OPT Production Operator Jobs
Production Operator jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with degrees in manufacturing engineering, industrial technology, or related fields. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in food processing, electronics, and automotive manufacturing regularly hire OPT candidates for hands-on production roles.
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Get Access To All JobsProduction Operator - 3rd shift
Pay: $26.43 hour plus night shift and Sunday premiums, $1.00 shift differential from 6p-6a Overtime
Shift & Working Hours: 3rd Shift (10:50pm - 6:50am) Overtime: Eligible for overtime after 8 hours schedule: 10 days on & 4 days off
$2500 Sign-on Bonus
You will receive a sign-on bonus of $500.00 after 60 days of employment. After six months of employment, you will receive a $1,000.00 retention bonus, and after one year of employment you'll receive your second payment of your retention bonus of $1,000.00. All totaled you will receive $2,500.00 in sign-on and retention bonuses.
Please Note:
Employees hired into General Production roles may be placed into a new position as outlined in our collective bargaining agreement. If no employee submits a bid for an internal job posting, the position will be offered to full-time General Production employees in order of seniority and may be assigned by reverse seniority. Employees placed in this way remain eligible to sign other internal postings as they become available.
In this role, you will be a key member of our Land O’Lakes, Inc. manufacturing team, performing front-line production processes that add value and quality to the inputs and creation of final high-quality products. You will gain skills and experience of taking raw materials to produce our final products for customers. This will include operating machinery and equipment, packaging the final product. Join our team to become part of a member-owned co-op that is Rooted In Tomorrow.
This role is part of our Dairy Food business who creates dairy products that stand for real, simple goodness. We believe there’s power in every drop of milk our farmers produce, and by improving production and finding innovative uses for that milk, we add a little good to people’s lives.
Key Responsibilities:
- Complies with all safety processes and insists on safety practices of self and others
- Shows up on time, completes tasks by deadlines, and adapts to changes quickly
- Able to multi-task and keep up with production demands in a fast-paced environment
- Ensures all quality standards and standard operating procedures are followed during production process
- Maintains cleanliness and organization of work area
- Collaborates and follows the instructions of Leads and Management to accomplish daily work assignments
Required Experience and Skills:
- Must be 18 years or older
- 1 year or more of work experience in any industry
- Basic computer and math skills
- Able to read, write, comprehend, follow verbal and written instructions in English
- Willingness to learn new skills, problem-solve and troubleshoot
- Strong collaboration, communication skills, and is always respectful
Preferred Experience:
- 1+ year of manufacturing work experience
- Machine operation and/or forklift experience
Physical Requirements:
- Able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds
- Frequent movement including walking, standing, bending/stooping, turning, twisting, pushing, pulling, raising arms, lifting, climbing and other active movements
- Performing duties while wearing personal protective equipment
- Working in temperature zones that include cold and/or hot environments for extended periods and may include areas where dust and chemicals are present
About Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.
We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O’Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.
Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.
Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.
If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.
Production Operator - 3rd shift
Pay: $26.43 hour plus night shift and Sunday premiums, $1.00 shift differential from 6p-6a Overtime
Shift & Working Hours: 3rd Shift (10:50pm - 6:50am) Overtime: Eligible for overtime after 8 hours schedule: 10 days on & 4 days off
$2500 Sign-on Bonus
You will receive a sign-on bonus of $500.00 after 60 days of employment. After six months of employment, you will receive a $1,000.00 retention bonus, and after one year of employment you'll receive your second payment of your retention bonus of $1,000.00. All totaled you will receive $2,500.00 in sign-on and retention bonuses.
Please Note:
Employees hired into General Production roles may be placed into a new position as outlined in our collective bargaining agreement. If no employee submits a bid for an internal job posting, the position will be offered to full-time General Production employees in order of seniority and may be assigned by reverse seniority. Employees placed in this way remain eligible to sign other internal postings as they become available.
In this role, you will be a key member of our Land O’Lakes, Inc. manufacturing team, performing front-line production processes that add value and quality to the inputs and creation of final high-quality products. You will gain skills and experience of taking raw materials to produce our final products for customers. This will include operating machinery and equipment, packaging the final product. Join our team to become part of a member-owned co-op that is Rooted In Tomorrow.
This role is part of our Dairy Food business who creates dairy products that stand for real, simple goodness. We believe there’s power in every drop of milk our farmers produce, and by improving production and finding innovative uses for that milk, we add a little good to people’s lives.
Key Responsibilities:
- Complies with all safety processes and insists on safety practices of self and others
- Shows up on time, completes tasks by deadlines, and adapts to changes quickly
- Able to multi-task and keep up with production demands in a fast-paced environment
- Ensures all quality standards and standard operating procedures are followed during production process
- Maintains cleanliness and organization of work area
- Collaborates and follows the instructions of Leads and Management to accomplish daily work assignments
Required Experience and Skills:
- Must be 18 years or older
- 1 year or more of work experience in any industry
- Basic computer and math skills
- Able to read, write, comprehend, follow verbal and written instructions in English
- Willingness to learn new skills, problem-solve and troubleshoot
- Strong collaboration, communication skills, and is always respectful
Preferred Experience:
- 1+ year of manufacturing work experience
- Machine operation and/or forklift experience
Physical Requirements:
- Able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds
- Frequent movement including walking, standing, bending/stooping, turning, twisting, pushing, pulling, raising arms, lifting, climbing and other active movements
- Performing duties while wearing personal protective equipment
- Working in temperature zones that include cold and/or hot environments for extended periods and may include areas where dust and chemicals are present
About Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.
We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O’Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.
Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.
Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.
If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.
See all 243+ OPT Production Operator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Production Operator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Production Operator
Confirm your degree qualifies the role
Production Operator positions qualify for STEM OPT only when the role directly applies your engineering or technology degree. Ask hiring managers how they classify the position before accepting an offer to avoid losing STEM extension eligibility.
Target manufacturers with established OPT programs
Large manufacturers in automotive, electronics, and food processing sectors have HR infrastructure to handle OPT paperwork. Smaller facilities often lack experience with I-983 training plans, which creates delays and compliance risks for your work authorization.
Get your I-983 training plan in writing before day one
Your STEM OPT employer must complete Form I-983 with specific learning objectives tied to your degree. Secure a signed training plan before your start date. Generic descriptions of duties without degree-related goals will not satisfy DSO reporting requirements.
Verify the employer is E-Verify enrolled
STEM OPT extensions require your employer to be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the worksite where you work. Confirm enrollment before accepting any offer. A facility that recently merged or changed ownership may have a lapsed enrollment that needs resolving.
Document production certifications proactively
Certifications like Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, OSHA 10, or forklift operator credentials signal job readiness to production hiring managers. Listing these on your application reduces employer hesitation about investing in OPT paperwork for an unfamiliar candidate.
Apply before your OPT start date when possible
Production facilities plan headcount weeks in advance. Applying while still in post-completion OPT gives employers lead time to complete I-983 paperwork and E-Verify verification without rushing, which significantly increases your chances of a smooth onboarding process.
Production Operator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Production Operator on F-1 OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in a related field such as manufacturing engineering, industrial technology, or a STEM discipline. Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization. If your degree is STEM-designated and the Production Operator role applies that training directly, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM extension, for up to 36 months total.
Does a Production Operator role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on how the employer classifies the position and whether it genuinely requires applying knowledge from a STEM degree. Roles involving process control, quality systems, or equipment calibration tied to an engineering degree are strong candidates. Roles that are purely manual assembly with no technical degree requirement are unlikely to qualify. Confirm the classification with your DSO before accepting.
What does the I-983 training plan look like for a Production Operator?
Your employer must document specific learning goals connecting your daily production duties to your degree field. For example, a manufacturing engineering graduate might document goals around process improvement, equipment troubleshooting, or statistical quality control. Vague descriptions of assembly tasks will not satisfy requirements. Your DSO must approve the plan, and the employer must evaluate your progress at 12-month intervals.
Which industries hire Production Operators who are on OPT?
Automotive parts manufacturing, electronics assembly, food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical production, and consumer goods are the most active sectors. Large manufacturers with dedicated HR teams are better equipped to handle OPT paperwork than small job shops. Migrate Mate's job board filters for OPT-friendly Production Operator roles across these industries so you can focus applications on employers already familiar with the process.
What happens to my OPT if I'm laid off from a Production Operator job?
You have a 90-day unemployment allowance across your entire standard OPT period. If you're on a STEM extension, you have an additional 60 days, for a total of 150 days. You must report the end of employment to your DSO within 10 days. Use the unemployment window to search actively, and notify your DSO of any new employer so they can update your SEVIS record promptly.