OPT Printing Press Operator Jobs
Printing Press Operator roles qualify for OPT work authorization when the position directly relates to your field of study, typically printing technology, graphic communications, or industrial technology. Many employers in commercial printing, packaging, and publishing industries hire OPT students and can sponsor H-1B visas for the right candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsDo you want to change how the world creates?
At Formlabs, we're building the tools that make it possible for anyone to bring their ideas to life, from cutting-edge products to life-saving medical devices. Our 3D printing technology powers innovation at more than 50,000 industry leaders worldwide, including Apple, Google, Tesla, New Balance, and NASA. Together, we're helping everyone design, prototype, and manufacture faster than ever before.
We're a team of hands-on builders, engineers, and innovators reinventing how the world makes physical things. If you're ready to shape the future of fabrication, come build it with us.
Our growing R&D team is a mix of mechanical, systems, and software engineers. We develop and maintain the Formlabs printing process. Our team works closely with other engineering teams to research next-generation printers and materials. We use engineering, physics, and experimentation to turn ideas into beautiful and reliable products.
If you are a systems thinker who enjoys working in a multi-disciplinary environment we would love you to join our R&D team as a Senior 3D Printing R&D Engineer.
The Job:
- Create new 3D printing techniques - from developing new printer architectures to validating minute changes in Galvo control
- Opportunity to lead projects and investigate new technologies
- Tackle complex and open-ended problems across multiple engineering disciplines
- Perform experiments and use the results to inform and develop improvements in software or hardware
- Evaluate current printer performance for areas for improvement
- Partner with other engineering teams to implement improvements to current products such as redesigning support structure algorithm based on experimental results
You:
- 3+ years post-graduate experience
- Questions assumptions and are willing to back it up with data
- Autonomously works to research, report results, and make recommendations for next steps
- Able to design and build test fixtures for experiments
- Have experience with experiment design and data analysis
- A website or portfolio document showing off your current and past projects
- Understand programming and scientific computing, ideally Python or Matlab
- Familiar with mechanical design, mechatronics, and CAD modeling
- B.S., M.S., or PhD in an engineering field (all are welcome)
Bonus Skills:
- Previous work on a consumer product
- Developed physics-based models of complex systems
Our Perks & Benefits:
- Robust equity program to build future wealth through RSUs
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision)
- Low cost fund options in our 401K and access to advisors
- Generous paid Parental Leave (up to 16 weeks)
- Tenure-based paid Sabbatical Leave (up to 6 weeks)
- Flexible Out of Office Plan – Take time when you need it
- Ample on-site parking & pre-tax commuter benefits
- Healthy on-site lunches, snacks, beverages, & treats
- Regular sponsored professional development opportunities
- Many opt-in culture events across our diverse community
- And of course… unlimited 3D prints
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Even if you don't check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply. Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of 3D printing.
Do you want to change how the world creates?
At Formlabs, we're building the tools that make it possible for anyone to bring their ideas to life, from cutting-edge products to life-saving medical devices. Our 3D printing technology powers innovation at more than 50,000 industry leaders worldwide, including Apple, Google, Tesla, New Balance, and NASA. Together, we're helping everyone design, prototype, and manufacture faster than ever before.
We're a team of hands-on builders, engineers, and innovators reinventing how the world makes physical things. If you're ready to shape the future of fabrication, come build it with us.
Our growing R&D team is a mix of mechanical, systems, and software engineers. We develop and maintain the Formlabs printing process. Our team works closely with other engineering teams to research next-generation printers and materials. We use engineering, physics, and experimentation to turn ideas into beautiful and reliable products.
If you are a systems thinker who enjoys working in a multi-disciplinary environment we would love you to join our R&D team as a Senior 3D Printing R&D Engineer.
The Job:
- Create new 3D printing techniques - from developing new printer architectures to validating minute changes in Galvo control
- Opportunity to lead projects and investigate new technologies
- Tackle complex and open-ended problems across multiple engineering disciplines
- Perform experiments and use the results to inform and develop improvements in software or hardware
- Evaluate current printer performance for areas for improvement
- Partner with other engineering teams to implement improvements to current products such as redesigning support structure algorithm based on experimental results
You:
- 3+ years post-graduate experience
- Questions assumptions and are willing to back it up with data
- Autonomously works to research, report results, and make recommendations for next steps
- Able to design and build test fixtures for experiments
- Have experience with experiment design and data analysis
- A website or portfolio document showing off your current and past projects
- Understand programming and scientific computing, ideally Python or Matlab
- Familiar with mechanical design, mechatronics, and CAD modeling
- B.S., M.S., or PhD in an engineering field (all are welcome)
Bonus Skills:
- Previous work on a consumer product
- Developed physics-based models of complex systems
Our Perks & Benefits:
- Robust equity program to build future wealth through RSUs
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision)
- Low cost fund options in our 401K and access to advisors
- Generous paid Parental Leave (up to 16 weeks)
- Tenure-based paid Sabbatical Leave (up to 6 weeks)
- Flexible Out of Office Plan – Take time when you need it
- Ample on-site parking & pre-tax commuter benefits
- Healthy on-site lunches, snacks, beverages, & treats
- Regular sponsored professional development opportunities
- Many opt-in culture events across our diverse community
- And of course… unlimited 3D prints
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Even if you don't check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply. Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of 3D printing.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Printing Press Operator
Align your degree to press operations
Your OPT authorization depends on a direct connection between your role and your degree. Document how your printing technology, graphic communications, or industrial engineering coursework maps to the specific press operation duties in your job description.
Target packaging and commercial print shops
Commercial printing, flexible packaging, and label manufacturing facilities run multiple shifts and have recurring operator needs. These employers file LCAs through DOL more consistently than smaller print shops, making them stronger candidates for eventual H-1B sponsorship.
Verify employer E-Verify enrollment before accepting
STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm enrollment status before you sign an offer letter. If the employer isn't enrolled, they'll need to register with E-Verify before your STEM extension can be authorized.
Use Migrate Mate to check LCA filing history
Before targeting a printing employer, check whether they've sponsored work visas before. Migrate Mate surfaces DOL LCA data by employer so you can identify print and packaging companies with active sponsorship history without downloading raw OFLC disclosure files.
Request your offer letter before your DSO files
Your Designated School Official needs a job offer that confirms your start date, role title, and that the position relates to your degree before updating your I-20 for OPT. Get a formal written offer, not just a verbal confirmation, before initiating any USCIS filings.
Check the OFLC Wage Search before negotiating
DOL prevailing wage data sets the floor for what a sponsoring employer must pay you. Run the OFLC Wage Search for your job title and metro area so you know the Level I and Level II thresholds before entering salary negotiations with a printing employer.
Printing Press Operator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Printing Press Operator job qualify for OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in a related field such as printing technology, graphic communications, industrial technology, or manufacturing engineering. USCIS requires that your OPT employment be directly related to your major area of study. A press operator role at a commercial or packaging facility will generally satisfy that requirement when your coursework covers pressroom operations, color management, or production systems.
Can I qualify for a STEM OPT extension as a Printing Press Operator?
It depends on your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code. Printing technology and graphic communications programs sometimes carry a STEM-designated CIP code, but not all do. Check with your DSO to confirm whether your specific program qualifies. If it does, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and you'll need to submit a formal training plan to USCIS with your STEM OPT application.
Which employers hire Printing Press Operators on OPT?
Commercial printing companies, flexible packaging manufacturers, label converters, and newspaper or catalog printers are the most common employers. Large packaging groups that operate multiple facilities tend to have HR processes already in place for work authorization. You can browse Printing Press Operator roles from employers with sponsorship history on Migrate Mate, filtered specifically for OPT-eligible positions.
How does the H-1B cap affect my path from OPT to full sponsorship?
Printing Press Operator roles are generally classified as specialty occupations only when paired with a qualifying bachelor's degree, so your employer would need to file an H-1B petition on your behalf during the annual cap-subject lottery. USCIS opens registration each March for the following October start date. Cap-exempt employers, such as universities or certain nonprofits, can file outside the lottery window, but most commercial printing employers are cap-subject.
What documents should I prepare before starting an OPT job as a Printing Press Operator?
You'll need your EAD card showing your authorized work period, your valid I-20 endorsed for OPT, and your passport. Your employer will run an I-9 verification and may also enroll in E-Verify. Keep copies of your offer letter and any transcripts or diploma documentation that demonstrate the connection between your degree program and your press operator duties, since USCIS can request this evidence during any follow-on visa filing.