STEM OPT Manufacturing Process Engineer Jobs
Manufacturing Process Engineer roles qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension if your degree is in engineering, manufacturing engineering technology, or a related CIP-coded STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to hire you on STEM OPT, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan in place before your extension begins.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
- Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
- Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
- An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution.
- Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
- A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
- A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This position works out of our Temecula, CA location in the Abbott Vascular Devices division.
Abbott Vascular provides innovative, minimally invasive, and cost-effective products for the treatment of vascular disease.
Experienced Manufacturing Process Engineer that works under limited supervision.
Applies subject matter knowledge in the area of Medical Device and Manufacturing Engineering.
Requires capacity to apply skills/knowledge within the context of specific needs or requirements.
What You'll Work On
- Possesses well developed skills in implementing and maintaining pharmaceutical/biological processes.
- Calculates and organizes all data for complex process flow sheets including instrumentation and control considerations.
- Models processes and units operations.
- Ensures proper sequence of operation and prepares specifications and operating instructions for processing equipment.
- Conducts tests and measurements throughout stages of production to determine control over such variables as temperature, density, pressure and viscosity.
- Services, troubleshoots, and solves engineering problems with processes or equipment already in operation.
- Ensures processes and procedures are in compliance with regulations.
- May be responsible for corrective and preventive actions and investigation management.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelors Degree (± 16 years) in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Polymer Sciences/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Science.
Experience/Background
Minimum 3 years
Bachelor's Degree 3-5 years of Process Engineering or Operations experience OR a Master's Degree + 3 years of Process Engineering or Operations experience.
- Process/equipment development and optimization experience in small drug molecules and polymers based drug delivery systems.
- Knowledge of late stage or commercial products experience with strong focus on manufacturing support.
- Experience with Six Sigma, risk analysis methodologies, process characterization, process validation and process monitoring, scale-up, and/or technology transfer experience, PFMECA, DFMECA.
- Strong knowledge of Quality systems, drug product manufacturing and process validation. Work history with cGMPs, regulatory filings and compliance issues for drug product and combination devices.
- Excellent organizational, leadership, teamwork, written and verbal communication skills together with demonstrated ability to work in a highly matrix team environment with enthusiasm and a proactive positive attitude.
COMPENSATION
The base pay for this position is $61,300.00 – $122,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
INTRODUCTION
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
- Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
- Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
- An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution.
- Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
- A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
- A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This position works out of our Temecula, CA location in the Abbott Vascular Devices division.
Abbott Vascular provides innovative, minimally invasive, and cost-effective products for the treatment of vascular disease.
Experienced Manufacturing Process Engineer that works under limited supervision.
Applies subject matter knowledge in the area of Medical Device and Manufacturing Engineering.
Requires capacity to apply skills/knowledge within the context of specific needs or requirements.
What You'll Work On
- Possesses well developed skills in implementing and maintaining pharmaceutical/biological processes.
- Calculates and organizes all data for complex process flow sheets including instrumentation and control considerations.
- Models processes and units operations.
- Ensures proper sequence of operation and prepares specifications and operating instructions for processing equipment.
- Conducts tests and measurements throughout stages of production to determine control over such variables as temperature, density, pressure and viscosity.
- Services, troubleshoots, and solves engineering problems with processes or equipment already in operation.
- Ensures processes and procedures are in compliance with regulations.
- May be responsible for corrective and preventive actions and investigation management.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelors Degree (± 16 years) in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Polymer Sciences/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Science.
Experience/Background
Minimum 3 years
Bachelor's Degree 3-5 years of Process Engineering or Operations experience OR a Master's Degree + 3 years of Process Engineering or Operations experience.
- Process/equipment development and optimization experience in small drug molecules and polymers based drug delivery systems.
- Knowledge of late stage or commercial products experience with strong focus on manufacturing support.
- Experience with Six Sigma, risk analysis methodologies, process characterization, process validation and process monitoring, scale-up, and/or technology transfer experience, PFMECA, DFMECA.
- Strong knowledge of Quality systems, drug product manufacturing and process validation. Work history with cGMPs, regulatory filings and compliance issues for drug product and combination devices.
- Excellent organizational, leadership, teamwork, written and verbal communication skills together with demonstrated ability to work in a highly matrix team environment with enthusiasm and a proactive positive attitude.
COMPENSATION
The base pay for this position is $61,300.00 – $122,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
See all 471+ STEM OPT Manufacturing Process Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Manufacturing Process Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Manufacturing Process Engineer
Verify your degree qualifies by CIP code
Check your degree's CIP code against USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List before applying. Engineering technology and industrial engineering degrees qualify, but some manufacturing-adjacent programs don't. Confirm with your DSO before targeting STEM OPT roles.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask the recruiter directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before your final interview round. Manufacturers with government contracts are often enrolled, but smaller contract manufacturers and job shops frequently are not. Verify through the E-Verify employer search tool.
Build an I-983 training plan around your specific role
Tie your I-983 learning objectives to measurable process engineering outcomes: cycle time reduction targets, defect rate benchmarks, or lean methodology milestones. Vague plans get pushed back by DSOs, and delays can gap your work authorization between OPT and STEM OPT.
Target manufacturers with active LCA filing histories
Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with verified STEM OPT hiring records in manufacturing. Companies that have filed Labor Condition Applications for engineering roles are already familiar with OFLC wage requirements and the E-Verify process, which speeds up onboarding.
Use OFLC Wage Search to anchor your salary discussions
Look up the prevailing wage for Manufacturing Process Engineer under your target location's wage level before negotiations. Your employer must pay at or above DOL's prevailing wage once you transition to H-1B visa, and knowing that floor now helps you avoid offers that won't support future sponsorship.
Plan your H-1B cap-gap timing around April registration
USCIS opens H-1B registration in March for an October 1 start date. If you're selected in the lottery and your STEM OPT expires before October 1, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization. Coordinate your offer start date and extension timeline with your DSO to avoid gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Manufacturing Process Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your underlying degree is on USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List. Engineering disciplines including mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, and systems engineering typically qualify by CIP code. Your DSO confirms eligibility before filing the STEM OPT extension, and the role itself must be directly related to your degree field, not just adjacent to it.
Does every manufacturing employer that wants to hire me on STEM OPT need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes, E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for any employer hiring a STEM OPT student. This applies to the specific legal entity signing your offer letter, not just the parent company. Contract manufacturers, staffing agencies placing you at a client site, and smaller job shops all need independent E-Verify enrollment. Verify enrollment through E-Verify's employer search before signing an offer.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Manufacturing Process Engineer position?
Your I-983 must describe how the role relates to your STEM degree, outline specific learning objectives tied to process engineering work, and include your employer's supervision and evaluation plan. For manufacturing roles, strong I-983 plans reference concrete deliverables such as process improvement projects, quality system contributions, or production efficiency goals. Your DSO reviews and must sign the plan before USCIS accepts your STEM OPT application.
How does cap-gap protection work if my STEM OPT expires while my H-1B is pending?
If your employer files an H-1B petition before your STEM OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap extends your work authorization through September 30 of the relevant fiscal year, or until USCIS makes a decision on your petition, whichever comes first. You can continue working as a Manufacturing Process Engineer without interruption during that period. USCIS provides cap-gap guidance on its website, and your DSO updates your I-20 to reflect the extended status.
Where can I find Manufacturing Process Engineer jobs with employers that are already set up to hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters Manufacturing Process Engineer roles by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active hiring history for international students on OPT. That means you're looking at companies that already understand the I-983 process and DOL wage requirements, rather than spending your first weeks educating a new HR team. Start your search on Migrate Mate to focus on employers prepared to move quickly.