Quality Specialist - 1st Shift (Food Manufacturing)
Conagra Brands · Louisville, KY
- Level
- Specialist
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $64k–$95k
- Travel
- 40%
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 24 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A specialist quality role at Conagra Brands (food & beverage) in Louisville, KY. Develop, implement, and maintain quality processes, procedures, and related documentation.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Root cause
- Base pay
- $64k–$95k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 40% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $96k–$135k. This one lists $64k–$95k.
Median of the low and high ends of 464 live postings that list pay, out of 1137 quality engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Kentucky plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 24 other live quality postings in Kentucky.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 76%
- SPC 56%
- FMEA 52%
- Internal audits 44%
- Supplier quality 40%
- New product launch 40%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Conagra Brands
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 40% travel. Between which sites?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Conagra Brands in Louisville
3 other open roles at this site.
- Maintenance Technician 3rd Shift · Reliability · Technician
- Quality Supervisor - Off Shift (Food Manufacturing) · Quality · Supervisor
- Maintenance Technician (6pm-6am) · Reliability · Technician
Full description from Conagra BrandsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Analyze quality and food safety data to identify trends, resolve issues, and support informed decision-making.
- ◆Provide technical support and guidance to plant teams on food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- ◆Partner with operations, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to improve quality systems and drive process improvements.
- ◆Develop, implement, and maintain quality processes, procedures, and related documentation.
- ◆Evaluate program effectiveness, monitor compliance, and recommend continuous improvement opportunities.
- ◆Support investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and other assigned quality initiatives.
Ingredients Required for Your Success
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biological Science, Chemical Science, or a related field or equivalent experience.
- ✓3+ years of food manufacturing, food safety, or quality experience.
- ✓Knowledge of food safety systems, manufacturing processes, and quality programs.
- ✓Knowledge of Global Food Safety Initiative, Food Safety Modernization Act, Food and Drug Administration, and United States Department of Agriculture requirements.
- ✓Strong data analysis, troubleshooting, investigative, and report-writing skills.
- ✓Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- ✓Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills.
- ✓Travel up to 40% as needed.
Physical
Requirements
More information about essential tasks and the facility will be shared during the hiring process. This role may require you to be in our manufacturing facilities. When visiting these sites, the physical
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Reporting to the Quality Manager, you will support food safety and quality programs by analyzing data, implementing processes, and partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure product quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
Typical Schedule: Monday-Friday, 1st shift (7:00 am- 3:00 pm or 8:00 am -4:00 pm), with flexibility based on business needs.
On-Call Support: Occasional after-hours and weekend support, including phone and/or onsite response as needed to maintain quality coverage in a 24/7 operation.
A Taste of Your
below may apply
- •You may be required to walk around the facility, climb stairs/ladders, kneel, or perform repetitive tasks that require hand-eye coordination.
- •You may be required to lift or carry materials that can vary in weight and size.
- •This is a manufacturing environment with large, moving equipment. Noise levels can be high, and temperatures may vary.
Pay Range:$64,000-$95,000
The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.
Our Benefits
We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:
- •Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement
- •Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
- •Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement
- •Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities
Our Company
At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.
Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome.