Quality Assurance Specialist Jobs in Illinois
Quality Assurance Specialist jobs in Illinois are active and competitive, concentrated in manufacturing, food and beverage processing, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices across seniority levels from entry-level inspector through senior QA lead. The largest hiring metros are Chicago, Rockford, and the Joliet and Aurora corridor, where companies like Abbott Laboratories, Kraft Heinz, and Caterpillar have long-established Illinois operations. The most in-demand specialties in the state include regulatory compliance, process validation, and ISO and FDA quality systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The Quality Assurance Supervisor contributes to the continued success and growth of Eagle Flexible Packaging (“Eagle”) by managing the day-to-day quality inspection function and directing Quality Technicians responsible for in-process inspections and quality verification activities throughout manufacturing operations.
This position is responsible for managing the performance, development, scheduling, and accountability of Quality Technicians; exercising independent judgment in assigning work and resolving day-to-day quality and staffing matters; and ensuring inspection activities are completed accurately and consistently. The Quality Technician Supervisor also maintains control of the QA laboratory and quarantine areas, enforces compliance with quality procedures and production standards, and makes or recommends personnel decisions affecting assigned employees. The role is accountable for effective quality coverage, consistent execution across shifts, and timely escalation of significant quality or business risks.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage, direct, train, and develop Quality Technicians performing in-process inspections and testing activities across assigned shifts.
- Interview candidates and make recommendations regarding hiring and selection; provide meaningful input into promotion, transfer, and termination decisions.
- Participate in compensation planning for assigned employees by assessing performance, internal equity, skill level, and business needs and making merit and other pay recommendations.
- Exercise independent judgment within established policies to resolve employee, scheduling, workflow, inspection, and production-support issues without requiring routine preapproval.
- Partner with Human Resources and Quality Management on employee relations matters, performance improvement plans, investigations, and significant disciplinary decisions.
- Set performance expectations; provide ongoing coaching and feedback; prepare and deliver formal performance reviews; and initiate, document, and administer corrective action when necessary, in partnership with Human Resources and Quality Management.
- Determine staffing assignments, schedules, coverage, and daily priorities for QA staff based on production needs, employee capabilities, and quality risk.
- Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, attention to detail, and continuous improvement within the QA department.
- Evaluate technician performance and productivity; address performance gaps; and make recommendations regarding advancement, promotion, compensation, continued employment, and other changes in employee status.
- Oversee daily in-process inspections, line clearances, startup approvals, and product verification activities performed by QA Technicians.
- Ensure technicians properly identify, document, and escalate nonconformances and quality concerns.
- Verify compliance with customer specifications, approved standards, and internal quality requirements during production operations.
- Make day-to-day decisions regarding the segregation and control of nonconforming materials and recommend disposition in accordance with established authority and quality procedures.
- Support quality hold and quarantine processes to prevent unintended use of nonconforming product.
- Train Quality Technicians on inspection methods, test procedures, GMPs, documentation practices, and quality expectations.
- Ensure standardized inspection methods and consistent application of quality procedures across all shifts.
- Own onboarding, qualification, and cross-training plans for QA employees and determine readiness to perform assigned inspection activities independently.
- Enforce adherence to established procedures, investigate repeated noncompliance, determine immediate corrective measures, and escalate significant concerns as appropriate.
- Maintain organization, cleanliness, and control of the QA laboratory, retain sample storage areas, and quarantine locations.
- Ensure inspection equipment, testing devices, and quality tools are maintained, organized, and properly calibrated or verified.
- Monitor inventory levels of QA supplies, inspection materials, and testing consumables.
- Ensure retain samples, color standards, and quality records are properly stored and maintained.
- Ensure accurate completion of QA inspection records, checklists, audits, and production documentation.
- Support compliance with SQF Food Safety Code, GMPs, HACCP principles, and internal quality procedures.
- Participate in internal audits and support audit readiness activities.
- Analyze recurring quality concerns and technician observations, determine appropriate immediate response within established authority, and present recommendations to Quality Management for broader corrective action.
- Identify, prioritize, and implement approved improvements to inspection processes, staffing effectiveness, efficiency, and quality performance.
- Support investigations related to internal quality issues and customer complaints as needed.
- Collaborate with Production Supervision to address day-to-day quality concerns and ensure timely resolution of issues impacting production.
- Ensure that all company food safety and quality assurance procedures are always followed. Escalate any issues/concerns to management.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
- Minimum 2 years of experience in a manufacturing quality role, with at least 1 year in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to train, coach, schedule, and develop a team.
- Demonstrated experience conducting inspections, audits, start-up approvals, and in-process quality checks in a production environment.
- Proficiency in the use of measurement tools, test equipment, and inspection methods (i.e., attribute, variable, and functional testing).
- Ability to support and lead root cause investigations using structured problem-solving tools (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa).
- Strong communication skills with the ability to document findings clearly and communicate quality decisions (“go/no-go”) in real time.
- Professional proficiency in verbal and written English with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse individuals across departments.
- High attention to detail with strong organizational and time-management skills; able to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn specialized software.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, make timely personnel and operational decisions, and provide recommendations that are relied upon in employment-related decisions.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and move throughout the facility for extended periods; ability to lift up to 50 lbs as required.
- Excellent color perception and ability to visually inspect printed materials with or without corrective lenses.
- Commitment to safe work practices and adherence to food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- Enthusiasm for the Eagle mission of embracing our Guiding Values that focus on developing and empowering our team members to create valued, trusted, and lasting relationships with both customers and suppliers.
Preferred Qualification:
- Bilingual in English/Spanish strongly preferred.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
- Working knowledge of SQF, GMP, HACCP, and other applicable food safety or regulatory standards strongly preferred.
- Experience in flexible packaging, printing, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
- Understanding of flexographic printing processes, color standards, and print-related quality requirements.
- Prior experience with ERP systems, ideally EPS Radius.
Pay: $70,000 to $90,000 annually
Flex Your Potential with Eagle! We are committed to supporting our employees’ career growth and aspirations and provide full-time team members with the following benefits:
- Medical Insurance– On the first of month following 60 days of employment, employees can choose from 1 PPO/HRA plan, 2 PPO/HSA plans, and 1 HMO/HRA plan, all provided by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.
- HRA / HSA Contributions– Participants in the employer-provided medical insurance program will receive funds from Eagle for either their HRA (for PPO/HRA and HMO/HRA enrollees) or HSA (for all PPO/HSA enrollees). The annual amount provided to each participant is based on one’s enrollment tier per the following schedule: $1,500.00 for Employee Only coverage, $3,000.00 for Employee + Spouse or Employee + Child(ren), and $4,500.00 for Family coverage.
- Dental Insurance– On the first of month following 60 days of employment, employees can enroll in dental insurance provided by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.
- Vision Insurance– On the first of month following 60 days of employment, employees can enroll in this voluntary benefit through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.
- 401K Plan – Plan entry date is the first of the month following 6 months of service. Eagle provides its employees with a 100% match up to 1% and 50% match up to 6%.
- Company Paid Short Term Disability– The Short-Term Disability premium is 100% paid by Eagle.
- Company Paid Long Term Disability– The Long-Term Disability premium is 100% paid by Eagle.
- Life Insurance– The Basic Life premium is 100% paid by Eagle and is a flat $20,000 benefit for all FT, benefit eligible employees. Employees have the option to purchase additional voluntary life insurance for self, spouse, and dependent children.
- Vacation/PTO – The amount of vacation/paid time off (PTO) employees receive each year starts at 80 hours (2 weeks) each year, which accrues at a rate of 1.538 hours per week, and increases with the length of employment.
- 8 Company Paid Holidays– Eligible after 60 days of employment.
- Sick Leave– Eligible for paid sick days at the rate of 3 days (24 hours) per year after 6 months of service (prorated for per the calendar year).
- Tuition Reimbursement– Following 6 months of employment, employees are eligible for reimbursement for courses, certifications, and training programs that support their Eagle careers.
Part-time team members are provided with the following benefits:
- Vacation/PTO – Eligible to earn 1 hour of vacation/PTO for every 40 hours worked up to a maximum of 40 hours of vacation/PTO.
- 401K Plan– Plan entry date is the first of the month following 6 months of service. Eagle provides its employees with a 100% match up to 1% and 50% match up to 6%.
Eagle Flexible Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We participate in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Leadership: 1 year (Required)
- Manufacturing Quality: 2 years (Required)
Language:
- Bilingual English/Spanish (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Batavia, IL 60510 (Required)
Work Location: In person
The Quality Assurance Supervisor contributes to the continued success and growth of Eagle Flexible Packaging (“Eagle”) by managing the day-to-day quality inspection function and directing Quality Technicians responsible for in-process inspections and quality verification activities throughout manufacturing operations.
This position is responsible for managing the performance, development, scheduling, and accountability of Quality Technicians; exercising independent judgment in assigning work and resolving day-to-day quality and staffing matters; and ensuring inspection activities are completed accurately and consistently. The Quality Technician Supervisor also maintains control of the QA laboratory and quarantine areas, enforces compliance with quality procedures and production standards, and makes or recommends personnel decisions affecting assigned employees. The role is accountable for effective quality coverage, consistent execution across shifts, and timely escalation of significant quality or business risks.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage, direct, train, and develop Quality Technicians performing in-process inspections and testing activities across assigned shifts.
- Interview candidates and make recommendations regarding hiring and selection; provide meaningful input into promotion, transfer, and termination decisions.
- Participate in compensation planning for assigned employees by assessing performance, internal equity, skill level, and business needs and making merit and other pay recommendations.
- Exercise independent judgment within established policies to resolve employee, scheduling, workflow, inspection, and production-support issues without requiring routine preapproval.
- Partner with Human Resources and Quality Management on employee relations matters, performance improvement plans, investigations, and significant disciplinary decisions.
- Set performance expectations; provide ongoing coaching and feedback; prepare and deliver formal performance reviews; and initiate, document, and administer corrective action when necessary, in partnership with Human Resources and Quality Management.
- Determine staffing assignments, schedules, coverage, and daily priorities for QA staff based on production needs, employee capabilities, and quality risk.
- Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, attention to detail, and continuous improvement within the QA department.
- Evaluate technician performance and productivity; address performance gaps; and make recommendations regarding advancement, promotion, compensation, continued employment, and other changes in employee status.
- Oversee daily in-process inspections, line clearances, startup approvals, and product verification activities performed by QA Technicians.
- Ensure technicians properly identify, document, and escalate nonconformances and quality concerns.
- Verify compliance with customer specifications, approved standards, and internal quality requirements during production operations.
- Make day-to-day decisions regarding the segregation and control of nonconforming materials and recommend disposition in accordance with established authority and quality procedures.
- Support quality hold and quarantine processes to prevent unintended use of nonconforming product.
- Train Quality Technicians on inspection methods, test procedures, GMPs, documentation practices, and quality expectations.
- Ensure standardized inspection methods and consistent application of quality procedures across all shifts.
- Own onboarding, qualification, and cross-training plans for QA employees and determine readiness to perform assigned inspection activities independently.
- Enforce adherence to established procedures, investigate repeated noncompliance, determine immediate corrective measures, and escalate significant concerns as appropriate.
- Maintain organization, cleanliness, and control of the QA laboratory, retain sample storage areas, and quarantine locations.
- Ensure inspection equipment, testing devices, and quality tools are maintained, organized, and properly calibrated or verified.
- Monitor inventory levels of QA supplies, inspection materials, and testing consumables.
- Ensure retain samples, color standards, and quality records are properly stored and maintained.
- Ensure accurate completion of QA inspection records, checklists, audits, and production documentation.
- Support compliance with SQF Food Safety Code, GMPs, HACCP principles, and internal quality procedures.
- Participate in internal audits and support audit readiness activities.
- Analyze recurring quality concerns and technician observations, determine appropriate immediate response within established authority, and present recommendations to Quality Management for broader corrective action.
- Identify, prioritize, and implement approved improvements to inspection processes, staffing effectiveness, efficiency, and quality performance.
- Support investigations related to internal quality issues and customer complaints as needed.
- Collaborate with Production Supervision to address day-to-day quality concerns and ensure timely resolution of issues impacting production.
- Ensure that all company food safety and quality assurance procedures are always followed. Escalate any issues/concerns to management.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
- Minimum 2 years of experience in a manufacturing quality role, with at least 1 year in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to train, coach, schedule, and develop a team.
- Demonstrated experience conducting inspections, audits, start-up approvals, and in-process quality checks in a production environment.
- Proficiency in the use of measurement tools, test equipment, and inspection methods (i.e., attribute, variable, and functional testing).
- Ability to support and lead root cause investigations using structured problem-solving tools (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa).
- Strong communication skills with the ability to document findings clearly and communicate quality decisions (“go/no-go”) in real time.
- Professional proficiency in verbal and written English with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse individuals across departments.
- High attention to detail with strong organizational and time-management skills; able to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn specialized software.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, make timely personnel and operational decisions, and provide recommendations that are relied upon in employment-related decisions.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and move throughout the facility for extended periods; ability to lift up to 50 lbs as required.
- Excellent color perception and ability to visually inspect printed materials with or without corrective lenses.
- Commitment to safe work practices and adherence to food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- Enthusiasm for the Eagle mission of embracing our Guiding Values that focus on developing and empowering our team members to create valued, trusted, and lasting relationships with both customers and suppliers.
Preferred Qualification:
- Bilingual in English/Spanish strongly preferred.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
- Working knowledge of SQF, GMP, HACCP, and other applicable food safety or regulatory standards strongly preferred.
- Experience in flexible packaging, printing, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
- Understanding of flexographic printing processes, color standards, and print-related quality requirements.
- Prior experience with ERP systems, ideally EPS Radius.
Pay: $70,000 to $90,000 annually
Flex Your Potential with Eagle! We are committed to supporting our employees’ career growth and aspirations and provide full-time team members with the following benefits:
- Medical Insurance– On the first of month following 60 days of employment, employees can choose from 1 PPO/HRA plan, 2 PPO/HSA plans, and 1 HMO/HRA plan, all provided by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.
- HRA / HSA Contributions– Participants in the employer-provided medical insurance program will receive funds from Eagle for either their HRA (for PPO/HRA and HMO/HRA enrollees) or HSA (for all PPO/HSA enrollees). The annual amount provided to each participant is based on one’s enrollment tier per the following schedule: $1,500.00 for Employee Only coverage, $3,000.00 for Employee + Spouse or Employee + Child(ren), and $4,500.00 for Family coverage.
- Dental Insurance– On the first of month following 60 days of employment, employees can enroll in dental insurance provided by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.
- Vision Insurance– On the first of month following 60 days of employment, employees can enroll in this voluntary benefit through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.
- 401K Plan – Plan entry date is the first of the month following 6 months of service. Eagle provides its employees with a 100% match up to 1% and 50% match up to 6%.
- Company Paid Short Term Disability– The Short-Term Disability premium is 100% paid by Eagle.
- Company Paid Long Term Disability– The Long-Term Disability premium is 100% paid by Eagle.
- Life Insurance– The Basic Life premium is 100% paid by Eagle and is a flat $20,000 benefit for all FT, benefit eligible employees. Employees have the option to purchase additional voluntary life insurance for self, spouse, and dependent children.
- Vacation/PTO – The amount of vacation/paid time off (PTO) employees receive each year starts at 80 hours (2 weeks) each year, which accrues at a rate of 1.538 hours per week, and increases with the length of employment.
- 8 Company Paid Holidays– Eligible after 60 days of employment.
- Sick Leave– Eligible for paid sick days at the rate of 3 days (24 hours) per year after 6 months of service (prorated for per the calendar year).
- Tuition Reimbursement– Following 6 months of employment, employees are eligible for reimbursement for courses, certifications, and training programs that support their Eagle careers.
Part-time team members are provided with the following benefits:
- Vacation/PTO – Eligible to earn 1 hour of vacation/PTO for every 40 hours worked up to a maximum of 40 hours of vacation/PTO.
- 401K Plan– Plan entry date is the first of the month following 6 months of service. Eagle provides its employees with a 100% match up to 1% and 50% match up to 6%.
Eagle Flexible Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We participate in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Leadership: 1 year (Required)
- Manufacturing Quality: 2 years (Required)
Language:
- Bilingual English/Spanish (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Batavia, IL 60510 (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 155+ Quality Assurance Specialist Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsQuality Assurance Specialist Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Quality Assurance Specialist Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Education
- Manufacturing
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in quality assurance specialist jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as engineering, science, or life sciences
- Working knowledge of ISO 9001, FDA 21 CFR, or cGMP quality standards
- Experience using quality management software and statistical process control tools
- Familiarity with root cause analysis methods such as 8D, FMEA, or CAPA
- Strong documentation skills with attention to detail for audit and compliance work
- ASQ Certified Quality Auditor or Certified Quality Inspector credential preferred
Quality Assurance Specialist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a quality assurance specialist in Illinois?
Most quality assurance specialist roles in Illinois require at minimum an associate degree, though employers in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and food processing typically prefer a bachelor's degree in engineering, biology, chemistry, or a related field. Illinois does not issue a state license specific to QA work, but employers strongly favor candidates who hold an ASQ certification such as the Certified Quality Inspector or Certified Quality Auditor, which is recognized widely across Illinois's manufacturing and life sciences industries.
Which companies hire quality assurance specialists in Illinois?
Employers hiring quality assurance specialists in Illinois right now include AbbVie, OSI, and Smithfield Foods, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of pharmaceutical, food production, and industrial manufacturing employers means openings are distributed across the Chicago metro and major industrial corridors in the central and northern parts of the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most quality assurance specialist jobs?
Chicago, Waukegan, and North Chicago have the most quality assurance specialist openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share through its dense concentration of corporate headquarters, medical device firms, and food manufacturers, while the Joliet and Aurora corridor benefits from a high density of logistics and manufacturing facilities, and Rockford draws from its long-established aerospace and industrial machinery base.
Are there remote quality assurance specialist jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they are limited. About 28% of quality assurance specialist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that much of the role involves hands-on inspection, auditing production lines, and working directly with physical products or equipment. The parts of the role most commonly done remotely are documentation review, supplier audits, and quality management system administration.
How can I get hired as a quality assurance specialist in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a quality inspector or production technician role at an Illinois manufacturing or food processing facility, which often requires only a high school diploma or associate degree and provides direct exposure to QA processes. Large Illinois employers in pharmaceuticals and food production, including operations based in the Chicago metro and the Quad Cities, regularly hire for entry-level quality roles and provide on-the-job training. Earning an ASQ Certified Quality Inspector credential before applying gives candidates a meaningful advantage in competitive Illinois markets.
Where can I find and apply to quality assurance specialist jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to quality assurance specialist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly through the listings.
See All 155+ Quality Assurance Specialist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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