Quality Control Lab Intern Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The QC / Lab Intern is a seasonal, hourly role that performs routine chemical and physical analyses across all stages of the winemaking process, from grape juice to finished wine and bottling samples, following established standard operating procedures. Working under close supervision, this position supports the Winemaking, Cellar, and Bottling teams by identifying, documenting, and communicating any issues that may affect product quality or packaging. The role offers hands-on experience in a production laboratory environment and contributes directly to maintaining consistent, high-quality wine.

Responsibilities

• Follow all company safety policies, procedures, and best practices while working in the lab, cellar, and bottling areas.
• Review bottling schedules and plan daily quality control laboratory activities accordingly.
• Perform quality control checks on bottling lines, including label compliance review to ensure labels meet established standards and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct laboratory analyses on bottling samples using established methods and equipment.
• Perform ATP testing and interpret results to support sanitation and hygiene verification.
• Carry out bottling quality control startup checks and complete hourly monitoring to confirm that production remains within specifications.
• Review pre-bottling analysis results and issue work orders for necessary adjustments, such as dissolved oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), to maintain product quality and consistency.
• Enter, verify, and maintain accurate wine analysis data in the appropriate systems or logs.
• Report and escalate any analysis results that fall outside specifications to ensure timely corrective action.
• Perform routine laboratory analyses on grapes, juice, must, and wine, including measurements of Brix, pH, titratable acidity (TA), free sulfur dioxide (FSO₂), and residual sugar (RS).
• Record and report tank temperatures on a daily basis to support process monitoring and control.
• Pull, label, and prepare daily samples from various production stages for testing and analysis.
• Assist with sample preparation for laboratory tests and other analytical procedures.
• Support additional laboratory tasks, special projects, and process improvement activities as assigned.
• Collaborate with Winemaking, Cellar, and Bottling teams to communicate findings and support quality-focused decision making.

• Prior laboratory experience is required, with 1–2 years of experience in a wine production or similar production environment preferred.
• Basic understanding of wine production processes and wine chemistry.
• Foundational knowledge of laboratory analysis techniques used in a production or quality control setting.
• Basic understanding of viticulture and grape varieties and how they relate to wine quality.
• Ability to work both independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy when performing tests and recording data.
• Ability to follow written standard operating procedures and safety guidelines consistently.
• Willingness and ability to work weekends and overtime during the harvest season as needed.
• Physical ability to stand for extended periods and frequently walk, bend, and reach during the workday.
• Capability to lift up to 50 pounds on a regular basis in a production environment.
• Manual dexterity to use hands for handling materials, operating laboratory instruments, and working with production equipment.
• Visual ability including close vision, color vision, and depth perception to read instruments, observe samples, and evaluate results.
• Ability to detect and distinguish tastes and smells to support sensory aspects of wine evaluation when needed.

• Experience with sample preparation in a laboratory or quality control environment.
• Familiarity with wine-related laboratory parameters such as Brix, pH, titratable acidity, free sulfur dioxide, and residual sugar.
• Comfort working with production data, including entering, verifying, and reporting analytical results.
• Interest in developing deeper knowledge of winemaking, viticulture, and quality assurance practices.
• Strong communication skills to clearly report issues, escalate concerns, and collaborate with production teams.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and support additional lab tasks and projects during peak season.

This role operates in a manufacturing and production setting that includes laboratory, cellar, and bottling areas. The environment may be cold, wet, slippery, and noisy, and involves regular exposure to chemicals, production machinery, forklifts, and other equipment. The position requires frequent stair climbing and working on elevated surfaces such as catwalks, as well as moving between indoor and outdoor areas. Work hours may include irregular shifts, weekends, overtime, and extended hours during the harvest and other peak production periods. Appropriate personal protective equipment is provided and must be worn as required for safe work in laboratory and production areas.

Job Type & Location

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

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $22.00/hr.

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 Acampo,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

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.