OPT Process Engineer Jobs
Process Engineer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and energy regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this role.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company that handles agricultural commodities and a diverse portfolio of products and businesses. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Optimize performance and drive continuous improvement across oilseed crushing operations. As a Crush Oilseeds Process Engineer, you will provide technical expertise to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, production yields, product quality, and overall plant performance. You will partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, Finance, and plant leadership to troubleshoot challenges, support process improvements, evaluate capital projects, and help sustain measurable results. This role is ideal for a hands-on, analytical problem-solver who builds strong cross-functional partnerships and is committed to operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
COMPENSATION
- Salary range: $89,000 - $133,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).
In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.
Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Evaluate and optimize oilseed crushing processes to improve throughput, extraction efficiency, product recovery, and overall plant performance.
- Analyze operating parameters, production data, and performance indicators to identify constraints, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Monitor and improve process performance across seed preparation, conditioning, flaking, cooking, pressing or extraction, meal desolventizing, drying and cooling, oil handling, and related operations, as applicable to the facility.
- Establish, monitor, and maintain process operating targets, performance indicators, standard operating parameters, standard operating procedures, and process control strategies.
- Identify opportunities to reduce processing losses, improve yields, optimize energy, water, steam, and chemical consumption, and improve operating margins through reduced waste and lower conversion costs.
- Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Quality, Food Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, Finance, external vendors, and plant leadership to implement sustainable process improvements and support operational and business decisions.
- Provide technical support during process upsets, equipment performance issues, production challenges, process deviations, and recurring operational problems.
- Lead or participate in root cause analysis and develop corrective and preventive actions to improve reliability, consistency, asset performance, and operational results.
- Support quality, food safety, feed safety, environmental compliance, process safety reviews, hazard assessments, management-of-change activities, safe operating practices, and evaluation of safety, environmental, and product-quality impacts.
- Identify and recommend capital projects, process modifications, equipment upgrades, automation, instrumentation, and control system improvements; develop technical scopes, process calculations, equipment specifications, cost-benefit analyses, and support project design, installation, commissioning, startup, and effectiveness reviews.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
- 2 to 4 years of experience in industrial process engineering, manufacturing, chemical processing, oilseed processing, or a related environment.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze process data, troubleshoot operational issues, and implement measurable process improvements.
- Experience with process optimization, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience working with production reporting, process control systems, or manufacturing data systems.
- Ability to work in a manufacturing environment and provide hands-on technical support to plant operations.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in an oilseed crushing facility processing soybeans, canola, sunflower, or other oilseeds.
- Knowledge of seed preparation, mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, meal processing, oil handling, and associated process technologies.
- Familiarity with process control systems, instrumentation, data analytics, and statistical process analysis.
- Experience with capital project development, commissioning, and startup.
- Knowledge of process safety management, management of change, and applicable environmental and food/feed safety requirements.
- Experience implementing Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
- Ability to work in a manufacturing environment and provide hands-on technical support to plant operations.
Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
INTRODUCTION
Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company that handles agricultural commodities and a diverse portfolio of products and businesses. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Optimize performance and drive continuous improvement across oilseed crushing operations. As a Crush Oilseeds Process Engineer, you will provide technical expertise to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, production yields, product quality, and overall plant performance. You will partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, Finance, and plant leadership to troubleshoot challenges, support process improvements, evaluate capital projects, and help sustain measurable results. This role is ideal for a hands-on, analytical problem-solver who builds strong cross-functional partnerships and is committed to operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
COMPENSATION
- Salary range: $89,000 - $133,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).
In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.
Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Evaluate and optimize oilseed crushing processes to improve throughput, extraction efficiency, product recovery, and overall plant performance.
- Analyze operating parameters, production data, and performance indicators to identify constraints, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Monitor and improve process performance across seed preparation, conditioning, flaking, cooking, pressing or extraction, meal desolventizing, drying and cooling, oil handling, and related operations, as applicable to the facility.
- Establish, monitor, and maintain process operating targets, performance indicators, standard operating parameters, standard operating procedures, and process control strategies.
- Identify opportunities to reduce processing losses, improve yields, optimize energy, water, steam, and chemical consumption, and improve operating margins through reduced waste and lower conversion costs.
- Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Quality, Food Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, Finance, external vendors, and plant leadership to implement sustainable process improvements and support operational and business decisions.
- Provide technical support during process upsets, equipment performance issues, production challenges, process deviations, and recurring operational problems.
- Lead or participate in root cause analysis and develop corrective and preventive actions to improve reliability, consistency, asset performance, and operational results.
- Support quality, food safety, feed safety, environmental compliance, process safety reviews, hazard assessments, management-of-change activities, safe operating practices, and evaluation of safety, environmental, and product-quality impacts.
- Identify and recommend capital projects, process modifications, equipment upgrades, automation, instrumentation, and control system improvements; develop technical scopes, process calculations, equipment specifications, cost-benefit analyses, and support project design, installation, commissioning, startup, and effectiveness reviews.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
- 2 to 4 years of experience in industrial process engineering, manufacturing, chemical processing, oilseed processing, or a related environment.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze process data, troubleshoot operational issues, and implement measurable process improvements.
- Experience with process optimization, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience working with production reporting, process control systems, or manufacturing data systems.
- Ability to work in a manufacturing environment and provide hands-on technical support to plant operations.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in an oilseed crushing facility processing soybeans, canola, sunflower, or other oilseeds.
- Knowledge of seed preparation, mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, meal processing, oil handling, and associated process technologies.
- Familiarity with process control systems, instrumentation, data analytics, and statistical process analysis.
- Experience with capital project development, commissioning, and startup.
- Knowledge of process safety management, management of change, and applicable environmental and food/feed safety requirements.
- Experience implementing Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
- Ability to work in a manufacturing environment and provide hands-on technical support to plant operations.
Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
See all 1,488+ OPT Process Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Process Engineer
Target STEM-designated employers in manufacturing and pharma
Chemical, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor manufacturers file H-1B petitions for Process Engineers at high rates. Filtering for companies with a history of STEM OPT and H-1B sponsorship dramatically improves your odds of long-term authorization.
Confirm your degree field qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Process Engineer roles typically satisfy STEM OPT criteria when your degree is in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering. Verify your CIP code with your DSO before accepting an offer to confirm your 24-month extension eligibility.
Apply before your OPT start date, not after
Many Process Engineer roles involve onboarding timelines of four to eight weeks. Applying three to four months before your OPT authorization begins ensures you can start on time without gaps that complicate your employment record.
Highlight process improvement metrics in your resume
Employers evaluating OPT candidates for sponsorship want evidence of measurable impact. Quantify yield improvements, cycle time reductions, or cost savings from internship or research projects to differentiate yourself from non-OPT candidates.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship policy during the offer stage
Raise the sponsorship question directly once you have a written offer, not during initial interviews. Ask whether the company has sponsored Process Engineers before and what their internal timeline looks like relative to your OPT expiration.
Prioritize companies with existing STEM OPT training plans
Employers who have filed STEM OPT training plans before understand the reporting requirements. These companies move faster on extensions and are less likely to withdraw an offer due to unfamiliarity with OPT compliance obligations.
Process Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Process Engineer jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. Process Engineer roles typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your underlying degree is in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or a closely related STEM field. Your DSO will verify your CIP code against the official STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by ICE. Confirm eligibility before accepting an offer.
How far in advance should I apply for Process Engineer roles on OPT?
Start applying three to four months before your OPT authorization begins. Process Engineer hiring timelines often include multiple interview rounds, technical assessments, and background checks that can take four to eight weeks. Starting early also gives you time to negotiate a start date that aligns with your EAD card receipt, since you cannot legally begin work before your OPT start date.
Do Process Engineer employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes. Chemical manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, semiconductor fabs, and energy firms have consistently filed H-1B petitions for Process Engineers. The role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation because it requires a specific engineering degree. Use Migrate Mate to find Process Engineer jobs posted by employers with documented sponsorship histories, which reduces the risk of accepting a role that won't support your long-term status.
Can I work as a Process Engineer at a client site or through a staffing agency on OPT?
Yes, but with important conditions. Staffing agency placements are permitted on OPT as long as you have a clear employer-employee relationship and the work is directly related to your degree field. For STEM OPT specifically, your formal employer of record must sign the training plan, and client-site arrangements require documentation showing the staffing agency controls the terms of employment, not just the end client.
What engineering degrees support a Process Engineer OPT application?
Chemical engineering is the most direct fit, but mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, materials science, and biomedical engineering regularly support Process Engineer OPT authorizations depending on the specific industry. Food manufacturing roles often accept food science degrees. The key is that your degree field must directly relate to the job duties, which a DSO or immigration attorney can assess based on the job description and your transcript.