Quality Engineer

Darnel, Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Darnel Group in Charlotte, NC is seeking a Quality Engineer to support, maintain, and improve quality systems in a food-grade packaging environment. You will ensure GMP and SQF compliance, partner with Operations to reduce defects, and drive audit readiness and continuous improvement initiatives.

The role requires familiarity with quality systems, data analysis, root cause investigation, and documentation practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Quality, Operations, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred.
• Two to five years of quality, process control, food manufacturing, packaging, or related manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience with GMP, SQF, ISO, or similarly regulated manufacturing environment preferred.
• Knowledge of quality systems, process control, corrective action, root cause analysis, audit preparation, and product inspection practices.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with ability to review data, identify trends, and recommend practical solutions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, supervisors, managers, customers, auditors, and cross-functional partners.
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills and ability to maintain accurate records, reports, quality documentation, and action item tracking.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

Responsibilities

• Support and maintain plant quality systems to ensure GMP, SQF, food safety, customer, and internal requirements.
• Analyze quality data, production trends, inspection results, and customer feedback to identify improvement opportunities and reduce defects.
• Lead or support root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and verify close-out for issues and audit findings.
• Develop, maintain, and improve quality documentation, inspection criteria, process controls, SOPs, and quality records.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, HR, and other teams to improve product quality and compliance.
• Prepare documentation and coordinate responses for internal, customer, regulatory, and certification audits.
• Provide technical quality support for in-process and finished goods inspections, product trials, and manufacturing improvement initiatives.
• Train team members on quality standards, food safety, inspection practices, and corrective action processes.
• Monitor quality KPIs and prepare reports and recommendations for plant leadership.
• Promote a safe, clean, compliant, quality-focused work environment and follow GMP and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Quality systems

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Quality related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Darnel Group, we focus on what truly matters—environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The Quality Engineer supports, maintains, and continuously improves quality systems in a food-grade packaging manufacturing environment. This role helps ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Safe Quality Food (SQF) requirements, customer specifications, and internal quality standards while partnering with Operations to improve product quality, reduce defects, strengthen audit readiness, and promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Support and maintain plant quality systems to ensure compliance with GMP, SQF, food safety, customer, and internal quality requirements.
• Analyze quality data, production trends, inspection results, customer feedback, and nonconformance activity to identify improvement opportunities and reduce defects.
• Lead or support root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and follow‑up verification for quality issues, complaints, audit findings, and process concerns.
• Develop, maintain, and improve quality documentation, inspection criteria, process controls, standard work, SOPs, quality records, and related reporting tools.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, Human Resources, and other cross‑functional teams to improve product quality, process reliability, and overall compliance.
• Support internal, customer, regulatory, and certification audits by preparing documentation, coordinating responses, and ensuring timely completion of assigned action items.
• Provide technical quality support for in‑process and finished goods inspections, product trials, process changes, and manufacturing improvement initiatives.
• Assist with training team members on quality standards, food safety requirements, inspection expectations, documentation practices, and corrective action processes.
• Monitor quality key performance indicators and prepare clear reports, summaries, and recommendations for plant leadership.
• Promote a safe, clean, compliant, and quality‑focused work environment by following all company policies, safety procedures, GMP requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Required Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Quality, Operations, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred.
• Two to five years of quality, process control, food manufacturing, packaging, or related manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience working in a GMP, SQF, food safety, ISO, or similarly regulated manufacturing environment preferred.
• Knowledge of quality systems, process control, corrective action, root cause analysis, audit preparation, and product inspection practices.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills with the ability to review data, identify trends, and recommend practical solutions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, supervisors, managers, customers, auditors, and cross‑functional partners.
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills and ability to maintain accurate records, reports, quality documentation, and action item tracking.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

Preferred Skills/Experience

• SQF Practitioner, HACCP, Lean, Six Sigma, ASQ, or similar quality or continuous improvement certification.
• Experience supporting customer, regulatory, third‑party, or certification audits in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with statistical process control, quality trend analysis, and continuous improvement tools.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

Typical/Expected Overnight Travel:

Occasional overnight travel may be required; valid passport required.

Internal Communication:

Communicate regularly with plant leadership, Quality, Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, Human Resources, supervisors, managers, and team members regarding quality systems, inspections, corrective actions, audits, process improvements, documentation, and compliance requirements.

External Communication:

Communicate with customers, suppliers, auditors, certification bodies, vendors, and other external partners regarding quality expectations, documentation requests, audit activity, corrective actions, specifications, and compliance‑related follow‑up.

Physical Requirements

Vision correctable to normal range; near and far visual acuity required to review products, records, screens, and workplace conditions.

Frequent walking and standing in office, lab, warehouse, and manufacturing environments.

Occasional to frequent bending and stooping while observing processes, inspecting product, or accessing materials.

Ability to occasionally lift or move items up to 25 lbs.

Must be able to communicate clearly in person, by phone, and in writing.

This role operates in both office and manufacturing environments, including active production areas.

Production floor temperatures may vary by season and may include hot or cold conditions.

Regular exposure to machinery noise, moving equipment, production materials, and plant activity.

Required PPE may include earplugs, eye protection, safety‑toed shoes, hairnets, and any additional PPE required by area or task.

Flexibility may be required to support quality concerns, audits, investigations, or production needs outside normal working hours.

Disclaimer

This job description outlines the general duties and responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all tasks, responsibilities, or qualifications. Job descriptions prepared by Darnel Group serve as outlines only. Due to business needs, team members may be required to perform duties not listed in this job description, and the Company may revise, add, or remove duties as necessary.

Darnel Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices, including selection, hiring, assignment, reassignment, promotion, transfer, compensation, training, discipline, and termination. The Company prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on any category protected by federal, state, or local law. Darnel Group also provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would create an undue hardship for the Company.