1st Shift- Quality Technician

Actalent; O'Fallon (IL); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & vision

401(k) plan

Life insurance

Disability insurance

HSA

Transportation benefits

PTO

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a 1st Shift Quality Technician for a dairy manufacturing facility in O Fallon, IL. The role involves routine in-process and finished product testing, including pH, wet chemistry, and basic microbiology, with weekend coverage as needed.

The position emphasizes hands-on lab work, accurate documentation, and collaboration within a small team of technicians to maintain food safety and product quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a science-related field preferred.
• Quality-minded with strong commitment to food safety and product consistency.
• Basic understanding of laboratory practices or willingness to learn laboratory techniques.
• Ability to perform basic analytical testing (pH, wet chemistry, basic microbiology).
• Proficient with lab equipment and pipetting with accuracy and precision.
• Follow standard operating procedures and maintain detailed documentation.
• Comfort in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with multiple tasks.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to elevate quality issues.
• Comfort with tasting dairy products as part of evaluation.
• Flexibility to work first shift with occasional weekend coverage.

Responsibilities

• Collect in-process and finished product samples to verify quality and safety standards.
• Perform basic analytical testing including pH, wet chemistry, and basic microbiology.
• Use lab equipment and pipetting techniques to generate reliable test results.
• Document and record test results per procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Assist other technicians and support daily lab operations and workflow.
• Participate in organoleptic (taste) testing of dairy products.
• Maintain clean, organized, and compliant laboratory environment.
• Follow SOPs and quality protocols for testing and reporting.
• Collaborate with plant personnel to address quality issues and support improvements.
• Assist with air sampling for environmental and quality monitoring.

Skills

Quality mindset

Laboratory techniques

Pipetting accuracy

Documentation

Team communication

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Taste testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science-related field

Job description

1st Shift Quality Technician

Job Description

The 1st Shift Quality Technician works in a dairy manufacturing facility and supports the quality team by performing routine testing on in-process and finished products to ensure they meet strict food safety and quality standards. This first-shift role requires flexibility with hours and occasional weekend work, and is well suited for a quality-minded individual who enjoys hands‑on laboratory work in a fast‑paced production environment.

Responsibilities

• Collect in-process and finished product samples to verify that quality and safety standards are consistently met.
• Perform basic analytical testing, including pH testing, wet chemistry techniques, and basic microbiological testing on dairy products.
• Use laboratory equipment and pipetting techniques accurately to conduct analyses and generate reliable test results.
• Document and record test results in accordance with company procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Support other technicians by assisting with day-to-day laboratory activities and contributing to efficient lab operations and workflow.
• Participate in organoleptic (taste) testing of dairy products as part of overall quality evaluation and product assessment.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and compliant laboratory environment in line with quality and safety standards.
• Follow standard operating procedures and quality protocols to ensure consistent testing and reporting.
• Work collaboratively with other technicians and plant personnel to address quality-related issues and support continuous improvement.
• Assist with taking air samples in the plant as needed to support environmental and quality monitoring.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a science‑related field such as Biology, Chemistry, Food Science, or a similar discipline is preferred.
• Quality‑minded approach with a strong commitment to food safety and product consistency.
• Basic understanding of laboratory practices or a demonstrated willingness to learn laboratory techniques.
• Ability to perform basic analytical testing, including pH testing, wet chemistry methods, and basic microbiological testing.
• Proficiency in using laboratory equipment and pipetting techniques with attention to accuracy and precision.
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures and maintain detailed, accurate documentation.
• Comfort working in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment while managing multiple tasks.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to recognize and elevate quality issues appropriately.
• Comfort with consuming dairy products as part of product evaluation and taste testing.
• Flexibility to work first shift with variable hours and occasional weekend coverage as needed.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior laboratory or quality experience in a manufacturing or food production environment is a plus but not required, making this role open to entry‑level candidates.
• Experience in quality control or quality assurance functions is beneficial.
• Strong teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with a small, cohesive group of technicians.
• Good communication skills for clearly reporting test results and quality concerns.
• Comfort with learning and using company‑specific quality systems and documentation tools.

Work Environment

Spend time working alongside four other technicians in a collaborative and supportive team environment. The group is described as cohesive and easygoing, with colleagues who are willing to help and share knowledge. The facility operates as a dairy manufacturing plant, producing milk, flavored milks, and cultured products.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of O Fallon, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $24.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in O Fallon,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 3, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.