Equipment Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Equipment Engineer jobs are accessible on OPT, and many semiconductor, aerospace, and manufacturing employers are experienced sponsors. STEM OPT extensions apply here, giving you up to three years of work authorization. Strong hands-on experience with process tools or fab equipment significantly improves your sponsorship prospects.
See All Equipment Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 382+ Equipment Engineer jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 382+ Equipment Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Equipment Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsJob Information
Date Opened
03/20/2026
Job Type
Consultant
Work Experience
4-5 years
Industry
Pharma
City
Irvine
State/Province
California
Country
United States
Job Description
PSC Biotech provides the life sciences with essential services to ensure that health care products are developed, manufactured, and distributed to the highest standards, in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
Our goal is to skyrocket our clients’ success, and you can be a part of our team’s achievements. Employing a global team of skilled professionals and experts that span across strategically located offices in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, we are proud of the roles we have fulfilled to help our clients achieve success.
With operations spanning the globe and featuring a multi-cultural team, PSC Biotech® is passionate about bringing the best and brightest together in an effort to form something truly special. When you make the decision to join our team, you will be offered the ability to feel inspired in your career, explore your professional passions, and work alongside a group of people who will value and nurture your talents.
We are firm believers in coaching and developing the next generation of industry leaders and influencers. As such, you will not only be offered compensation and benefits structure that rewards you, but also be provided with the tools that will help you grow and learn.
At PSC Biotech®, it’s about more than just a job—it’s about your career and your future.
Your Role
We are hiring an experienced Process Equipment Engineer! The Process Equipment Engineer is responsible for the lifecycle management, performance, and reliability of process equipment used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This role supports GMP-compliant operations by ensuring process equipment is properly designed, installed, qualified, maintained, and optimized to meet production, quality, safety, and regulatory requirements. The engineer partners closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Validation, and Facilities teams to support reliable and compliant manufacturing operations.
- Serve as technical owner for assigned process equipment and systems used in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Support equipment design, specification, installation, and commissioning activities.
- Lead and support equipment qualification and validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ) in compliance with GMP requirements.
- Provide day-to-day manufacturing floor support, including troubleshooting equipment and process issues.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Validation, and Facilities to ensure equipment is fit for intended use.
- Support change control, deviations, CAPAs, and risk assessments related to process equipment.
- Develop and review engineering and technical documentation, including URSs, SOPs, and maintenance strategies.
- Coordinate with vendors and contractors for equipment service, modifications, and technical support.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment performance, uptime, and compliance.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Biomedical, or related Engineering discipline
- 3–7 years of experience supporting process equipment in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or GMP-regulated manufacturing environment
- Strong working knowledge of GMP/cGMP regulations and equipment compliance expectations
- Experience supporting equipment qualification, validation, and lifecycle management
- Familiarity with biopharmaceutical process equipment (e.g., bioreactors, filtration systems, chromatography skids, CIP/SIP systems, autoclaves, or related equipment)
- Experience with change control, deviations, and technical documentation in a regulated environment
- Ability to troubleshoot complex equipment issues and support manufacturing operations on the floor
- Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally
- Experience working with vendors and external service providers
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
- No C2C at this time.
Benefits
W2 Temp positions offer our Medical and sick time benefits.
Adhering to the requirements of California's law on salary transparency, the salary bracket for this role is set between $80,000 - $110,000 annually. The salary offered may be adjusted based on various factors such as the applicant's qualifications, skills, and professional experience.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
PSC is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity with respect to all employees, interns, and applicants for employment. Consistent with this commitment, our policy is to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws concerning employment discrimination. Accordingly, the Company prohibits discrimination against qualified employees, interns and applicants in all aspects of employment including, but not limited to: recruitment, interviewing, hiring (or failure or refusal to hire), evaluation, compensation, promotion, job assignment, transfer, demotion, training, leaves of absence, layoff, benefits, use of facilities, working conditions, termination and employer-sponsored activities and programs, including wellness, social and recreational programs. Employment decisions will be made without regard to an applicant’s, employee’s, or intern’s actual or perceived: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.
LI-RW1
Job Information
Date Opened
03/20/2026
Job Type
Consultant
Work Experience
4-5 years
Industry
Pharma
City
Irvine
State/Province
California
Country
United States
Job Description
PSC Biotech provides the life sciences with essential services to ensure that health care products are developed, manufactured, and distributed to the highest standards, in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
Our goal is to skyrocket our clients’ success, and you can be a part of our team’s achievements. Employing a global team of skilled professionals and experts that span across strategically located offices in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, we are proud of the roles we have fulfilled to help our clients achieve success.
With operations spanning the globe and featuring a multi-cultural team, PSC Biotech® is passionate about bringing the best and brightest together in an effort to form something truly special. When you make the decision to join our team, you will be offered the ability to feel inspired in your career, explore your professional passions, and work alongside a group of people who will value and nurture your talents.
We are firm believers in coaching and developing the next generation of industry leaders and influencers. As such, you will not only be offered compensation and benefits structure that rewards you, but also be provided with the tools that will help you grow and learn.
At PSC Biotech®, it’s about more than just a job—it’s about your career and your future.
Your Role
We are hiring an experienced Process Equipment Engineer! The Process Equipment Engineer is responsible for the lifecycle management, performance, and reliability of process equipment used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This role supports GMP-compliant operations by ensuring process equipment is properly designed, installed, qualified, maintained, and optimized to meet production, quality, safety, and regulatory requirements. The engineer partners closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Validation, and Facilities teams to support reliable and compliant manufacturing operations.
- Serve as technical owner for assigned process equipment and systems used in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Support equipment design, specification, installation, and commissioning activities.
- Lead and support equipment qualification and validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ) in compliance with GMP requirements.
- Provide day-to-day manufacturing floor support, including troubleshooting equipment and process issues.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Validation, and Facilities to ensure equipment is fit for intended use.
- Support change control, deviations, CAPAs, and risk assessments related to process equipment.
- Develop and review engineering and technical documentation, including URSs, SOPs, and maintenance strategies.
- Coordinate with vendors and contractors for equipment service, modifications, and technical support.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment performance, uptime, and compliance.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Biomedical, or related Engineering discipline
- 3–7 years of experience supporting process equipment in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or GMP-regulated manufacturing environment
- Strong working knowledge of GMP/cGMP regulations and equipment compliance expectations
- Experience supporting equipment qualification, validation, and lifecycle management
- Familiarity with biopharmaceutical process equipment (e.g., bioreactors, filtration systems, chromatography skids, CIP/SIP systems, autoclaves, or related equipment)
- Experience with change control, deviations, and technical documentation in a regulated environment
- Ability to troubleshoot complex equipment issues and support manufacturing operations on the floor
- Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally
- Experience working with vendors and external service providers
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
- No C2C at this time.
Benefits
W2 Temp positions offer our Medical and sick time benefits.
Adhering to the requirements of California's law on salary transparency, the salary bracket for this role is set between $80,000 - $110,000 annually. The salary offered may be adjusted based on various factors such as the applicant's qualifications, skills, and professional experience.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
PSC is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity with respect to all employees, interns, and applicants for employment. Consistent with this commitment, our policy is to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws concerning employment discrimination. Accordingly, the Company prohibits discrimination against qualified employees, interns and applicants in all aspects of employment including, but not limited to: recruitment, interviewing, hiring (or failure or refusal to hire), evaluation, compensation, promotion, job assignment, transfer, demotion, training, leaves of absence, layoff, benefits, use of facilities, working conditions, termination and employer-sponsored activities and programs, including wellness, social and recreational programs. Employment decisions will be made without regard to an applicant’s, employee’s, or intern’s actual or perceived: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law.
LI-RW1
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as an Equipment Engineer
Target STEM-designated programs
Equipment Engineer roles typically fall under STEM-eligible CIP codes, qualifying you for a 24-month OPT extension. Confirm your degree program's CIP code with your DSO before applying to maximize your work authorization window.
Focus on semiconductor and aerospace employers
Companies like Intel, Applied Materials, and Lockheed Martin routinely sponsor equipment engineers. These industries have established immigration infrastructure and understand OPT timelines, making them more receptive to F-1 candidates than smaller manufacturers.
Highlight specific tool experience in your resume
Employers hiring for equipment engineering want hands-on familiarity with specific systems, such as CVD, PVD, or lithography tools. Naming the exact equipment you've operated signals immediate productivity and reduces perceived sponsorship risk.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Equipment engineer roles often involve onboarding timelines of four to eight weeks. Starting your job search at least three months before your OPT authorization begins gives employers enough runway to complete hiring without rushing sponsorship decisions.
Address OPT duration proactively with recruiters
When asked about work authorization, frame your STEM OPT extension clearly: you have up to three years of authorization without employer petition costs. This removes a common objection before it becomes a reason to deprioritize your application.
Pursue roles in fab or R&D environments
Cleanroom and R&D equipment roles at universities, national labs, and semiconductor fabs carry higher sponsorship rates. These environments depend on specialized technical talent and are structurally more comfortable hiring and eventually sponsoring international engineers.
Equipment Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Equipment Engineer JobsSee all 382+ Equipment Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Equipment Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Equipment Engineer on OPT?
Yes, Equipment Engineer roles qualify for OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree field, typically mechanical, electrical, or materials engineering. If your degree carries a STEM CIP code, you're also eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of total work authorization after graduation.
Do Equipment Engineer employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
Sponsorship rates are relatively strong in semiconductor fabrication, aerospace, and industrial automation, where specialized equipment knowledge is hard to replace. Larger employers in these sectors, including chip manufacturers and defense contractors, have dedicated immigration teams and routinely file H-1B petitions for equipment engineers who perform well during OPT. Smaller contract manufacturers are less consistent.
What degree fields qualify an Equipment Engineer role for STEM OPT?
Degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, and engineering physics are the most common qualifying fields. Your specific CIP code, not just your degree title, determines STEM OPT eligibility. Confirm the designation with your international student office before assuming the extension applies to your situation.
How do I find Equipment Engineer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for roles open to F-1 OPT and STEM OPT candidates, which eliminates the time spent screening out positions that require permanent authorization upfront. Equipment engineer listings on Migrate Mate include sponsorship history and employer context relevant to international candidates, making it a more targeted starting point than general job boards.
Does equipment engineering experience at a university lab count toward OPT employment?
Yes, paid work in a university research lab or cleanroom facility qualifies as valid OPT employment if it's directly related to your degree field. You must be receiving compensation, as volunteer work does not satisfy OPT employment requirements. Report the position to your DSO and ensure it's documented in SEVIS within the required reporting window.
See which Equipment Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Equipment Engineer Jobs