Quality Lead

Position summary:

Reuben's Brews is seeking a Brewery Quality Lead to join our award-winning team at our production facility in Seattle, WA. In this role, you will be our on-the-floor champion for craft excellence, product consistency, and sensory standards. You will report directly to the Head of Production and Quality.

About us:

Reuben's Brews is a family brewery that opened in 2012. We brew from the glass backwards: designing each beer with intention, unbound by constraints. We know making the extra effort is worth it. We are the most decorated brewery in Washington, have two brewhouses, two tasting rooms, and two private event spaces, and we distribute our beer predominantly in the Pacific Northwest.

The role:

Laboratory Operations & Analysis

• Perform daily microbiological and chemical testing on yeast, wort, and finished beer.
• Track critical metrics including gravity, VDK (diacetyl), ABV, CO2 & O2 levels, and turbidity.
• Manage, calibrate, and maintain all laboratory instrumentation and inspection equipment.
• Monitor yeast health, viability, cell counts, and pitch rates across multiple brewhouses. 

Production & Packaging Quality Control

• Audit brewing, cellaring, and packaging lines to verify physical specifications.
• Perform packaging integrity checks, including can seam inspections and dissolved oxygen testing.
• Lead the brewery’s sensory evaluation program and train team members on off-flavor detection.
• Investigate out-of-specification batches and coordinate corrective actions with the cellar team.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Maintain Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance.
• Update and manage the brewery's Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) program.
• Ensure strict adherence to Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) and King County Public Health safety guidelines.

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience: Minimum 2–3 years of hands-on experience in a quality control or quality assurance role within a production brewery environment.
• Education: Degree in Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science, Brewing Science, or a related field is highly beneficial.
  
• Technical Skills: Deep familiarity with laboratory equipment (e.g., spectrophotometers, DO meters, microscopes) and brewery ERP software (such as Ekos).
• Physical Requirements: Ability to lift up to 55 lbs, stand for long intervals, and work in hot, cold, or wet production environments.

In addition to these minimum requirements, we expect the successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Glass Backwards mentality – taking unique, solution-focused approaches to problems
• A proven track record of Making it Happen – infectiously enthusiastic and can-do attitude – a thirst to learn, to teach others, and an obsessive commitment to our brewery’s success is an absolute must
• Recognition that we are here to delight - for internal and external customers, partners, and the Reuben’s team as a whole 
• A One Team mentality – a team-focused approach to achieving results
• Assume the Best Intent - no ego, a focus on team results, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves and jump in where needed
• A Passion for Craft - recognize and live a mentality that the extra effort is worth it. 
  

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned from time to time as necessitated by business demands. Roles and responsibilities may evolve over the years reflecting the growth and maturity of the brewery.

Our team is the heart of Reuben’s Brews. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, career development opportunities and the exciting opportunity to help us craft a wonderful future.

• Medical and Dental Insurance (for all employees who work 20+ hours per week)
• Paid Time Off 
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with 4% company match 

Details:

• Must be over 21
• This position is in-person  
• $30.00-$33.00/hour DOE