Quality Assurance Technician
Location: Chicago
Reports to: QA Manager
Type: Full-Time, Individual Contributor
Shift:3rd Sun - Thu 6:30 PM - 3:00 AM
Pay: $22.00 - $24.00 $1.50 shift differential
Position Overview
As a Quality Assurance Technician you'll play a key role in ensuring our food products meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. This hands-on position involves inspections, testing, and documentation throughout the production process, with full exposure to plant operations and close collaboration across teams.
Responsibilities
1. Quality \& Food Safety Oversight
· Conduct pre-operational, operational, and sanitation inspections.
· Verify compliance with GMPs and USDA standards.
· Monitor HACCP critical control points and take corrective action as needed.
· Perform quality and food safety tests (physical, chemical, microbiological).
· Calibrate and verify testing equipment (e.g., thermometers, scales).
2. Sampling, Audits \& Documentation
- Execute pre-startup checks for new products, labels, or packaging.
- Collect samples and maintain retention protocols.
- Manage the hold-and-release program and communicate product holds.
- Participate in internal, customer, and third-party audits.
- Maintain complete, accurate, and organized records.
- Transfer paper records to digital systems and manage databases.
3. Cross Department Collaboration
- Review documentation across production to ensure accuracy.
- Communicate out-of-spec results or findings to management clearly.
- Attend daily production meetings; support other QA staff as needed.
- Submit work orders and collaborate with maintenance when required.
- Support regulatory compliance officers during inspections or inquiries.
4. Administrative Support
- Perform general clerical tasks (e.g., filing, data entry, document revisions).
- Record and archive all QA documentation in accordance with policies.
Physical Requirements
- Comfortable working in cold, wet environments for extended periods.
- Ability to lift at least 5 lbs. and push/pull equipment or materials.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in food, pharmaceutical, or consumer goods.
Preferred
- Experience working with USDA or other regulatory bodies.
- Strong knowledge of food safety systems (GMP, HACCP, SQF).
- Analytical mindset with root cause analysis skills.
- Bilingual communication is a plus.
- Effective in a fast-paced, changing environment.
- Strong time management and prioritization skills.
- Proactive, detail-oriented, and accountable.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $22.00 - $24.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have at least 2 years of quality assurance experience in a food, pharmaceutical, or consumer goods environment?
- Have you worked in a USDA-regulated facility?
- Have you ever conducted or supported pre-operational or sanitation inspections?
- Are you comfortable using thermometers, scales, and performing equipment calibrations?
- Are you comfortable using digital systems to manage QA data (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, QA software)?
- Have you performed root cause analysis or written corrective action reports?
- Are you able to work nights 5-6 times a week?
Language:
- Spanish (Preferred)
- English (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Chicago, IL 60632 (Required)
Work Location: In person
