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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Comfort starts with our 10,000+ team members across the globe, who are transforming the power of comfort every day. Our employees have the power to change lives, in our homes, work and communities. We foster an inclusive environment while honoring a legacy built on family, where everyone can be themselves.
If you are ready to join an industry leading organization where our people are the most important asset, and innovation propels us into the future, you’re ready to take your seat at La-Z-Boy Incorporated.
WE BELIEVE IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF COMFORT
Job Summary:
This position plans, manages, and supports manufacturing engineering activities in the area of production equipment, machinery, fixtures, gauges, and tooling. This role develops documentation for acquisition and appropriation of capital equipment and seeks out, designs, develops, and integrates new methods and technology into the product/manufacturing process. This role also supports manufacturing operations and manages special projects as directed.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties as assigned):
- Coordinate fabrication and installation activities to ensure products and systems conform to engineering design and customer specifications
- Confer with management, engineering, and other staff regarding manufacturing capabilities, production schedules, and other considerations to facilitate production processes as well as assisting in establishing the manufacturing capital budgets and equipment expenditures
- Develop models of alternate processing methods to test feasibility of new applications, systems and processes. Design & recommend implementation of improved procedures.
- Coordinate the design and specification of gauges, fixtures, tooling, material handling and material conveyance in support of on-going manufacturing operations
- Investigate and recommend new manufacturing methods, machinery and equipment to increase productivity, reduce waste and reduce cost in support of the company-wide standardization for processes, equipment, and management systems
- Oversee the design of products and systems to interface machines, hardware, and software and provide support to R&D in the development of new or changed products and research and analyze data such as design proposals, specifications, and manuals to determine feasibility of design or application
- Apply statistical methods to estimate manufacturing process capabilities and analyze proposals to determine if benefits derived and possible applications justify expenditures
- Develop specifications for all material handling equipment. Ensure facility and equipment are maintained as safe and productive at all times.
- Work with machinery and equipment suppliers concerning specifications, quotes, terms, delivery and installation. Negotiates long term relationship agreements and LZB specific technology protection.
- Evaluate field installations and recommends design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions and improve productivity
- Maintain and updates CAD documentation for equipment and plant layouts
- Provide assistance in the preparation of capital projects as well as R&A review and recommendation
- Recommend sourcing locations for both technology and discrete product placement
- Participates in meetings, seminars, vendor trips and training sessions to stay apprised of new developments in the field
SCOPE & IMPACT:
This Position must plan, design, arrange, change, and optimize the manufacturing process. With a thorough knowledge of the manufacturing concepts and the ability to grasp new technology quickly this position has a high impact on reducing downtime, improving efficiencies, and reducing cost within the manufacturing processes. The results derived by this position may have a direct impact to financial performance, typically responsible for 1-2M annual cost reduction projects for the Dayton campus.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field with 2-4 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, or equivalent
- Experience with AutoCAD
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) and Visio
- Excellent analytical/problem solving skills
- Strong technical writing skills
- Knowledge of NPV and ROI in regards to capital acquisition and appropriation
- Experience & knowledge in defining & documenting processes including process flow, PFMEA, control plans, and work instructions
- Experience and knowledge of statistical process control
- Knowledge and experience in lean manufacturing
- Experience & knowledge in reading part, gauge, and machine drawings
- Familiar with product/process improvement tools such as VSM, DFM and DFA
- Knowledgeable in capital appropriation implementation and management
- Ability to travel up to 25%
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to motivate, develop people, communicate, listen, perceive, and be open-minded and able to learn from others.
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt experience
- Change Management
- Organization / time management
- Apply statistical methods to estimate future manufacturing requirements and potential.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Will lead a cross functional project team on a project-by-project need.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. Frequently required to stand; sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel or crouch. Regularly required to walk and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and representative of that in a workshop environment.
OTHER DUTIES: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the incumbent for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Weekly Hours: 40
Benefits for Employees in the US:
Benefit offerings to employees and their families include: Medical, Vision, Dental and Basic Life Insurance, available 401k retirement plan with company match of up to 6%. Paid time off includes: 9-11 paid holidays each year, two weeks’ prorated vacation as a new hire and either personal time (non-exempt only) or state mandated sick time.
If this role requires travel / driving in order to perform the key responsibilities outlined above, candidates must be able to meet the qualifications noted in the company’s Driver Management Program to be considered for the role.
At La-Z-Boy Incorporated, we're an equal opportunity employer. We understand that our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and viewpoints add value to our ability to create and deliver the best possible service, quality products, and is of utmost importance as we work together to build comfort. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
We are committed to fostering an environment in which all employees feel valued, included, and empowered to do their best work and bring great ideas to the table. If you are a qualified individual that may need a change or adjustment to the application/interviewing/hiring process as a result of your disability, you may request a reasonable accommodations by emailing our recruiting team at recruiting@la-z-boy.com or by calling 734-242-1444.
See all 55+ STEM OPT Manufacturing Process Engineer Jobs
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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.