OPT Production Engineering Manager Jobs
Production Engineering Manager jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with engineering degrees, since most roles require direct technical expertise in manufacturing, process optimization, or systems reliability. STEM OPT extension eligibility gives qualified candidates up to three years of work authorization, making long-term employer investment realistic.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Performs in a collaborative environment to develop and implement manufacturing processes, procedures and production layouts for assemblies, equipment installation, processing, fabrication, and material handling. Drives adoption of new technologies and processes (automation, robotics, computer aided manufacturing software, etc.) to achieve greater efficiency, cost reduction and quality improvement. Creates and analyzes 3D based model data environment to optimize manufacturing process and digital work instructions. Leverages understanding of materials and automatic processes to define operations procedures and build sequences to drive operational excellence. Evaluates performance (including IoT devices, etc.) of equipment and tools to verify their efficiency and investigates and initiates corrective action of problems and deficiencies to ensure operational excellence. Leverages factory data to develop statistical process control approaches and integrates reporting and data analytics solutions for continuous improvement. Provides input to product design regarding design concepts and specification requirements to best utilize equipment and manufacturing techniques. Responsible for guidance and development of Manufacturing Engineering (ME) team, including Functional Test Engineering, providing support to AMMM production and on the Flight Line. Responsible for working closely with Production and assessing situations to develop tools and methods for improving quality and productivity. Responsible for department budget, audit support, and other ME related issues.
Will provide guidance and coaching/development on Manufacturing Engineering skills, including:
- Create and update Manufacturing Plan.
- Develop major tooling requirements and production floor layout.
- Initiate Tooling Request Forms and schedule tooling builds/buys to support production.
- Develop capital equipment requirements and forecast funding needs.
- Initiate capital spending request, SOW/specifications, and FSR for purchase of capital equipment.
- Initiate calibration requirements for new equipment and coordinate with Facilities Engineering on development of preventative maintenance requirements for ground support equipment maintenance and tooling.
- Initiate and coordinate all project tooling and special test equipment periodic inspection and maintenance/repair requirements in conjunction with Tool Engineering.
- Develop program specific methods, operating procedures, and tooling usage documents such as TSUD, MPS/PPDs, and SCLs.
- Develop requirements for and initiate purchase of perishable factory equipment.
- Develop specifications and initiate procurement of Standard Tools.
- Continuously review facilities and tools for Safety issues and initiate corrective action.
- Continuously work with production supervision and mechanics to improve process, methods, and work sequencing to include refinement of all things stated above.
- Investigate repetitive non-conformances; develop and implement corrective action.
Proficient in AI prompting as it applies to this position and practice.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree (e.g. Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, etc.)
- Experience in Manufacturing Engineering or understanding of Manufacturing Engineering practice and procedures.
- Production Support/Corrective Action experience.
- Formal/Informal Leadership experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Flight Line Experience.
- Demonstrated Full Spectrum Leadership skills and Culture of Accountability practices.
- MS Office experience including with Project and Access database.
- Familiarity with AMMM Airframes.
- Working knowledge of Manufacturing Engineering skills defined in job description and the controlling media PM-9003, PM-4053, and AC -3031.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
PAY INFORMATION
Full-Time Salary Range: $104900.00 - $194700.00
At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.
The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills as well as market (work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.
BENEFITS OFFERED
Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.
- Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
- For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full-time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
INTRODUCTION
Performs in a collaborative environment to develop and implement manufacturing processes, procedures and production layouts for assemblies, equipment installation, processing, fabrication, and material handling. Drives adoption of new technologies and processes (automation, robotics, computer aided manufacturing software, etc.) to achieve greater efficiency, cost reduction and quality improvement. Creates and analyzes 3D based model data environment to optimize manufacturing process and digital work instructions. Leverages understanding of materials and automatic processes to define operations procedures and build sequences to drive operational excellence. Evaluates performance (including IoT devices, etc.) of equipment and tools to verify their efficiency and investigates and initiates corrective action of problems and deficiencies to ensure operational excellence. Leverages factory data to develop statistical process control approaches and integrates reporting and data analytics solutions for continuous improvement. Provides input to product design regarding design concepts and specification requirements to best utilize equipment and manufacturing techniques. Responsible for guidance and development of Manufacturing Engineering (ME) team, including Functional Test Engineering, providing support to AMMM production and on the Flight Line. Responsible for working closely with Production and assessing situations to develop tools and methods for improving quality and productivity. Responsible for department budget, audit support, and other ME related issues.
Will provide guidance and coaching/development on Manufacturing Engineering skills, including:
- Create and update Manufacturing Plan.
- Develop major tooling requirements and production floor layout.
- Initiate Tooling Request Forms and schedule tooling builds/buys to support production.
- Develop capital equipment requirements and forecast funding needs.
- Initiate capital spending request, SOW/specifications, and FSR for purchase of capital equipment.
- Initiate calibration requirements for new equipment and coordinate with Facilities Engineering on development of preventative maintenance requirements for ground support equipment maintenance and tooling.
- Initiate and coordinate all project tooling and special test equipment periodic inspection and maintenance/repair requirements in conjunction with Tool Engineering.
- Develop program specific methods, operating procedures, and tooling usage documents such as TSUD, MPS/PPDs, and SCLs.
- Develop requirements for and initiate purchase of perishable factory equipment.
- Develop specifications and initiate procurement of Standard Tools.
- Continuously review facilities and tools for Safety issues and initiate corrective action.
- Continuously work with production supervision and mechanics to improve process, methods, and work sequencing to include refinement of all things stated above.
- Investigate repetitive non-conformances; develop and implement corrective action.
Proficient in AI prompting as it applies to this position and practice.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree (e.g. Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, etc.)
- Experience in Manufacturing Engineering or understanding of Manufacturing Engineering practice and procedures.
- Production Support/Corrective Action experience.
- Formal/Informal Leadership experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Flight Line Experience.
- Demonstrated Full Spectrum Leadership skills and Culture of Accountability practices.
- MS Office experience including with Project and Access database.
- Familiarity with AMMM Airframes.
- Working knowledge of Manufacturing Engineering skills defined in job description and the controlling media PM-9003, PM-4053, and AC -3031.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
PAY INFORMATION
Full-Time Salary Range: $104900.00 - $194700.00
At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.
The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills as well as market (work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.
BENEFITS OFFERED
Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.
- Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
- For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full-time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
See all 48+ OPT Production Engineering Manager Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Production Engineering Manager
Target manufacturing-heavy industries
Semiconductor, automotive, and industrial equipment companies hire Production Engineering Managers at scale and have established visa sponsorship pipelines. These employers are accustomed to OPT timelines and H-1B visa transitions, making them more receptive than smaller manufacturers.
Confirm your STEM OPT eligibility early
Production Engineering Manager roles typically fall under CIP codes in mechanical, industrial, or electrical engineering. Confirming your degree's STEM designation with your DSO before applying lets you negotiate timelines honestly and avoid surprises mid-hiring process.
Lead with technical depth, not management titles
Hiring managers want proof you can own production systems, not just supervise. Quantify process improvements, yield gains, or downtime reductions you've driven. Concrete engineering outcomes outperform vague leadership claims when competing against candidates with longer U.S. work histories.
Raise OPT after the technical interview
Wait until after the technical and panel interviews before discussing work authorization. Once you've demonstrated genuine engineering capability, sponsorship becomes a logistical question rather than a disqualifying factor. Early disclosure invites rejection before you've proven value.
Prioritize companies with existing H-1B sponsorship history
Employers who have sponsored H-1B petitions before understand the process and have immigration counsel in place. This significantly reduces the risk that they'll decline sponsorship simply due to unfamiliarity with the requirements or timeline involved.
Use OPT's flexibility to bridge into the role
If you're applying from a senior individual contributor role, OPT gives you time to take on team leadership without requiring immediate sponsorship commitment. Frame your transition proactively in interviews to show you've planned the path from engineer to manager deliberately.
Production Engineering Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Production Engineering Managers?
Yes, provided your undergraduate or graduate degree is in an engineering or closely related STEM field. Production Engineering Manager roles require technical qualifications that align directly with engineering CIP codes, which means most candidates are eligible for both standard 12-month OPT and the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of work authorization total.
Does a Production Engineering Manager role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your degree falls under a STEM-designated CIP code, such as mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or manufacturing engineering, and the job duties directly apply that training, you qualify for the STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before relying on the extension in any employment timeline discussions.
How do I find Production Engineering Manager jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job searches, so you can browse Production Engineering Manager openings filtered by sponsorship willingness. Companies in semiconductor manufacturing, automotive, and industrial automation are the most consistent sponsors for this role and are well represented among employers who actively recruit OPT candidates.
Will employers sponsor H-1B after hiring me on OPT for this role?
Many mid-to-large manufacturers do, especially if you've demonstrated measurable impact on production outcomes during your OPT period. The STEM OPT extension gives employers up to three years to assess fit before committing to H-1B sponsorship, which reduces their perceived risk considerably. Companies with prior H-1B sponsorship history are the safest targets since they already have the infrastructure and legal counsel in place.
What engineering background do I need to qualify for a Production Engineering Manager role on OPT?
Most employers require a bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, or electrical engineering. The role is a specialty occupation under H-1B standards, meaning a specific degree is required, not just any bachelor's. Candidates who also have direct experience with production systems, process improvement methodologies like Lean or Six Sigma, and team supervision tend to be most competitive for roles at this level.