QA Lead Jobs in Illinois

QA Lead jobs in Illinois are in consistent demand across the state's technology, manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare sectors, with openings at every level from junior lead through senior quality director. Chicago, Schaumburg, and Deerfield anchor most of the hiring, where established employers like Motorola Solutions, Baxter International, and Discover Financial Services maintain substantial quality engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois listings include automation testing, Agile QA process ownership, and regulated-industry compliance validation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles97
Top employerGEI Consultants
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring57
Work type79% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 97+ QA Lead jobs

KEDPlasma LLC
Quality Assurance Specialist
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KEDPlasma LLC
Added 1d ago
Quality Assurance Specialist
KEDPlasma LLC
Chicago, Illinois
Program Management
Project Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
$20.1 - $27/hr
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Unilock
Plant Quality Assurance Technician
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Unilock
Added 1d ago
Plant Quality Assurance Technician
Unilock
Aurora, Illinois
Compliance & Risk
Health & Safety
Quality Control
$20 - $22/hr
High school diploma or GED

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SSP America
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager
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SSP America
Added 1d ago
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager
SSP America
Chicago, Illinois
Business Operations
Customer Service & Support
Logistics & Fleet Management
Project Management
$90k - $110k/yr
Bachelor's degree in food science
10,000+

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Abbott
Senior Specialist Quality Assurance
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Abbott
Added 1d ago
Senior Specialist Quality Assurance
Abbott
Lake Forest, Illinois
Business Strategy
Corporate Development & M&A
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
$78k - $156k/yr
ISO certification process
10,000+

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Tyson Foods Incorporated
Food Safety Quality Assurance Technician 5 - 2nd Shift
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Tyson Foods Incorporated
Added 1d ago
Food Safety Quality Assurance Technician 5 - 2nd Shift
Tyson Foods Incorporated
Caseyville, Illinois
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
High school diploma or GED
10,000+

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See All 97 QA Lead Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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QA Lead Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Niles
4 jobs
Waukegan
4 jobs
Aurora
3 jobs
Quincy
3 jobs
Kankakee
3 jobs
Harvey
2 jobs
Rockford
2 jobs
Champaign
2 jobs

QA Lead Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

GEI Consultants
GEI Consultants4 open roles
AbbVie
AbbVie2 open roles
Abbott
Abbott2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Manufacturing
  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Education

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in QA lead jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field required
  • Three or more years of quality assurance experience with demonstrated team leadership
  • Proficiency in test automation frameworks such as Selenium, Cypress, or Appium
  • Experience with Agile or Scrum methodologies and sprint-based QA planning
  • Strong knowledge of SDLC, defect tracking tools, and CI/CD pipeline integration
  • Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with product and development teams

QA Lead Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a qa lead in Illinois?

Most qa leads in Illinois start with a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or engineering, then build several years of hands-on QA experience before moving into a lead role. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for quality assurance work, but industry certifications such as ISTQB or CSTE are widely recognized by Illinois employers and can accelerate advancement. Demonstrating experience leading test cycles and mentoring junior testers is the clearest path to lead-level hiring in this state.

Which companies hire qa leads in Illinois?

Employers hiring qa leads in Illinois right now include GEI Consultants, AbbVie, and Abbott, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's density of technology firms, financial institutions, and regulated manufacturers in the Chicago metro area means demand for experienced qa leads remains broad across multiple industries.

Which Illinois cities have the most qa lead jobs?

The cities with the most qa lead openings in Illinois are Chicago, Niles, and Waukegan. Chicago drives the largest share of postings due to its concentration of enterprise technology companies, financial services firms, and healthcare systems, while suburban hubs like Schaumburg and Deerfield contribute meaningfully because of the major corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations anchored there.

Are there remote qa lead jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than many fields, since qa lead work is primarily desk-based, analytical, and executable through remote collaboration tools. About 21% of qa lead openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the role's strong compatibility with distributed teams. Test planning, defect triage, and team coordination are the parts of the role most commonly performed remotely.

How can I get hired as a qa lead in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is landing a QA analyst or software tester role first, then building toward lead responsibilities. Large Illinois employers in financial services and healthcare technology frequently hire associate QA testers or junior automation engineers without requiring prior lead experience. Earning an ISTQB Foundation certification gives candidates a competitive edge in Illinois listings. From a QA analyst role, volunteering to coordinate test plans or mentor newer teammates is the practical route to a formal lead title.

Where can I find and apply to qa lead jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to qa lead jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 97 QA Lead Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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