Quality Specialist Jobs in Illinois
Quality Specialist jobs in Illinois concentrate in manufacturing, food and beverage production, pharmaceuticals, and medical device sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level inspector to senior quality engineer. Chicago, Rockford, and the greater Peoria area generate the most consistent hiring, and established employers like Abbott Laboratories, Caterpillar, and Kraft Heinz have maintained long-running quality teams across the state. The most in-demand specialties are ISO compliance, supplier quality, and regulatory affairs. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Quality Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 42+ Quality Specialist jobs
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Senior Specialist Quality Assurance
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution
Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.
The Opportunity
At Molecular Diagnostics, we realize the potential of personalized care as the laboratory’s most trusted and preferred source for molecular diagnostic solutions. We are a division of Abbott Laboratories, a global, diversified healthcare innovator with a legacy of pioneering work in medical diagnostics.
The Senior Specialist, Quality Assurance role is part of our Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit and is based at either our Des Plaines, IL or Lake Forest, IL location.
This role will conduct quality-related activities in the area of Complaint Handling to deliver consistent, high-quality documents, services, products, and processes that add value to the business. The primary function of the Quality Specialist is to assist in maintaining the quality system.
What You’ll Work On
- Complaints Coordination, Postproduction Risk, CAPA, Surveillance and Maintenance, Field Actions, Metrics, etc.
- Assist with other support duties as assigned.
- Participate in the Corrective Action/Preventive Action (CAPA) process, including the investigation of failures or deviations as required.
- Maintain product complaint logs to identify and report recurring issues to Quality Assurance Management and Product Development. Collaborate with other internal groups to respond to product inquiries and issues.
- Write and revise SOPs, controlled forms, and related documents to ensure best practices and alignment with current operations.
- Collaborate with members of the Quality Assurance team working on special projects.
- Participate on permanent and temporary teams that are process- or project-driven.
- Become familiar with and serve as a subject matter expert on electronic support systems, including TraqWise, CMSNext, SmartSolve, SAP, and related platforms.
- Collect, analyze, and publish quality metrics.
- Assist in the preparation of distribution reports as needed for product information letters and field actions.
- Support the drafting of field action letters and other field action-related documentation.
- Reconcile and maintain field action files, ensuring all documentation is complete and appropriately filed in accordance with corporate/division standards to facilitate easy retrieval for audit support.
- Prepare 806 monthly status reports in support of 21 CFR Part 806 field action requirements.
- Track recall activities through closure and prepare final closure documentation for each field action file.
- Support audit readiness activities for internal (site, division, and corporate) and external (FDA, ISO, BSI, TUV, etc.) audits.
- Handle data requests from other departments pertaining to risk or field action data.
- Serve as a team member and/or leader on projects focused on continuous process improvement.
- May own CAPA activities for department CAPAs.
- Facilitate the post-production risk process in cases involving distributed nonconforming product and may support drafting post-production risk records.
Required Qualifications
- Apprenticeship or Bachelor’s degree in Life Science; Engineering; or closely related discipline is required OR relevant combination of education or experience.
- At least 3 years work experience in Quality or related field experience; Less experience may be appropriate with advanced degree.
- Direct experience in a Quality or Regulatory Affairs role in a GMP related industry
- Demonstrates understanding of how their function supports the business.
- Demonstrates technical and business competencies that drive results and continuous improvement.
- Candidate should be flexible, have strong problem-solving skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, and be able to lead cross functional teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with post-market quality
- Experience participating in or supporting both internal and external audits
- Working knowledge of ISO 13485 (QMS), 21 CFR, IVDR 2017/746, MDR 2017/745, and other international regulations
- Experience with medical devices containing software
- Experience working with software management systems, such as ERP systems
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Must have the ability to support business needs across different time zones, as needed
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills
Apply Now
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott, and on Twitter @AbbottNews.
The base pay for this position is $78,000.00 – $156,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Senior Specialist Quality Assurance
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution
Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.
The Opportunity
At Molecular Diagnostics, we realize the potential of personalized care as the laboratory’s most trusted and preferred source for molecular diagnostic solutions. We are a division of Abbott Laboratories, a global, diversified healthcare innovator with a legacy of pioneering work in medical diagnostics.
The Senior Specialist, Quality Assurance role is part of our Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit and is based at either our Des Plaines, IL or Lake Forest, IL location.
This role will conduct quality-related activities in the area of Complaint Handling to deliver consistent, high-quality documents, services, products, and processes that add value to the business. The primary function of the Quality Specialist is to assist in maintaining the quality system.
What You’ll Work On
- Complaints Coordination, Postproduction Risk, CAPA, Surveillance and Maintenance, Field Actions, Metrics, etc.
- Assist with other support duties as assigned.
- Participate in the Corrective Action/Preventive Action (CAPA) process, including the investigation of failures or deviations as required.
- Maintain product complaint logs to identify and report recurring issues to Quality Assurance Management and Product Development. Collaborate with other internal groups to respond to product inquiries and issues.
- Write and revise SOPs, controlled forms, and related documents to ensure best practices and alignment with current operations.
- Collaborate with members of the Quality Assurance team working on special projects.
- Participate on permanent and temporary teams that are process- or project-driven.
- Become familiar with and serve as a subject matter expert on electronic support systems, including TraqWise, CMSNext, SmartSolve, SAP, and related platforms.
- Collect, analyze, and publish quality metrics.
- Assist in the preparation of distribution reports as needed for product information letters and field actions.
- Support the drafting of field action letters and other field action-related documentation.
- Reconcile and maintain field action files, ensuring all documentation is complete and appropriately filed in accordance with corporate/division standards to facilitate easy retrieval for audit support.
- Prepare 806 monthly status reports in support of 21 CFR Part 806 field action requirements.
- Track recall activities through closure and prepare final closure documentation for each field action file.
- Support audit readiness activities for internal (site, division, and corporate) and external (FDA, ISO, BSI, TUV, etc.) audits.
- Handle data requests from other departments pertaining to risk or field action data.
- Serve as a team member and/or leader on projects focused on continuous process improvement.
- May own CAPA activities for department CAPAs.
- Facilitate the post-production risk process in cases involving distributed nonconforming product and may support drafting post-production risk records.
Required Qualifications
- Apprenticeship or Bachelor’s degree in Life Science; Engineering; or closely related discipline is required OR relevant combination of education or experience.
- At least 3 years work experience in Quality or related field experience; Less experience may be appropriate with advanced degree.
- Direct experience in a Quality or Regulatory Affairs role in a GMP related industry
- Demonstrates understanding of how their function supports the business.
- Demonstrates technical and business competencies that drive results and continuous improvement.
- Candidate should be flexible, have strong problem-solving skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, and be able to lead cross functional teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with post-market quality
- Experience participating in or supporting both internal and external audits
- Working knowledge of ISO 13485 (QMS), 21 CFR, IVDR 2017/746, MDR 2017/745, and other international regulations
- Experience with medical devices containing software
- Experience working with software management systems, such as ERP systems
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Must have the ability to support business needs across different time zones, as needed
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Strong organizational and prioritization skills
Apply Now
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott, and on Twitter @AbbottNews.
The base pay for this position is $78,000.00 – $156,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
See All 42 Quality Specialist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Quality Specialist JobsQuality Specialist Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Quality Specialist Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Automotive
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Distribution & Wholesale
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in quality specialist jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, life sciences, or a related technical field
- Hands-on experience with ISO 9001 or FDA quality management systems
- Proficiency with statistical process control tools such as Minitab or equivalent
- ASQ Certified Quality Auditor or Certified Quality Engineer credential preferred
- Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practice regulations in a production environment
- Strong written communication skills for documenting corrective and preventive actions
Quality Specialist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a quality specialist in Illinois?
Most Illinois employers require a bachelor's degree in engineering, life sciences, business, or a closely related field, along with demonstrated exposure to quality systems. Illinois does not issue a state-specific license for quality specialists, but employers in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices expect familiarity with FDA 21 CFR standards. Earning an ASQ certification and gaining experience in a manufacturing or production environment strengthens a candidate's standing considerably.
Which companies hire quality specialists in Illinois?
Companies currently hiring quality specialists in Illinois include HELLA, Abbott, and CEVA Logistics, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's concentration of pharmaceutical, food processing, and heavy manufacturing employers means demand is spread across both the Chicago metro and downstate industrial corridors.
Which Illinois cities have the most quality specialist jobs?
Chicago, Flora, and Kankakee lead Illinois for quality specialist openings. Chicago's density of corporate headquarters and distribution operations drives the largest share of postings, while Rockford's strong manufacturing base and the Peoria area's heavy equipment and industrial employers account for consistent hiring outside the metro.
Are there remote quality specialist jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Quality specialist work is largely hands-on and tied to production floors, labs, or supplier sites, so most roles require an on-site or hybrid presence. About 31% of quality specialist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to be audit coordination, documentation review, or supplier quality roles where the core work is administrative rather than physical.
How can I get hired as a quality specialist in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a quality inspector or quality technician role at a mid-size Illinois manufacturer, where on-the-job training covers inspection methods and documentation before a candidate moves into a specialist title. Large Illinois employers in food processing and pharmaceuticals, including operations in the Chicago metro and central Illinois, regularly bring on associates through rotational programs or production-floor roles. Earning an ASQ Certified Quality Improvement Associate credential while building that floor experience gives candidates a concrete edge in applications.
Where can I find and apply to quality specialist jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to quality specialist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and location, and apply directly through each listing.
See All 42 Quality Specialist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Quality Specialist Jobs