Product Development Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Product Development Engineer jobs are among the more OPT-friendly roles in engineering, with strong demand from manufacturers, consumer electronics firms, and medical device companies. Most positions require a degree in mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering. STEM OPT extension eligibility gives you up to three years of authorized work.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition: Product Development Engineer
Location: Valley Green, PA
Amphenol High Speed Products Group is the market leader for high speed, high bandwidth electrical connectors for the Telecom/Datacom market (Mobile Networks, Storage, Servers, Routers, Switches, etc.). Our products help to enable the electronics revolution and remain a key enabler for all the major Tier 1 OEMs globally. We have design, sales, and manufacturing locations globally and are currently seeking a Senior Product Development Engineer to join our High Speed IO Connector team located in Etters, PA.
Responsibilities:
The Sr. Product Development Engineer will be responsible for concept generation, design, verification and qualification of High Speed IO products for 112Gb signaling and beyond. The position provides opportunity for close customer interaction. You will also work with internal and external suppliers and manufacturing personnel, supporting the development and validation of product prototypes through pilot production, as well as interfacing with beta-site customers.
- Conceptualize, design, and develop cable assemblies and/or IO connector systems from initial proposal to successful tooling and product qualifications.
- Perform Design FMEA, Tolerance Analysis, Design for Manufacturability, FEA Analysis, and Risk Analysis.
- Work with Marketing and the customer to define customer needs and functional performance requirements. Assess technical risk.
- Work with internal and external (vendor) manufacturing disciplines including Stamping, Plating, Molding, and Assembly to optimize design for production processes.
- Lead product design reviews.
- Verify accuracy of product drawings and ensure proper usage of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
- Work with Materials Engineering to define metal and polymer material choices based on requirements associated with performance, pricing, and global sourcing.
- Present product concepts to customers early in development cycle, interpret feedback, and incorporate any revised requirements into the design.
- Define Product, Application, and Packaging specifications.
- Define a verification and product qualification test plans.
- Manage the resolution of first article inspections.
- Work closely with NPI and manufacturing engineering to ensure products are transitioned to the manufacturing.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years experience in electro-mechanical design is required.
- Bachelor of Science degree in a Mechanical or Electrical discipline, or equivalent engineering course work and related experience required.
- Experience and skilled use of Solid Works, FEA simulation software (ANSYS preferred), Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing principles, and Statistical Engineering methods.
- Ability to work effectively within a project team and to direct the activity of others.
- Ability to communicate well with Global Customers.
- Industry standards knowledge and experience is preferred.
- Familiarity with high speed cable assembly and/or connector design preferred.
- Knowledge and experience with design for signal integrity performance is preferred.
Position: Product Development Engineer
Location: Valley Green, PA
Amphenol High Speed Products Group is the market leader for high speed, high bandwidth electrical connectors for the Telecom/Datacom market (Mobile Networks, Storage, Servers, Routers, Switches, etc.). Our products help to enable the electronics revolution and remain a key enabler for all the major Tier 1 OEMs globally. We have design, sales, and manufacturing locations globally and are currently seeking a Senior Product Development Engineer to join our High Speed IO Connector team located in Etters, PA.
Responsibilities:
The Sr. Product Development Engineer will be responsible for concept generation, design, verification and qualification of High Speed IO products for 112Gb signaling and beyond. The position provides opportunity for close customer interaction. You will also work with internal and external suppliers and manufacturing personnel, supporting the development and validation of product prototypes through pilot production, as well as interfacing with beta-site customers.
- Conceptualize, design, and develop cable assemblies and/or IO connector systems from initial proposal to successful tooling and product qualifications.
- Perform Design FMEA, Tolerance Analysis, Design for Manufacturability, FEA Analysis, and Risk Analysis.
- Work with Marketing and the customer to define customer needs and functional performance requirements. Assess technical risk.
- Work with internal and external (vendor) manufacturing disciplines including Stamping, Plating, Molding, and Assembly to optimize design for production processes.
- Lead product design reviews.
- Verify accuracy of product drawings and ensure proper usage of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
- Work with Materials Engineering to define metal and polymer material choices based on requirements associated with performance, pricing, and global sourcing.
- Present product concepts to customers early in development cycle, interpret feedback, and incorporate any revised requirements into the design.
- Define Product, Application, and Packaging specifications.
- Define a verification and product qualification test plans.
- Manage the resolution of first article inspections.
- Work closely with NPI and manufacturing engineering to ensure products are transitioned to the manufacturing.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years experience in electro-mechanical design is required.
- Bachelor of Science degree in a Mechanical or Electrical discipline, or equivalent engineering course work and related experience required.
- Experience and skilled use of Solid Works, FEA simulation software (ANSYS preferred), Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing principles, and Statistical Engineering methods.
- Ability to work effectively within a project team and to direct the activity of others.
- Ability to communicate well with Global Customers.
- Industry standards knowledge and experience is preferred.
- Familiarity with high speed cable assembly and/or connector design preferred.
- Knowledge and experience with design for signal integrity performance is preferred.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Product Development Engineer
Lead with your CAD and prototyping experience
Product development roles center on design tools like SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo and hands-on prototyping. Employers scanning OPT candidates want proof you can contribute immediately. Highlight specific projects where you moved a concept from design to physical prototype.
Target companies with established OPT hiring patterns
Medical device companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, and automotive suppliers regularly sponsor OPT engineers. These industries hire in cohorts, have structured onboarding, and are familiar with STEM OPT paperwork. Focus your search on employers with a track record here.
Frame your OPT timeline around product cycles
Standard OPT gives you 12 months, with a 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies. Position this as enough runway to own a full product development cycle, which typically runs six to eighteen months from concept through launch.
Get your employer's E-Verify enrollment confirmed early
STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm this before accepting an offer, not after. Ask HR directly during the offer stage so there are no delays when you file your extension with your DSO.
Emphasize cross-functional collaboration in interviews
Product development engineers work closely with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams. Interviewers want to see communication skills alongside technical ones. Use examples where you coordinated across departments to move a design change or resolve a production issue.
File your STEM OPT extension at the 90-day mark
You can apply for the STEM OPT extension up to 90 days before your current OPT expires. Missing this window is one of the most common and costly mistakes. Work backward from your EAD expiration date and set a calendar reminder immediately.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Product Development Engineer on OPT?
Yes, as long as your job is directly related to your degree field. A mechanical or electrical engineering graduate working in product development clearly meets this requirement. If your degree is in a related but adjacent field, such as materials science or industrial design, you should confirm the connection with your DSO before starting.
Does a Product Development Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
In most cases, yes. Product development engineering roles at companies in manufacturing, electronics, medical devices, or automotive typically fall under STEM-designated degree programs. Your degree must be on the STEM Designated Degree Program list, and your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm both with your DSO before filing the I-983 training plan.
Where can I find Product Development Engineer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for OPT and visa sponsorship eligibility, so you are not wasting applications on employers who will not hire international students. Browse Product Development Engineer roles on Migrate Mate to find companies already familiar with OPT work authorization requirements.
What should I include in my I-983 training plan for a Product Development Engineer role?
The I-983 requires a detailed description of how your job duties relate to your STEM degree. For product development, list specific learning objectives tied to your role: design validation methods, materials selection, tolerance analysis, or DFM principles. Your employer's supervisor signs the plan, so align it with your actual day-to-day responsibilities to avoid issues during DSO review.
How does changing employers affect my OPT if I switch Product Development Engineer jobs?
On standard OPT, you can change employers but must report the change to your DSO within 10 days. On STEM OPT extension, switching employers requires a new I-983 training plan with the new employer, and the new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Do not start work at the new employer until your DSO has processed the update in SEVIS.
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