Quality Technician (Confidential Manufacturer) – Harwood Heights, IL
Pay: $20-$26/hour
Schedule: 1st Shift | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Type: Contract-to-Hire (6 months)

An established and steadily growing precision manufacturing organization is seeking a Quality Technician to join its quality team at a long-standing production facility in the near-west Chicago suburbs. This company supports diverse industries including aerospace, oil & gas, industrial equipment, and other high-specification markets.

This opportunity is ideal for someone early in their quality career who enjoys hands-on work, thrives in a fast-paced shop environment, and wants to build long-term technical skills within a stable organization.

About the Role

This is a highly hands-on, shop-floor-focused position supporting the inspection and verification of machined components. The Quality Technician will perform routine visual and dimensional inspections, validate part conformance, and help ensure product quality across active production lines.

Daily responsibilities include:

• Performing visual inspections for defects such as burrs, damage, contamination, and cosmetic issues
• Conducting dimensional inspections using calipers, micrometers, height gages, bore gages, thread gages, and related tools
• Measuring part batches ranging from small to large components
• Analyzing measurement data to confirm compliance with print specifications and tolerances
• Documenting inspection results, deviations, and nonconformances
• Verifying material certifications against blueprint requirements
• Supporting cleanliness testing and related quality checks when required
• Capturing photos and entering basic data into internal systems

Inspection volumes may range from moderate to high depending on product line and production activity.

What We’re Looking For

Required / Strongly Preferred:

• 1–3 years of experience in a quality-related role (Quality Technician, Inspector, Calibration Tech, etc.)
• Experience performing visual and dimensional inspections in a manufacturing environment
• Comfortable using basic inspection tools (calipers, micrometers, gages, etc.)
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints (GD&T knowledge is a strong plus)
• Comfortable spending most of the day on the production floor
• Strong attention to detail and consistency

Valued Backgrounds / Pluses:

• Experience in machining, metalworking, fabrication, or similar environments
• Exposure to ISO or structured quality systems
• Mechanical aptitude or hands-on technical hobbies
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Work Environment & Culture

This facility blends a highly experienced manufacturing workforce with a modernizing quality function. The environment is active, production-driven, and best suited for someone who:

• Learns quickly and adapts well to changing priorities
• Is comfortable asking questions and learning on the job
• Has a professional, grounded demeanor
• Works well around strong personalities and tenured shop employees

Training is provided, but success in this role requires curiosity, initiative, and comfort working in a dynamic setting.

Compensation & Benefits

• $20-$26/hour, depending on experience
• Contract-to-hire with strong conversion potential
• Full medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) available upon conversion

If you are a detail-oriented quality professional seeking a stable first-shift opportunity with long-term growth potential, we encourage you to apply.