STEM OPT Technical Lead Manager Jobs
Technical Lead Manager roles sit at the intersection of engineering execution and people leadership, making them a strong fit for STEM OPT graduates with degrees in computer science, software engineering, or related fields. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your training plan aligns with your STEM CIP code.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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
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 917+ STEM OPT Technical Lead Manager Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Technical Lead Manager
Verify your CIP code covers this role
Pull your I-20 and confirm your STEM CIP code maps to software engineering, computer science, or a related technical field. O*NET classifies Technical Lead Manager under computer and information systems management, so mismatched codes can invalidate your extension eligibility before you even apply.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify employer ID or have HR pull the enrollment status from the E-Verify portal. An employer who can't produce that ID cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT, regardless of how willing they are to sponsor.
Frame your I-983 around engineering leadership outcomes
Generic training plans get flagged during USCIS audits. Write your I-983 learning objectives around specific technical deliverables you'll own, team size you'll manage, and measurable engineering outcomes, so the plan clearly justifies full-time employment in a STEM-qualifying role.
Target companies with active H-1B filing histories
Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers who have filed H-1B visa petitions for software engineering or management roles. These companies already have immigration infrastructure in place, which matters when your STEM OPT ends and you need a cap-gap or H-1B transition without delays.
Negotiate your start date around DSO processing time
STEM OPT extensions require DSO approval and USCIS processing before your initial OPT ends. Filing within the 90-day window before your EAD expires is required, but many applicants underestimate how long their school's DSO needs. Negotiate a start date that gives you at least six weeks of buffer.
Address cap-gap proactively in offer conversations
If your STEM OPT ends before October 1 of an H-1B approval year, cap-gap rules automatically extend your work authorization. Explain this to hiring managers early so a late-summer end date doesn't kill your offer, and point them to USCIS guidance if they're unfamiliar with the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my STEM degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension in a Technical Lead Manager role?
Your eligibility depends on whether your degree's CIP code falls on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and whether the Technical Lead Manager role is directly related to that field. Degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, software engineering, and information systems generally qualify. Your DSO confirms the CIP code match when endorsing your I-20 for the extension.
Is the E-Verify requirement strict for Technical Lead Manager positions?
Yes, and there's no workaround. USCIS requires your employer to be actively enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension is approved. If the company is enrolled but using a staffing agency or PEO as the legal employer of record, that entity must hold the E-Verify enrollment, not just the end client. Confirm which entity signs your I-983 and verify that entity's enrollment status.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a Technical Lead Manager role?
Your I-983 must tie specific job duties to concrete STEM learning objectives. For a Technical Lead Manager role, that means documenting which engineering systems you'll design or oversee, how team leadership connects to your technical degree, and measurable outcomes like product delivery milestones or architectural decisions. Vague descriptions referencing generic management tasks increase audit risk with USCIS.
How does cap-gap protection work if my STEM OPT ends mid-year?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires, cap-gap rules extend your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year, or until USCIS adjudicates your petition. You can continue working without interruption during this period. Your employer must file before expiration, not after, so plan the H-1B timeline accordingly.
Where can I find Technical Lead Manager jobs at E-Verify-enrolled employers?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for STEM OPT-eligible employers, so you can search Technical Lead Manager roles without manually cross-referencing E-Verify enrollment for every company. The platform surfaces employers with documented H-1B and STEM OPT filing histories, which also signals they have HR and legal processes ready to support your training plan and eventual visa transition.