Quality Engineer

United Petfood; Mishawaka (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

On-the-job training

International environment

Significant responsibility

Collaborative culture

Entrepreneurship & flexibility

Job summary

United Petfood in Mishawaka, IN is seeking a Quality Engineer focused on raw materials to join our team. You will optimize NIRS systems, evaluate incoming materials, and work with Quality & R&D to ensure only high-quality inputs are approved for production.

This hands-on role requires a Master’s degree in a related field, a willingness to travel 30–50% across sites, suppliers, and audits, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement in quality control processes.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Some initial experience in quality, laboratory operations, raw material management, or a related technical environment.
• Hands-on, eager to learn, explore and continuously improve.
• Able to work independently, take ownership of responsibilities, and manage projects from start to finish.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to data accuracy.
• Flexible in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities.
• Collaborates with different stakeholders and builds cross-functional relationships.
• Clear and effective communication; translate technical findings into practical recommendations.
• Based at one site in Decatur, Arkansas; Mishawaka, Indiana; or Canada, with travel 30–50%.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and analyze incoming raw materials to meet quality standards and specs.
• Investigate deviations, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams.
• Support internal sensory evaluation panels to assess raw material quality and consistency.
• Monitor supplier performance, resolve quality issues, and support supplier audits.
• Maintain, validate, and optimize NIRS systems, including calibration models and databases.
• Support supplier qualification activities and monitor supplier performance.
• Analyze quality and lab data, identify trends, and recommend improvements to QC processes.
• Collaborate with Quality, Procurement, Operations, and R&D to ensure material quality and sourcing decisions.
• Ensure laboratory equipment and analytical methods are accurate and aligned with standards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Data accuracy

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication

Education

Master's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Chemistry, or related field

Tools

NIRS systems

Job description

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Quality Engineer

Full Time Mishawaka, IN, US

Salary Range: $90,000.00 To $110,000.00 Annually

Quality Engineer Raw Materials

Your role

As a Quality Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality of raw materials used in our production processes and for optimizing our NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) systems. Working closely with the local Quality & R&D teams, you will help ensure that only high-quality raw materials are selected, analyzed, and approved for use.

• You will evaluate and analyze incoming raw materials to ensure they meet established quality standards and specifications.
• You will investigate raw material deviations, identify root causes, and implement corrective and preventive actions in collaboration with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• You will support the preparation and coordination of internal sensory evaluation panels, helping assess the quality and consistency of raw materials.
• You will monitor supplier performance, investigate and resolve raw material quality issues, and support supplier audit activities to drive continuous improvement and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• You will maintain, validate, and optimize NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) systems, including calibration models, databases, and performance monitoring.
• You will support supplier qualification activities, monitor supplier performance, and participate in supplier audits.
• You will analyze quality and laboratory data, identify trends, and recommend improvements to quality control processes and raw material evaluation methods.
• You will work closely with Quality, Procurement, Operations, and R&D teams to ensure consistent raw material quality and reliable sourcing decisions.
• You will ensure that laboratory equipment and analytical methods remain accurate, reliable, and aligned with company standards.

Who you are

• You hold a Master's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Chemistry, or a related field.
• You have gained some initial experience in quality, laboratory operations, raw material management, or a related technical environment.
• You enjoy being hands-on and are eager to learn, explore, and continuously improve.
• You are comfortable working independently, taking ownership of your responsibilities, and managing projects from start to finish.
• You have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail and data accuracy.
• You are comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift and where flexibility is key.
• You enjoy collaborating with different stakeholders and building strong working relationships across functions.
• You communicate clearly and effectively and can translate technical findings into practical recommendations.
• You will be based at one of our sites in Decatur, Arkansas; Mishawaka, Indiana; or Canada, with the flexibility to work across locations as needed.
• The role requires approximately 30-50% travel between United Petfood sites, suppliers, and other relevant locations to support raw material quality, supplier activities, NIRS systems, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Because this is a hands-on, cross-site role, you should be comfortable spending significant time at different facilities and working directly with local Quality, R&D, Operations, and Procurement teams.

What we offer you

• A competitive compensation package aligned with your experience, including a comprehensive benefits program.
• Comprehensive on-the-job training covering raw materials, analytical methods, and NIRS technology.
• A highly varied role within an ambitious team in a fast-growing international environment.
• The opportunity to take on significant responsibility and contribute to high-quality products and streamlined processes.
• An open, collaborative environment where your ideas and initiative make a real difference.
• A company culture built on entrepreneurship, teamwork, flexibility, and a hands-on mentality.
• A company culture built on entrepreneurship, a hands-on mentality, down-to-earth collaboration, and flexibility. We actively support career growth, giving you ownership over your development path.

Who we are

At United Petfood, we don't just produce pet food, we help our partners grow. As a private label producer, every recipe is made in-house and tailored to the needs of our customers and the pets they nourish. With over 30 years of expertise, and a global network of 30 petfood kitchens, we deliver high-quality dry petfood, wet petfood, and treats with smooth production and seamless logistics.

Our quality promise also extends beyond the product. Just as we treat pets with the best food, we treat our partners with the best service. We believe in building long-term relationships based on open dialogue and flexibility. Being a one-stop shop means tackling every challenge head-on.

And behind all of this stand our passionate colleagues - our Pawsitives. They bring pride, craftsmanship and a positive mindset to everything we do. Their drive, teamwork and love for animals make our products better, our partnerships stronger and our culture truly unique.

Equal Opportunity Employer: United Petfood Producers USA Inc. is an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.