Artisan Pastry Baker

Join Matilda's as an Artisan Pastry Baker and take ownership of our pastry program from the ground up. We're seeking a dedicated baker with 0 2 years of experience who is ready to start their day at 3:00am, Wednesday through Sunday. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your craft in a professional kitchen environment, working with quality ingredients and mastering traditional techniques.

• Assess and manage proof stages for all laminated and enriched doughs across the morning production cycle
  

• Monitor retarder and proofer conditions; adjust timing for ambient temperature, humidity, and dough behavior rather than clock alone
  

• Sequence proofing so that product reaches the oven at correct stage and the case is filled on schedule
  

• Escalate under- or over-proofed batches rather than baking them off
  

• Scale, cut, fill, shape, and pan all viennoiserie and pastry items to specification
  

• Hold unit weight and dimension within tolerance across the full batch
  

• Prepare fillings, creams, and components as directed by the bake sheet
  

• Load, rotate, and manage Deck and Convection deck ovens across overlapping bakes
  

• Manage steam, deck temperature, and bake times per item specification
  

• Evaluate finished product for color, lift, layer definition, and internal structure; adjust within established parameters
  

• Maintain oven logs and note deviations
  

• Glaze, garnish, dust, and finish all pastry items to the visual standard set by the lead baker
  

• Ensure garnish placement and quantity are consistent across every unit in a batch
  

• Stage and organize product for case fill; communicate counts to front of house before open
  

• Ensure the pastry case is complete and correct at service open
  

• Work from written bake sheets and production specifications without deviation
  

• Self-check unit weights and finished appearance throughout the shift
  

• Flag ingredient, equipment, or product issues to the Founding or/and Lead Baker promptly
  

• Contribute to daily production records and waste tracking
  

• Set full mise en place before beginning production
  

• Maintain a clean, organized station throughout the shift clean as you go, not at the end
  

• Follow all food safety, allergen handling, and sanitation requirements per CalCode and Santa Monica health regulations
  

• Complete opening and closing checklists for the pastry station
  

• Maintain equipment per manufacturer and house procedure; report malfunctions immediately
  

• Coordinate with the bread program on shared oven and bench time
  

• Hand off accurate product counts and any day-of notes to front-of-house staff at open
  

• Maintain professional presentation and composure in a fully visible open kitchen
  

• Participate in tastings, calibration sessions, and training as scheduled
  

This list describes the general nature of the work and is not an exhaustive inventory of all duties. Responsibilities may be adjusted as the business requires.

What We're Looking For:

• Early riser with reliability and attention to detail
  
• Willingness to learn and grow in a pastry-focused role
  
• Ability to work independently and maintain high standards consistently
  
• Passion for artisan baking and quality craftsmanship
  

What We Offer:

• $22/hour plus tips
  
• Consistent Wednesday Sunday schedule
  
• Opportunity to develop expertise in artisan pastry techniques
  

To apply, please click the apply button on Poached.