OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs
Chemical Engineer OPT jobs are a strong fit for F-1 students, as the role consistently qualifies as a STEM occupation, giving you access to the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of your initial 12 months. Employers in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and materials manufacturing regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this specialty.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Summary
This is a high-profile position interacting with all departments in the plant, Coating Solutions group, and Arkema. The role is responsible for the development and implementation of improvement to the plant manufacturing processes that positively affect productivity, quality, environment, reliability, and profitability. The position provides day-to-day engineering management and troubleshooting. This role will be involved with the ideation, development, and execution of projects to positively impact plant operations and competitiveness.
This position is based at the plant site with all the physical risks inherent with a work at a chemical manufacturing plant. The position will require on-call availability to solve production problems as required.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Project / Problem Solving (50%)
- Achieve at least a Green Belt certification and apply six sigma tools to identify plant opportunities
- Contributes new ideas and approaches to process improvement and builds consensus on project implementation
- Use a data driven process to lead the site’s Continuous Improvement Lead to prioritize improvement opportunities of the key plant performance metrics, including sustainability efforts (Arkenergy, GHG reduction)
- Manage projects through the site’s Management of Change (MOC) process and support tracking of projects in QuimeO and CAPEX process
- Leads root cause analysis and other trouble shooting methodologies to resolve safety, production and quality problems. Implements Six Sigma methodologies for more complex problems or projects
- Reviews and adapts ideas from other areas of technology to solve problems and/or improve processes through to project implementation
- Leads improvement projects, collaborating with manufacturing teams, engineering personnel, and R&D representatives; these may be capital, or non-capital, and includes participating or leading various reviews such as process hazards analysis, management of change and pre-start up safety reviews
- Ensures workplace safety by conducting safety observations and reviews while adhering to safety regulations and procedures
Plant Process/ Production Engineering (40%)
- Provide day-to-day plant process / production troubleshooting, guidance and support; work with plant supervisors, operators and engineers in resolving plant production issues and in preparing for campaigns of products as needed.
- Provide input to the Supply chain organization and the plant scheduler to ensure the plant is scheduled efficiently and in a way that avoids production or quality impacts.
- Own management of plant solvent and work with logistics and the Chatham facility to ensure solvent is available when needed and solvent use is optimized.
- Provide DCS support as needed to resolve or triage minor batch control issues when needed.
- Requires On-Call support
- Lead implementation and improvement of OEE system that can be used to identify opportunities for production improvements and to assess and measure plant capacity.
- Maintain knowledge and drive accuracy in the accounting systems used to measure and track the consumption and generation of materials and energy through the production process, including updating BOMs as appropriate.
- Ensure process complies with OSHA, EPA and Arkema requirements, including maintaining assigned process safety information and participating in Process Hazard Assessments for assigned areas.
- Work with other departments to test critical systems of assigned areas.
Other (10%)
- Maintain effective management systems that monitor production activities, including sustainability, efficiency, cost, regulatory compliance, and energy.
- Provide applicable reporting of deviations (OEE, safety, environmental, production, quality)
- Assist in investigations, audits, annual reviews and other management system events to promote collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Help support / mentor less experienced engineers
- Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications and Education Required
More than 3 years of experience manufacturing, preferably in a batch processing chemical environment
Chemical Engineering degree or similar
Certifications / Trainings:
- Six Sigma certification preferred (Green Belt or above)
- Familiarity with PSM, OSHA and other safety or regulatory requirements
- Demonstrated ability to explain complex technical issues to all varieties of audience and leaves a clear understanding of message
- Strong computer capabilities
Competencies - Knowledge Skills & Abilities (KSAs)
- Curious, agile learner who drives improvement through critical thinking, adaptability, and flexibility
- Ability and desire to act as change agent to improve plant performance while maintaining high engagement
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to function under pressure
- Problem solving skills and personal judgement to take independent action
- Strong initiative, proactive, self-directed
- Ability to influence others through developing relationships and trust
- Results Oriented
HES Requirement – All Jobs:
Supports site HES policy and complies with all regulatory and internal requirements
Participates in HES activities provided by site management and Arkema Inc. (e.g., Behavioral Base Safety, SafeStart, etc.)
Supports and promotes the reporting of all health, safety, environmental, near-miss, accident or injury incidents
Physical Demands / Working Conditions:
Chemical manufacturing facility with all inherent risks
On-call status for off-hours production problem solving
Job Summary
This is a high-profile position interacting with all departments in the plant, Coating Solutions group, and Arkema. The role is responsible for the development and implementation of improvement to the plant manufacturing processes that positively affect productivity, quality, environment, reliability, and profitability. The position provides day-to-day engineering management and troubleshooting. This role will be involved with the ideation, development, and execution of projects to positively impact plant operations and competitiveness.
This position is based at the plant site with all the physical risks inherent with a work at a chemical manufacturing plant. The position will require on-call availability to solve production problems as required.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Project / Problem Solving (50%)
- Achieve at least a Green Belt certification and apply six sigma tools to identify plant opportunities
- Contributes new ideas and approaches to process improvement and builds consensus on project implementation
- Use a data driven process to lead the site’s Continuous Improvement Lead to prioritize improvement opportunities of the key plant performance metrics, including sustainability efforts (Arkenergy, GHG reduction)
- Manage projects through the site’s Management of Change (MOC) process and support tracking of projects in QuimeO and CAPEX process
- Leads root cause analysis and other trouble shooting methodologies to resolve safety, production and quality problems. Implements Six Sigma methodologies for more complex problems or projects
- Reviews and adapts ideas from other areas of technology to solve problems and/or improve processes through to project implementation
- Leads improvement projects, collaborating with manufacturing teams, engineering personnel, and R&D representatives; these may be capital, or non-capital, and includes participating or leading various reviews such as process hazards analysis, management of change and pre-start up safety reviews
- Ensures workplace safety by conducting safety observations and reviews while adhering to safety regulations and procedures
Plant Process/ Production Engineering (40%)
- Provide day-to-day plant process / production troubleshooting, guidance and support; work with plant supervisors, operators and engineers in resolving plant production issues and in preparing for campaigns of products as needed.
- Provide input to the Supply chain organization and the plant scheduler to ensure the plant is scheduled efficiently and in a way that avoids production or quality impacts.
- Own management of plant solvent and work with logistics and the Chatham facility to ensure solvent is available when needed and solvent use is optimized.
- Provide DCS support as needed to resolve or triage minor batch control issues when needed.
- Requires On-Call support
- Lead implementation and improvement of OEE system that can be used to identify opportunities for production improvements and to assess and measure plant capacity.
- Maintain knowledge and drive accuracy in the accounting systems used to measure and track the consumption and generation of materials and energy through the production process, including updating BOMs as appropriate.
- Ensure process complies with OSHA, EPA and Arkema requirements, including maintaining assigned process safety information and participating in Process Hazard Assessments for assigned areas.
- Work with other departments to test critical systems of assigned areas.
Other (10%)
- Maintain effective management systems that monitor production activities, including sustainability, efficiency, cost, regulatory compliance, and energy.
- Provide applicable reporting of deviations (OEE, safety, environmental, production, quality)
- Assist in investigations, audits, annual reviews and other management system events to promote collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Help support / mentor less experienced engineers
- Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications and Education Required
More than 3 years of experience manufacturing, preferably in a batch processing chemical environment
Chemical Engineering degree or similar
Certifications / Trainings:
- Six Sigma certification preferred (Green Belt or above)
- Familiarity with PSM, OSHA and other safety or regulatory requirements
- Demonstrated ability to explain complex technical issues to all varieties of audience and leaves a clear understanding of message
- Strong computer capabilities
Competencies - Knowledge Skills & Abilities (KSAs)
- Curious, agile learner who drives improvement through critical thinking, adaptability, and flexibility
- Ability and desire to act as change agent to improve plant performance while maintaining high engagement
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to function under pressure
- Problem solving skills and personal judgement to take independent action
- Strong initiative, proactive, self-directed
- Ability to influence others through developing relationships and trust
- Results Oriented
HES Requirement – All Jobs:
Supports site HES policy and complies with all regulatory and internal requirements
Participates in HES activities provided by site management and Arkema Inc. (e.g., Behavioral Base Safety, SafeStart, etc.)
Supports and promotes the reporting of all health, safety, environmental, near-miss, accident or injury incidents
Physical Demands / Working Conditions:
Chemical manufacturing facility with all inherent risks
On-call status for off-hours production problem solving
See all 430+ OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Chemical Engineer
Target STEM-designated employers first
Chemical Engineering roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, but only if your employer is E-Verify enrolled. Confirm enrollment before accepting any offer. Most large manufacturers and chemical companies already participate.
Align your resume to the specialty occupation standard
H-1B approval for Chemical Engineers requires your role to directly use your degree. Emphasize specific technical functions like process design, reaction kinetics, or materials analysis rather than general project coordination or lab support duties.
Research employers who regularly file H-1B petitions
Companies with a track record of sponsoring Chemical Engineers are your safest bet during OPT. DOL disclosure data shows consistent H-1B filings from firms in petroleum refining, specialty chemicals, and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors.
Apply before your OPT authorization is issued
Hiring timelines at chemical and engineering firms often run 6 to 12 weeks. Start applying before your OPT EAD arrives so your authorization is in hand by the time an offer is extended and onboarding begins.
Address the H-1B cap timeline proactively
With a STEM extension, you have up to 36 months of OPT. That covers two H-1B lottery cycles. Tell sponsoring employers upfront so they understand you are not a one-year hire requiring an immediate cap-subject petition.
Highlight process engineering and safety compliance experience
Employers sponsoring Chemical Engineers for H-1B need to justify the specialty occupation requirement. Roles involving process optimization, OSHA compliance, or scale-up engineering are far easier to sponsor than generalist R&D assistant positions.
Chemical Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Chemical Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Chemical Engineering (CIP code 14.0701) is on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, which means you are eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12-month OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you must file Form I-983 to document your training plan. Combined, that gives you up to 36 months of work authorization before needing an H-1B or other visa.
Do Chemical Engineer jobs typically qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Chemical Engineering is one of the cleaner specialty occupation cases for H-1B purposes. The role has a direct and established connection to a specific degree field, which is exactly what USCIS looks for. Roles involving process design, reaction engineering, or materials development are routinely approved. Positions framed as general operations or sales support are harder to qualify, even with an engineering title, so the job description matters significantly.
Which industries hire Chemical Engineers on OPT most often?
The strongest hiring demand for Chemical Engineers on OPT comes from petroleum and natural gas, pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing, specialty chemicals, semiconductors, and environmental consulting. These industries routinely deal with technically complex, degree-dependent work that supports both OPT and future H-1B sponsorship. You can browse verified OPT-friendly openings across these sectors on Migrate Mate, which filters for employers actively working with international candidates.
Can I do a co-op or internship as a Chemical Engineer while on OPT?
Yes, post-completion OPT allows full-time and part-time employment, including internships, provided the work is directly related to your Chemical Engineering degree. However, you cannot use post-completion OPT for volunteer work or unpaid positions. If you are still enrolled and want to do a co-op before graduation, Curricular Practical Training is the appropriate authorization instead. Make sure any internship offer letter explicitly connects the role to your field of study.
What happens if I cannot find a Chemical Engineer role before my OPT start date?
OPT has a 90-day unemployment limit. You do not need to be employed on the first day, but the clock starts from your OPT start date, not from when you find a job. For Chemical Engineers, the job search timeline is typically realistic within that window given strong industry demand, but starting your applications two to three months before graduation significantly reduces the pressure. Document any periods of unemployment carefully in your SEVIS record through your DSO.