STEM OPT Design Engineer Jobs

Design Engineer roles in product development, mechanical systems, and CAD-driven manufacturing qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension when your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Eligible degrees span mechanical, electrical, industrial, and materials engineering CIP codes. You can work up to 36 months total before needing H-1B or another long-term visa.

See All Design Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs1,103+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type90% On-site
Median Salary$121K
Top LocationSan Jose, CA
Most JobsApple

Showing 5 of 1,103+ Design Engineer jobs

Fluor Corp.
Associate Design Engineer I
We won't show you this job again
Fluor Corp.
Added 1d ago
Associate Design Engineer I
Fluor Corp.
Aliso Viejo, California
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$56,500/yr - $104,500/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Qualcomm
Package Design Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Qualcomm
Added 2d ago
Package Design Engineer
Qualcomm
Santa Clara, California
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$154,000/yr - $252,800/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Honeywell
Mechanical Design Engineer I
We won't show you this job again
Honeywell
Added 2d ago
Mechanical Design Engineer I
Honeywell
Mason, Ohio
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Halliburton
Pump Design Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Halliburton
Added 2d ago
Pump Design Engineer
Halliburton
Duncan, Oklahoma
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Consulting & Professional Services
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
4+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Apple
Manufacturing Design Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Apple
Added 3d ago
Manufacturing Design Engineer
Apple
Sunnyvale, California
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$157,200/yr - $236,700/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)

See all 1,103+ Design Engineer jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Design Engineer roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

See all 1,103+ Design Engineer jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Design Engineer roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

Tips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Design Engineer

Verify your CIP code before applying

Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by USCIS. Mechanical, electrical, industrial, and materials engineering codes all qualify, but your exact program title and code must match what's listed.

Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers

Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension starts. Search the E-Verify employer database by company name to confirm enrollment status before you sign anything, not after.

Negotiate I-983 training plan details upfront

Design Engineer roles require a signed I-983 Training Plan that maps your day-to-day duties to your engineering degree. Get hiring managers to specify project scope, tools, and supervision structure before your start date so the plan doesn't stall onboarding.

Target companies with active LCA filings in engineering

Use Migrate Mate to filter Design Engineer roles by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for engineering occupations. This confirms the company has already navigated DOL wage compliance, which signals readiness to support STEM OPT documentation.

Apply 90 days before your OPT expiration date

USCIS requires your STEM OPT extension application to be filed while your initial OPT EAD is still valid. Missing the 90-day filing window before expiration means a gap in work authorization that Design Engineer offers won't wait out.

Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark your offer

STEM OPT regulations require that your compensation not be less than that paid to a similarly situated U.S. worker. Run your job title and location through OFLC Wage Search to check whether your offer meets the prevailing wage before the I-983 is signed.

Design Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Design Engineer Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Design Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?

Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as mechanical, electrical, industrial, or materials engineering and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. The role itself must relate directly to your degree, which is documented through the I-983 Training Plan. USCIS reviews the degree-to-job connection, not just the job title, so the I-983 needs to map your specific design engineering duties to your coursework.

What does the I-983 Training Plan require for a Design Engineer position?

The I-983 must describe how your Design Engineer duties, such as CAD modeling, prototype development, tolerancing, or systems integration, connect to your STEM degree. It requires a supervision structure, a list of learning objectives, and a salary or compensation entry confirming you're paid comparably to U.S. workers in the same role. Both you and your employer sign it before your extension begins, and it's updated every 12 months or when your role changes materially.

How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify before my start date?

Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name or employer identification number to confirm active enrollment. E-Verify enrollment is a federal requirement for all STEM OPT employers, and your DSO cannot approve the I-983 for a company that isn't enrolled. If the company you're joining is a subsidiary or new entity, verify that the specific legal entity hiring you, not just the parent company, is listed in E-Verify.

What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my H-1B is selected in the lottery?

If your H-1B petition is filed before your STEM OPT EAD expires and USCIS receives it by June 30, cap-gap protection automatically extends your OPT work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue working as a Design Engineer during cap-gap without a new EAD. If your H-1B is not selected or not filed in time, your authorization ends when your STEM OPT EAD expires.

Where can I find Design Engineer jobs where employers are already set up for STEM OPT?

Migrate Mate lists Design Engineer roles filtered by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active engineering LCA filing history, so you can focus on companies that have already handled DOL wage compliance for engineering roles. This matters because STEM OPT students have a fixed authorization window, and targeting employers already familiar with the process reduces the risk of onboarding delays caused by E-Verify setup or I-983 confusion.

See which Design Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.

Search Design Engineer Jobs