STEM OPT Technical Lead Jobs
Technical Lead roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. With up to 36 months of total OPT work authorization, you have real runway to build team leadership experience while pursuing long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Job Description
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Lead and manage a team of onsite Industrial Engineers supporting 4-5 manufacturing facilities in the Appleton, WI area, ensuring successful execution of time studies, work measurement, line balancing, productivity improvement, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
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Serve as the primary liaison between Customer, Onsite, and Offshore teams, driving project governance, resource planning, risk management, stakeholder communication, and executive reporting. Oversee delivery quality, schedule adherence, value realization, and implementation of process optimization recommendations across multiple plants.
-
Support ongoing manufacturing transformation programs, including assembly line consolidation and high-flow line implementation, identifying opportunities for labor optimization, automation, robotics, material flow improvements, and digital manufacturing solutions.
-
Actively collaborate with customer leadership, operations, engineering, and sales teams to expand the engagement footprint, develop new business opportunities, and drive sustainable operational and financial benefits.
-
Coordinate effectively with cross-functional and offshore teams to ensure execution excellence.
-
Experience in performing Video based time studies and work breakdown activities.
-
Perform Line Balancing Studies using Yamazumi charts.
-
Identify process improvement and support in productivity improvement initiative.
-
Should have experience in high volume and high mix production environment.
-
Experience in multi model line balancing and level loading.
-
Knowledge on Lean manufacturing, Total quality management, Kaizen, 5s, Material tracking - Kanban, Poke - Yoke etc.
-
Drive, Identify and Implement the key projects to improve quality, reduce cost, increase productivity, and improve cycle time.
-
Develop SOPs, work instructions, and standardized operating methods to improve process consistency and performance.
-
Identify opportunities to reduce labor, route optimization, warehouse and inventory optimization.
-
Streamlining Operations for Increased Productivity & Cost Reduction through Automation.
-
Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the manufacturing teams. Develop and implement improvement plans, set KPIs, and track progress to ensure sustainable changes.
-
Data Analysis: Leverage data analytics tools to collect, analyze, and present data related to engineering processes. Create dashboards and reports that provide insights for decision-making.
-
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with different teams.
-
Risk Management: Identify potential risks and roadblocks in improvement projects and proactively develop mitigation strategies.
-
Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including senior management, to ensure alignment of objectives and support for improvement initiatives.
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, Kanban, Poka-Yoke, and Total Quality Management (TQM).
- Strong stakeholder management, communication, conflict resolution, and change management skills.
- Proven ability to lead global teams and deliver measurable business outcomes.
- Program Governance, Multi-project Delivery Management, Risk & Issue Management, KPI / Metrics Driven Delivery, Customer Escalation Management, Onsite-Offshore Delivery Model, Lean Transformation, Stakeholder Management.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering / industrial engineering background
INTRODUCTION
Job Description
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Lead and manage a team of onsite Industrial Engineers supporting 4-5 manufacturing facilities in the Appleton, WI area, ensuring successful execution of time studies, work measurement, line balancing, productivity improvement, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
-
Serve as the primary liaison between Customer, Onsite, and Offshore teams, driving project governance, resource planning, risk management, stakeholder communication, and executive reporting. Oversee delivery quality, schedule adherence, value realization, and implementation of process optimization recommendations across multiple plants.
-
Support ongoing manufacturing transformation programs, including assembly line consolidation and high-flow line implementation, identifying opportunities for labor optimization, automation, robotics, material flow improvements, and digital manufacturing solutions.
-
Actively collaborate with customer leadership, operations, engineering, and sales teams to expand the engagement footprint, develop new business opportunities, and drive sustainable operational and financial benefits.
-
Coordinate effectively with cross-functional and offshore teams to ensure execution excellence.
-
Experience in performing Video based time studies and work breakdown activities.
-
Perform Line Balancing Studies using Yamazumi charts.
-
Identify process improvement and support in productivity improvement initiative.
-
Should have experience in high volume and high mix production environment.
-
Experience in multi model line balancing and level loading.
-
Knowledge on Lean manufacturing, Total quality management, Kaizen, 5s, Material tracking - Kanban, Poke - Yoke etc.
-
Drive, Identify and Implement the key projects to improve quality, reduce cost, increase productivity, and improve cycle time.
-
Develop SOPs, work instructions, and standardized operating methods to improve process consistency and performance.
-
Identify opportunities to reduce labor, route optimization, warehouse and inventory optimization.
-
Streamlining Operations for Increased Productivity & Cost Reduction through Automation.
-
Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the manufacturing teams. Develop and implement improvement plans, set KPIs, and track progress to ensure sustainable changes.
-
Data Analysis: Leverage data analytics tools to collect, analyze, and present data related to engineering processes. Create dashboards and reports that provide insights for decision-making.
-
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with different teams.
-
Risk Management: Identify potential risks and roadblocks in improvement projects and proactively develop mitigation strategies.
-
Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including senior management, to ensure alignment of objectives and support for improvement initiatives.
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, Kanban, Poka-Yoke, and Total Quality Management (TQM).
- Strong stakeholder management, communication, conflict resolution, and change management skills.
- Proven ability to lead global teams and deliver measurable business outcomes.
- Program Governance, Multi-project Delivery Management, Risk & Issue Management, KPI / Metrics Driven Delivery, Customer Escalation Management, Onsite-Offshore Delivery Model, Lean Transformation, Stakeholder Management.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering / industrial engineering background
See all 915+ STEM OPT Technical Lead Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Technical Lead
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's CIP code from your DSO and cross-reference it against the official STEM OPT CIP code list maintained by ICE. Computer science, electrical engineering, and information systems degrees are commonly approved, but adjacent fields like MIS or applied math can vary by institution.
Filter job listings by E-Verify status
Before submitting any application, confirm the employer is actively enrolled in E-Verify using the E-Verify employer search. A Technical Lead offer from a non-enrolled employer cannot support your STEM OPT extension, regardless of how strong the offer looks.
Target companies with existing H-1B filing history
Use Migrate Mate to search Technical Lead roles filtered by employers with documented visa sponsorship activity. DOL Labor Condition Application data shows which companies have filed for similar roles, so you're targeting employers already familiar with the process.
Build your I-983 training plan around leadership competencies
USCIS requires a completed I-983 training plan before your STEM OPT extension is authorized. For Technical Lead roles, map your learning objectives to specific engineering or systems competencies, not just management tasks, to satisfy the practical training requirement for a STEM-designated position.
Negotiate offer timing around your OPT expiration
If your initial 12-month OPT expires while an H-1B visa petition is pending, cap-gap protection extends your authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. Structure your start date and onboarding timeline so you're not caught between your OPT end date and a pending STEM extension approval.
Check prevailing wage requirements for your level
Technical Lead positions span multiple DOL wage levels depending on supervisory scope and years of experience. Run your target job title and metro area through the OFLC Wage Search to understand where your offer should land before you enter salary negotiations with a sponsoring employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Technical Lead role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field with an eligible CIP code and the role directly applies that training. Technical Lead positions in software engineering, systems architecture, or data infrastructure typically satisfy the practical training requirement. Your DSO confirms eligibility based on your specific degree and the employer's I-983 training plan, not just the job title.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my STEM OPT employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension can be authorized. This applies to every employer in the chain, including the direct hiring entity, not a staffing intermediary. You can confirm enrollment through E-Verify's employer search tool. If the employer isn't enrolled, your DSO cannot approve the I-983 and the extension cannot proceed.
How do I complete the I-983 training plan for a Technical Lead position?
The I-983 requires you and your employer to define specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. For Technical Lead roles, this means documenting engineering skill development, not just team management responsibilities. Both you and a company supervisor sign the form before your DSO submits the STEM OPT application. USCIS can audit I-983 compliance, so the training objectives need to reflect your actual day-to-day technical work.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my employer loses E-Verify enrollment?
If your employer's E-Verify enrollment lapses after your STEM OPT extension is approved, you must report the change to your DSO within five days and begin finding a new qualifying employer. Your existing extension authorization doesn't automatically terminate, but you cannot continue working for an employer who is no longer enrolled. USCIS treats continued employment under those conditions as a violation of your status.
Where can I find Technical Lead jobs at employers already set up for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate filters Technical Lead listings by employers with active E-Verify enrollment and documented visa sponsorship history, so you're not spending time on companies that can't support your extension. Searching there lets you focus on roles where the employer already understands the I-983 process and has filed Labor Condition Applications for similar positions before.