Food & Beverage STEM OPT Jobs in California
California's food and beverage industry spans large-scale manufacturers in the Central Valley, established CPG brands headquartered in the Bay Area, and beverage innovators in Los Angeles. Companies like McCormick, Dole, and Del Monte have California operations that hire for technical roles. F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship is most common in data, food science, and supply chain functions.
Find Food & Beverage JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 27+ Food & Beverage STEM OPT Jobs in California
See all Food & Beverage STEM OPT Jobs in California
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Food & Beverage STEM OPT Jobs in California.
Get Access To All JobsAt Niagara, we’re looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.
Consider applying here, if you want to:
- Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.
- Develop lasting relationships with great people.
- Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.
We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.
Automation Engineer II
This mid-level role is responsible for leading and executing automation initiatives across manufacturing plants, including systems that integrate AI-enabled capabilities directly into solutions. The Automation Engineer II designs programs and troubleshoots complex automation systems spanning multiple equipment OEMs and technology generations. The role emphasizes technical independence, project leadership, and the ability to mentor junior engineers, with the expectation of driving significant improvements in automation and efficiency. Drive automation solutions from concept through commissioning, requiring minimal day-to-day supervision. This role leverages operational data and AI-assisted analytics to improve system reliability, performance, and decision-making across automation platforms.
Essential Functions
Automation Design and Implementation
- Own the programming, testing, and maintenance of PLC, HMI, and control systems
- Independently plan and execute automation projects, escalating only when scope, safety, or cost thresholds are exceeded
- Incorporate data-driven and AI-assisted insights when selecting architectures, defining controls strategies, or evaluating automation design trade-offs
- Design, implement, and support automation solutions that may incorporate AI-enabled components such as machine vision, adaptive control, intelligent inspection, optimization logic, or vendor-embedded AI systems
- Exercise sound engineering judgment to identify risk, scope, or architectural decisions that require escalation
- Oversee the commissioning and validation of new equipment and upgrades
- Apply established control standards, programming practices, and validation approaches consistently
- Provide feedback and improvement proposals to leadership on standards, tooling, and repeatable patterns
- Contribute reusable code, documentation, and templates to shared automation libraries
Engineering Judgment and Decision Making
- Make independent technical decisions within defined project and system boundaries
- Proactively identify risks, edge cases, and failure modes before commissioning
- Clearly document assumptions, trade-offs, and rationale when proposing solutions
Troubleshooting and Maintenance
- Serve as the primary technical authority for complex automation failures, performing root cause analysis and defining corrective actions
- Collaborate with maintenance and production teams to resolve complex technical issues
- Document and standardize changes and updates to control systems
Data Analysis and Process Improvement
- Independently identify, prioritize, and implement automation improvement opportunities using operational data
- Design methods to capture and store data points for post execution validations and tracking
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, quality, and efficiency
Collaboration and Compliance
- While collaborating cross-functionally, maintains ownership of automation decisions within assigned systems and projects
- Ensure compliance with safety standards, company policies, and regulatory requirements
- Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- 2 Years – Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.
- Proven experience with PLCs, control systems, and industrial automation.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Provide day-to-day technical guidance to junior engineers.
experience may include a combination of work experience and education
List if any travel is required using percentage of time:
- 50% - on average
Preferred Qualifications:
- 4 years of experience in automation, controls, or manufacturing.
- Proficiency with Rockwell, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms.
- Familiarity with governing, validating, and supporting automation systems that include AI-based decision logic or learning components.
- Experience with SCADA systems, HMIs, and industrial networks.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.
- Professional Engineering (PE) license or relevant certifications.
experience may include a combination of work experience and education
Minimum Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.
Preferred:
- Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.
Certification/License:
- Required: None Required
- Preferred: None Required
Foreign Language
- Required: None Required
- Preferred: None Required
Typical Compensation Range
Pay Rate Type: Salary
$87,360.12 - $126,672.19 / Yearly
Benefits
Our Total Rewards package is thoughtfully designed to support both you and your family:
Regular full-time team members are offered a comprehensive benefits package, while part-time, intern, and seasonal team members are offered a limited benefits package.
- Paid Time Off for holidays, sick time, and vacation time
- Paid parental and caregiver leaves
- Medical, including virtual care options
- Dental
- Vision
- 401(k) with company match
- Health Savings Account with company match
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Expanded mental wellbeing benefits including free counseling sessions for all team members and household family members
- Family Building Benefits including enhanced fertility benefits for IVF and fertility preservation plus adoption, surrogacy, and Doula reimbursements
- Income protection including Life and AD&D, short and long-term disability, critical illness and an accident plan
- Special discount programs including pet plans, pre-paid legal services, identity theft, car rental, airport parking, etc.
- Tuition reimbursement, college savings plan and scholarship opportunities
- And more!
Los Angeles County applicants only Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and any other applicable local and state laws.
Any employment agency, person or entity that submits a résumé into this career site or to a hiring manager does so with the understanding that the applicant's résumé will become the property of Niagara Bottling, LLC. Niagara Bottling, LLC will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.
Employment agencies that have fee agreements with Niagara Bottling, LLC and have been engaged on a search shall submit résumé to the designated Niagara Bottling, LLC recruiter or, upon authorization, submit résumé into this career site to be eligible for placement fees.
Niagara Plant Name
CORP-OFFSITE
At Niagara, we’re looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.
Consider applying here, if you want to:
- Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.
- Develop lasting relationships with great people.
- Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.
We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.
Automation Engineer II
This mid-level role is responsible for leading and executing automation initiatives across manufacturing plants, including systems that integrate AI-enabled capabilities directly into solutions. The Automation Engineer II designs programs and troubleshoots complex automation systems spanning multiple equipment OEMs and technology generations. The role emphasizes technical independence, project leadership, and the ability to mentor junior engineers, with the expectation of driving significant improvements in automation and efficiency. Drive automation solutions from concept through commissioning, requiring minimal day-to-day supervision. This role leverages operational data and AI-assisted analytics to improve system reliability, performance, and decision-making across automation platforms.
Essential Functions
Automation Design and Implementation
- Own the programming, testing, and maintenance of PLC, HMI, and control systems
- Independently plan and execute automation projects, escalating only when scope, safety, or cost thresholds are exceeded
- Incorporate data-driven and AI-assisted insights when selecting architectures, defining controls strategies, or evaluating automation design trade-offs
- Design, implement, and support automation solutions that may incorporate AI-enabled components such as machine vision, adaptive control, intelligent inspection, optimization logic, or vendor-embedded AI systems
- Exercise sound engineering judgment to identify risk, scope, or architectural decisions that require escalation
- Oversee the commissioning and validation of new equipment and upgrades
- Apply established control standards, programming practices, and validation approaches consistently
- Provide feedback and improvement proposals to leadership on standards, tooling, and repeatable patterns
- Contribute reusable code, documentation, and templates to shared automation libraries
Engineering Judgment and Decision Making
- Make independent technical decisions within defined project and system boundaries
- Proactively identify risks, edge cases, and failure modes before commissioning
- Clearly document assumptions, trade-offs, and rationale when proposing solutions
Troubleshooting and Maintenance
- Serve as the primary technical authority for complex automation failures, performing root cause analysis and defining corrective actions
- Collaborate with maintenance and production teams to resolve complex technical issues
- Document and standardize changes and updates to control systems
Data Analysis and Process Improvement
- Independently identify, prioritize, and implement automation improvement opportunities using operational data
- Design methods to capture and store data points for post execution validations and tracking
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, quality, and efficiency
Collaboration and Compliance
- While collaborating cross-functionally, maintains ownership of automation decisions within assigned systems and projects
- Ensure compliance with safety standards, company policies, and regulatory requirements
- Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- 2 Years – Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.
- Proven experience with PLCs, control systems, and industrial automation.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Provide day-to-day technical guidance to junior engineers.
experience may include a combination of work experience and education
List if any travel is required using percentage of time:
- 50% - on average
Preferred Qualifications:
- 4 years of experience in automation, controls, or manufacturing.
- Proficiency with Rockwell, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms.
- Familiarity with governing, validating, and supporting automation systems that include AI-based decision logic or learning components.
- Experience with SCADA systems, HMIs, and industrial networks.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.
- Professional Engineering (PE) license or relevant certifications.
experience may include a combination of work experience and education
Minimum Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.
Preferred:
- Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, or related field.
Certification/License:
- Required: None Required
- Preferred: None Required
Foreign Language
- Required: None Required
- Preferred: None Required
Typical Compensation Range
Pay Rate Type: Salary
$87,360.12 - $126,672.19 / Yearly
Benefits
Our Total Rewards package is thoughtfully designed to support both you and your family:
Regular full-time team members are offered a comprehensive benefits package, while part-time, intern, and seasonal team members are offered a limited benefits package.
- Paid Time Off for holidays, sick time, and vacation time
- Paid parental and caregiver leaves
- Medical, including virtual care options
- Dental
- Vision
- 401(k) with company match
- Health Savings Account with company match
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Expanded mental wellbeing benefits including free counseling sessions for all team members and household family members
- Family Building Benefits including enhanced fertility benefits for IVF and fertility preservation plus adoption, surrogacy, and Doula reimbursements
- Income protection including Life and AD&D, short and long-term disability, critical illness and an accident plan
- Special discount programs including pet plans, pre-paid legal services, identity theft, car rental, airport parking, etc.
- Tuition reimbursement, college savings plan and scholarship opportunities
- And more!
Los Angeles County applicants only Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and any other applicable local and state laws.
Any employment agency, person or entity that submits a résumé into this career site or to a hiring manager does so with the understanding that the applicant's résumé will become the property of Niagara Bottling, LLC. Niagara Bottling, LLC will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.
Employment agencies that have fee agreements with Niagara Bottling, LLC and have been engaged on a search shall submit résumé to the designated Niagara Bottling, LLC recruiter or, upon authorization, submit résumé into this career site to be eligible for placement fees.
Niagara Plant Name
CORP-OFFSITE
STEM OPT Food & Beverage Job Roles in California
See all Food & Beverage STEM OPT Jobs in California
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Food & Beverage Jobs in CaliforniaFood & Beverage STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which food and beverage companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in California?
California-based food and beverage employers with a history of hiring STEM OPT candidates include large CPG manufacturers, agricultural processing companies, and beverage brands concentrated in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and the Central Valley. Companies such as Dole, Del Monte, and regional dairy and wine producers operate technical teams that have filed Labor Condition Applications for food science, engineering, and data roles.
Which cities in California have the most food and beverage F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Bay Area and Los Angeles are the most active markets for technical food and beverage roles tied to STEM OPT sponsorship, largely because corporate headquarters and R&D centers are concentrated there. Fresno, Stockton, and Modesto in the Central Valley offer manufacturing and process engineering positions with companies that produce packaged goods and agricultural products at scale.
What types of food and beverage roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that typically qualify are those classified under STEM-designated CIP codes, including food scientist, food technologist, quality assurance engineer, supply chain analyst, data analyst, process engineer, and packaging engineer. The position must appear in a field that maps to an approved STEM degree discipline. Purely administrative or sales roles generally do not qualify, even at food and beverage companies that otherwise sponsor visas.
How do I find food and beverage F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa type and industry, so you can search for food and beverage roles in California that are open to F-1 STEM OPT candidates without manually screening every posting. Migrate Mate surfaces employer Labor Condition Application filing history, which helps you identify California food and beverage companies that have sponsored similar roles before, giving you a more targeted list to prioritize.
Are there state-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in California's food and beverage sector?
California's strict employment laws, including additional wage transparency and worker classification rules, affect how employers structure sponsored roles. Food and beverage companies in California are also subject to state food safety regulations that can shape which technical positions they need to fill with degree-qualified candidates. Your DSO at your university must authorize STEM OPT through SEVIS before you begin work, regardless of the employer or industry.