Quality Engineer - Operational Excellence

The Quality Engineer – Operational Excellence plays a critical role in driving continuous improvement initiatives across the site. This position operates within a cross-functional team focused on process optimization, root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and data-driven decision-making.

This role ensures that all improvement activities are executed in alignment with food safety, SQF, FDA, and low-acid canned food (LACF) regulatory requirements, while improving process capability, reducing waste, and enhancing operational performance.

This role reports to the Quality Control Manager with a dotted line to the Operational Excellence Director

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Lead and support cross-functional improvement projects targeting process efficiency, scrap reduction, and product quality.
• Facilitate and execute root cause analysis (RCA) using structured methodologies (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone, Fault Tree).
• Develop, implement, and verify Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) to ensure sustainable resolution of issues.
• Analyze production and quality data to identify trends, variability, and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure process improvements are practical, validated, and sustained.
• Ensure all changes and improvements comply with:
• SQF Code requirements
• FSMA Preventive Controls
• FDA LACF (21 CFR 113) regulations
• Support process validation and verification activities, including thermal process capability and critical control points.
• Drive standardization through work instructions, SOPs, and best practices.
• Participate in and support internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Lead or support non-conformance investigations.
• Utilize statistical tools to evaluate process performance and capability.
• Collaborate with R&D and Engineering on new product and process introductions, ensuring food safety and quality risks are addressed.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Qualifications and Duties:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The Quality Engineer should possess knowledge, skills and abilities listed below: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field.
• 3–7+ years of experience in food manufacturing (pet food strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated experience in process improvement, RCA, and CAPA systems.
• Working knowledge of: SQF, HACCP, FSMA, FDA LACF requirements (21 CFR 113)
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence methodologies (certification preferred).
• Strong data analysis capability (Excel, Minitab, SPC tools).
• Experience with SAP and document management systems.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights and practical solutions.
• Effective cross-functional collaboration and communication to various levels of the organization.
• Project management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while maintaining compliance.
• ASQ Quality Engineer Certification preferred
• Experience in wet pet food and/or low-acid canned food (LACF) preferred.
• Ability to interpret thermal processing data and process capability preferred.

Computer Skills:

The successful candidate must be proficient in MS Office applications, Minitab (or equivalent statistical software), SAP and a DMS program.

Language Skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedural manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization. German language speaking skills is another advantage.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and ability to apply concepts such as: fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, and talk and hear. The employee must regularly lift and / or move up to 15 pounds, frequently lift and / or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift and / or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Allergen Awareness

Products produced in this facility may contain the following allergens: Egg, Shellfish, Fish, Wheat/Gluten.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Job descriptions are not intended to create a contract, nor are they to be construed to constitute contractual obligations of any kind or a contract of employment between Saturn Petcare Inc. and any of its employees. The provisions of job descriptions have been developed at the discretion of management and may be amended or cancelled at any time by Saturn Petcare Inc. with or without notice.

Employment with Saturn Petcare Inc. is voluntarily entered, and the employee is free to resign at will at any time, with or without cause. Similarly, Saturn Petcare Inc. may terminate the employment relationship at will at any time, with or without notice or cause, so long as there is not violation of applicable federal or state law.