STEM OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs
Chemical Engineer roles in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, process design, and materials science qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension if your degree carries an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign your I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Get Access To All JobsJOB SUMMARY: The Chemical Process Engineer is responsible for continuous chemical and physical process improvements and troubleshooting chemical and physical process upset conditions. This includes analyzing and editing procedures, communicating effectively with team members, applying math, science, and engineering concepts, conducting experiments, and reporting results, including process metrics. Assignments are generally complex with well-defined scope.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (COMPETENCIES):
- Apply a broad range of fundamental engineering concepts, practices, and procedures to assigned projects
- Develop and implement optimized, cost-effective manufacturing processes and methods in accordance with customer, product, or process specifications, quality requirements, and standards while following a structured in-house development process
- Follow disciplined product/process development and change control methods
- Provide hands-on technical support and training for manufacturing processes and personnel
- Improve manufacturing processes and methods to drive cost reductions, quality improvements, and process efficiencies
- Author complete and comprehensive documentation including, but not limited to, engineering design documents and drawings, operating procedures, and work instructions according to established quality management standards
- Evaluate and analyze process data
- Understand and apply statistical process control and lean manufacturing principles
- Lead cross-functional teams through process improvements, root cause investigations, etc.
- Employ project management techniques to lead projects and ensure management is updated on project status, issues, and risk mitigation items
- Exhibit leadership qualities and train peers and co-workers
- Oversee purchasing and installation of process equipment
- Ensure safe working conditions and compliance with company health and safety protocols
- Provide input to and create project cost estimates, timelines, and milestones
- Function as an effective team member through collaboration, conflict resolution, encouragement, respectful interactions with co-workers, active listening, etc.
- Work independently on multiple tasks and projects simultaneously
- Perform other job duties and special projects as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in chemical or metallurgical engineering is required
- Experience in a chemical manufacturing environment is preferred
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Electrical and mechanical hands-on experience is preferred
- Ability to work independently with verbal or written instructions
- Ability to perform under pressure
- Ability to develop an understanding of Indium Corporation products and services
- Provide own source of transportation for any local/day travel, including travel between Indium Corporation facilities, as needed
SHIFT/SITE:
Monday-Friday
1st Shift: 7:00am - 3:30pm
5836 Success Drive, Rome, NY
This position is contingent upon contract award
WAGE DISCLOSURE:
The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the range for the position. The actual range will vary based upon factors including, but not limited to, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications, and internal equity.
The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components include health, dental, and vision insurance, PTO, retirement plan, volunteer opportunities, paid holidays, overtime opportunities, and many more.
$62,500 - $85,000 annually
Indium Corporation is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to building an innovative workforce. All qualified applicants will be given consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, pregnancy status, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
LI-DNP
LI-DNI
JOB SUMMARY: The Chemical Process Engineer is responsible for continuous chemical and physical process improvements and troubleshooting chemical and physical process upset conditions. This includes analyzing and editing procedures, communicating effectively with team members, applying math, science, and engineering concepts, conducting experiments, and reporting results, including process metrics. Assignments are generally complex with well-defined scope.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (COMPETENCIES):
- Apply a broad range of fundamental engineering concepts, practices, and procedures to assigned projects
- Develop and implement optimized, cost-effective manufacturing processes and methods in accordance with customer, product, or process specifications, quality requirements, and standards while following a structured in-house development process
- Follow disciplined product/process development and change control methods
- Provide hands-on technical support and training for manufacturing processes and personnel
- Improve manufacturing processes and methods to drive cost reductions, quality improvements, and process efficiencies
- Author complete and comprehensive documentation including, but not limited to, engineering design documents and drawings, operating procedures, and work instructions according to established quality management standards
- Evaluate and analyze process data
- Understand and apply statistical process control and lean manufacturing principles
- Lead cross-functional teams through process improvements, root cause investigations, etc.
- Employ project management techniques to lead projects and ensure management is updated on project status, issues, and risk mitigation items
- Exhibit leadership qualities and train peers and co-workers
- Oversee purchasing and installation of process equipment
- Ensure safe working conditions and compliance with company health and safety protocols
- Provide input to and create project cost estimates, timelines, and milestones
- Function as an effective team member through collaboration, conflict resolution, encouragement, respectful interactions with co-workers, active listening, etc.
- Work independently on multiple tasks and projects simultaneously
- Perform other job duties and special projects as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in chemical or metallurgical engineering is required
- Experience in a chemical manufacturing environment is preferred
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Electrical and mechanical hands-on experience is preferred
- Ability to work independently with verbal or written instructions
- Ability to perform under pressure
- Ability to develop an understanding of Indium Corporation products and services
- Provide own source of transportation for any local/day travel, including travel between Indium Corporation facilities, as needed
SHIFT/SITE:
Monday-Friday
1st Shift: 7:00am - 3:30pm
5836 Success Drive, Rome, NY
This position is contingent upon contract award
WAGE DISCLOSURE:
The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the range for the position. The actual range will vary based upon factors including, but not limited to, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications, and internal equity.
The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components include health, dental, and vision insurance, PTO, retirement plan, volunteer opportunities, paid holidays, overtime opportunities, and many more.
$62,500 - $85,000 annually
Indium Corporation is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to building an innovative workforce. All qualified applicants will be given consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, pregnancy status, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
LI-DNP
LI-DNI
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Chemical Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your official transcript and confirm your degree's CIP code maps to an eligible STEM field. Chemical Engineering (CIP 14.0701) qualifies, but related degrees like Materials Science or Environmental Engineering have separate codes that each require individual verification through USCIS.
Check E-Verify status before accepting offers
Before signing any offer, search the E-Verify employer search tool to confirm the company is actively enrolled. Petrochemical plants and contract engineering firms sometimes use staffing intermediaries whose enrollment status differs from the end client's.
Target employers with active LCA filings in your discipline
Use Migrate Mate to filter Chemical Engineer roles by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications, giving you a verifiable record of sponsorship activity rather than relying on unconfirmed recruiter claims about a company's immigration history.
Frame your training plan around process engineering deliverables
Your I-983 must tie supervised work to your STEM degree's learning objectives. For Chemical Engineers, map your training goals to specific process simulations, reaction engineering projects, or scale-up studies your employer can directly supervise and evaluate.
File your STEM OPT extension request 90 days early
Submit your extension application to USCIS at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. If your application is pending at expiration and you have an H-1B visa petition filed for the next fiscal year, cap-gap protection may extend your authorization through September 30.
Use O*NET to build a degree-to-role match argument
Hiring managers in chemical manufacturing sometimes question whether a process chemistry degree directly supports a polymer engineering role. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for Chemical Engineers to document the knowledge and skills overlap and share it with your DSO when completing your I-983.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Chemical Engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Chemical Engineering degrees coded under CIP 14.0701 are on the STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, making graduates eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Related degrees like Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering may carry different CIP codes, so confirm your specific code with your DSO before filing.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Chemical Engineer employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify to hire you on STEM OPT. Enrollment must be in place before your extension begins, not just at the time of your offer. If the company operates across multiple sites, the specific location where you work must be covered. Verify enrollment status directly through the E-Verify employer search before committing to any position.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Chemical Engineer role?
Your I-983 must describe how your day-to-day work relates to your STEM degree. For Chemical Engineers, this means documenting projects involving process design, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, or materials characterization, along with your supervisor's qualifications and how they'll evaluate your progress. Both you and your employer sign the plan, and your DSO must approve it before USCIS processes your extension.
How does cap-gap protection work if my H-1B is filed while I'm on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. Your EAD card may expire before then, but your authorization continues by operation of law. Carry your expired EAD and your employer's I-797 receipt notice together as proof.
Where can I find Chemical Engineer jobs where the employer already sponsors STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Chemical Engineer roles filtered for employers with active E-Verify enrollment and a documented history of immigration filings, so you're not guessing about sponsorship willingness. Search by industry sector on Migrate Mate to narrow results to petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, or specialty materials depending on where your degree focus applies strongest.