Quality Engineer

Company: SunOpta
Location: Allentown
Posted on: March 15, 2023

Job Description:

SunOpta Overview:

SunOpta Inc. is a leader in the plant-based foods and beverages, fruit-based foods and beverages, and organic ingredient sourcing industries. SunOpta is focused on sustainability and specializes in the sourcing, processing, and packaging of organic, conventional, non-GMO food products.

SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for developing and managing product integration, productivity, and engagement in continuous improvement (CI) of the FS&Q systems. The role is designed to proactively prevent internal failures; develop initiatives to improve plant performance against SunOpta FS&Q measures resulting in reduced product holds and customer complaints; and ensure plant compliance with company and regulatory standards.

Successful candidate must be able to communicate well with internal and external partners, e.g., Tetra Pak, IEH laboratories, Corporate R&D, Plant Operations and SunOpta's Thermal Process Authority.

This position reports to the Senior Product Manager.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Demonstrate integrity, respect, teamwork, and equity in all aspects of the job including dealing with employees and customers, ensure the plant is running to target, and that all product and equipment critical factors are base-line set and center-lines are defined.
• Provide technical expertise to all departments in the areas of continuous process improvement, statistical process control, regulatory compliance, and process/product specification development.
• Provide subject matter expertise for Food Safety & Quality throughout the product development lifecycle and commercialization process by collaborating with R&D, Operations, and Engineering to ensure successful commercialization and turnover of new products in addition to existing product and process changes.
• Lead execution of R&D concepts/design through successful plant start-up:
• For new products, lead the Post Launch Review (PLR) process to reconcile manufacturing capability against design.
• For existing/legacy products, lead SPC review to reconcile manufacturing capability against design and work with Senior Product Manager and Customer to execute required specification or product changes.
• For equipment, this refers to completion of proper change management protocol in Intelex.
• Request/support specification deviation approvals (ingredient, packaging, & finished product) as needed.
• Support Installation Qualification (IQ) / Operational Qualification (OQ) / Product Qualification (PQ) activities onsite
• Identify, champion, and lead to execution plant network-wide CI initiatives and projects including, but not limited to:
• Cost savings/productivity (ex. weight control)
• Run efficiencies (ex. extended runs, CIP/sanitation optimization)
• Improved design for food safety/quality (ex. bulk oil delivery vs. pre-weigh)
• Implementation and execution of RedZone Compliance module
• Understanding sources of variation and applying appropriate tools for evaluating process inputs, experimental design, evaluation, and deployment of optimized production standards.
• Design and implementation of adequate tests and procedures to provide statistically significant controls for the safe manufacture of products.
• Leading and facilitating Root Cause Investigation events using a systematic approach.
• Manages customers and products together with plant leadership, QA, and R&D.
• Acts as the plant liaison for production trials (on-site Plant Trial Coordinator)
• Batch sheet development and product integration into the plant portfolio of products.
• Second level review of batch sheets for new items
• First level modification and review of changes to existing batch sheets
• Other duties and special projects as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities:
  • None to start, potential depending on development path of candidate. Minimum Qualifications:
    • BS/MS in Food Science/Microbiology/Engineering required and/or extensive quality and product specific experience with a technical degree.
    • Experience developing quality and food safety systems needed to manage low acid aseptic processing systems and compositionally stable products.
    • 3-5years of experience in a food manufacturing environment.
    • Knowledge of Continuous Improvement Practices, willingness to obtain green and black belts Preferred Qualifications:
      • Bilingual in Spanish is beneficial, but not required. Knowledge and Skills:
        • Must exhibit strong communication skills (verbal, written, presentation) as this role is key in informing the business team of the current state of FS&Q on new and established businesses while also ensuring the business team is informed, and has the necessary information, to make risk-based business decisions.
        • Must possess a strong working knowledge of food safety, SQF, HACCP, GMP's, FSMA requirements, sanitary design and controls, food regulations, statistical process control and basic food technology.
        • Ability to create momentum, influence cross-functional teams, and foster organizational change. Additional Considerations:
          • Travel Expectation: Up to 10%; Emergency travel is sometimes required with little notice.
          • Location: This role will be based at the SunOpta Beverage/Aseptic Allentown facility
          • Work Environment: Approximately 50% of work is performed in an office/laboratory environment; 50% of work involves being in manufacturing / production environment. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
            
            AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
            
            EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED
            
            Other details
            • Job Family Quality Assurance
            • Job Function Non-manager
            • Pay Type Salary
            • Travel Required Yes
            • Required Education Bachelor's Degree
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Keywords: SunOpta, Allentown , Quality Engineer, Engineering , Allentown, Pennsylvania