Production Lead Jobs for OPT Students
Production Lead roles on OPT require demonstrating hands-on supervisory experience in manufacturing, logistics, or operations environments. Most employers file H-1B or E-3 sponsorship for strong performers. Your 12-month OPT window, extendable to 36 months for STEM-eligible graduates, gives you time to prove your value on the floor.
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Get Access To All JobsDate
Mar 25, 2026
Location
Havre De Grace, Maryland, United States
Company
Leggett & Platt
We make life more comfortable.
Leggett & Platt’s overall mission is a commitment to enhance lives – by delivering quality products, offering empowering and rewarding careers, and doing our part in bringing about a better future.
Leggett & Platt’s inventive heritage and leadership in the residential products industry span more than 130 years. As The Components People, we are the leading supplier of a wide range of products and components for all areas of life, including mattress springs and carpet cushion, as well as bedding machinery and erosion-control products.
From aerospace tubing and fabricated assemblies to flooring underlayment and carpet cushion, Leggett & Platt has divisions that design, manufacture, and sell a variety of products. Our reliable product development and launch capability, coupled with our global footprint, make us a trusted partner for customers in the aerospace, hydraulic cylinders, flooring, textile, and geo components industries.
Job Title: Lead Person
Position Classification: Non-Exempt - Hourly
Job Summary:
The Lead Person performs various tasks necessary to lead and direct production activities in multiple work cell areas or product lines. The Lead Person may be required to perform any or all of the job duties listed below.
Qualifications, Knowledge, Education & Experience:
Must be at least 18 years of age to perform this job. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Set-up of production areas or startup of equipment as necessary
- Inform supervisor of the status of various production orders
- Direct workforce assigned by the supervisor
- Follow the production schedule ensuring production standards are met
- Check measurements and quality of all materials and completion of quality record(s) where required
- Correction of quality issues within the department as assigned by supervisor
- Operate forklift, pallet jacks, and/or other material handling equipment
- Responsible for the training of employees and new hires as assigned by the supervisor
- Complete general area maintenance duties on equipment as assigned. This may include help from the maintenance department when necessary
- Responsible for oversight and validation of completion for any paperwork, data collection/entry, labeling/tagging, etc. of team members in work cells
- Assist with physical inventory inspection and measurements as required
- Record material usage where required
- Accountable for identification of safety hazards, as well as support and sustain a safe work environment
- Maintain excellent housekeeping practices
- Practice proper safety techniques
- Follow all procedures and guidelines
- Perform other duties as assigned
Education:
High School diploma or GED equivalent required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience:
Good mechanical aptitude
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time
- Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; maintains a clean and organized work environment
- Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity
- Safety - Observes all safety procedures and policies; Reports potentially unsafe conditions to supervisor; Uses equipment and materials properly
- Good attention to detail
- Able to work accurately from verbal and written instructions
- Bilingual Preferred
This description is a general statement of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continual basis. It does not exclude other duties that may be assigned.
Competitive Benefits Include:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Paid time off
- 401K Retirement Plan with Company Match
- Life Insurance
- Disability Programs
- Employee Assistance Program
- Flexible Spending/Health Savings Account
What to Do Next
Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about us, what are you waiting for! Apply today and allow us the opportunity to learn more about you and the value you can bring to our team. Once you apply, be sure to create a profile, and sign up for job alerts, so you can be the first to know when new opportunities become available.
Our Values
Our values speak to our shared beliefs, and describe how we approach working together.
- Put People First reflects our commitment to safety and care of each other, learning and development, and creating an environment of mutual respect, empathy and belonging.
- Do the Right Thing focuses us on acting with honesty and integrity, delivering the results the right way, taking pride in our work, and speaking the truth – good or bad.
- Do Great Work…Together occurs when we engage without hierarchy, collaborate as a team, embrace challenges, and work for the good of all of us.
- Take Ownership and Raise the Bar demonstrates our responsibility to add value and make a difference, challenge the status quo and biases to make things better, foster innovative and creative solutions to drive impact, and explore new perspectives and embrace change.
Our Commitment to You
We're actively taking steps to make sure our culture, processes and practices promote equal opportunity for all. Join us!
We welcome and encourage all applicants to apply. We’d love the opportunity to consider you.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer
For more information about how we handle your personal data in connection with our recruiting processes, please refer to the Recruiting Privacy Notice on the “Privacy Notice” tab located at http://privacy.leggett.com
Date
Mar 25, 2026
Location
Havre De Grace, Maryland, United States
Company
Leggett & Platt
We make life more comfortable.
Leggett & Platt’s overall mission is a commitment to enhance lives – by delivering quality products, offering empowering and rewarding careers, and doing our part in bringing about a better future.
Leggett & Platt’s inventive heritage and leadership in the residential products industry span more than 130 years. As The Components People, we are the leading supplier of a wide range of products and components for all areas of life, including mattress springs and carpet cushion, as well as bedding machinery and erosion-control products.
From aerospace tubing and fabricated assemblies to flooring underlayment and carpet cushion, Leggett & Platt has divisions that design, manufacture, and sell a variety of products. Our reliable product development and launch capability, coupled with our global footprint, make us a trusted partner for customers in the aerospace, hydraulic cylinders, flooring, textile, and geo components industries.
Job Title: Lead Person
Position Classification: Non-Exempt - Hourly
Job Summary:
The Lead Person performs various tasks necessary to lead and direct production activities in multiple work cell areas or product lines. The Lead Person may be required to perform any or all of the job duties listed below.
Qualifications, Knowledge, Education & Experience:
Must be at least 18 years of age to perform this job. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Set-up of production areas or startup of equipment as necessary
- Inform supervisor of the status of various production orders
- Direct workforce assigned by the supervisor
- Follow the production schedule ensuring production standards are met
- Check measurements and quality of all materials and completion of quality record(s) where required
- Correction of quality issues within the department as assigned by supervisor
- Operate forklift, pallet jacks, and/or other material handling equipment
- Responsible for the training of employees and new hires as assigned by the supervisor
- Complete general area maintenance duties on equipment as assigned. This may include help from the maintenance department when necessary
- Responsible for oversight and validation of completion for any paperwork, data collection/entry, labeling/tagging, etc. of team members in work cells
- Assist with physical inventory inspection and measurements as required
- Record material usage where required
- Accountable for identification of safety hazards, as well as support and sustain a safe work environment
- Maintain excellent housekeeping practices
- Practice proper safety techniques
- Follow all procedures and guidelines
- Perform other duties as assigned
Education:
High School diploma or GED equivalent required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience:
Good mechanical aptitude
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time
- Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; maintains a clean and organized work environment
- Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity
- Safety - Observes all safety procedures and policies; Reports potentially unsafe conditions to supervisor; Uses equipment and materials properly
- Good attention to detail
- Able to work accurately from verbal and written instructions
- Bilingual Preferred
This description is a general statement of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continual basis. It does not exclude other duties that may be assigned.
Competitive Benefits Include:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Paid time off
- 401K Retirement Plan with Company Match
- Life Insurance
- Disability Programs
- Employee Assistance Program
- Flexible Spending/Health Savings Account
What to Do Next
Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about us, what are you waiting for! Apply today and allow us the opportunity to learn more about you and the value you can bring to our team. Once you apply, be sure to create a profile, and sign up for job alerts, so you can be the first to know when new opportunities become available.
Our Values
Our values speak to our shared beliefs, and describe how we approach working together.
- Put People First reflects our commitment to safety and care of each other, learning and development, and creating an environment of mutual respect, empathy and belonging.
- Do the Right Thing focuses us on acting with honesty and integrity, delivering the results the right way, taking pride in our work, and speaking the truth – good or bad.
- Do Great Work…Together occurs when we engage without hierarchy, collaborate as a team, embrace challenges, and work for the good of all of us.
- Take Ownership and Raise the Bar demonstrates our responsibility to add value and make a difference, challenge the status quo and biases to make things better, foster innovative and creative solutions to drive impact, and explore new perspectives and embrace change.
Our Commitment to You
We're actively taking steps to make sure our culture, processes and practices promote equal opportunity for all. Join us!
We welcome and encourage all applicants to apply. We’d love the opportunity to consider you.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer
For more information about how we handle your personal data in connection with our recruiting processes, please refer to the Recruiting Privacy Notice on the “Privacy Notice” tab located at http://privacy.leggett.com
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Production Lead
Target manufacturers with established OPT pipelines
Large-scale manufacturers in automotive, electronics, and food production regularly hire international graduates and have HR teams familiar with OPT authorization. Smaller operations may hesitate, so prioritize employers with a documented history of sponsoring production staff.
Align your degree field with production operations
Employers and USCIS both care that your degree connects to the role. Industrial engineering, manufacturing systems, or operations management degrees map cleanly to Production Lead responsibilities and strengthen your case for STEM OPT extension eligibility.
Document your supervisory and output metrics
Quantify your impact on the production floor before interviews. Throughput improvements, defect rate reductions, and team size managed are the specific numbers that production-focused hiring managers and future visa sponsors look for when evaluating candidates.
Raise OPT authorization early in the process
Bring up your OPT status before the offer stage, not after. Explain your authorized work period, your STEM extension eligibility if applicable, and your H-1B sponsorship timeline. Informed employers are far less likely to withdraw interest over authorization concerns.
Pursue Lean, Six Sigma, or safety certifications
Credentials like Lean Six Sigma Yellow or Green Belt signal practical production competency beyond your degree. They also differentiate you from domestic candidates, giving employers a concrete reason to invest in sponsorship for your continued employment.
Connect your academic projects to real production environments
If your coursework included process optimization, supply chain labs, or capstone manufacturing projects, frame these explicitly in your resume and interviews. Employers need to see that your OPT work authorization is grounded in directly relevant, field-specific education.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Production Lead on OPT?
Yes, if your degree field relates directly to the role. Production Lead positions under industrial engineering, manufacturing systems, or operations management degrees qualify as practical training. Your job duties must connect to your field of study, so document that alignment clearly in your OPT application and employment records.
Does a Production Lead role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not your job title. If you graduated with a STEM-designated degree such as industrial engineering or manufacturing engineering technology, and your employer meets the E-Verify requirement, you can apply for a 24-month STEM extension. The role itself must continue to relate to that degree field.
How do I find Production Lead employers who are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers who are open to sponsoring international candidates. Searching there saves time compared to applying broadly to roles where your authorization status will immediately disqualify you. Focus on mid-size to large manufacturers with dedicated HR departments.
Will employers sponsor H-1B for a Production Lead after OPT?
Many do, particularly in automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods manufacturing. Production Leads with measurable performance records and technical degrees are strong H-1B candidates. Specialty occupation status for production management roles is supportable when the position requires a degree in a specific technical field, so document your responsibilities carefully from day one.
What happens to my OPT status if I get promoted from Production Lead to a higher role?
A promotion generally does not jeopardize your OPT status as long as the new role still relates to your degree field. You do not need to update USCIS when your title changes, but your employer must update your records and you should keep documentation showing the continued connection to your field of study.
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