STEM OPT Product Development Engineer Jobs
Product Development Engineer roles in hardware, software, and manufacturing systems qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of F-1 work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree in engineering, computer science, or a related STEM field must map to an approved CIP code.
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Get Access To All JobsAre you a kid at heart looking to build a career with a leading global children's toy, entertainment and digital gaming company?
At Spin Master, our unwavering commitment to open mindedness, integrity and innovation is a great part of what has made us an industry leader. How do we stay ahead of the pack? By hiring the best and brightest minds—and that’s why we want you!
Job Description:
What will you work on?
The Lead Product Development Engineer (Lead PDE) will be responsible for driving the technical execution of global toys, from concept through production, and ensuring performance, cost, quality, and schedule adherence. The position will provide expertise in proven techniques for successful product development and design for manufacturing/assembly. The Lead PDE will work closely with large cross-functional teams (Design, Marketing, Engineering, Quality, Packaging, etc.) to manage development throughout the entire product lifecycle.
How will you create impact?
- Collaborate with GBU (Design and Brand teams) on generating new concepts and provide technical and cost assessment.
- Ability to create and impart best practices to effectively support high complexity items, strategic initiatives, and early concept explorations.
- Identify issues, formulate resolution action plan, and execute through to completion with limited oversight– leverage executive leadership and functional partners to gain necessary resources and support.
- Lead strategic initiatives around operational innovation, efficiencies, or other improvements to significantly impact product development and/or processes.
- Explore new materials, technology, and manufacturing processes to continuously push Spin Master to the forefront of product development.
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure milestones and integration are on-time.
- Provide mechanical, material, electro-mechanical, and/or mechatronic engineering expertise throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Lead prototyping and proof-of-concept builds to de-risk and test new mechanisms, key features, and/or gameplay feasibility.
- Detail design of components and products for manufacturing, optimizing DMF/A.
- Create product and performance specifications.
- Be key point of contact with Manufacturing Engineering teams (in Asia, Mexico, EU, etc), and ensure alignment on all project details.
- Lead product review meetings and create action plan for technical deliverables.
- Drive productivity by implementing design for manufacturing/assembly up front.
- Use PLM software to manage and track key deliverables; proactively resolve potential issues to keep the product on track, on cost, and on specification.
- Ability to travel internationally to support projects.
What are your skills and experience?
- Experience working with and/or managing creative professionals (designers and engineers) both within and outside the company.
- Ability to mentor junior engineers, develop talent, and model professionalism.
- Strong Knowledge of Solid Works, injection molding tooling and manufacturing processes.
- BS/MS in Mechanical preferred.
- Experience with plastics, materials, manufacturing, and/or engineering costs for durable goods.
- Toy or CPG experience an asset.
LI-Hybrid #LI-HM1
The anticipated pay range for candidates who will work in Los Angeles is $110,000 to $115,000 Per Annum. The offered pay to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc. Spin Master Inc. is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work only in other states.
This job posting is tied to an open vacancy.
What you can expect from us:
Our mission is to Make Life More Fun with a vision to push the boundaries of innovation, creativity, and fun.
- Growth and Career Opportunities
- Flexible Work Hours
- Innovation, Collaboration and Fun
- Comprehensive Benefits
- Other fun Perks!
What’s it like to work here?
Spin Master is a fast-paced, hands-on organization that provides many great opportunities for impactful decision-making; though our challenging start-up atmosphere isn’t for everyone, we have a proven record of opportunities for future advancement and internal transfers for our passionate and results driven team.
Everyone is welcome in our sandbox and we are committed to an accessible and inclusive hiring process that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants.
Spin Master strives to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes. Should you require an accommodation, please contact our Talent Acquisition team, by email at TAinquiries@spinmaster.com or by phone at 416 364-6002 and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @SpinMaster to stay up to date on Spin Master career opportunities.
We do appreciate all interest; however only those selected for interview will be contacted.
Are you a kid at heart looking to build a career with a leading global children's toy, entertainment and digital gaming company?
At Spin Master, our unwavering commitment to open mindedness, integrity and innovation is a great part of what has made us an industry leader. How do we stay ahead of the pack? By hiring the best and brightest minds—and that’s why we want you!
Job Description:
What will you work on?
The Lead Product Development Engineer (Lead PDE) will be responsible for driving the technical execution of global toys, from concept through production, and ensuring performance, cost, quality, and schedule adherence. The position will provide expertise in proven techniques for successful product development and design for manufacturing/assembly. The Lead PDE will work closely with large cross-functional teams (Design, Marketing, Engineering, Quality, Packaging, etc.) to manage development throughout the entire product lifecycle.
How will you create impact?
- Collaborate with GBU (Design and Brand teams) on generating new concepts and provide technical and cost assessment.
- Ability to create and impart best practices to effectively support high complexity items, strategic initiatives, and early concept explorations.
- Identify issues, formulate resolution action plan, and execute through to completion with limited oversight– leverage executive leadership and functional partners to gain necessary resources and support.
- Lead strategic initiatives around operational innovation, efficiencies, or other improvements to significantly impact product development and/or processes.
- Explore new materials, technology, and manufacturing processes to continuously push Spin Master to the forefront of product development.
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure milestones and integration are on-time.
- Provide mechanical, material, electro-mechanical, and/or mechatronic engineering expertise throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Lead prototyping and proof-of-concept builds to de-risk and test new mechanisms, key features, and/or gameplay feasibility.
- Detail design of components and products for manufacturing, optimizing DMF/A.
- Create product and performance specifications.
- Be key point of contact with Manufacturing Engineering teams (in Asia, Mexico, EU, etc), and ensure alignment on all project details.
- Lead product review meetings and create action plan for technical deliverables.
- Drive productivity by implementing design for manufacturing/assembly up front.
- Use PLM software to manage and track key deliverables; proactively resolve potential issues to keep the product on track, on cost, and on specification.
- Ability to travel internationally to support projects.
What are your skills and experience?
- Experience working with and/or managing creative professionals (designers and engineers) both within and outside the company.
- Ability to mentor junior engineers, develop talent, and model professionalism.
- Strong Knowledge of Solid Works, injection molding tooling and manufacturing processes.
- BS/MS in Mechanical preferred.
- Experience with plastics, materials, manufacturing, and/or engineering costs for durable goods.
- Toy or CPG experience an asset.
LI-Hybrid #LI-HM1
The anticipated pay range for candidates who will work in Los Angeles is $110,000 to $115,000 Per Annum. The offered pay to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc. Spin Master Inc. is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work only in other states.
This job posting is tied to an open vacancy.
What you can expect from us:
Our mission is to Make Life More Fun with a vision to push the boundaries of innovation, creativity, and fun.
- Growth and Career Opportunities
- Flexible Work Hours
- Innovation, Collaboration and Fun
- Comprehensive Benefits
- Other fun Perks!
What’s it like to work here?
Spin Master is a fast-paced, hands-on organization that provides many great opportunities for impactful decision-making; though our challenging start-up atmosphere isn’t for everyone, we have a proven record of opportunities for future advancement and internal transfers for our passionate and results driven team.
Everyone is welcome in our sandbox and we are committed to an accessible and inclusive hiring process that provides reasonable accommodation to all applicants.
Spin Master strives to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes. Should you require an accommodation, please contact our Talent Acquisition team, by email at TAinquiries@spinmaster.com or by phone at 416 364-6002 and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @SpinMaster to stay up to date on Spin Master career opportunities.
We do appreciate all interest; however only those selected for interview will be contacted.
See all 260+ STEM OPT Product Development Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Product Development Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Product Development Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull up your degree on the USCIS STEM OPT designated degree list and confirm your CIP code maps to an approved field. Product development roles often require engineering or materials science degrees, so a mismatch can disqualify your extension before you file.
Filter job postings by E-Verify enrollment
Search E-Verify's employer search tool to confirm a company is actively enrolled before investing time in their application process. Product development teams at hardware startups frequently skip E-Verify enrollment, making them ineligible to hire you on STEM OPT.
Target manufacturers with active DOL LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to find Product Development Engineer employers with Labor Condition Application filing history, which signals they've sponsored work authorization before and understand the compliance requirements your STEM OPT training plan demands.
Draft your I-983 training plan around project milestones
Your I-983 must connect your engineering coursework to specific product development tasks, like design verification or prototype iteration. Tie each learning objective to a measurable deliverable so your DSO and employer can sign off without revision delays.
Ask recruiters about E-Verify status in the first call
Raise E-Verify enrollment in your initial recruiter screen, not after an offer. Product development hiring moves fast, and discovering a company isn't enrolled after clearing technical rounds wastes weeks you can't recover during your OPT window.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark offers against prevailing wage
Run your job title and location through OFLC Wage Search before negotiating. Your STEM OPT training plan must document that your compensation meets DOL wage standards for the role, so knowing the prevailing wage level protects you during offer review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Product Development Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your degree maps to an approved CIP code on the USCIS STEM OPT designated degree list. Engineering and materials science degrees covering product development work typically qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility when you apply for the extension through your school before your initial OPT expires.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Product Development Engineer?
Your I-983 must describe how your day-to-day engineering work connects to your STEM degree, name a direct supervisor who will mentor you, and list measurable learning objectives tied to product development tasks like design validation, prototyping, or cross-functional project ownership. USCIS requires both you and your employer to sign it, and your DSO reviews it before certifying the extension.
How do I confirm my Product Development Engineer employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name or EIN before accepting an offer. Many product development teams at early-stage hardware companies haven't enrolled, which legally bars them from hiring STEM OPT students regardless of intent. Confirming enrollment early prevents offer rescissions after you've already left another position.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my employer's H-1B petition is filed during my extension?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. USCIS issues this extension automatically, but you should confirm your I-20 reflects the cap-gap period before continuing to work past your OPT end date.
Where can I find Product Development Engineer jobs where employers already understand STEM OPT requirements?
Migrate Mate filters Product Development Engineer listings by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and DOL filing history, so you're not wasting applications on companies that have never sponsored work authorization. Searching there lets you prioritize roles where the hiring team already knows what an I-983 is and what signing it requires.