OPT Production Technician Jobs
Production Technician jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with engineering, manufacturing, or applied science degrees. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT-eligible, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in this field routinely sponsor H-1B visas for technicians who prove their value on the production floor.
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Principle Responsibilities:
- Adhere to and monitor team members during production activities to ensure adherence to safety, Animal Welfare and Bio-Security procedures
- Motivate team members to increase production and maintain high production standards
- Serve as liaison between team members and management
- Evaluate and implement continuous improvement of swine production process
- Ability to perform necropsy and collection of tissue sample including PUC sampling
- Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury
- Treat minor injuries and ailments
- Communicate with appropriate management and/or veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries
- Stock supplies of feed and medicines
- Ability to understand and implement advanced sow/gilt care and handling (feeding/watering/moving/ventilation)
- Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary
- Understanding and ability to conduct advanced breeding functions (artificial insemination, heat check, day-one pig care)
- Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets
- Brand, tattoo, or tag animals for animal identification
- Place vaccines in drinking water, inject vaccines, or dust air with vaccine powder to protect animals from diseases
- Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition
- Adjust controls to maintain specific building temperatures required for animals' health and safety
- Maintain logs of semen specimens used and animals bred
- Inject prepared animal semen into female animals for breeding purposes, by inserting nozzle of syringe into vagina and depressing syringe plunger
- Prepare containers of semen for freezing and storage or shipment, placing them in dry ice or liquid nitrogen
- Package and label semen to be used for artificial insemination, recording information such as the date, source, quality, and concentration
- Experience with or ability to learn farm technology (hand held devices/wand sows and other equipment, as necessary)
- Attend safety meetings
- Cleaning and disinfection of facilities, including removal of mortality and waste
- Check feed system and fill lines
- Production/facility housekeeping duties
- Any other tasks assigned by Assistant or Manager
Required Qualifications:
- 4-year college degree in related field or equivalent experience in similar production environment
- Strong communication and listening skills
- Experience with or ability to learn farm technology (computers, hand held devices/wand sows and other equipment, as necessary)
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems and make decisions independently
- Ability to effectively lead a team
- Be a team oriented, self-motivated, and positive individual with strong work ethic
- Ability to efficiently multi-task in a fast-paced environment
- Familiarity with Bio-Security and swine production
- Ability to work weekend, as scheduled
- Ability to continually bend, push, grasp, and pull up to 60 lbs
- Continual walking and/or standing, up to 95% of the day
- Reliable method of transportation required
- Ability to work early 1st shift hours or late 2nd shift hours
- Resume required
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bilingual English and Spanish
Travel: Occasional travel required
PAY RATE: 21.10
EOE, Including disability/Vets
Description
Principle Responsibilities:
- Adhere to and monitor team members during production activities to ensure adherence to safety, Animal Welfare and Bio-Security procedures
- Motivate team members to increase production and maintain high production standards
- Serve as liaison between team members and management
- Evaluate and implement continuous improvement of swine production process
- Ability to perform necropsy and collection of tissue sample including PUC sampling
- Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury
- Treat minor injuries and ailments
- Communicate with appropriate management and/or veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries
- Stock supplies of feed and medicines
- Ability to understand and implement advanced sow/gilt care and handling (feeding/watering/moving/ventilation)
- Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary
- Understanding and ability to conduct advanced breeding functions (artificial insemination, heat check, day-one pig care)
- Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets
- Brand, tattoo, or tag animals for animal identification
- Place vaccines in drinking water, inject vaccines, or dust air with vaccine powder to protect animals from diseases
- Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition
- Adjust controls to maintain specific building temperatures required for animals' health and safety
- Maintain logs of semen specimens used and animals bred
- Inject prepared animal semen into female animals for breeding purposes, by inserting nozzle of syringe into vagina and depressing syringe plunger
- Prepare containers of semen for freezing and storage or shipment, placing them in dry ice or liquid nitrogen
- Package and label semen to be used for artificial insemination, recording information such as the date, source, quality, and concentration
- Experience with or ability to learn farm technology (hand held devices/wand sows and other equipment, as necessary)
- Attend safety meetings
- Cleaning and disinfection of facilities, including removal of mortality and waste
- Check feed system and fill lines
- Production/facility housekeeping duties
- Any other tasks assigned by Assistant or Manager
Required Qualifications:
- 4-year college degree in related field or equivalent experience in similar production environment
- Strong communication and listening skills
- Experience with or ability to learn farm technology (computers, hand held devices/wand sows and other equipment, as necessary)
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems and make decisions independently
- Ability to effectively lead a team
- Be a team oriented, self-motivated, and positive individual with strong work ethic
- Ability to efficiently multi-task in a fast-paced environment
- Familiarity with Bio-Security and swine production
- Ability to work weekend, as scheduled
- Ability to continually bend, push, grasp, and pull up to 60 lbs
- Continual walking and/or standing, up to 95% of the day
- Reliable method of transportation required
- Ability to work early 1st shift hours or late 2nd shift hours
- Resume required
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bilingual English and Spanish
Travel: Occasional travel required
PAY RATE: 21.10
EOE, Including disability/Vets
See all 688+ OPT Production Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Production Technician Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Production Technician
Target manufacturers with existing H-1B track records
Companies that have sponsored H-1B visas for Production Technicians before are far more likely to do it again. Search OFLC disclosure data to verify which manufacturers have filed LCAs for this exact job title before applying.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Production Technician roles typically qualify under engineering and manufacturing CIP codes, but confirm with your DSO before accepting an offer. A 24-month STEM extension dramatically improves your chances of clearing two H-1B lottery cycles.
Raise sponsorship early in the hiring process
Bring up your OPT status before the final interview round, not after an offer. Hiring managers in manufacturing prefer knowing upfront so HR can assess sponsorship timelines alongside your start date and production needs.
Emphasize specialized technical certifications
Certifications in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or equipment-specific systems make sponsorship a stronger business case for employers. Documented skills that are hard to replace locally reduce resistance to the time and cost of H-1B filing.
Understand your OPT reporting obligations during employment
Report any changes in employer, job title, or work location to your DSO within 10 days. Production roles sometimes involve shift changes or facility transfers that could affect your SEVIS record if not properly reported.
File your STEM OPT extension application at least 90 days early
USCIS processing times for EAD renewals can exceed 90 days. Submit your STEM OPT extension application well before your current EAD expires so you maintain continuous work authorization without interrupting production floor shifts.
Production Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Production Technician jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Production Technician roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because they fall under engineering or applied science CIP codes. Your offer letter job duties need to align with your STEM-designated degree field. Confirm eligibility with your DSO and get written confirmation from your employer before assuming you qualify, since job titles alone don't determine eligibility.
How do I find Production Technician employers that sponsor OPT and H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find Production Technician roles from employers open to OPT and H-1B sponsorship. Beyond the job board, you can cross-reference OFLC disclosure data to see which manufacturers have a history of filing Labor Condition Applications for this role, which is a strong signal they'll sponsor future visa holders as well.
Can I work for a staffing agency as a Production Technician on OPT?
Yes, but with important caveats. Your employer of record must match what's reported in SEVIS. If you're placed at a client facility through a staffing agency, the agency is typically your legal employer and must be listed accordingly. Your actual work location and duties must still align with your degree field to maintain valid OPT authorization.
What happens to my OPT if my production facility changes locations or shifts?
A change in work site address counts as a material change that must be reported to your DSO within 10 days. This is especially relevant for Production Technicians who may be reassigned to different facilities within the same company. Failing to update your SEVIS record with the new location can create compliance issues even if your employer and job title stay the same.
Does hands-on production floor work count as a qualifying OPT job?
Yes, as long as the work is directly related to your degree field. A Production Technician role grounded in mechanical engineering, industrial technology, or materials science satisfies OPT's requirement that employment be in a job related to your area of study. Purely manual labor with no connection to your degree field would not qualify, so reviewing your offer letter duties against your degree description matters.