Manager, Quality Operations Engineer

Misfits Market; Northlake (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Annual grocery box credit of $1200

Paid vacation, holidays, and sick days

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Misfits Market in Northlake, IL is seeking a Quality Engineer Manager to oversee quality strategy and compliance in our Fulfillment Center. The successful candidate will manage quality assurance while coaching a dedicated team, ensuring adherence to food safety protocols and developing standard operating procedures.

You will analyze data to make operational improvements and lead initiatives driving quality excellence throughout the facility. This role offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including health insurance and annual grocery credits.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in Quality Assurance or Process Engineering.
• Strong proficiency in Data Analysis and Statistical Process Control.
• Experience with Project Management methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Manage food safety and quality assurance on the floor.
• Lead site investigations into internal errors and customer complaints.
• Maintain strict adherence to GMPs and sanitation standards.

Skills

Data Analysis

Statistical Process Control

Project Management

Lean Six Sigma Principles

Spanish Language Proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Excel

SQL

Tableau

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a hands‑on, data‑driven Quality Engineer Manager to join our Fulfillment Center team. Reporting directly to the Senior Manager, Operations Quality Engineering, you will serve as the oversight lead for facility quality strategy, compliance execution, and cross‑functional performance.

What You’ll Do Daily

• Operational Quality & The "Perfect Box" Mission
• Floor Leadership & Supervision: Manage, coach, and mentor the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Supervisor. Spend meaningful time on the warehouse floor auditing picking, packing, shipping, and sanitation processes to ensure adherence to the "Perfect Box" standard.
• Defect & Error Reduction: Lead site investigations into internal errors (picking mistakes, damaged goods) and customer complaints. Utilize advanced metrics to move the facility from reacting to errors to predictive mitigation.
• Inbound Quality Criteria: Partner with Inbound and Inventory Control teams to establish clear acceptance/rejection parameters for incoming items, ensuring fresh produce and shelf‑stable goods meet absolute criteria before going live in the WMS.
• Continuous Improvement & Project Management
• Process Optimization: Formally trigger and lead critical site CAPA and validation activities. Design engineering and workflow solutions to eliminate process bottlenecks and mitigate product shrink.
• Standardization & Documentation: Own the development, review, and deployment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instructions. Establish efficient document control management processes using the eQMS and supporting repositories.

Transfer of Knowledge

• Change Management: Act as the project lead for new quality initiatives, test methods, validation activities, ensuring timelines are met, and stakeholders (Operations, Merchandising, Logistics) are aligned.
• Data & Statistical Analysis: Utilize SPC, Pareto charts, and trend data to interpret quality signals. Formulate weekly and monthly quality performance roll‑ups and Voice of the Customer feedback loops for regional leadership.
• Decision Support: Use data to influence operational decisions—proving when a process change is necessary based on hard evidence.
• Food Safety & Compliance
• Compliance Guardian: Maintain strict adherence to GMPs and sanitation standards within the warehouse.
• Audit Readiness & SQF Champion: Direct the preparation and maintenance of the site’s Food Safety and Quality Plans. Serve as a key pillar for third‑party, customer, and regulatory audit readiness.
• Culture of Safety: Ensure that quality never comes at the expense of safety. Champion a culture where food safety is everyone’s responsibility.
• Technical & Systems Management
• Electronic QMS & WMS Optimization: Act as the project lead for onboarding electronic Food Safety and Quality Management Systems. Partner with systems engineers to maximize WMS functionality.
• Traceability Verification: Supervise mock recall and trace activities executed by the facility supervisor to consistently hit a recovery target rate of 100% within specified regulatory windows.

Who You Are

• A Culture Change Agent: You know that Quality isn’t about policing people; it’s about coaching them. You can influence associates and managers alike to care about the details.
• Analytical: You love Excel, Google Sheets, SQL, or Tableau. You don’t just see numbers; you see the story they tell about our operations.
• Resilient: Fulfillment centers are fast‑paced environments. You can handle shifting priorities and keep a cool head under pressure.
• A Problem Solver: You don’t just put a band‑aid on a problem; you find the root cause (5 Whys, Fishbone) and fix it forever.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing), Food Science, Supply Chain, or a related technical field.
• Experience: 3–5 years of experience in a Quality Assurance, Continuous Improvement, or Process Engineering role within a manufacturing, food production, or high‑volume fulfillment environment.
• Technical Skills: Strong proficiency in Data Analysis and Statistical Process Control.
• Experience with Project Management methodologies.
• Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles (Green Belt is a plus).
• Food Safety: Familiarity with FDA, USDA‑AMS & FSIS, GFSI, FSMA regulations, HACCP Certified, and SQF Practitioner Certified.
• Preferred (but not required): Experience implementing or maintaining SQF, BRC, or ISO 9001 systems.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional communication skills—ability to translate technical quality concepts into clear instructions for warehouse associates.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to spend 50% of time on the warehouse floor in cold environments (36°F and below).

Details Of Position & Benefits

• Salary range: $90,000 - $110,000 / year
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Annual Misfits grocery box credit of $1200 paid in weekly installments
• Life insurance
• Paid vacation time
• Paid holidays
• Paid sick days
• Commuter benefits