OPT Industrial Design Engineer Jobs
Industrial Design Engineer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in industrial design, mechanical engineering, or product design. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers typically need to file an LCA and H-1B visa petition to transition you to long-term status.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.
Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation, most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).
The Industrial Design Program at LaGuardia Community College is growing and seeks adjunct industrial design lecturers to support and maintain this growth in studio practices, workshop and modelmaking techniques, C.A.D, C.A.M and digital prototyping. This relatively new industrial design associate degree program is focused on teaching students' foundation industrial design technology skills that will help prepare them for entry into industrial design employment and/or transfer to senior colleges to continue their studies. We are looking for a broad range of design experiences across various lecturing positions for the design courses listed in our industrial design degree map. We are interested in industrial design lecturers who are focused on teaching students how to develop a human-centered design process, develop compelling product solutions and apply their technical and creative skills to build an exciting visual story about their ideas and designs. We currently have a great need for industrial design lecturers skilled in traditional and digital workshop practices, industrial design studio process and digital prototyping using Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi platforms and technologies.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
QUALIFICATIONS
-
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field of industrial design is required for this position. A graduate degree in industrial design is highly preferred.
-
A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in industrial design corporate environments, industrial design consulting environments or a combination of.
-
A minimum of 1 year of university level teaching experience (full-time or aggregate adjunct teaching) in industrial design.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
-
Experience and proficiency in freehand and digital sketching, craft modelmaking and product prototyping, 2D and 3D design software applications including Sketchbook Pro, Adobe CS, Rhino 3D, Solidworks, photorealistic rendering and animation.
-
Thorough knowledge of materials & manufacturing processes used in the development, prototyping and production of consumer products.
-
Familiarity and experience working with design and manufacturing equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, C.N.C. routers, vacuum formers, table saws, lathes, sanders, drill press, power tools and all associated workshop equipment used for product prototyping and design development.
-
Knowledge and experience of sustainable practices and environmental materials applications in the product development process.
-
Experience in conducting and interpreting user research, consumer focus group research and business metrics into the product development process.
-
A team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to meet deadlines effectively.
-
Interdisciplinary design education and experience.
-
Knowledge of entrepreneurship and coaching start-up companies and business teams.
-
First Aid and advanced safety workshop training.
-
A successful track record of bringing products to market from the product research phase through retail sales.
-
Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
-
Knowledge of robotics, human factors and smart home technologies, Arduino or similar microcontroller software.
-
Research methods in design thinking and application in the product development process.
-
Ability to recognize and promote design as a tool for social, environmental and economic change towards improving the human condition.
COMPENSATION
- Adjunct Lecturer: $91.67/hr
CUNY offers faculty a competitive compensation and benefits package covering health insurance, pension and retirement benefits, paid parental leave, and savings programs. We also provide mentoring and support for research, scholarship, and publication as part of our commitment to ongoing faculty professional development.
HOW TO APPLY
Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information.
Candidates should provide a CV/resume and statement of scholarly interests.
CLOSING DATE
Open Until filled. Review of resumes will begin after December 1st, 2026.
JOB SEARCH CATEGORY
CUNY Job Posting: Faculty
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.
Job ID: 33104
Location: LaGuardia Community College
Job Type: Part-Time
INTRODUCTION
Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.
Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation, most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).
The Industrial Design Program at LaGuardia Community College is growing and seeks adjunct industrial design lecturers to support and maintain this growth in studio practices, workshop and modelmaking techniques, C.A.D, C.A.M and digital prototyping. This relatively new industrial design associate degree program is focused on teaching students' foundation industrial design technology skills that will help prepare them for entry into industrial design employment and/or transfer to senior colleges to continue their studies. We are looking for a broad range of design experiences across various lecturing positions for the design courses listed in our industrial design degree map. We are interested in industrial design lecturers who are focused on teaching students how to develop a human-centered design process, develop compelling product solutions and apply their technical and creative skills to build an exciting visual story about their ideas and designs. We currently have a great need for industrial design lecturers skilled in traditional and digital workshop practices, industrial design studio process and digital prototyping using Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi platforms and technologies.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
QUALIFICATIONS
-
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field of industrial design is required for this position. A graduate degree in industrial design is highly preferred.
-
A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in industrial design corporate environments, industrial design consulting environments or a combination of.
-
A minimum of 1 year of university level teaching experience (full-time or aggregate adjunct teaching) in industrial design.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
-
Experience and proficiency in freehand and digital sketching, craft modelmaking and product prototyping, 2D and 3D design software applications including Sketchbook Pro, Adobe CS, Rhino 3D, Solidworks, photorealistic rendering and animation.
-
Thorough knowledge of materials & manufacturing processes used in the development, prototyping and production of consumer products.
-
Familiarity and experience working with design and manufacturing equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, C.N.C. routers, vacuum formers, table saws, lathes, sanders, drill press, power tools and all associated workshop equipment used for product prototyping and design development.
-
Knowledge and experience of sustainable practices and environmental materials applications in the product development process.
-
Experience in conducting and interpreting user research, consumer focus group research and business metrics into the product development process.
-
A team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to meet deadlines effectively.
-
Interdisciplinary design education and experience.
-
Knowledge of entrepreneurship and coaching start-up companies and business teams.
-
First Aid and advanced safety workshop training.
-
A successful track record of bringing products to market from the product research phase through retail sales.
-
Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
-
Knowledge of robotics, human factors and smart home technologies, Arduino or similar microcontroller software.
-
Research methods in design thinking and application in the product development process.
-
Ability to recognize and promote design as a tool for social, environmental and economic change towards improving the human condition.
COMPENSATION
- Adjunct Lecturer: $91.67/hr
CUNY offers faculty a competitive compensation and benefits package covering health insurance, pension and retirement benefits, paid parental leave, and savings programs. We also provide mentoring and support for research, scholarship, and publication as part of our commitment to ongoing faculty professional development.
HOW TO APPLY
Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information.
Candidates should provide a CV/resume and statement of scholarly interests.
CLOSING DATE
Open Until filled. Review of resumes will begin after December 1st, 2026.
JOB SEARCH CATEGORY
CUNY Job Posting: Faculty
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.
Job ID: 33104
Location: LaGuardia Community College
Job Type: Part-Time
See all OPT Industrial Design Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Industrial Design Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Industrial Design Engineer
Target product-driven companies, not agencies
In-house product teams at consumer electronics, medical device, and automotive companies sponsor visas far more consistently than design consultancies. Consultancies often rely on short project cycles that make long-term sponsorship commitments harder to justify.
Verify your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Industrial design degrees vary by school. Check whether your program's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list. Mechanical engineering and product design degrees almost always qualify. Pure fine arts or visual design programs often do not.
Lead with CAD and prototyping skills in your portfolio
Hiring managers at sponsoring employers want engineers, not just designers. Showcase SolidWorks, Rhino, or CATIA proficiency alongside physical prototyping experience. This positions you for specialty occupation classification, which is required for H-1B visa sponsorship.
Ask about sponsorship before the final interview round
Raise sponsorship during the second or third conversation, not the offer stage. Framing it as a process question rather than a demand gives the employer time to consult legal or HR before you invest in additional interview rounds.
Highlight cross-functional collaboration experience
Industrial design engineers who can work with mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing teams are harder to replace. Sponsoring employers look for candidates with clear long-term value. Document any experience bridging design intent and production feasibility in your resume.
Apply early in your OPT window, not at the end
H-1B cap petitions are filed in April for an October start date. If your OPT expires before October, you need a cap-gap bridge. Starting your job search 12 to 18 months before OPT expiration gives you the most realistic sponsorship timeline.
Industrial Design Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Industrial Design Engineer role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your degree falls under an approved STEM CIP code, such as mechanical engineering, industrial design, or product design, you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer also needs to be enrolled in E-Verify and submit a formal training plan using Form I-983 to your DSO before the extension is approved.
What visa is most commonly used to sponsor Industrial Design Engineers long-term?
The H-1B is the most common path. Industrial design engineering qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role typically requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field. Your employer files a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor, then submits the H-1B petition to USCIS. Because the H-1B is subject to an annual lottery, sponsorship timelines are not guaranteed, and early planning matters significantly.
Where can I find Industrial Design Engineer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists industrial design and product engineering roles specifically filtered for F-1 OPT and visa sponsorship eligibility. Most general job boards do not let you filter by sponsorship willingness, which means you spend time applying to roles that will screen you out at the offer stage. Migrate Mate surfaces roles where employers have already indicated openness to international candidates.
Can I freelance or take contract work as an Industrial Design Engineer on OPT?
Yes, but with strict conditions. Your OPT work must be directly related to your degree field and must average at least 20 hours per week. Self-employment is allowed if you own a legitimate business entity and can document that the work relates to your major. Short-term contracts are permitted, but you must report each employer to your DSO within 10 days of starting to remain compliant.
How does the 60-day unemployment limit affect OPT job searching in this field?
OPT students are limited to 90 cumulative days of unemployment during the standard 12-month OPT period, and an additional 60 days during the STEM extension. Industrial design engineering roles can take time to find because the market is more concentrated than software engineering. Starting your search before your current authorization ends, and documenting all employer contacts and applications, helps demonstrate active pursuit of qualifying employment if your status is ever questioned.