent what we reasonably expect to pay for this position, but the actual compensation offered will depend on numerous job-related factors, including but not limited to candidate skills, knowledge and education.