The Quality Engineer is responsible for leading daily quality assurance activities on the production floor, ensuring consistent execution of food safety, GMP, and product quality standards. This role manages routine testing and verification activities and supports issue resolution to maintain compliance with regulatory and customer requirements. The Quality Engineer reports to the quality manager and plays a hands-on role in maintaining audit readiness, ensuring product integrity, and reinforcing a culture of “Quality Always” throughout the facility. This position is fully onsite at the Lotus Bakeries’ Mebane Plant and follows a 12‑hour, 2‑2‑3 shift schedule.Quality Management System (QMS) Support <ul style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in" type="disc"> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Support the Quality Manager in maintaining and continuously improving the site Quality Management System.</li> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Ensure that procedures, forms, and work instructions are current, controlled, and properly implemented on the production floor.</li> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Assist in document reviews, updates, and change control processes.</li> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Verify that quality records are complete, accurate, and compliant with regulatory and audit requirements.</li> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Help identify gaps or improvement opportunities within QMS programs, contributing to corrective and preventive actions.</li> </ul> Daily Quality Operations <ul style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in" type="disc"> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Supervise daily quality assurance activities across fabrication, packaging, and sanitation operations.</li> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Provide real‑time leadership on the plant floor to ensure adherence to GMPs, hygiene practices, and food safety standards, supporting production supervisors</li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in" type="disc"> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Monitor process controls, CCPs, and CPs; escalate deviations promptly and support timely resolution. </li> <li style="line-height:115%;margin-top:0.0in;margin-right:0.0in;margin-bottom:0.0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Deliver GMP, hygiene, and product quality training to operators and new employees.</li> </ul> Testing, Inspection, and Verification <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0in;margin-top:0.0px"> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Oversee in-process checks, finished product testing, and environmental monitoring.</li> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Ensure testing procedures, sampling plans, and documentation meet regulatory, customer, and internal standards.</li> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Troubleshoot quality or analytical issues and escalate technical matters.</li> </ul> GMP, Food Safety, and Compliance <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0in;margin-top:0.0px"> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Conduct routine GMP, sanitation, and process audits to verify compliance with company policies and certification requirements.</li> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Support execution of food safety & regulatory compliance programs at the room-by-room, line-by-line level.</li> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Maintain audit-ready documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness.</li> </ul> Nonconformance and Issue Management <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0in;margin-top:0.0px"> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Lead initial investigations for nonconformances, process deviations, or quality defects.</li> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Perform data collection, assist with root cause analysis, and support CAPA actions.</li> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Communicate quality concerns clearly to production teams and help drive corrective actions.</li> </ul> Cross-Functional Support <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0in;margin-top:0.0px"> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Partner closely with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain to address quality issues and support continuous improvement.</li> <li style="background-color:white;margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Serve as the on-shift quality resource for operational troubleshooting and decision-making.</li> </ul>Education (degree): Bachelor’s degree in food science, food technology, chemistry, biology, or engineering preferred Specific knowledge: <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0in;margin-top:0.0px"> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">HACCP (certification desired)</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">SQF or BRC</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">FSMA/FDA requirements</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Global Food Safety Initiative requirements</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Regulatory audits (FDA, BRC, third-party)</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Root cause analysis</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) strongly desired</li> </ul> Experience: <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0in;margin-top:0.0px"> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">0-2 years of experience (food industry or related environment)</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Familiarity with packaging lines, bakery processing equipment, and sanitation processes </li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures and corrective action plans (CAPAs)</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Experience with International Featured Standards is a plus</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Data analysis and quality metrics</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Quality Management Systems</li> </ul> Language: <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0in;margin-top:0.0px"> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">English (verbal and written, required)</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Spanish (conversational preferred but not required)</li> </ul> Personal competences: <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0in;margin-top:0.0px"> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Have continuous improvement mentality</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Be highly quality-oriented</li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Be able to concentrate on details for an extended period of time </li> <li style="margin:0.0in 0.0in 0.0in 0.0px;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif">Demonstrate Team Spirit, Open Dialogue, Passion</li> </ul>

Quality Engineer (Mebane, United States) @ LOTUS BAKERIES CORPORATE NV

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