STEM OPT Manufacturing Engineer Jobs
Manufacturing Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in engineering or a related STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan outlining how the role develops your technical skills in a structured learning environment.
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Sr Manufacturing Engineer 1st shift Monday- Friday 7: 00 AM-4:00 PM
At Milwaukee Tool we firmly believe that our People and our Culture are the secrets to our success.
We are an inclusive workplace that encourages diversity of thought, experience, and background to solve complex problems as one team. Every employee is encouraged to continuously improve and grow, and it is a top priority for managers to develop their teams, making a wide range of internal development opportunities available to all employees.
We are One Team, overcoming obstacles together and celebrating together. Come be part of a winning team that feels like family.
Your Role on Our Team:
The Senior Manufacturing Engineer serves as a technical and operational leader responsible for setting direction and driving the development and deployment of production build requirements, pallet display designs, operating instructions, and prototype builds for special-execution programs within Kitting and Manufacturing. This role leads the organization toward a culture of waste elimination by identifying opportunities, establishing improvement priorities, and mobilizing cross-functional teams to achieve an optimal future state, enhance the customer experience, reduce cost, and streamline operations. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer independently leads multiple moderate-to-highly complex and under-defined initiatives, makes sound technical and business decisions with minimal oversight, and remains accountable for sustainable results.
This position is a key leadership role within a cross-functional team operating in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will provide big-picture vision, translate business needs into clear technical priorities, and lead problem solving, process improvement, and change-management efforts across operations, IT, supply planning, marketing, finance, and sales. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer is expected to build alignment, coach and develop engineering and operational partners, challenge existing practices constructively, and influence teams across departments and locations to make decisions and deliver results with minimal direction. Unlike an Engineer II, who typically executes defined work within an established scope, this role defines the path forward for ambiguous assignments, establishes standards, anticipates and mitigates risk, and is accountable for broader team and business outcomes.
Sr. Manufacturing Engineer
Job Duties
- Serve as a technical and operational leader for the manufacturing engineering function. Set direction, demonstrate ownership, lead through influence, mentor and coach less-experienced engineers, align cross-functional stakeholders, and drive decisions through implementation with minimal oversight.
- Independently defines the path forward for complex or ambiguous work, anticipates business and operational risks, establishes technical standards, delegates and coordinates work as appropriate, and is accountable for team-level outcomes.
- Work cross-functionally with channel, packaging engineering, customer supply chain, Ops Supply chain, and operations teams to ensure the design of pallet display meets customer requirements, distribution dimension requirements and Operations capabilities. The individual will leverage Tops Load Max Pro software to display the displays.
- Lead projects by working with cross functional resources to develop and implement new manufacturing processes and automated solutions.
- Manage the Oracle item structure (Bill of materials) set up and all changes in the Oracle system. Additionally coordinating with supply planning teams for changes with transition builds.
- Execute all the training & prototype builds with operations leads and sign off process.
- Create design and update operational method sheets (OMS) and related documentation and ensure they are current, accurate, and understood by the team.
- Manage the creation of Oracle work definition which includes defining the operations, resource, rates and integration with the item structure into the operations.
- Drive improvements projects with Operations team to reduce cycle time in the manufacturing process contributing to the operational excellence. Implement all the rate improvements into the Oracle work definition.
- Support production operations through troubleshooting problems.
- Conduct statistical process control to define problems and present quick, applicable solutions to key stakeholders to implement change. Analyze information and data to determine a business case for manufacturing operations.
- Collaborate with integrators to develop solutions for manufacturing processes.
- Complete assigned operations projects within budgetary and scheduling guidelines.
- Track project schedule to ensure adherence to timelines.
- Consistently visualize entire scope of a project with minimal guidance.
- Identify project risks and implement risk reduction plans.
- Participate in Kaizen and project engineering activities within the facility.
Basic Qualifications
Master’s or equivalent degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering field, and 2 years of relevant manufacturing processes experience as an Engineer or related; OR Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering field, and 5 years of relevant manufacturing processes experience as an Engineer or related.
Experience must include:
- Understanding of ERP
- Previous facilitator/coaching exposure/project participation where problem solving, process development and/or behavior change methods and tools have been used
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent project teams with time constraints
- Must have oral and written communications skills for presentations to all levels management
- Visio or similar application for process flow documentation
Preferred Qualifications
- Tops Load Max Pro
- Lean Six Sigma Training
- Proficiency in project management tools or project management certification
- Oracle software
- Computer aided design (Unigraphics, SolidWorks, NX, or AutoCad).
- Managing multiple continuous improvement projects in a manufacturing setting.
- Lean principles (Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen).
- Data Analysis (Minitab, Pareto, Control charts, Microsoft Project, PowerBI, PowerPivot, or VBA).
Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.
Job Description:
Sr Manufacturing Engineer 1st shift Monday- Friday 7: 00 AM-4:00 PM
At Milwaukee Tool we firmly believe that our People and our Culture are the secrets to our success.
We are an inclusive workplace that encourages diversity of thought, experience, and background to solve complex problems as one team. Every employee is encouraged to continuously improve and grow, and it is a top priority for managers to develop their teams, making a wide range of internal development opportunities available to all employees.
We are One Team, overcoming obstacles together and celebrating together. Come be part of a winning team that feels like family.
Your Role on Our Team:
The Senior Manufacturing Engineer serves as a technical and operational leader responsible for setting direction and driving the development and deployment of production build requirements, pallet display designs, operating instructions, and prototype builds for special-execution programs within Kitting and Manufacturing. This role leads the organization toward a culture of waste elimination by identifying opportunities, establishing improvement priorities, and mobilizing cross-functional teams to achieve an optimal future state, enhance the customer experience, reduce cost, and streamline operations. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer independently leads multiple moderate-to-highly complex and under-defined initiatives, makes sound technical and business decisions with minimal oversight, and remains accountable for sustainable results.
This position is a key leadership role within a cross-functional team operating in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will provide big-picture vision, translate business needs into clear technical priorities, and lead problem solving, process improvement, and change-management efforts across operations, IT, supply planning, marketing, finance, and sales. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer is expected to build alignment, coach and develop engineering and operational partners, challenge existing practices constructively, and influence teams across departments and locations to make decisions and deliver results with minimal direction. Unlike an Engineer II, who typically executes defined work within an established scope, this role defines the path forward for ambiguous assignments, establishes standards, anticipates and mitigates risk, and is accountable for broader team and business outcomes.
Sr. Manufacturing Engineer
Job Duties
- Serve as a technical and operational leader for the manufacturing engineering function. Set direction, demonstrate ownership, lead through influence, mentor and coach less-experienced engineers, align cross-functional stakeholders, and drive decisions through implementation with minimal oversight.
- Independently defines the path forward for complex or ambiguous work, anticipates business and operational risks, establishes technical standards, delegates and coordinates work as appropriate, and is accountable for team-level outcomes.
- Work cross-functionally with channel, packaging engineering, customer supply chain, Ops Supply chain, and operations teams to ensure the design of pallet display meets customer requirements, distribution dimension requirements and Operations capabilities. The individual will leverage Tops Load Max Pro software to display the displays.
- Lead projects by working with cross functional resources to develop and implement new manufacturing processes and automated solutions.
- Manage the Oracle item structure (Bill of materials) set up and all changes in the Oracle system. Additionally coordinating with supply planning teams for changes with transition builds.
- Execute all the training & prototype builds with operations leads and sign off process.
- Create design and update operational method sheets (OMS) and related documentation and ensure they are current, accurate, and understood by the team.
- Manage the creation of Oracle work definition which includes defining the operations, resource, rates and integration with the item structure into the operations.
- Drive improvements projects with Operations team to reduce cycle time in the manufacturing process contributing to the operational excellence. Implement all the rate improvements into the Oracle work definition.
- Support production operations through troubleshooting problems.
- Conduct statistical process control to define problems and present quick, applicable solutions to key stakeholders to implement change. Analyze information and data to determine a business case for manufacturing operations.
- Collaborate with integrators to develop solutions for manufacturing processes.
- Complete assigned operations projects within budgetary and scheduling guidelines.
- Track project schedule to ensure adherence to timelines.
- Consistently visualize entire scope of a project with minimal guidance.
- Identify project risks and implement risk reduction plans.
- Participate in Kaizen and project engineering activities within the facility.
Basic Qualifications
Master’s or equivalent degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering field, and 2 years of relevant manufacturing processes experience as an Engineer or related; OR Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering field, and 5 years of relevant manufacturing processes experience as an Engineer or related.
Experience must include:
- Understanding of ERP
- Previous facilitator/coaching exposure/project participation where problem solving, process development and/or behavior change methods and tools have been used
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent project teams with time constraints
- Must have oral and written communications skills for presentations to all levels management
- Visio or similar application for process flow documentation
Preferred Qualifications
- Tops Load Max Pro
- Lean Six Sigma Training
- Proficiency in project management tools or project management certification
- Oracle software
- Computer aided design (Unigraphics, SolidWorks, NX, or AutoCad).
- Managing multiple continuous improvement projects in a manufacturing setting.
- Lean principles (Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen).
- Data Analysis (Minitab, Pareto, Control charts, Microsoft Project, PowerBI, PowerPivot, or VBA).
Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.
See all 1,021+ STEM OPT Manufacturing Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Manufacturing Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Manufacturing Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code appears on USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List. Mechanical, industrial, and materials engineering degrees almost always qualify, but interdisciplinary programs sometimes carry unexpected codes that need DSO confirmation.
Target manufacturers already enrolled in E-Verify
Search the E-Verify employer database before reaching out to companies. Many mid-size manufacturers haven't enrolled yet and can't onboard STEM OPT students without completing E-Verify enrollment first, which adds weeks to your start date.
Build an I-983 training plan before your offer stage
Draft a template I-983 that maps manufacturing engineering tasks, process improvement projects, and quality systems work to your STEM degree competencies. Arriving with a draft speeds up employer sign-off and signals you understand the compliance requirement.
Use OFLC Wage Search to anchor salary conversations
Look up the prevailing wage for Manufacturing Engineer roles at the DOL's OFLC Wage Search by SOC code and metro area. Employers filing an LCA for future H-1B visa sponsorship must meet this floor, so knowing it helps you evaluate offers with a future visa path in mind.
Find STEM OPT-ready manufacturing roles on Migrate Mate
Search for Manufacturing Engineer positions on Migrate Mate, which filters for employers with active E-Verify enrollment and H-1B filing history in engineering roles. That filing history signals an employer already understands work authorization timelines and compliance requirements.
Understand cap-gap protection if your OPT bridges an H-1B filing
If your employer files an H-1B petition before your STEM OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap rules through USCIS automatically extend your work authorization through September 30. Confirm your employer plans to file before your EAD end date, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Manufacturing Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in an eligible STEM field such as mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, or materials engineering and carries a qualifying CIP code on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List. The role itself must also provide practical training directly related to your degree field, which you document in the I-983 training plan your employer signs.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for a Manufacturing Engineer?
The I-983 must identify specific learning objectives tied to your engineering degree, name the supervisor responsible for mentorship, and describe how manufacturing tasks, such as process design, quality control, or Lean implementation, build on your academic training. USCIS requires both you and your employer to sign it, and your DSO must receive a copy before the extension is authorized.
Does my manufacturing employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify to hire me on STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a federal requirement for all STEM OPT employers, not optional. Before accepting an offer, confirm the company is actively enrolled by checking the E-Verify employer search. If they aren't enrolled yet, they must complete enrollment before your STEM OPT start date, and the process can take one to two weeks.
How do I find Manufacturing Engineer jobs where the employer understands STEM OPT requirements?
Migrate Mate filters manufacturing engineering roles by E-Verify enrollment and employer H-1B filing history in engineering occupations. Employers who have previously sponsored H-1B petitions for engineers are generally familiar with work authorization timelines and the I-983 training plan requirement, which reduces friction during onboarding.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my employer files an H-1B petition on my behalf?
If your employer submits a timely H-1B cap-subject petition before your EAD expires and you're selected in the lottery, USCIS cap-gap rules extend your STEM OPT work authorization automatically through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working at the same employer in the same role without a gap in authorization while the petition is pending.