Production Associate Machine Operator Jobs in California

Job Title: Production Associate

Job Description

The Production Associate plays a key role in a high-volume food manufacturing environment, ensuring production lines and machinery operate safely and efficiently. This role focuses on handling raw materials, following recipes and production specifications, operating and adjusting equipment, and packaging finished products while maintaining strict quality, safety, and hygiene standards. The position works on 12-hour shifts on a rotating schedule, supporting multiple areas of the production process as needed.

Responsibilities

• Unload incoming shipments of materials and supplies to support production operations, including heavy lifting up to 50 lbs and stacking materials safely.
• Handle, weigh, measure, and store raw materials and dry ingredients in accordance with production specifications and safe food handling practices.
• Follow detailed production specifications and recipes as product moves through the process to ensure the quality and consistency of the final product.
• Operate various food production machinery and manufacturing equipment safely and efficiently, including starting, stopping, and monitoring equipment during production.
• Perform operator adjustments on equipment, observe operating settings, and adjust controls as needed to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific products.
• Maintain accurate production records, including data such as product weight, amount processed, downtime, product type, and processing times.
• Assist in multiple areas of the production process, moving product throughout the facility, stocking production materials, and supporting other production workers to meet deadlines and quotas.
• Package finished product according to specifications, prepare items for shipment, and help organize and retrieve products as needed.
• Use warehouse equipment, such as forklifts, to move, organize, and stage product and materials ahead of production and shipments, when trained and authorized.
• Perform basic maintenance and cleaning of machinery and workstations to maintain a safe, organized, and efficient production environment.
• Ensure tools and equipment are in good working order and promptly report any defective materials, missing tools, or equipment issues to supervision.
• Complete additional tasks as required or assigned and remain flexible and willing to help in various areas of the production process as operational needs change.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of manufacturing or production experience, preferably in a high-volume environment.
• Minimum 6 months of food manufacturing experience with knowledge of food handling practices and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• At least 2 years of machine operating experience in a manufacturing or production setting.
• Proven ability to operate production machinery and equipment safely and efficiently.
• Mechanical inclination and ability to understand basic equipment functions and adjustments.
• Experience in food manufacturing operations, including handling ingredients and following recipes.
• Knowledge and application of GMPs, HACCP, and safe food handling practices.
• Experience as a production associate, machine operator, or similar role in a manufacturing environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Basic use of computers, tablets, scanners, or similar devices to record and track production data.
• Ability to safely operate a sit-down forklift to move product and materials, when trained and authorized.
• Familiarity with warehouse operations, including stocking production materials and preparing products for shipment.
• Attention to detail in following SOPs, recipes, and production specifications to maintain product quality.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and hygiene standards in a food manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented production setting and collaborate with other production workers.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to different areas of the production process and take on new responsibilities.
• Capability to work 12-hour shifts on rotating schedules including weekends and every other Wednesday.

Why Work Here?

Team members enjoy a unique product-focused culture with access to discounted wholesale chocolate, including large-format bars, and receive free chocolate on their birthday. The organization encourages internal career progression, inviting employees to express interest in new opportunities and rewarding proficiency and strong performance with promotion or role changes. There is clear potential to grow into other production positions or group lead roles, offering long-term development and advancement in a stable food manufacturing environment.

Work Environment

This role is based in a food manufacturing facility with distinct temperature zones: one side operates as a hot manufacturing area that can reach approximately 105°F, while the other side is a colder chocolate cooling and packaging area at around 68°F. The environment includes continuous production activity, exposure to noise, and regular interaction with machinery and equipment. Employees work 12-hour shifts on structured production schedules, including Sunday through Tuesday with every other Wednesday, or Thursday through Saturday with every other Wednesday, on both day (6:00 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.) and night (6:00 p.m. to 6:15 a.m.) shifts depending on assignment. Safety, quality, and hygiene are strictly enforced, with required compliance to lockout/tagout procedures, GMPs, HACCP, allergen controls, and company-specific policies. On the production floor, employees must wear a uniform, steel-toed shoes, safety glasses, hearing protection, hair net, beard net, and task-specific safety gear. The work is physically demanding, requiring standing and walking for long periods, climbing stairs, frequent bending and reaching, and lifting in excess of 50 lbs on a repetitive basis. Certain areas include magnets, and individuals with pacemakers cannot work near these magnets for safety reasons.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Union City, CA.

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $23.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Union City,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 2026.

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meet their goals, skills, and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role in solving companies’ construction, manufacturing, and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are-everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.