Lab Technician

Actalent; Elgin (IL); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

PTO/Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Lab Technician (Quality Assurance) to join our Food Science & Quality Laboratory in Elgin, IL. This role centers on analytical testing to ensure food safety and quality, mostly in a dedicated QA lab with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance.

The position offers a Monday-Friday first-shift schedule (7:30 AM-4:00 PM) with overtime as needed and potential for growth into QA leadership roles; contract-to-hire basis based in ELGIN, IL.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, food science, microbiology, or related field.
• Experience in laboratory, quality, food manufacturing, or quality control.
• Understanding of basic laboratory techniques and analytical testing.
• Experience with pH testing, titration, or similar procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory analysis on raw materials, in-process samples, and finished goods.
• Conduct testing including pH, moisture, salt, fat content, and other quality parameters.
• Accurately record laboratory results and maintain quality documentation.
• Collect samples from production areas and prepare them for analysis.
• Support product hold, release, and verification programs.
• Investigate and communicate quality concerns to production and leadership teams.
• Follow established SOPs, GMPs, GLPs, and food safety requirements.
• Assist with customer, regulatory, and certification audits by organizing and retrieving documentation.
• Help drive continuous improvement initiatives related to quality and food safety.

Skills

Laboratory techniques

Documentation

Attention to detail

Independent work

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology, or related field

Tools

pH testing

Titration

Job description

Lab Technician (Quality Assurance) | Food Science & Quality Laboratory

Monday-Friday | 7:30 AM-4:00 PM | Consistent Schedule | Growth Opportunity

Make an Impact on Food Quality Every Day

Are you a science-minded professional looking for a laboratory role where your work directly impacts product quality, food safety, and customer satisfaction?

Join a growing and stable food manufacturing organization where you'll spend most of your day in a dedicated quality laboratory performing analytical testing, ensuring regulatory compliance, and helping deliver safe, high-quality products to consumers. This is an excellent opportunity for recent science graduates, experienced lab technicians, or food manufacturing professionals looking to build a long-term career in Quality Assurance.

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

• Primarily laboratory-based environment
• Consistent first-shift schedule with weekends largely free
• Hands-on chemistry and food science testing
• Gain experience with food safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance
• Work alongside experienced quality and production professionals
• Opportunity for advancement into QA, QC, Food Safety, Regulatory, or Laboratory Leadership roles
• Stable industry with long-term career growth

What You'll Do

As a Quality Assurance Lab Technician, you'll be a key member of the Quality team responsible for ensuring that raw materials and finished products meet the highest standards for food safety, quality, and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory analysis on raw materials, in-process samples, and finished goods.
• Conduct testing including pH, moisture, salt, fat content, and other quality parameters.
• Accurately record laboratory results and maintain quality documentation.
• Collect samples from production areas and prepare them for analysis.
• Support product hold, release, and verification programs.
• Investigate and communicate quality concerns to production and leadership teams.
• Follow established SOPs, GMPs, GLPs, and food safety requirements.
• Assist with customer, regulatory, and certification audits by organizing and retrieving documentation.
• Help drive continuous improvement initiatives related to quality and food safety.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology, or related scientific discipline OR
• Previous laboratory, quality, food manufacturing, or quality control experience.
• Understanding of basic laboratory techniques and analytical testing.
• Experience with pH testing, titration, or similar laboratory procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation skills.
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• Food manufacturing, food safety, or quality assurance experience.
• Understanding of GMP, GLP, HACCP, SQF, or other quality systems.
• Previous experience supporting audits or regulatory compliance programs.
• Experience working in a production or manufacturing environment.

Work Environment

This role is based within a modern food manufacturing facility and quality laboratory. You'll spend the majority of your day performing hands-on laboratory testing, with periodic visits to the production floor for sample collection and quality inspections.

Schedule

• Monday-Friday
• 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
• Overtime available based on business needs
• Occasional Saturday support may be required

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of ELGIN, IL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $18.00 - $18.00/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 ELGIN,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 19, 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.