Food Production Machine Operator

Job Description

Job Description

Food Production Machine Operator

Location: Medford, MA Area

Position Type: Full-Time / Temp-to-Hire

Industry: Food Processing & Manufacturing

Position Summary

We are seeking a reliable, safety-conscious, and detail-oriented Food Production Machine Operator to join our production team. In this role, you will be responsible for setting up, operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting food processing and packaging machinery to ensure high-volume production meets strict quality, safety, and hygiene standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Machine Operation: Set up, start, adjust, and operate food production, blending, mixing, forming, or packaging machinery according to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Quality Assurance: Monitor product quality throughout the production run, conducting regular weight, seal, and visual checks to ensure items meet specifications and company standards.
• Troubleshooting & Maintenance: Identify and resolve minor mechanical issues, jams, or operational bottlenecks promptly; report major equipment malfunctions to maintenance technicians.
• Safety & Compliance: Strictly adhere to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures (SSOPs), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) guidelines, and OSHA safety regulations.
• Sanitation & Hygiene: Perform routine cleaning, sanitation, and basic changeovers of machinery and workstation areas to maintain a sterile, audit-ready food-grade environment.
• Documentation: Accurately record production data, including output counts, downtime, material usage, and quality control logs in a timely manner.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with line leads, packaging assistants, and QA personnel to ensure smooth workflow transitions and meet daily production quotas.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: Minimum 1–2 years of experience operating production, packaging, or processing machinery, preferably within the food, beverage, or pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
• Technical Aptitude: Ability to read and interpret mechanical instructions, batch sheets, or diagrams, and perform minor mechanical adjustments.
• Compliance Knowledge: Familiarity with GMPs, HACCP, and food safety protocols.
• Communication: Good verbal and written communication skills; ability to read safety notices and document production metrics accurately.
• Reliability: Strong work ethic, punctuality, and a proactive attitude toward workplace safety.

Physical Requirements & Working Environment

• Environment: Fast-paced manufacturing and food processing plant environment (may include cool/temperature-controlled areas, noise from machinery, and wet floors).
• Stamina: Ability to stand, walk, bend, and twist for extended periods (shifts typically range from 8 to 12 hours).
• Lifting: Ability to regularly lift, push, or pull materials weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Safety Gear: Required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including hairnets, beard nets, slip-resistant footwear, ear protection, and frocks/smocks as mandated by facility guidelines.