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 visa or another long-term visa.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Are you a passionate Mechanical Design Engineer eager to work on innovative projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment? At Quality Electrical Systems (QES), we specialize in designing and developing advanced mechanical and electrical solutions. We’re seeking a skilled engineer to join our team and make an impact on high-profile projects while driving continuous improvement.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Design and develop mechanical components, assemblies, and systems using SolidWorks.
- Collaborate with crossfunctional teams to ensure designs meet functional and manufacturability requirements.
- Perform engineering calculations, simulations, and analyses to validate designs.
- Prepare detailed drawings, specifications, and documentation for manufacturing and assembly.
- Participate in design reviews, offering and receiving constructive feedback.
- Support prototype builds, testing, and validation activities.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction, efficiency improvements, and process enhancements.
- Apply continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Manufacturing principles.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
- 3+ years of mechanical design and integration experience using SolidWorks.
- Strong knowledge of engineering principles, materials, and manufacturing processes.
- Proficiency in stress analysis, tolerance analysis, and engineering calculations.
- Experience with Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA).
- Familiarity with CAD and PLM systems (e.g., SolidWorks PDM).
- Excellent problemsolving skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication and collaboration abilities.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement initiatives (a plus).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Engaging projects with cuttingedge technologies
- Opportunities for growth and career advancement
- A collaborative, innovationdriven culture
BENEFITS
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- HSA, HRA, and FSA options
- Life and disability insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Telehealth and wellness resources
- Additional voluntary benefit options available
ABOUT QUALITY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Quality Electrical Systems is an electrical equipment manufacturer in West Jordan, UT. Our state-of-the-art facility has 350,000 square ft of manufacturing space and 75,000 square ft of inventory space. We’re an innovative company with countless years of combined experience in the industrial electrical industry. Our primary markets are data centers, oil/gas, water/wastewater, and mining and we have OEM manufacturing contracts with many major international manufactures such as GE/ABB, Yaskawa, Danfoss, TMEIC, and others. After 30 years of business, we now produce a wide variety of custom electrical products including Switchgear, PDCs, VFDs, and more that ship to customers worldwide.
INTRODUCTION
Are you a passionate Mechanical Design Engineer eager to work on innovative projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment? At Quality Electrical Systems (QES), we specialize in designing and developing advanced mechanical and electrical solutions. We’re seeking a skilled engineer to join our team and make an impact on high-profile projects while driving continuous improvement.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Design and develop mechanical components, assemblies, and systems using SolidWorks.
- Collaborate with crossfunctional teams to ensure designs meet functional and manufacturability requirements.
- Perform engineering calculations, simulations, and analyses to validate designs.
- Prepare detailed drawings, specifications, and documentation for manufacturing and assembly.
- Participate in design reviews, offering and receiving constructive feedback.
- Support prototype builds, testing, and validation activities.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction, efficiency improvements, and process enhancements.
- Apply continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Manufacturing principles.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
- 3+ years of mechanical design and integration experience using SolidWorks.
- Strong knowledge of engineering principles, materials, and manufacturing processes.
- Proficiency in stress analysis, tolerance analysis, and engineering calculations.
- Experience with Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA).
- Familiarity with CAD and PLM systems (e.g., SolidWorks PDM).
- Excellent problemsolving skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication and collaboration abilities.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement initiatives (a plus).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Engaging projects with cuttingedge technologies
- Opportunities for growth and career advancement
- A collaborative, innovationdriven culture
BENEFITS
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- HSA, HRA, and FSA options
- Life and disability insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Telehealth and wellness resources
- Additional voluntary benefit options available
ABOUT QUALITY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Quality Electrical Systems is an electrical equipment manufacturer in West Jordan, UT. Our state-of-the-art facility has 350,000 square ft of manufacturing space and 75,000 square ft of inventory space. We’re an innovative company with countless years of combined experience in the industrial electrical industry. Our primary markets are data centers, oil/gas, water/wastewater, and mining and we have OEM manufacturing contracts with many major international manufactures such as GE/ABB, Yaskawa, Danfoss, TMEIC, and others. After 30 years of business, we now produce a wide variety of custom electrical products including Switchgear, PDCs, VFDs, and more that ship to customers worldwide.
See all 1,465+ STEM OPT Design Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Design Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips 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.
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.