Quality Engineer

Quality Engineer

The Quality Engineer serves as the site's technical quality expert and complements the strategic and people‑leadership responsibilities of the Quality Manager. This position strengthens food safety, regulatory compliance, data analysis, problem solving, and the Quality Management System while partnering with Operations, Maintenance, Sanitation, Supply Chain, and Production to reduce variation, improve processes, and support long‑term operational excellence.

• Statistical Process Control and data analysis
• Root cause analysis and CAPA
• Internal auditing and audit readiness
• Risk assessment and process validation
• Technical writing and document control
• Cross‑functional influence and communication
• Continuous improvement and change management
• Sound judgment, ownership, and attention to detail

• Serve as the site's FSSC 22000 Practitioner and technical resource for applicable food safety and quality standards.
• Maintain compliance with FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMPs, FDA requirements, customer requirements, and other applicable standards.
• Lead audit readiness, coordinate documentation and evidence, support external audits, and drive timely closure of findings.
• Maintain and improve food safety plans, hazard analyses, prerequisite programs, and verification activities.
• Monitor regulatory and certification changes and translate requirements into practical site actions.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System.
• Manage document control, record retention, internal audits, traceability, mock recalls, and process standardization.
• Ensure procedures, work instructions, forms, and specifications are current, accurate, and effectively implemented.
• Identify system gaps and partner with process owners to implement sustainable improvements.
• Support supplier, material, process, and change‑control activities from a quality systems perspective.
• Analyze production and quality data using SPC and other analytical methods.
• Identify trends, variation, and emerging risks before they result in defects, holds, complaints, or regulatory concerns.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and meaningful quality metrics that support timely operational decisions.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to establish process controls, centerlines, capability targets, and verification methods.
• Validate the effectiveness of improvement actions through measurable data.
• Lead deviation, nonconformance, complaint, and process‑failure investigations using structured root cause methods.
• Apply tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, CAPA, Pareto analysis, and risk assessment.
• Facilitate cross‑functional problem‑solving sessions and ensure corrective and preventive actions address true root causes.
• Track actions through completion, verify effectiveness, and prevent recurrence.
• Support continuous improvement projects that reduce waste, improve consistency, and strengthen product quality.
• Translate complex quality data, standards, and regulatory requirements into clear, practical actions for plant teams.
• Build strong working relationships across departments without creating unnecessary operational friction.
• Provide technical coaching and training on quality systems, food safety, data interpretation, and problem‑solving tools.
• Support trials, new products, equipment changes, process validations, and operational risk reviews.
• Escalate significant quality or food safety risks promptly and recommend fact‑based solutions.

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, engineering, chemistry, quality, or a related technical field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 3+ years of quality, food safety, process engineering, and quality systems experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of FSSC 22000 or SQF, HACCP, GMPs, FDA food regulations, internal auditing, and document control.
• Demonstrated experience with root cause analysis, CAPA, data analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Strong written, verbal, analytical, organizational, and cross‑functional communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and the ability to learn and use QMS, ERP, and manufacturing data systems.

• Laboratory, microbiology, beverage, thermal processing, or hot‑fill manufacturing experience.
• FSSC 22000, SQF, HACCP, PCQI, internal auditor, Lean, or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience applying SPC, process capability analysis, risk assessment, and statistical tools.
• Experience supporting regulatory, certification, customer, and supplier audits.

The company offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, a 401(k) with company match, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, long‑term disability, life insurance, 12 paid holidays, paid time off, and sick time.