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Empirical Foods

Meat processing, lean ground beef producer

Equipment Operator

Full-TimeDeadline 11/1/26
No salary listed
Entry
Garden City, KS, USA
In Person
Manufacturing & Production OperationsMachine & Process Operation

About the job

Requirements
  • Basic math skills.
  • General knowledge of computers and software is preferred.
  • Strong mechanical aptitude.
  • Good observation skills with the ability to troubleshoot problems.
  • Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
  • Ability to work independently as well as with others.
  • Ability to ask questions regarding unfamiliar tasks.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of employees in written and verbal form.
  • Regular and punctual attendance is required.
  • Ability to sit, stand, walk, climb, twist, reach, bend, and lift.
  • Ability to lift, push, and pull up to 60 pounds.
  • Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, including weekends.
  • Minimum of 1 year of plant production experience or equivalent is preferred.
  • High school diploma or equivalent, or verifiable ability to perform essential job functions.
Responsibilities
  • Monitor and control the operation of equipment, people, and processes required to meet production and sanitation requirements.
  • Ensure equipment performs at optimal levels and complies with safety and quality assurance standards.
  • Communicate production, teardown, cleaning, and rebuilding issues to plant management.
  • Assist with teardown, cleaning, and rebuilding of equipment.
  • Ensure efficient and timely startup of equipment to maintain production schedules.
  • Set up panels and equipment properly for production.
  • Monitor equipment displays to ensure proper operation and material processing for a quality finished product.
  • Notify management of problems or correct them when appropriate.
  • Maintain procedures and processes established by ownership.
  • Ensure smooth shift transitions and communicate relevant information to prevent production interruptions.
  • Maintain cleanliness of the plant and work areas.
  • Work with other departments to solve problems and complete tasks.
  • Provide stewardship and oversight of machine-center upkeep and reliability as required.
  • Provide backup leadership to the supervisor as required.
  • Perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Perform other assigned duties.
Desired Qualifications
  • General knowledge of computers and software.
  • Minimum of 1 year of plant production experience or equivalent.

About the company

Empirical Foods processes beef to produce lean ground beef and other protein products for food service and retail. It uses an in-house proprietary process that warms beef trimmings, centrifuges fat, and treats the product to kill bacteria to yield about 95% lean ground beef. They also offer boxed beef and pork, portioned steaks and roasts, and fully cooked seasoned items under brands like Noble Valley, Two Rivers Meat Co, and Dos Rios Taco Meat. They differentiate themselves by owning the technology to turn by-products into high-value protein and serving large packers, ground beef producers, fast-food chains, and grocers, with capacity expansion including a new plant in Garden City, Kansas.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota

Founded

N/A

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Garden City opened April 8, 2026, adding more than 250 jobs and new volume.
  • Record-high beef prices strengthen Empirical’s pitch for cheaper lean ground beef.
  • Phase II at Garden City targets 80 million pounds annually if demand supports it.

What critics are saying

  • USDA forecast tighter calf supplies in late 2026 squeeze Empirical’s input volumes.
  • Ground beef remains haunted by pink slime stigma, threatening restaurant and retail demand.
  • A major food-safety incident at Dakota Dunes or Garden City would devastate the brand.

What makes Empirical Foods unique

  • Garden City’s 280,000-square-foot plant doubled lean ground beef capacity in 2026.
  • Empirical’s proprietary centrifuge process extracts 95% lean beef from trimmings, not cattle expansion.
  • Forty-five years of technology claim 21 extra pounds of beef per head.

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Benefits

  • Flexible Work Hours