STEM OPT Production Engineer Jobs
Production Engineer roles in manufacturing, process optimization, and industrial systems qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Summary
Who We Are
North American Lighting Inc., member of the Koito Group of Companies, is the largest tier one automotive exterior lighting manufacturer in North America. As the market share leader in exterior automotive lighting, NAL provides advanced lighting technology, engineering design expertise, and state-of-the-art production capabilities to auto makers based in North America and around the world.
Our Opportunity
North American Lighting (NAL) is looking for a Production Engineer - I to join our team. The ideal candidate will plan, design, and implement production processes, ensure new product designs can be manufactured, and maintain the molding processes in production.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Your Priorities
- Provides day-to-day technical support for the molding process in the plant.
- Supports new launch development activities for assigned departments.
- Addresses internal and external customer complaints, conducts investigations, develops root cause analysis, determines countermeasures, and documents — using NAL problem solving methods.
- Supports mold trials prior to molds arriving at NAL including interface with Tool Engineering and outside tool shops, including domestic and international travel to outside tool shops.
- Leads and/or participates in continuous improvement activities targeted to facilitate improvements in quality, productivity, and safety; and reductions in scrap and machine downtime.
- Develops and updates/improves check sheets for all production equipment for preventative maintenance and machine condition.
The salary range for this position is $56,800 - $76,200 per year. Final compensation will be determined by location, skills, experience, qualifications, and the career level at which the position is filled.
Requirements
Your Background
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline, plus 0 - 2 years of related manufacturing experience OR
- Associate’s Degree, plus 2 – 4 years of related manufacturing experience.
Experience in multi-color molding and robotics for an automotive manufacturer is preferred.
At North American Lighting
Team Member Benefits
- World class health insurance plans
- Award winning 401k plan
- Relocation assistance
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, holidays, etc)
- Supplier discounts (wireless, computer, vehicle, etc.)
- Company sponsored wellness program including gym reimbursement
Diversity at NAL:
The mission of NAL’s Diversity Committee is to facilitate NAL’s ongoing and continuing efforts to foster a culture and atmosphere of mutual respect, for the benefit of all Team Members from different backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities that represent our communities.
You can learn more about NAL and our opportunities at jobs.nal.com.
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, and veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Requisition ID: 21964
LOCATION: Paris Plant
Job Summary
Who We Are
North American Lighting Inc., member of the Koito Group of Companies, is the largest tier one automotive exterior lighting manufacturer in North America. As the market share leader in exterior automotive lighting, NAL provides advanced lighting technology, engineering design expertise, and state-of-the-art production capabilities to auto makers based in North America and around the world.
Our Opportunity
North American Lighting (NAL) is looking for a Production Engineer - I to join our team. The ideal candidate will plan, design, and implement production processes, ensure new product designs can be manufactured, and maintain the molding processes in production.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Your Priorities
- Provides day-to-day technical support for the molding process in the plant.
- Supports new launch development activities for assigned departments.
- Addresses internal and external customer complaints, conducts investigations, develops root cause analysis, determines countermeasures, and documents — using NAL problem solving methods.
- Supports mold trials prior to molds arriving at NAL including interface with Tool Engineering and outside tool shops, including domestic and international travel to outside tool shops.
- Leads and/or participates in continuous improvement activities targeted to facilitate improvements in quality, productivity, and safety; and reductions in scrap and machine downtime.
- Develops and updates/improves check sheets for all production equipment for preventative maintenance and machine condition.
The salary range for this position is $56,800 - $76,200 per year. Final compensation will be determined by location, skills, experience, qualifications, and the career level at which the position is filled.
Requirements
Your Background
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline, plus 0 - 2 years of related manufacturing experience OR
- Associate’s Degree, plus 2 – 4 years of related manufacturing experience.
Experience in multi-color molding and robotics for an automotive manufacturer is preferred.
At North American Lighting
Team Member Benefits
- World class health insurance plans
- Award winning 401k plan
- Relocation assistance
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, holidays, etc)
- Supplier discounts (wireless, computer, vehicle, etc.)
- Company sponsored wellness program including gym reimbursement
Diversity at NAL:
The mission of NAL’s Diversity Committee is to facilitate NAL’s ongoing and continuing efforts to foster a culture and atmosphere of mutual respect, for the benefit of all Team Members from different backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities that represent our communities.
You can learn more about NAL and our opportunities at jobs.nal.com.
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, and veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Requisition ID: 21964
LOCATION: Paris Plant
See all 146+ STEM OPT Production Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Production Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Production Engineering roles typically map to CIP codes in engineering or manufacturing fields, but your specific degree title determines eligibility. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before accepting any offer to avoid surprises at the extension filing stage.
Check E-Verify status before interviews
Ask your recruiter whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before your first interview, not after an offer. Employers who aren't enrolled cannot legally employ STEM OPT students, and most manufacturing operations large enough to hire production engineers already have it.
Use Migrate Mate to target verified employers
Filter your Production Engineer job search by employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT hiring history. Migrate Mate surfaces this data so you spend time on companies that can actually hire you, not ones that will stall at HR compliance.
Build your I-983 training plan around measurable outcomes
Production Engineer roles require a signed I-983 that ties your daily responsibilities to your STEM degree's learning objectives. Draft specific metrics, such as yield improvement targets or cycle time reductions, so the plan satisfies SEVP requirements and holds up to a compliance audit.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark offers
Before negotiating, look up the prevailing wage for Production Engineer in your metro area using the OFLC Wage Search. STEM OPT doesn't mandate prevailing wage the way H-1B visa does, but an offer below Level I signals that a future H-1B filing may face wage compliance problems.
Time your extension filing against your OPT end date
USCIS requires you to file the STEM OPT extension at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. Production Engineer hiring cycles at manufacturers often run 60 to 90 days, so start your search early enough to have an offer and a signed I-983 well before that window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Production Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Production Engineer positions qualify if your degree was conferred in an eligible STEM field mapped to an approved CIP code, such as industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or manufacturing engineering. The job itself doesn't have to use the word 'engineer' in the title, but the role's core duties must be directly related to your degree field. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying.
Does my Production Engineer employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for any employer hiring a STEM OPT student. If your employer is not enrolled, you cannot work there on the STEM OPT extension, regardless of the role or your qualifications. Ask HR to confirm E-Verify enrollment before signing an offer letter. You can verify enrollment status directly through the E-Verify employer search.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Production Engineer position?
Your I-983 must document how the Production Engineer role provides practical training related to your STEM degree. Include specific learning objectives tied to your job duties, such as optimizing manufacturing processes, reducing defect rates, or implementing quality control systems. Both you and your supervisor must sign it, and it must be in place before your STEM OPT extension is approved. USCIS may audit training plans, so vague descriptions won't hold up.
What happens to my work authorization if my H-1B is selected in the lottery but my STEM OPT expires before October 1?
The cap-gap rule extends your work authorization automatically if your employer files your H-1B petition before your STEM OPT expires and you are selected in the lottery. Your status and employment authorization continue until October 1, when the H-1B takes effect. You don't need to take any additional action beyond maintaining your OPT status and ensuring your employer files on time.
How do I find Production Engineer jobs where employers are set up to hire STEM OPT students?
Search Migrate Mate for Production Engineer roles filtered by employers with E-Verify enrollment and a track record of hiring international students. Many manufacturing and industrial employers have E-Verify but don't advertise it in job postings, so filtering by verified enrollment saves time. You can also reference O*NET for the standard occupational profile to confirm your role aligns with the STEM OPT extension requirements.