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 JobsWhat if the next defining Apple product lived in your home, woven into the spaces where you live? Apple Home Hardware is a team of engineers building a new generation of intelligent home products that reflect Apple's highest standards for quality, user experience, and design. We work at the frontier of what's possible in consumer hardware, integrating precision-engineered components, advanced sensing technologies, and sophisticated electromechanical systems into products that feel like they couldn't have come from anywhere but Apple. It's an exciting time to be in Home Hardware, and we're hiring.
The Product Design team within Home Hardware leads the mechanical design and integration of components, sub-assemblies, and full product architectures, working side-by-side with Electrical Engineering, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, and Operations partners to bring bold ideas to life. We are looking for a passionate, curious, and technically capable engineer to join us, take real ownership of the hardware you're building, and grow across the full product development lifecycle.
Description
In this role, you will own the mechanical design and integration of components and modules within a highly integrated electromechanical system, driving your work from concept through validation and into production. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners across Electrical Engineering, Industrial Design, Manufacturing Design, and more to ensure your designs meet functional, aesthetic, and manufacturability requirements. From early prototyping and design iteration to factory builds and design hardening, you will develop your skills across the full product development lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop mechanical components, sub-assemblies, and modules in 3D CAD and 2D drawings, owning your work from concept through release
- Build prototypes, conduct hands-on testing, and iterate rapidly to evaluate performance and drive design decisions
- Integrate electrical components and electromechanical assemblies into high-performance product architectures
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners (including Electrical Engineering, Industrial Design, Manufacturing Design, and Operations) to define and execute on critical integration requirements
- Perform engineering analyses including tolerance stack-ups, structural analysis, and failure analysis to ensure designs meet all requirements throughout the product lifecycle
- Partner with external vendors and internal manufacturing teams to optimize designs for function, cosmetics, and high-volume manufacturability (DFM/DFA)
- Support factory builds and on-site development activities, including periodic international travel
- Contribute to design reviews, drawing releases, and design documentation
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a comparable field; or two or more years of equivalent, directly-related mechanical engineering work experience
Strong mechanical engineering analytical skills, experience selecting materials and manufacturing processes based on engineering requirements
Proficiency in 3D CAD (any major package) and 2D engineering drawing creation
Working knowledge of GD&T and tolerance analysis
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical concepts clearly to multi-disciplinary teams
Collaborative, detail-oriented, and driven to deliver with a high standard of quality
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
Experience in consumer electronics product design or development
Experience with electromechanical systems, including sensor integration, mechanisms, or actuator-based assemblies
Hands-on prototyping experience (e.g. using 3D printers, CNC mills, lathes, or other fabrication methods)
High-volume mass production experience (DFM/DFA)
Familiarity with FEA tools for structural or dynamic analysis
Experience collaborating with overseas manufacturing partners
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $147,400 and $272,100, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
What if the next defining Apple product lived in your home, woven into the spaces where you live? Apple Home Hardware is a team of engineers building a new generation of intelligent home products that reflect Apple's highest standards for quality, user experience, and design. We work at the frontier of what's possible in consumer hardware, integrating precision-engineered components, advanced sensing technologies, and sophisticated electromechanical systems into products that feel like they couldn't have come from anywhere but Apple. It's an exciting time to be in Home Hardware, and we're hiring.
The Product Design team within Home Hardware leads the mechanical design and integration of components, sub-assemblies, and full product architectures, working side-by-side with Electrical Engineering, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, and Operations partners to bring bold ideas to life. We are looking for a passionate, curious, and technically capable engineer to join us, take real ownership of the hardware you're building, and grow across the full product development lifecycle.
Description
In this role, you will own the mechanical design and integration of components and modules within a highly integrated electromechanical system, driving your work from concept through validation and into production. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners across Electrical Engineering, Industrial Design, Manufacturing Design, and more to ensure your designs meet functional, aesthetic, and manufacturability requirements. From early prototyping and design iteration to factory builds and design hardening, you will develop your skills across the full product development lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop mechanical components, sub-assemblies, and modules in 3D CAD and 2D drawings, owning your work from concept through release
- Build prototypes, conduct hands-on testing, and iterate rapidly to evaluate performance and drive design decisions
- Integrate electrical components and electromechanical assemblies into high-performance product architectures
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners (including Electrical Engineering, Industrial Design, Manufacturing Design, and Operations) to define and execute on critical integration requirements
- Perform engineering analyses including tolerance stack-ups, structural analysis, and failure analysis to ensure designs meet all requirements throughout the product lifecycle
- Partner with external vendors and internal manufacturing teams to optimize designs for function, cosmetics, and high-volume manufacturability (DFM/DFA)
- Support factory builds and on-site development activities, including periodic international travel
- Contribute to design reviews, drawing releases, and design documentation
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a comparable field; or two or more years of equivalent, directly-related mechanical engineering work experience
Strong mechanical engineering analytical skills, experience selecting materials and manufacturing processes based on engineering requirements
Proficiency in 3D CAD (any major package) and 2D engineering drawing creation
Working knowledge of GD&T and tolerance analysis
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical concepts clearly to multi-disciplinary teams
Collaborative, detail-oriented, and driven to deliver with a high standard of quality
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
Experience in consumer electronics product design or development
Experience with electromechanical systems, including sensor integration, mechanisms, or actuator-based assemblies
Hands-on prototyping experience (e.g. using 3D printers, CNC mills, lathes, or other fabrication methods)
High-volume mass production experience (DFM/DFA)
Familiarity with FEA tools for structural or dynamic analysis
Experience collaborating with overseas manufacturing partners
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $147,400 and $272,100, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
See all 1,231+ STEM OPT Design Engineer Jobs
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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.