Fulltime Italian Pizza Chef Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pizza Maker

Work the Dough. Tend the Fire. Honor the Craft. 

Exceptional opportunity to work for Lucania, a new and unique piazza-inspired restaurant opening at the Ferry Building in Fall 2026.

Brought to you by the A16 Restaurant Group, Lucania is inspired by Southern Italian piazzas. It will be a gathering place where coffee turns into lunch, aperitivo into dinner, and the room fills as the day unfolds. Lucania becomes a place you can return to at any hour and find it alive, adding a sense of energy and gathering that the Ferry Building has not consistently held.

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We are seeking an experienced Pizza Maker / Pizzaiolo with an innate sense of hospitality and genuine curiosity about the people, places, and traditions behind every bottle. Lucania's wine program will be rooted in Southern Italy while celebrating the extraordinary diversity of Italian wine.

We're looking for someone who can make wine exciting and approachable, whether introducing a guest to an indigenous grape they've never heard of or helping a longtime collector discover a new producer.

THE ROLE

As a Pizzaiolo at Lucania, you'll work at the center of one of the restaurant's most visible and dynamic stations.

You'll be responsible for handling, stretching, topping, and baking pizzas while maintaining consistency throughout the service. You'll work closely with culinary leadership and the kitchen team to understand the dough, manage the oven, maintain your mise en place, and ensure every pizza leaving the station meets Lucania's standards.

This role requires speed and precision, but also an understanding that dough and fire aren't completely predictable. We're looking for someone who can pay attention, adapt, and develop a genuine feel for the craft.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Stretch, top, and bake pizzas according to Lucania's recipes, techniques, and quality standards.
• Operate and manage a wood-fired oven safely and confidently throughout service.
• Monitor oven temperature and fire throughout the shift, adjusting as needed for consistent results.
• Understand and evaluate dough throughout its fermentation and proofing process.
• Handle dough carefully to maintain its structure and quality.
• Portion, ball, store, and rotate dough in accordance with production standards.
• Prepare and maintain all pizza station mise en place.
• Apply toppings accurately and consistently according to recipes and portion standards.
• Work with speed, focus, and consistency during high-volume service.
• Evaluate each finished pizza for bake, texture, presentation, and overall quality before it leaves the station.
• Communicate clearly with chefs, expo, and fellow cooks to maintain service timing and flow.
• Monitor product levels and communicate prep and production needs before shortages occur.
• Follow proper food handling, labeling, storage, cooling, and FIFO procedures.
• Minimize waste through careful dough handling, portioning, and product management.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary pizza station and oven area throughout the shift.
• Properly use, clean, and care for pizza tools, equipment, and work areas.
• Support dough production, kitchen prep, and other stations when needed.
• Contribute to a kitchen culture built on respect, accountability, collaboration, and pride in the work.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous professional pizza-making experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working with wood-fired ovens strongly preferred.
• Experience working with fermented pizza dough and understanding basic dough handling techniques.
• Ability to stretch pizza dough by hand consistently.
• Strong understanding of mise-en-place and station organization.
• Ability to work efficiently and remain composed during high-volume service.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to consistency.
• Genuine interest in Italian pizza, ingredients, and culinary traditions.
• Knowledge of Southern Italian cuisine is a plus.
• Ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively with the kitchen team.
• Understanding of food safety and sanitation practices.
• Reliable, punctual, and prepared to work as scheduled.
• Current California Food Handler Card or ability to obtain prior to start.

WHAT SETS YOU APART

• You know that dough tells you what it needs if you pay attention.
• You understand that managing the fire is as important as building the pizza.
• You can move quickly without becoming careless.
• You care about the bake, not just how fast the pizza leaves the oven.
• You respect fermentation and understand that temperature, time, and environment matter.
• You take pride in a clean, organized station even in the middle of a busy service.
• You respect ingredients and understand that simplicity leaves nowhere for poor execution to hide.
• You communicate when something isn't right instead of sending it anyway.
• You want to keep learning about dough, fire, and the pizza traditions of Southern Italy.
• You understand that the pizza station may be your responsibility, but service belongs to the entire team.

THE DETAILS

• Full-time and part-time positions available.
• Hourly, non-exempt position.
• San Francisco, CA · In-person.
• Availability for mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events may be required based on scheduling needs.
• This position requires standing and walking for extended periods, frequent bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling, and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Work is performed in a fast-paced commercial kitchen with exposure to heat, sharp equipment, and varying temperatures.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

A16 takes care of its people. We offer:

• $19.61-$25.00
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Opportunity to work in a respectful, positive, and supportive workplace that encourages excellence, growth, and innovation

Sound like you? We’d love to hear from you.

Please submit your letter of interest and resume to: careers@lucaniasf.com

Equal Employment Opportunity

A16 is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). A16 will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.