Food Manufacturing Internship Jobs in Burr Ridge, IL

Job Title: Quality Control Technician

Job Description

The Quality Control Technician works on the production line to ensure products meet strict quality and safety standards. This role performs routine quality checks, basic product testing, and monitoring of critical control points while supporting a culture of continuous improvement and food safety. It offers strong training opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of products, and a stable environment with excellent benefits and work-life balance.

Responsibilities

• Perform quality control checks on the production line to ensure products meet established specifications and standards.
• Conduct basic product testing, including measurements of salt content, acidity, viscosity, and moisture levels.
• Monitor and verify Critical Control Points, including the operation and effectiveness of metal detectors and x-ray machines.
• Carry out pre-operational (pre-op) inspections of production lines and equipment before manufacturing begins.
• Perform microbiological and allergen swabbing according to established procedures and documentation requirements.
• Oversee quality on 1–2 production lines at a time, adjusting focus based on production needs and sample load.
• Manage sample collection, handling, and documentation, with the ability to process up to approximately 10 samples per hour depending on product type.
• Apply Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety principles consistently throughout all quality control activities.
• Work independently to manage daily tasks and time, staying proactive about upcoming production and workload for the week.
• Collaborate with the quality lead and other production team members to resolve quality issues and support continuous improvement.
• Follow established quality assurance and quality control procedures, including HACCP and PCQI-related processes where applicable.
• Adhere strictly to attendance and punctuality expectations to support reliable production and quality operations.
• Participate in ongoing training and learning opportunities to expand knowledge of quality systems, food safety, and regulatory requirements.

Essential Skills

• Experience in quality assurance or quality control in a manufacturing or production environment, or relevant exposure to manufacturing operations.
• Understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and their application in a production setting.
• Ability to perform and interpret basic product tests, including salt, acid, viscosity, and moisture measurements.
• Familiarity with quality control equipment such as metal detectors and x-ray machines, or the ability to learn their use quickly.
• Capacity to perform microbiological and allergen swabbing following established protocols.
• Ability to work independently, manage own time effectively, and stay organized with multiple tasks and lines.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate workload and prepare for upcoming production demands.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in testing, documentation, and monitoring of critical control points.
• Reliability and commitment to meeting attendance and punctuality requirements.
• Comfort working on a production floor environment and following safety and hygiene standards.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, particularly in food or consumer goods production, is highly valued.
• Some college education is a plus but not required.
• PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) and HACCP certifications are a plus but not required; candidates without these certifications are welcome.
• New graduates with relevant education or internship experience in quality, food science, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
• Willingness to participate in annual PCQI training provided by the company, with the opportunity to obtain PCQI certification.
• Interest in continuous learning, with the ability to take advantage of a robust training budget and additional development opportunities.
• Strong communication skills for working with production staff and quality team members.
• Adaptability to changing production volumes and sample loads while maintaining quality standards.

Work Environment

This is a 2nd shift role, typically working Monday through Thursday from approximately 2:30 PM to 1:00 AM.

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

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $24.00/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Bolingbrook,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 17, 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 withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall 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 applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.