Lab Technician

Confidential – Lab Technician (Metals Testing / Heavy Industry)

Chicago, IL | $20–$25/hr | 1st Shift | Direct Hire

A well-established industrial manufacturer with over 100 years in operation is seeking a Lab Technician to join their Quality team. This role is ideal for someone with hands-on lab or shop-floor testing experience who thrives in a heavy industrial environment (steel, metals, or machining). Unlike sterile or medical labs, this setting is dynamic, fast-paced, and offers exposure to advanced testing methods directly tied to production.

What’s in it for you:

• Direct hire opportunity with full benefits and union membership

• 1st shift schedule (6:00 AM – 4:00 PM, flexibility available)

• Overtime available (time-and-a-half + occasional Saturday work)

• Competitive compensation: $20–$25/hr depending on experience

• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, PTO, 401(k) match, quarterly bonuses, and monthly company-paid lunches

• Join a solid, experienced team in a company recognized globally for innovation and quality

Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

• Perform material testing : tensile, impact, chemical analysis, grain size, microstructure, Jominy hardenability

• Prepare and section test samples from production materials

• Maintain logs, inventory of lab consumables, and ensure accurate documentation of test results

• Support external lab testing when required

• Perform basic maintenance on testing equipment (Mazak tooling, abrasive sand systems, band saws, tensile/impact machines)

• Collaborate with Metallurgy and Quality teams to support production, trials, and failure analysis

What We’re Looking For:

• High school diploma or GED

• 1+ years of experience in steel manufacturing, machining, or metals testing (not medical labs)

• Familiarity with precision measurement tools and lab testing equipment

• Ability to follow work instructions and document results (basic MS Office skills required)

• Comfortable in a hands-on, industrial lab environment with overtime as needed

• Experience with ISO 9001 quality systems is a plus

This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to apply their lab and testing skills in a heavy industrial environment and grow with a stable, well-managed company.