OPT Operations Support Specialist Jobs
Operations Support Specialist roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in business, supply chain, or operations management. Most positions qualify as STEM-adjacent or directly STEM-eligible, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in logistics, tech, and healthcare actively hire OPT candidates for these roles.
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Summary
The Hardware Lab Manager for this role will be a service-oriented and self-motivated professional. While collaborating with team members across all departments, you will leverage your debugging and soldering skills, knowledge of electronics PCB fabrication, and PCB assembly skills to solve complex technical issues with Hardware Engineers.
Detailed Description
Performs tasks such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Oversee the daily operations of the laboratory to ensure adherence to safety standards and protocols
- Develop and implement laboratory policies, procedures, and documentation
- Provide input to architects on the design and fit up of lab spaces
- Support Liquid Cooling Council engineers with maintenance of CDUs
- Electromechanical assembly and bring-up of prototypes and final system enclosures
- Surface mount and through-hole PCB repair down to 0201 sized components
- Execute system level tests and analyze results with engineers
- Support the debug of products, sub-systems and test fixtures
- Support development of text fixtures necessary for product development
- Support the build and test of automated test equipment and peripherals
- Procure lab equipment and services
- Maintain laboratory stock of parts and supplies for rapid prototyping
- Maintain laboratory equipment and supplies, arranging for repairs and replacements when necessary
- Maintain a safe and ISO compliant laboratory environment
- Document assembly and testing procedures as required
- High-quality workmanship in a fast-paced environment
- Self-motivated, driven, independent, and able to work with minimum supervision
- Maintain the lab asset tracking system to monitor the location of test equipment
Knowledge/Skills/Competencies
- Perseverance to debug a hard problem and out of box thinking
- Strong soldering, electronics fabrication, and PCB assembly skills
- Ability to understand schematics and manage sourcing of quick turn prototype boards
- Proper operation and knowledge of standard tools including, bench supplies, oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, etc.
- Basic user level understanding of Unix/Windows, and Networking with Enterprise Switches and Routers
- Skills to work with teammates of various abilities and experiences
- Experience with process and procedure documentation
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office Excel or Google sheets is a plus
Physical Demands
- Duties of this position are performed in a manufacturing environment with occasional exposure to elements such as noise, dust, chemicals, operating machinery, temperature extremes, etc.
- Duties may require periodic sustained visual concentration on a computer monitor or on numbers and other detailed data.
- Occasional overnight travel may be required.
- Above demands are carried out within the local existing Health and Safety guidelines
Typical Experience
- 2+ years prior experience in a laboratory management role
- 7+ years of hands-on electronics debug and lab maintenance experience in an engineering development or laboratory environment
Typical Education
- Bachelor's degree in related field, or consideration of an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Notes
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.
Celestica is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
This policy applies to hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral and other aspects of employment and also states that retaliation against a person who files a charge of discrimination, participates in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposes an unlawful employment practice will not be tolerated. All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Celestica is an E-Verify employer.
LOCATION
Location: Austin, Texas
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Celestica (NYSE, TSX: CLS) enables the world’s best brands. Through our recognized customer-centric approach, we partner with leading companies in Aerospace and Defense, Communications, Enterprise, HealthTech, Industrial, Capital Equipment and Energy to deliver solutions for their most complex challenges. As a leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, Celestica brings global expertise and insight at every stage of product development – from drawing board to full-scale production and after-market services for products from advanced medical devices, to highly engineered aviation systems, to next-generation hardware platform solutions for the Cloud. Headquartered in Toronto, with talented teams spanning 40+ locations in 13 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia, we imagine, develop and deliver a better future with our customers.
Celestica would like to thank all applicants, however, only qualified applicants will be contacted.
Celestica does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies or fee based recruitment services.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Operations Support Specialist
Confirm your OPT dates before applying
Operations teams often need someone who can start within two to four weeks. Have your EAD card in hand or your OPT approval notice ready to share so hiring managers know your exact authorization window before scheduling interviews.
Highlight process improvement experience
Operations Support roles value candidates who have streamlined workflows or reduced inefficiencies. Quantify your impact with metrics wherever possible. Specifics like reducing processing time by 20 percent signal operational maturity that recruiters prioritize over general experience.
Target STEM OPT-eligible job postings
If your degree is in a STEM field, focus on roles posted under SOC codes tied to operations research, industrial engineering, or management science. These classifications support a 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you significantly more runway after initial OPT.
Address OPT proactively in your cover letter
Operations hiring managers are logistics-minded people. Briefly state your authorization type, your current end date, and whether you qualify for a STEM extension. Removing ambiguity early keeps your application moving through the pipeline without unnecessary delays.
Demonstrate systems and tools proficiency
Familiarity with ERP platforms like SAP or Oracle, ticketing systems, or data analysis tools makes you immediately useful. Operations teams rarely have time for lengthy onboarding, so concrete technical skills reduce perceived risk for employers evaluating OPT candidates.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly employers
Not every company that posts an Operations Support role will sponsor or accommodate OPT students. Migrate Mate filters jobs by sponsorship history and OPT eligibility so you spend your limited job search time on employers already open to your situation.
Operations Support Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Operations Support Specialist roles qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree field, not the job title itself. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as industrial engineering, operations research, information systems, or applied mathematics, and the role involves applying those skills directly, it can qualify. Your DSO and employer must both agree the role is related to your STEM degree before you file for the 24-month extension.
How do I find Operations Support Specialist jobs that accept OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters Operations Support roles by employer sponsorship history and OPT eligibility. General job boards surface thousands of postings without filtering for work authorization, meaning you can spend weeks applying to roles where OPT is a dealbreaker. Migrate Mate removes that guesswork.
What industries hire Operations Support Specialists on OPT most frequently?
Logistics and supply chain companies, healthcare systems, financial services firms, and technology companies consistently hire for Operations Support roles and have established processes for onboarding OPT employees. These industries tend to have the internal HR infrastructure to handle EAD verification and the compliance requirements that come with hiring international students.
Can I switch employers while on OPT as an Operations Support Specialist?
Yes. OPT is tied to your degree field, not your specific employer. You can change jobs as long as the new role is directly related to your major field of study and you report the change to your DSO within 10 days. You do not need to file new paperwork with USCIS for an employer change during standard OPT, but STEM OPT extension holders must file a new I-983 training plan with the new employer.
What should I include on my resume to appeal to Operations Support employers as an OPT student?
Lead with your authorization status and EAD validity dates near your contact information so recruiters do not have to ask. In your experience section, emphasize workflow documentation, cross-functional coordination, data tracking, and any tools like Excel, Salesforce, or ERP systems you have used. Operations teams value reliability and precision, so concrete outcomes with measurable results carry more weight than broad responsibility descriptions.