Head of Food Safety and Quality Assurance (m/f/d)

Our Mission

At Circus, headquartered in Hamburg with offices in Berlin and Munich, we are pioneering global developments in on-demand autonomous food production. Everything from creation to production and operation - enabled by seamlessly integrated cutting-edge robotics and transformative AI technology.

Our foundation rests in the extensive developments of groundbreaking robotics driven by artificial intelligence, previously the missing link in achieving true autonomous food automation. This is the moment for a new status quo: Just as autonomous driving will disrupt how we build cities, organize our days, and live our lives, so will we shift our whole reality around food.

Our Team is backing a paradigm shift in one of humanity's most important sectors with the sharpest minds in Robotics, AI, Engineering and Culinary, collaborating closely with industry-leading partners to revolutionize every aspect of the food service experience.

Join us as we forge ahead, crafting a future where the art of cooking and the science of technology converge to create a world that thinks differently about food than it has for thousands of years-a world where food means something new.

About the Role

As the Head of Food Safety and Quality Assurance (QA), you will be at the forefront of commercializing our Robotic Kitchen, ensuring that each step in our process upholds the highest standards in food safety and quality. Working across engineering, culinary, and procurement teams, you will oversee the entire lifecycle of our products, from ingredient sourcing to robotic preparation, setting a new standard for autonomous food safety.

Your Daily Business

• Regulatory Compliance & Standards: Partner with development teams and regulatory agencies to ensure food safety and quality standards are integrated into our machine designs and operational processes.

• HACCP & Quality Management:Develop, implement, and continuously enhance the HACCP program, food quality management systems, and cleaning protocols tailored for our robotic kitchen's commercial rollout.

• Testing & Validation: Lead validation tests on ingredients and finished products, conducting diagnostics and quality assessments to guarantee compliance.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work with culinary and procurement teams to set ingredient specifications and oversee field audits, inspections, and quality control measures.

• Supply Chain Audits: Conduct and manage audits of external supply partners to ensure adherence to Circus's quality standards.

Base Qualifications

• Master's degree in Food Science, Agriculture, Environmental Health, Chemistry, Microbiology, or a related field.

• 10+ years in multi-site food safety/QA management in the fresh/ultra-fresh food sector.

• Strong understanding of ISO 22000, IFS Certification, and food safety regulations for equipment.

• Experience in vendor management, food hygiene auditing, and developing continuous improvement cleaning programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in German and prior experience with OKRs.

• Lean Six Sigma training or certification.

• Familiarity with quality management software (e.g., Safefood 360, Intelex).

• Previous experience in a fast-paced start-up or high-growth environment.

Our Offer

• Competitive Compensation: Receive a competitive compensation package with stock options for full-time employees.

• Work-Life Balance:Enjoy regular team events, a hybrid work setup, 2 months per year of remote work (Worcation), unlimited vacation days, and a corporate pension plan.

• Personal Development: €500 personal budget for training, in-house training, and growth opportunities in a fast-paced environment.

• Mobility:Benefit from a €50 monthly budget for mobility or other expenses and a subsidized Dance Mobility subscription for e-bikes/e-mopeds.

• Well-Being: Get access to discounted Urban Sports Club membership and Wellhub for a variety of well-being offerings.