Quality Engineer

Lotus Bakeries; Mebane (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plans

Mental Health support

401(k) Retirement Plan with employer 


Disability Programs

Health Savings

Flexible Spending Accounts

Family-forming benefits

Life and Serious Injury Benefits

Paid time off & sick leave

Job summary

Lotus Bakeries in Mebane, NC is seeking a Quality Engineer to lead daily quality assurance activities on the production floor, ensuring GMP, food safety, and product quality standards are consistently met. This role is fully onsite at the Mebane Plant and operates on a 12-hour, 2-2-3 shift schedule, reporting to the quality manager.

The candidate will support the site Quality Management System, perform in-process checks, and drive continuous improvement through CAPA actions, audits, and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive experience in CPG sales, preferably within food or beverage categories.
• Proven experience managing national retail accounts in grocery or mass channels.
• Expertise in trade promotion management, forecasting, and annual planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily quality assurance activities on the production floor.
• Support GMP, hygiene, and food safety standards and audit readiness.
• Oversee in-process checks, finished product testing, and environmental monitoring.
• Conduct routine GMP, sanitation, and process audits to verify compliance.
• Lead investigations for nonconformances and drive CAPA actions.
• Collaborate with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Engineering and Supply Chain.

Skills

GMP compliance

Food safety

Quality assurance

Documentation

Cross-functional

Tools

Nielsen

IRI

SPINS

Job description

THE ROLE

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.

SCOPE

Quality Management System (QMS) Support

• Support the Quality Manager in maintaining and continuously improving the site Quality Management System.
• Ensure that procedures, forms, and work instructions are current, controlled, and properly implemented on the production floor.
• Assist in document reviews, updates, and change control processes.
• Verify that quality records are complete, accurate, and compliant with regulatory and audit requirements.
• Help identify gaps or improvement opportunities within QMS programs, contributing to corrective and preventive actions.

Daily Quality Operations

• Supervise daily quality assurance activities across fabrication, packaging, and sanitation operations.
• Provide real‑time leadership on the plant floor to ensure adherence to GMPs, hygiene practices, and food safety standards, supporting production supervisors
• Monitor process controls, CCPs, and CPs; expedite deviations promptly and support timely resolution.
• Deliver GMP, hygiene, and product quality training to operators and new employees.

Testing, Inspection, and Verification

• Oversee in-process checks, finished product testing, and environmental monitoring.
• Ensure testing procedures, sampling plans, and documentation meet regulatory, customer, and internal standards.
• Troubleshoot quality or analytical issues and expedite technical matters.

GMP, Food Safety, and Compliance

• Conduct routine GMP, sanitation, and process audits to verify compliance with company policies and certification requirements.
• Support execution of food safety & regulatory compliance programs at the room‑by‑room, line‑by‑line level.
• Maintain audit‑ready documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness.

Nonconformance and Issue Management

• Lead initial investigations for nonconformances, process deviations, or quality defects.
• Perform data collection, assist with root cause analysis, and support CAPA actions.
• Communicate quality concerns clearly to production teams and help drive corrective actions.

Cross-Functional Support

• Partner closely with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain to address quality issues and support continuous improvement.
• Serve as the on-shift quality resource for operational troubleshooting and decision-making.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive experience in CPG sales, preferably within food or beverage categories.
• Proven experience managing national retail accounts in grocery or mass channels.
• Expertise in trade promotion management, forecasting, and annual planning.
• Proficient in syndicated data platforms (Nielsen, IRI, SPINS) and capable of turning insights into compelling customer‑facing stories.
• Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, while thriving in a nimble, entrepreneurial environment.
• Prior experience managing and leading broker relationships is a plus.

BENEFITS

• Health Plans
• Mental Health support
• a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Disability Programs
• Health Savings
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Family-forming benefits
• Life and Serious Injury Benefits
• We also offer paid leave of absence programs including paid time off and sick leave