Job Profile: Production Technician I - Manufacturing

Job Overview

The Production Technician I is the operational core of cannabis product manufacturing. This individual executes the precise, step-by-step processes that transform raw cannabis extracts and ingredients into finished consumer goods, such as edibles, tinctures, and vape cartridges. The role operates within a highly regulated framework, governed by state cannabis regulations and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Success depends on an unwavering commitment to accuracy in measurement, strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and meticulous documentation within seed-to-sale tracking systems. The technician's work directly ensures product consistency, safety, and regulatory compliance, forming the foundation of the company's brand reputation and its license to operate. This position is critical for converting scientific formulations into marketable, reliable products at scale.

A Day in the Life

The shift begins in a gowning room, where the technician dons personal protective equipment (PPE), including a lab coat, hairnet, and gloves, to maintain a sanitary production environment. The first task is reviewing the day's production schedule, which outlines a batch of 5,000 units of 10mg THC raspberry-flavored gummies. The technician retrieves the official batch record, a multi-page document that will guide every action for this specific production run.

The technician proceeds to the formulation suite. The first critical step is ingredient verification. They locate the specified lot of cannabis distillate. Using a barcode scanner, they confirm the lot number against the batch record and review its Certificate of Analysis (COA). The COA confirms the distillate's potency is 91.5% THC. Based on this precise percentage, the technician performs a calculation to determine that 54.64 grams of this specific distillate are required to achieve the target 10mg of THC per gummy for the entire batch. They then perform the same verification for all other ingredients, from pectin and sugar to the specific raspberry flavoring.

At a calibrated digital scale in a vented enclosure, the technician meticulously weighs out exactly 54.64 grams of the viscous distillate. Every measurement is double-checked by a second technician or lead, and both individuals initial the batch record to confirm the critical step. The weighed ingredients are then combined in a large, jacketed mixing vessel following the precise sequence and temperature ramps detailed in the SOP. The technician monitors the mixing process, ensuring the active ingredient is fully homogenized into the gummy slurry to guarantee consistent dosage in every single piece.

Once the mixture reaches the correct viscosity and temperature, it is transferred to an automated depositor machine. The technician has already cleaned, sanitized, and set up this machine according to its specific SOP. They calibrate the deposit volume to ensure each gummy mold is filled correctly. As the machine runs, the technician performs in-process quality checks every 15 minutes. This involves pulling a sample of gummies, checking their weight, and visually inspecting for imperfections. All observations are logged directly into the batch record.

After the production run is complete, the focus shifts to compliance and sanitation. The technician meticulously completes the batch record, accounting for every gram of cannabis extract used and calculating the production yield. They enter all relevant data—lot numbers, weights, and final unit counts—into the state's seed-to-sale tracking software, such as METRC. This digital entry is a legal requirement that tracks the cannabis from its raw form to the final packaged good. The final part of the day involves a complete breakdown and sanitation of all equipment used, following detailed cleaning SOPs to prevent any cross-contamination between different product batches.

Core Responsibilities & Operational Impact

The Production Technician I is accountable for execution across three key operational areas:

1. Manufacturing & Product Execution

• Precise Ingredient Measurement: Accurately weighing or measuring all raw materials, including active cannabis ingredients and excipients, according to the specifications of the master batch record.
• Equipment Operation: Setting up, operating, and troubleshooting manufacturing equipment such as mixers, homogenizers, depositors, and vape filling machines while adhering to all safety protocols.
• SOP Adherence: Following detailed, step-by-step Standard Operating Procedures for all formulation, manufacturing, and cleaning processes without deviation.
• Material Handling: Managing the physical flow of raw materials and work-in-progress inventory, ensuring proper storage conditions and clear labeling at all times.

2. Quality Assurance & Control

• In-Process Checks: Performing routine quality control tests during production runs, such as checking product weights, temperatures, appearance, and texture to ensure they meet quality standards.
• Sanitation & Environmental Control: Executing rigorous cleaning and sanitation protocols for all equipment and production areas to prevent microbial contamination and product cross-contamination.
• Sample Collection: Aseptically collecting samples of finished products for mandatory third-party laboratory testing, ensuring the samples are representative of the entire batch.
• Deviation Reporting: Identifying and immediately communicating any deviations from the SOPs or quality standards to the Production Supervisor or Quality Assurance department.

3. Compliance & Documentation

• Batch Record Management: Meticulously and accurately recording all production activities, measurements, and quality checks in real-time within the official batch record for each product.
• Seed-to-Sale Tracking: Entering all required production data into the state-mandated cannabis tracking system, ensuring a complete and auditable chain of custody for all cannabis materials.
• Logbook Maintenance: Maintaining accurate and up-to-date logs for equipment usage, cleaning schedules, and scale calibration to ensure regulatory readiness.

Strategic Impact Analysis

The Production Technician's actions have a direct and measurable impact on the company's financial performance and strategic objectives:

Chain of Command & Key Stakeholders

Reports To: This position typically reports to the Production Supervisor or the Manufacturing Manager.

Similar Roles: This role shares core competencies with positions such as a Compounding Technician, Batching Operator, or Machine Operator in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industries. The fundamental skills of following a recipe or batch record, operating machinery, and maintaining a clean environment are directly applicable. Within the cannabis industry, this role can be a stepping stone to a Production Technician II, a Lead Technician, or specialized roles in product development or quality assurance.

Works Closely With: This position requires constant communication and collaboration with the Quality Assurance Technician to verify in-process checks, the Formulation Chemist to clarify instructions on new products, and the Packaging Team to ensure a smooth handoff of finished goods.

Technology, Tools & Systems

Proficiency with specific manufacturing technologies is central to the role:

• Seed-to-Sale (S2S) Software: Daily use of platforms like METRC, BioTrack, or Leafly to track all cannabis materials from raw inputs to finished goods, a non-negotiable compliance requirement.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: Interacting with ERP software to manage inventory levels, execute work orders, and track batch production data.
• Manufacturing Equipment: Hands-on operation of industrial kitchen and pharmaceutical-grade equipment, including jacketed kettles, homogenizers, automated depositors, vape cartridge fillers, and capping machines.
• Precision Instruments: Use of calibrated digital scales, pH meters, and temperature probes to ensure formulation accuracy and process control.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

Transferable Skills

Candidates from other regulated industries possess highly relevant and valuable skills:

• Food & Beverage Manufacturing: Experience with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), recipe management, HACCP, and industrial kitchen equipment operation is directly transferable.
• Pharmaceutical / Nutraceutical Production: A background in cGMP environments, meticulous batch record documentation, and cleanroom protocols provides an ideal foundation for this role.
• Baking & Commercial Kitchens: Professional bakers and chefs bring an innate understanding of recipe precision, ingredient interactions, and the importance of process consistency.
• Chemical Compounding: Experience in safely handling and precisely mixing multiple ingredients according to a strict formula aligns perfectly with the core tasks of cannabis product formulation.

Critical Competencies

The role demands specific professional attributes for success:

• Attention to Detail: An exceptional ability to notice and act on minute details, from reading a scale to the third decimal place to spotting a documentation error in a batch record.
• Process-Oriented Mindset: The capacity to follow multi-step procedures consistently and without deviation, understanding that each step has a purpose related to quality or compliance.
• Personal Accountability: A strong sense of ownership for the quality and compliance of one's work, including the integrity of the data entered and products produced.
• Adaptability: The flexibility to work with new product formulations, learn new equipment, and adapt to evolving SOPs in a fast-paced environment.

Top 3 Influential Entities for the Role

These organizations establish the rules and standards that directly shape the daily activities of the Production Technician:

• State Cannabis Regulatory Agency: This is the most dominant entity (e.g., California's Department of Cannabis Control, Colorado's Marijuana Enforcement Division). They create and enforce the specific regulations for product testing, labeling, dosage limits, and seed-to-sale tracking that are embedded in every SOP.
• ASTM International Committee D37 on Cannabis: This body develops voluntary consensus standards for the cannabis industry. Their standards on quality management, laboratory practices, and manufacturing facility design are becoming the industry benchmark for best practices, influencing internal company quality standards.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): While the FDA does not federally regulate THC products, their guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) under 21 CFR Part 111 (for dietary supplements) and Part 110 (for food) are the models that leading cannabis companies adopt to ensure product safety and quality, forming the basis for internal SOPs and facility design.

Acronyms & Terminology