OPT CNC Operator Jobs
CNC Operator jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with a degree in manufacturing technology, mechanical engineering, or a related field. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in aerospace, automotive, and precision manufacturing actively hire OPT candidates with hands-on machining experience.
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Get Access To All JobsCNC Tooling Sales and Application Engineer
Location:
North West Houston, TX, US, 77040
On-site or Remote: Onsite
REQ ID: 48810
About Kennametal
With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Job Summary
Kennametal is seeking talented machinists and programmers looking to transition their career off the floor day to day into a professional sales role. If you are currently working as a machinist or have previous hands on machining and cnc programming experience, we would be very interested in speaking to you! This position is responsible for driving metal-cutting tool sales growth with new and established customers, both direct and indirect, by managing customer relationship, providing technical direction/support, and increasing productivity for our customers. This role combines technical knowledge and sales skills to achieve sales targets, build strong territory presence and pipeline. This role will partner with multiple internal sales and support professionals to support the customers’ initiatives and technical needs. Sales and Application Engineers work on unique challenges related to cnc machining, milling, and lathe applications. The role is based from a home office within the assigned territory, but 80% or more of the week is spent out in the field at customer locations. A company vehicle is provided as part of top of market compensation package which includes a base salary plus bonus based on performance, and benefits starting day 1.
Key Job Responsibilities
- Meet or exceed revenue targets by:
- Effectively providing metal cutting solutions, by understanding current and future market trends, to meet customers’ key needs and objectives in a professional manner.
- Generating, qualifying, and managing all sales leads, prospects, and new customer accounts.
- Proactively managing the complete sales process, including prospecting, qualification, consultative sales meetings, product demos, pricing, terms negotiations, and sourcing.
- Developing and executing strategic territory plans to deliver revenue goals with a focus on new product sales.
- Providing timely answers to pre-sales technical and commercial queries from customers.
- Maintaining up-to-date customer and project records in CRM to ensure a clean and healthy pipeline.
- Actively collaborating with internal sales and support professionals, such as Application Engineers, Channel Partner Reps, Inside Sales, and others to provide value and a positive end-to-end customer experience.
- Performing online and/or onsite demonstrations of metal cutting products tailored to customers’ needs.
- Conducting pre-sales workshops, webinars, and other online/onsite events within the territory.
- Representing and promoting Kennametal at tradeshows, conferences, and other events within the territory.
- Delivering cost savings through analysis of complex application needs and providing recommendations to support customer business need through tooling and application testing.
- Preparing and presenting progress, status, and forecasting reports.
Requirements
- Technical degree or Degree in Business, Manufacturing and/or Engineering preferred
- 3+ years of related cnc machining industry experience, 1-2 years of technical sales and/or application experience preferred
- Proficient in product knowledge, including applications and troubleshooting; can tailor solutions to meet customer needs
- Solid grasp of industry dynamics; effectively aligns product solutions with customer needs and industry trends
- Competent in a range of sales techniques, including advanced objection handling and closing strategies; adapts approach to various customer types
- Independently executes strategic sales plans; contributes to the development of strategies and meets targets through insightful planning
- Possess solid critical thinking, presentation, and administrative skills
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Customer-focused mindset with a passion for problem-solving and delivering exceptional service
- Detail-oriented to manage contract review and discuss project specifications
- Creative and persuasive with the ability to think at both tactical and strategic levels
- Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively across all departments
Kennametal Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Nearest Major Market: Houston
Job Segment: Pre-Sales, CNC, Inside Sales, Telemarketing, Sales Engineer, Sales, Manufacturing
CNC Tooling Sales and Application Engineer
Location:
North West Houston, TX, US, 77040
On-site or Remote: Onsite
REQ ID: 48810
About Kennametal
With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Job Summary
Kennametal is seeking talented machinists and programmers looking to transition their career off the floor day to day into a professional sales role. If you are currently working as a machinist or have previous hands on machining and cnc programming experience, we would be very interested in speaking to you! This position is responsible for driving metal-cutting tool sales growth with new and established customers, both direct and indirect, by managing customer relationship, providing technical direction/support, and increasing productivity for our customers. This role combines technical knowledge and sales skills to achieve sales targets, build strong territory presence and pipeline. This role will partner with multiple internal sales and support professionals to support the customers’ initiatives and technical needs. Sales and Application Engineers work on unique challenges related to cnc machining, milling, and lathe applications. The role is based from a home office within the assigned territory, but 80% or more of the week is spent out in the field at customer locations. A company vehicle is provided as part of top of market compensation package which includes a base salary plus bonus based on performance, and benefits starting day 1.
Key Job Responsibilities
- Meet or exceed revenue targets by:
- Effectively providing metal cutting solutions, by understanding current and future market trends, to meet customers’ key needs and objectives in a professional manner.
- Generating, qualifying, and managing all sales leads, prospects, and new customer accounts.
- Proactively managing the complete sales process, including prospecting, qualification, consultative sales meetings, product demos, pricing, terms negotiations, and sourcing.
- Developing and executing strategic territory plans to deliver revenue goals with a focus on new product sales.
- Providing timely answers to pre-sales technical and commercial queries from customers.
- Maintaining up-to-date customer and project records in CRM to ensure a clean and healthy pipeline.
- Actively collaborating with internal sales and support professionals, such as Application Engineers, Channel Partner Reps, Inside Sales, and others to provide value and a positive end-to-end customer experience.
- Performing online and/or onsite demonstrations of metal cutting products tailored to customers’ needs.
- Conducting pre-sales workshops, webinars, and other online/onsite events within the territory.
- Representing and promoting Kennametal at tradeshows, conferences, and other events within the territory.
- Delivering cost savings through analysis of complex application needs and providing recommendations to support customer business need through tooling and application testing.
- Preparing and presenting progress, status, and forecasting reports.
Requirements
- Technical degree or Degree in Business, Manufacturing and/or Engineering preferred
- 3+ years of related cnc machining industry experience, 1-2 years of technical sales and/or application experience preferred
- Proficient in product knowledge, including applications and troubleshooting; can tailor solutions to meet customer needs
- Solid grasp of industry dynamics; effectively aligns product solutions with customer needs and industry trends
- Competent in a range of sales techniques, including advanced objection handling and closing strategies; adapts approach to various customer types
- Independently executes strategic sales plans; contributes to the development of strategies and meets targets through insightful planning
- Possess solid critical thinking, presentation, and administrative skills
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Customer-focused mindset with a passion for problem-solving and delivering exceptional service
- Detail-oriented to manage contract review and discuss project specifications
- Creative and persuasive with the ability to think at both tactical and strategic levels
- Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively across all departments
Kennametal Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Nearest Major Market: Houston
Job Segment: Pre-Sales, CNC, Inside Sales, Telemarketing, Sales Engineer, Sales, Manufacturing
See all 85+ OPT CNC Operator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT CNC Operator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in CNC Operator
Confirm your role qualifies as STEM OPT
CNC Operator positions typically fall under SOC codes tied to manufacturing and production engineering. Verify your specific job title maps to an approved STEM CIP-SOC combination before accepting an offer to protect your 36-month extension eligibility.
Highlight hands-on machine experience clearly
Employers screening OPT candidates move quickly. List specific machines you've operated, such as Haas, Mazak, or Fanuc-controlled equipment, directly in your resume summary so hiring managers can assess your qualifications without reading the full document.
Target industries with established OPT hiring pipelines
Aerospace, automotive, and medical device manufacturers hire CNC Operators on OPT regularly. These industries have dedicated HR processes for work authorization, making them more likely to extend an offer without lengthy internal approval delays.
Address OPT early in the application process
Disclosing your OPT status in your cover letter removes ambiguity and builds trust. Briefly explain your remaining authorization window and eligibility for the STEM extension so employers can assess sponsorship feasibility before the interview stage.
Obtain your EAD card before your start date
Your employer cannot legally place you on the production floor without a valid Employment Authorization Document in hand. Apply for your EAD at least 90 days before your program end date to avoid gaps between graduation and your first day.
Get your I-983 training plan signed promptly
For STEM OPT, your employer must complete and sign Form I-983 before your extension is approved. Bring this up early with your supervisor or HR contact so bureaucratic delays on the employer's side don't compress your remaining work authorization window.
CNC Operator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as CNC Operators?
Yes. CNC Operator roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the position is directly related to your field of study, such as mechanical engineering, manufacturing technology, or industrial engineering. You'll need a valid EAD card before starting work. If your degree is in a qualifying STEM field, you may also be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Does a CNC Operator job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree and how the employer classifies the role. CNC Operator positions are often mapped to SOC codes under production and manufacturing engineering, which can qualify for STEM OPT. Your degree must appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program list, and the employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and willing to sign Form I-983 as your training plan.
How do I find CNC Operator employers willing to hire OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job searches, so you can filter CNC Operator listings by employers who actively hire international students. Aerospace, defense, and precision manufacturing companies tend to have the most established processes for OPT hires, so prioritizing those sectors when browsing will save significant time.
What should I tell a CNC Operator employer about my OPT status?
Be straightforward and factual. Explain that you have work authorization through OPT, state your EAD expiration date, and mention whether you're eligible for the STEM extension. Provide the exact number of months remaining on your authorization. Employers in manufacturing are used to managing shift schedules and deadlines, and they'll appreciate a clear timeline rather than vague answers.
Can I switch CNC Operator employers while on OPT?
Yes, but the new role must still be directly related to your field of study. On standard OPT, you can change employers as long as you report the change to your DSO within 10 days and update your SEVIS record. On STEM OPT, switching employers requires a new Form I-983 signed by the incoming employer before you begin working there.