Sr. Product Quality & Safety Assurance Engineer

Petco Quality Assurance Engineer

Want to help pets live their best lives?

We're proud to be where the pets go and where the pet people go. If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you.

Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what's right for pets and people.

Pet First – Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do.

Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together! We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through district experiences, products, and services.

Let's Go! Own & Commit. We are stronger as One Petco team. We bring our unique superpowers and champion authenticity in everyone to drive success.

About Petco:

We're proud to be where the pets go to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years — from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood — the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we're here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.

Position Purpose:

To use quality assurance tools to manage problem resolution and to develop valid quality standards that contribute to the continuous improvement of products and processes. Help to ensure that Petco Owned Brand products maintain industry leadership in standards of animal care, safety, and quality, and are compliant with all applicable laws/regulations.

Essential Job Functions:

The incumbent must be able to perform all of the following duties and responsibilities with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Provide quality assurance inputs and solutions throughout the Product Development and Life Cycle process by participating in appropriate and timely cross functional tasks and meetings as needed.
• Collaborate with certified global 3rd-party labs and internal stakeholders to develop and maintain standard protocols for all Owned Brand products. Develop valid, repeatable, and cost-effective test methods.
• On-board new and assist current vendors in understanding Petco OB protocols and standards for all QA requirements. Communicate quality expectations early in the product development process and ensure vendor compliance.
• Conduct research and use risk analysis tools such as failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) as necessary during design reviews to minimize quality and safety issues both during development and for issues encountered in the field.
• Create testing plans to ensure new product development meets expectations to release purchase orders for shipping. Collaborate with cross functional teams and vendors on all product, testing and manufacturing issues.
• Review QA processes, audit reports and applicable government certifications for factories. Review reports that demonstrate compliance of products. Assure compliance with appropriate protocols and reconcile issues. Communicate compliance concerns to QA Director for vendor status assessment.
• Monitor and analyze all feedback from internal teams (Customer Relations, Stores, Distribution Centers, etc.) and determine need for incident investigation. Partner with appropriate parties to develop solutions, and ensure corrective action is implemented in a timely manner.
• Identify patterns of unsatisfactory vendor performance (repeated failures in testing, late testing or shipping, excessive field complaints) to facilitate and implement correction action plan to improve performance.
• Assist QA Director in implementing process improvements and administration tasks for the Owned Brand Quality Management System.
• Conduct supplier approval process by reviewing new and existing vendor documentation, conducting risk assessment, visiting as necessary, and providing recommendation for engagement, exemption, or rejection.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct in-store visits for QA sample review and collection as needed.
• Ensure database reports are run on regular basis to provide necessary information and data for testing and analysis.
• Ensure that all Owned Brand product complaints, issues, and concerns are documented in a manner that can be used to update product/design improvement, QA testing, vendor scoring, etc.
• Perform other related duties, tasks and responsibilities as required, assigned, or directed.

Nature of Supervision:

General instruction provided on some tasks. Incumbent are expected to accomplish tasks without supervisory guidance except on complex issues. Actions involving policy decisions require review with department manager. Standards, protocols, and procedures developed by QA Sr. Engineer require approval of QA Director. Incumbent regularly makes determinations of compliance including deviations from policy within scope of testing plans, test report approvals and vendor approvals.

Supervisory Responsibility:

None. In QA Director's absence this position may provide work direction, guidance and technical support to other QA Engineers on routine tasks.

Planning and Problem Solving:

Defines testing requirements with Product Development and Sourcing partners and ensures commitments to testing schedules from vendors that support on-time shipment of products. Leads resolution of product quality issues that impact the equity of Petco Owned Brand. Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to problems ranging from simple to moderate complexity, without being unduly influenced by others' thinking on the topic. Manages third party deliverables with vendors and lab partners to ensure timely execution of tasks for on-time product delivery to ILC or DCs.

Impact:

This position is responsible for decisions and actions that will impact all Petco Owned Brand products and programs in excess of $450MM in retail sales.

Education and Experience:

Normally requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent, preferably in Quality Assurance, Engineering or a related technical field.

Requires a minimum of 5-8 years progressively responsible professional related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience can substitute for a degree.

Working knowledge of product specifications, testing and test methodology, quality control, inspections/audits preferred.

Basic knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes used in the production of consumer products for sale at retail a plus.

Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and be proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and miscellaneous database systems. HACCP Certification, SQF Practitioner, ASQ certification (Auditor, CQE, CQA, CRE) preferred.

Competencies:

• Demonstrate Adaptability and Desire to Learn -- Works productively in the face of ambiguity or uncertainty. Demonstrates flexibility and resilience in response to obstacles, constraints, adversity, and mistakes. Constructively and resourcefully adapts to changing needs, conditions, priorities, or opportunities. Seeks out opportunities to learn from new discoveries, innovations, and ways of looking at things, knowledge, and ideas. Invites and incorporates feedback, without becoming defensive.
• Perform Professional Analysis -- Integrates information from a variety of sources to arrive at a broader understanding of issues (e.g., company reports plus in-store observations). Defines issues clearly despite incomplete or ambiguous information. Identifies the key issues in complex or ambiguous problems. Approaches problems or issues systematically, looking for connections, trends, and potential causes. Probes and looks past symptoms to determine the underlying causes of problems and issues.
• Plan and Execute -- Develops realistic plans (e.g., action steps, timelines) to accomplish objectives. Acquires and leverages resources, processes, and tools to achieve business goals. Prioritizes and balances time, actions, and projects to ensure accomplishment of results. Holds him/herself and team accountable for outcomes (e.g., achieving goals and complying with policies and procedures). Anticipates and addresses obstacles, redirecting efforts to accelerate the work or improve quality.
• Produce Results -- Initiates decisive, timely action to address important issues. Demonstrates a strong sense of ownership and a commitment to achieving meaningful results. Sets challenging, clear goals/targets and expectations for achieving business results. Drives initiatives/efforts to successful completion and closure. Takes personal responsibility to make decisions and follow through on action needed.
• Satisfy the Customer -- Identifies and anticipates customer requirements, expectations, and needs. Seeks feedback from customers to identify improvement opportunities. Follows up with customers to ensure problems are solved. Continually searches for ways to improve customer service (including the removal of barriers and providing solutions).
• Use Professional Judgment -- Makes logical