What are the responsibilities and job description for the Food Safety & Quality Engineer position at Butterball Farms, Inc.?
Description
Join a Mission That Matters – Enrich Lives with Butterball® Farms
At Butterball® Farms, we’re more than a world-class food manufacturer — we’re a company on a mission: to Enrich Lives. For over 60 years, we’ve proudly partnered with the world’s premier food brands to deliver innovative, value-added butter products. But our impact goes far beyond the food industry.
Recognized globally for our excellence and named one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies, we invest deeply in our people, our communities, and our future. From fostering innovation and personal growth to supporting local neighborhoods, we believe success starts with a strong, supportive workplace.
When you join Butterball® Farms, you’re joining a team that values growth, innovation, and making a difference — together.
What We Offer
At Butterball® Farms, we believe that when our people grow, our company grows. That’s why we’re proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your success — both on and off the job.
- Opportunities for Growth & Advancement Build your career in an environment that encourages development and internal promotion.
- Innovative & Inclusive Culture Join a workplace that celebrates innovation, continuous improvement, personal growth, and diversity.
- Shift Premiums Competitive pay with additional premiums for 2nd and 3rd shift positions.
- Paid Time Off Enjoy paid vacation and holidays to support work-life balance.
- 401(k) with Company Match Plan for your future with our generous retirement savings program.
- Tuition Reimbursement Continue your education with financial support for approved programs.
- Access to The Source Get connected to community resources, support services, and more.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Confidential support for personal, family, or work-related issues.
- Comprehensive Benefits Plan Includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Critical Illness, Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care, and Accident Insurance.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain and enhance HACCP plans, BRC compliance, and internal audit programs.
- Ensure adherence to GMPs, SSOPs, allergen controls, and regulatory requirements.
- Validate sanitation effectiveness through environmental monitoring and microbiological testing.
- Analyze production and quality data to identify trends, deviations, and opportunities for improvement.
- Support cross-functional teams in driving continuous improvement and quality system initiatives.
- Lead root cause investigations for non-conformances, customer complaints, and process deviations.
- Oversee calibration programs for lab instrumentation, metal detection, and sensory evaluation equipment.
- Provide technical guidance and support to QA, sanitation, and production teams.
- Support training programs related to food safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance.
- Prepare technical reports, maintain ERP/RedZone data integrity, and support traceability documentation.
Requirements
We believe a successful Food Safety & Quality Engineer will have the following qualifications:
Education / Certificates / Licenses / Experience
- Master’s degree with 3–5 years of experience in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, or a related field required; Ph.D preferred.
- Minimum 1–3 years in food manufacturing quality assurance or engineering.
- Demonstrated success in regulatory compliance, process validation, and continuous improvement.
- Expertise in HACCP, BRC standards, and statistical process control.
- Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., Sage, RedZone) and Microsoft Office Suite.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to interpret and apply regulatory standards.
- High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Technical writing skills for reports, validations, and regulatory documentation.
Essential Physical Requirements (This role requires the following physical activities)
Frequent (33–66% of the time):
- Walking
- Standing
- Reading and interpreting documents
- Light lifting up to 25–50 lbs
Occasional (Up to 33% of the time):
- Sitting
- Bending, stooping, or reaching
- Navigating production areas and stairs
Working Environment
This role operates in a manufacturing environment, which may include:
- Temperature ranges from 30°F to 90°F
- Exposure to production equipment, chemicals used for sanitation, and routine industrial noise
- Standing or walking on concrete floors for extended periods
- Strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and all safety protocols
- Occasional need to enter cold environments such as coolers or freezers
DISCLAIMER: The above information on this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by the employee within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of any employee assigned to this job. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Butterball Farms, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO/AA).
