Raw Materials Quality Engineer – NIRS & Travel

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

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.