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Manager, Quality Operations Engineer

Northlake IL

About Misfits Market:

Misfits Market is a mission-driven, high-growth startup dedicated to reducing food waste and making shopping for sustainable, high-quality groceries easier and more affordable. We deliver organic produce, high-quality meats and seafood, plant-based proteins, dairy, bakery, wine, and other grocery items to nearly every zip code in 48 states at up to 30 percent off traditional grocery store prices. In 2022, Misfits Market acquired sustainable e-grocer Imperfect Foods and now leverages its in-house transportation network to deliver directly to consumers with one of the most carbon-efficient grocery delivery models on the market. By tackling inefficiencies in the food system, our passionate and motivated team of problem solvers helps save an average of 500,000 pounds of food per week from waste or lesser outcomes, with an all-time savings of 190+ million pounds of food.

As Misfits we support our customers and mission by embracing our core values of

Prioritizing our Customers                             

Doing more with less

Thinking Differently         

Respecting one another                             

Moving deliberately and quickly                   

Taking initiative and delivering 

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on, data-driven Quality Engineer Manager to join our Fulfillment Center team. Reporting directly to the Senior Manager, Operations Quality Engineering, you will serve as the oversight lead for facility quality strategy, compliance execution, and cross-functional performance.

This role manages and provides manager-level elevation for the FSQA Supervisor, bridging the gap between high-level quality strategy and daily operations. You will drive continuous improvement projects, establish rigorous standards for supplier compliance and regulatory management, analyze defect data to identify trends, and act as a cultural change agent.

What You’ll Do Daily

1. Operational Quality & The "Perfect Box" Mission

  • Floor Leadership & Supervision: Manage, coach, and mentor the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Supervisor. Spend meaningful time on the warehouse floor auditing picking, packing, shipping, and sanitation processes to ensure adherence to the "Perfect Box" standard.
  • Defect & Error Reduction: Lead site investigations into internal errors (picking mistakes, damaged goods) and customer complaints. Utilize advanced metrics to move the facility from reacting to errors to predictive mitigation.
  • Inbound Quality Criteria: Partner with Inbound and Inventory Control teams to establish clear acceptance/rejection parameters for incoming items, ensuring fresh produce and shelf-stable goods meet absolute criteria before going live in the WMS.

2. Continuous Improvement & Project Management

  • Process Optimization: Formally trigger and lead critical site CAPA and validation activities. Design engineering and workflow solutions to eliminate process bottlenecks and mitigate product shrink.
  • Standardization & Documentation: Own the development, review, and deployment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instructions. Establish efficient document control management processes using the e-QMS and supporting repositories.

Transfer of Knowledge: Act as the subject matter expert in the deployment of SOPs and problem solving disciplines.

  • Change Management: Act as the project lead for new quality initiatives, test methods, validation activities, ensuring timelines are met, and stakeholders (Operations, Merchandising, Logistics) are aligned.
  • Data & Statistical Analysis: Utilize Statistical Process Control (SPC), Pareto charts, and trend data to interpret quality signals. Formulate weekly and monthly quality performance roll-ups and Voice of the Customer (VOC) feedback loops for regional leadership.
  • Decision Support: Use data to influence operational decisions—proving when a process change is necessary based on hard evidence.

3. Food Safety & Compliance

  • Compliance Guardian: Maintain strict adherence to GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) and sanitation standards within the warehouse.
  • Audit Readiness & SQF Champion: Direct the preparation and maintenance of the site's Food Safety and Quality Plans. Serve as a key pillar for third-party, customer, and regulatory (FDA/USDA/State) audit readiness, driving goals to achieve SQF benchmarking targets.
  • Culture of Safety: Ensure that quality never comes at the expense of safety. Champion a culture where food safety is everyone’s responsibility.

4. Technical & Systems Management

  • Electronic QMS & WMS Optimization: Act as the project lead for onboarding electronic Food Safety and Quality Management Systems. Partner with systems engineers to maximize WMS functionality (such as photo documentation and precise lot transaction history tracing).
  • Traceability Verification: Supervise mock recall and trace activities executed by the facility supervisor to consistently hit a recovery target rate of 100% within specified regulatory windows.

Who You Are

  • A Culture Change Agent: You know that Quality isn't about policing people; it's about coaching them. You can influence associates and managers alike to care about the details.
  • Analytical: You love Excel, Google Sheets, SQL, or Tableau. You don't just see numbers; you see the story they tell about our operations.
  • Resilient: Fulfillment centers are fast-paced environments. You can handle shifting priorities and keep a cool head under pressure.
  • A Problem Solver: You don't just put a band-aid on a problem; you find the root cause (5 Whys, Fishbone) and fix it forever.

Qualifications

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing), Food Science, Supply Chain, or a related technical field.
  • Experience: 3–5 years of experience in a Quality Assurance, Continuous Improvement, or Process Engineering role within a manufacturing, food production, or high-volume fulfillment environment.
  • Technical Skills: * Strong proficiency in Data Analysis and Statistical Process Control.
    • Experience with Project Management methodologies.
    • Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles (Green Belt is a plus).
  • Food Safety: Familiarity with FDA, USDA-AMS & FSIS, GFSI, FSMA regulations, HACCP Certified, and SQF Practitioner Certified.
    • Preferred (but not required): Experience implementing or maintaining SQF, BRC, or ISO 9001 systems.
    • Spanish 
  • Soft Skills: Exceptional communication skills—ability to translate technical quality concepts into clear instructions for warehouse associates.
  • Physical Requirements: Ability to spend 50% of time on the warehouse floor in cold environments (36°F and below).

Details of Position & Benefits:

  • Salary range: $90,000 - $95,000 / year
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) 
  • Annual Misfits grocery box credit of $1200 paid in weekly installments
  • Life insurance
  • Paid vacation time
  • Paid holidays 
  • Paid sick days
  • Commuter benefits

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