H-1B Visa Manufacturing Engineering Manager Jobs
Manufacturing Engineering Manager roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations under USCIS criteria, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering. Employers in automotive, aerospace, medical devices, and electronics consistently file LCAs for this title. The H-1B cap and annual lottery apply unless your employer holds cap-exempt status.
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Product Development & Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Company: Surgistar
Location: Vista, CA (On-site)
Reports To: Sr. Plant Director
About Surgistar:
We are a division of Microsurgical Technology (MST), that develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for the ophthalmology market. Our products are manufactured using the highest levels of care and precision at our manufacturing facility in Vista, California. We constantly evolve to meet the distinct clinical needs of ophthalmic surgeons through our dedicated partnership with surgeon-designers, bringing innovation to ophthalmology.
Job Summary
The Product Development & Manufacturing Engineering Manager has a hands-on role that leads a team to design, implement, and optimize automated manufacturing systems and processes, improving efficiency and reducing costs. This position is on-site in Vista, CA.
Key Responsibilities
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Metallurgical Processing & Integration: Combines chemical engineering principles with metallurgy to design, optimize, and manage metal production, treating raw materials to create high-value metal products and incorporates into plastic for the next assembly.
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Design and Prototyping: Create high-quality 3D CAD models, drawings, and 2D blueprints using SolidWorks or similar software, focusing on design for manufacturability (DFM). Create prototypes, develop verification/validation test protocols, and analyze data. Part creation by way of 3D printing will be required.
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Process Improvement & Optimization: Use Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and 5S tools to eliminate bottlenecks, improve workflow, and boost efficiency.
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Testing & Troubleshooting: Conduct validation, testing, and commissioning of systems to ensure performance, safety, and compliance with regulations.
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Prototyping & Testing: Create prototypes, develop verification/validation test protocols, and analyze data.
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Documentation & Training: Create and maintain technical documentation, including schematics and user guides, Manufacturing Work Instructions, and train staff on new equipment.
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Quality & Compliance: Ensure compliance with ISO 13485 and FDA regulations, managing documentation for design history files (DHF) and validation.
Required Skills & Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Metallurgical, Mechanical, or equivalent experience)
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3–10 years of product development and/or Manufacturing engineering in a regulated industry (medical devices preferred).
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Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks), GD&T, and knowledge of materials (plastics, metals) used in medical devices.
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Automation & manufacturing systems (specification, commissioning, troubleshooting)
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New Product Introduction (NPI) and design for manufacturability (DFM)
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Cross-functional leadership, project management, and technical communication
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Strong critical thinking and analytical skills to resolve complex technical issues during production. Lean Six Sigma Certified desired.
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Excellent communication skills for coordinating with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and clients.
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Knowledge of safety standards, compliance requirements, and CI/CD tools. Medical Device Regulations - ISO13485 is a Plus.
Work Environment
Product development, prototyping, and manufacturing settings and offices (Automation and Chemical for metal processing).
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
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Engineering PDP/NPI Project schedule and budget adherence
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Machine/System uptime and reliability.
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Automation adoption rate and efficiency gains.
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Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
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Cycle time reduction and production throughput.
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Cost reduction (operational and material costs).
Compensation (Pay Scale – California): The good-faith annual base salary pay scale for this position is $140,000 - $185,000 at the time of posting (California Labor Code § 432.3). Actual base salary offered will be provided in writing at the time of offer (if applicable) and will be based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as geographic location, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Benefits: This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements.
EEO/AA: Surgistar is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin (including ancestry), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Surgistar will not retaliate against applicants or employees for exercising rights protected by law, including requesting pay scale information.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Verify your degree matches the role
USCIS requires your degree field to align directly with manufacturing engineering management. A mechanical or industrial engineering degree is the clearest match. A business or general management degree alone typically won't support the specialty occupation determination for this title.
Target cap-exempt employers first
Hospitals, universities, and nonprofit research institutions attached to higher education are cap-exempt, meaning your H-1B petition bypasses the annual lottery entirely. Manufacturing engineering manager roles exist at medical device firms and research hospitals, so this path is worth exploring before cap season.
Search LCA filings on Migrate Mate
Filter H-1B job listings by employers with verified LCA filing history for manufacturing engineering roles. Migrate Mate surfaces this DOL Labor Condition Application data so you can target companies with a documented track record of sponsoring this specific job title.
Pull the prevailing wage before negotiating
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level II and Level III prevailing wages for your SOC code and the employer's county. Your offered salary must meet the certified LCA wage, so know the floor before you receive an offer rather than after.
Ask employers about their premium processing policy
USCIS premium processing upgrades adjudication to 15 business days. Many manufacturers default to standard processing, which can run five months or longer. Clarify upfront whether the employer will authorize premium processing, especially if your current work authorization has a tight expiration window.
Document your supervisory scope precisely
If your role manages both engineers and production staff, the offer letter and LCA must clearly establish that the position requires a specialized degree, not just supervisory experience. Ambiguous job descriptions increase RFE risk, so work with your employer's counsel to define qualifying duties before the petition is filed.
Manufacturing Engineering Manager jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Manufacturing Engineering Manager JobsManufacturing Engineering Manager H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Manufacturing Engineering Manager role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, provided the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering. USCIS evaluates the job duties, not just the title. If the role primarily involves general operations management without a degree-specific requirement, the specialty occupation determination can be challenged, so the job description needs to clearly tie duties to engineering theory and practice.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most often for this role?
Automotive, aerospace, medical devices, semiconductor manufacturing, and industrial equipment are the industries where H-1B LCA filings for manufacturing engineering manager titles appear most consistently in DOL disclosure data. Companies in these sectors often have established immigration programs and in-house or retained counsel familiar with engineering petitions. Migrate Mate lets you browse open roles filtered by employers with verified LCA filing history in these sectors.
Can my employer file an H-1B for me mid-year outside the lottery?
Yes, in two situations. If the employer is cap-exempt, such as a nonprofit research institution or university-affiliated organization, a petition can be filed at any time without entering the lottery. Alternatively, if you're transferring from another H-1B employer, you can port to the new employer immediately upon filing the transfer petition without waiting for a new cap slot, as long as you're maintaining valid H-1B status.
What documentation should I gather before my employer files the H-1B petition?
You'll need official transcripts, degree certificates, and a credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the U.S. Your employer needs to confirm the evaluation meets USCIS standards, typically a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-member organization. You should also provide a detailed resume showing engineering duties, any professional licenses relevant to your jurisdiction, and documentation of any graduate coursework or certifications that strengthen the specialty occupation argument.
How does the prevailing wage requirement affect a Manufacturing Engineering Manager offer?
The employer's LCA must certify that your offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for your SOC code, job level, and work location as determined by the OFLC Wage Search. For a manager-level position, this typically corresponds to a Level III or Level IV wage. If the offered salary falls below the prevailing wage for that combination, the DOL will not certify the LCA, and the H-1B petition cannot proceed.
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