Quality Engineer Raw Materials · US - Mishawaka

United Petfood; Mishawaka (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

On-the-job training

Diverse, growth‑oriented environment

Cross-site collaboration

Ownership and impact

Entrepreneurship and teamwork culture

Job summary

United Petfood is seeking a Quality Engineer to ensure the quality of raw materials and to optimize our NIRS systems. You will work closely with local Quality & R&D teams to ensure only high-quality ingredients are evaluated, tested, and approved for use.

Responsibilities include evaluating incoming materials, investigating deviations, supporting supplier audits, maintaining NIRS calibration models, and analyzing data to drive improvements.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Food Science or related field.
• Hands-on quality or laboratory experience in a technical setting.
• Experience with raw materials and suppliers is a plus.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into actions.
• Willingness to travel 30–50% across sites.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate incoming raw materials against quality standards and specs.
• Investigate deviations, identify root causes, and coordinate CAPA with suppliers.
• Support internal sensory panels and supplier audits for quality improvements.
• Maintain, validate, and optimize NIRS calibration models and data systems.
• Monitor supplier performance and support supplier qualification activities.
• Analyze quality and lab data to identify trends and improvements.

Skills

Quality engineering

NIRS systems

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Food Science or related field

Tools

NIRS equipment

Job description

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.

Location & travel expectations

• 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.

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.

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.

Let’s grow together!