Quality Specialist
Smurfit Westrock · Knoxville F&B, TN
- Level
- Specialist
- Team
- Quality
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 4 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A specialist quality role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Knoxville F&B, TN.
- Tools it names
- 5S, FDA / GMP
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Tennessee: typical posted base $80k–$110k.
Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 37 quality engineer openings in Tennessee, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Tennessee plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 36 other live quality postings in Tennessee.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $80k–$110k, from 7 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 54%
- Lean 43%
- FMEA 43%
- Six Sigma 35%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 35%
- SPC 32%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for 5S, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Smurfit Westrock
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?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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: Smurfit Westrock in Knoxville F&B
2 other open roles at this site.
- Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Reliability Technician · Reliability · Technician
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Quality Specialist
Night Shift
The Opportunity
- •This role offers the opportunity to support quality and safety operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, ensuring products meet strict food safety, regulatory, and customer standards. The position plays a key role in inspections, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives while partnering closely with leadership to resolve quality issues. It provides hands-on experience with quality systems, compliance standards (SQF, HACCP, ISO), and process optimization. Candidates will develop strong technical, analytical, and communication skills while contributing to a culture focused on safety, efficiency, and operational excellence.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock
- •Execute job duties in a safe and efficient manner.
- •Create and support a positive safety culture through proactive engagement.
- •Each person, regardless of role or position, is responsible for Food Packaging Safety, Quality, and GMP.
- •Report any issue or event that poses a risk to employee safety, the environment, facilities, or food packaging safety and quality.
- •Ensure a safe workplace is always maintained and that all employees prioritize safety in their daily habits and practices.
- •Ensure compliance of all employees and processes with food safety and quality regulations (SQF, HACCP), as well as ISO standards.
- •Support all aspects of the quality system, including establishing, training, and auditing processes to achieve required quality metrics.
- •Inspect in-process products using measurement calipers.
- •Perform Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL) inspections of raw materials, in-process audits, and final inspections to ensure quality standards are met.
- •Communicate all quality issues or failures to management.
- •Organize offline inspection activities, including documentation and inspection criteria.
- •Document all product and process non-conformities in the Quality Management System.
- •Provide support in resolving customer quality concerns.
- •Participate in annual refresher training on quality and SQF topics.
- •Maintain work area in compliance with 5S standards.
- •Work effectively in a fast-paced environment and complete tasks in a timely manner.
- •Follow all applicable policies, procedures, and instructions.
- •Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, corrective actions, safety events, and training.
- •Perform other related duties as assigned.
to succeed
- •High school diploma or equivalent required.
- •Experience in a manufacturing environment.
- •Ability to read and write instructions and interpret.
- •Documents such as safety rules, operating procedures, and maintenance manuals.
- •Basic reading skills with strong mathematical ability.
- •Intermediate computer skills (email, databases, word processing, spreadsheets, etc.).
- •Ability to work overtime as needed, including during peak periods.
- •Strong communication skills with professionalism, tact, and sensitivity.
- •Ability to read and understand specifications, blueprints, and regulatory standards, and apply practical solutions.
- •Ability to multitask effectively.
- •Project management experience preferred.
What we offer
- •Medical, Dental and Vision benefits available immediately
- •401K with company match
- •80 hours of Paid Time Off and 12 Paid Holidays
- •Other benefits such as company paid Long-Term & Short-Term Disability, Tuition Assistance and more
- •Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
- •A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.