Quality Assurance Lead Technician in Madison, Wisconsin at Octopi Brewing

ASAHI BEER USA | OCTOPI BREWING

QUALITY ASSURANCE LEAD TECHNICIAN

Quality Isn't an Accident — You Make Sure of It

ABOUT ASAHI BEER USA / OCTOPI BREWING

Founded in 2014 as a Wisconsin contract brewery, Octopi Brewing has spent over a decade brewing and packaging beer, seltzers, RTDs, and sodas for clients nationwide. In 2024, Asahi — brewers of Asahi Super Dry — acquired Octopi, making us the U.S. production home of Super Dry. Today, our 250+ person team of beverage industry pros keeps that same local, quality-first spirit alive at a state-of-the-art facility. Our Quality team keeps every batch — for Asahi Super Dry and all our contract partners — meeting spec before it ever leaves the building.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As a Quality Lead Technician, you'll be the go-to person keeping our lab team sharp, our data clean, and every batch in spec — bridging communication between Quality, Packaging, and Liquid Processing every shift.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE GREAT

• A leadership role without leaving the lab — you're coaching, training, and mentoring technicians day to day

• A direct line of sight across departments — Quality, Packaging, and Liquid Processing all count on you

• Clear pathways to grow, with real career planning and goal-setting built into how we support our people

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Organize and direct the workload of lab technicians on shift based on production needs

• Review lab data throughout the shift, catch out-of-spec results, and escalate appropriately

• Coach and train quality technicians on proper analysis, communication, and incident response

• Serve as the shift's point of contact between Quality, Packaging, and Liquid Processing teams

• Oversee the quality hold process and ensure clear, detailed communication up and across departments

WHAT YOU BRING

Must-haves:

• 6+ months of experience as a lab technician in the beverage industry, or 1+ year as a quality lab technician in food or manufacturing

• Strong attention to detail, organization, and data interpretation skills

• Comfortable leading and coaching others in a fast-paced environment

• Able to lift 55 lbs as needed

Nice-to-haves:

• Bachelor of Science in a related science field (Biology, Food Science, Chemistry, etc.)

• Knowledge of HACCP, SQF, GMPs, and food safety regulations

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage — effective the 1st of the month after 30 days

• Company-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance

• 401(k) eligible after 3 months, with company match — 100% up to 3%, 50% on the next 2%

• 120 hours of PTO annually, with accrual that grows the longer you're here

• 9 paid holidays (if they fall on your scheduled workday)

• Eligible for annual company performance bonus

• A free beer after shift, because you earned it

CURRENTLY HIRING FOR

• Weekend Night | Friday – Sunday | 6pm – 6am

PAY BY SHIFT

Pay starts at $23.00/hr based on experience. Shifts outside of 1st shift include an additional shift differential on top of that base — never a lower starting rate, just added pay for the shift.

• Weekend Day — $23.00/hr base + $5.75/hr shift differential = $28.75/hr

Full-time, non-exempt