About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Scientific & QA.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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What You’ll Do

This is a hands-on first-shift Quality Technician role in a dairy manufacturing facility. You will perform routine laboratory and quality control activities to ensure products meet food safety and quality standards, support daily lab operations, and escalate issues when necessary.

• Collect in-process and finished-product samples and verify they meet quality and safety specifications.
• Perform basic analytical testing including pH, wet-chemistry techniques, and basic microbiological methods.
• Use laboratory equipment and pipetting techniques accurately to produce reliable results.
• Record, document, and report test results according to procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in organoleptic (taste) testing of dairy products as part of quality evaluation.
• Assist with environmental monitoring tasks (e.g., air sampling) when required.
• Maintain a clean, organized laboratory following standard operating procedures and safety protocols.
• Collaborate with plant personnel and other technicians to troubleshoot and support continuous improvement.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Food Science, or a related science field preferred; relevant hands-on lab experience may substitute.
• Quality-minded with a strong commitment to food safety and product consistency.
• Basic understanding of laboratory practices and a willingness to learn laboratory techniques.
• Comfortable performing pH testing, wet chemistry, and basic microbiological tasks.
• Accurate pipetting and safe use of common lab equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to recognize and escalate quality issues.
• Comfortable with consuming small samples of dairy products during taste testing.
• Ability to work first shift with flexible hours and occasional weekend coverage.

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Nice-to-Have

• Prior laboratory or quality experience in manufacturing or food production.
• Experience in QC/QA functions and familiarity with standard documentation systems.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills in a small, collaborative environment.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Pay: $24.00 / hour (contract position).
• This is a contract role; individual compensation within the posted range depends on experience and qualifications.
• Potential temporary-role benefits (if eligible): medical, dental & vision; 401(k) options; voluntary life & AD&D; short- and long-term disability; HSA; transportation benefits; Employee Assistance Program; paid time off policies (subject to eligibility).

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Workplace & Schedule

• Workplace type: Fully onsite at the plant in O Fallon, IL.
• Shift: First shift; some flexibility required and occasional weekend coverage may be necessary.
• Team: You’ll work alongside a small group of technicians in a collaborative, supportive environment in a dairy manufacturing plant producing milk, flavored milks, and cultured products.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.