Manufacturing STEM OPT Jobs in Florida
F-1 STEM OPT manufacturing jobs in Florida draw international engineers and technologists to employers like Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Siemens in Palm Beach County, and Jabil in St. Petersburg. Florida's aerospace, electronics, and defense manufacturing sectors regularly file F-1 STEM OPT Labor Condition Applications, making the state a strong destination for OPT extension candidates in technical roles.
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INTRODUCTION
We’re Here to Move the World Forward. Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better. Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward? Apply now.
A Brief Summary Of This Position
This is an individual contributor role. The primary responsibilities of the Design Engineer include the engineering, design, and drafting of prestressed concrete poles required to ensure project goals are met. You will oversee the structural analysis and design of concrete products fabricated by the site. You will provide customer support, coordination with sales to help provide the appropriate products, and assistance to operations to ensure the products are manufactured to specifications. You will use in-house consultation of colleagues and Principal Engineers to assure specifications are met and receive consultation from Manufacturing to ensure design efficiency and manufacturability. You must improve your knowledge of existing assemblies and keep up to date manufacturing capabilities.
Essential Functions
- You will report to the Group Engineering Manager, and you will not have any direct or indirect reports
- Analyze and design products by Finite Element Method and other structural design software taking into consideration both public safety and minimum cost (competitiveness and profitability)
- Interpret customer specifications, customer needs, and market/sales needs
- Understand the fabrication processes and quality assurance requirements and methods used by Valmont
- Communicate engineering data to the customer and others. The latter includes itemizing cost-related requirements of a quotation, including weights, reviewing engineering drawings and evaluating as-built products. Interrelationships and communications will promote a professional attitude towards work and the office environment
- Recommend changes in design criteria, analysis methods and drafting procedures, and developing new methods
- Recommend tests to confirm theoretical designs and coordinate the testing
- Communicate information about new ideas, product and system improvements to encourage increased morale and efficiency throughout the company and to enhance Valmont's image as a leader in our industry
- Follow standard design procedures, recommending updates to design procedures when needed
- Provide design direction and technical support to other associate product engineers and product designers
- Oversee modifications to existing designs and products to meet changes in manufacturing capabilities, support cost reduction activities, and address reliability and warranty issues
- Provide engineering solutions that aid in the resolution of field and manufacturing problems and in the maintenance and improvement of existing products
- Maintain good relationships with customers, field personnel and other Valmont departments to ensure the most efficient working environment
- Improve personal technical competence to participate in new design concepts using the latest technology
- Review and provide inputs to the product development procedure to ensure continuous improvement of processes
- Provide technical design inputs and technical direction for design reviews
- Provide technical support to other departments to meet the needs of our customers
Other Important Details About The Role
The Design Engineer is a project team associate working with partners to develop activities required to meet product requirements. The position is accountable to meeting milestone dates for those projects assigned. The Design Engineer attends technical design review meetings, provides technical design inputs, and direction when needed. As a Design Engineer, you must improve your knowledge of existing assemblies, keep up-to-date on manufacturing capabilities, and developing an awareness of the field usage of our products.
Required Qualifications of Every Candidate (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
- Proficiency with MS Office applications (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Project)
- Working knowledge of 3D Computer-Aided Design Software
- Travel up to 10% of the time. May include international travel.
Highly Qualified Candidates Will Also Possess These Qualifications
- Master's Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
- Professional Engineering License
- Knowledge of Finite Element Analysis
- Work experience in Prestressed Concrete design
- Experience with FEA setup and virtual testing for structural elements
Working Environment And Physical Efforts
Work is typically performed in an office setting. There may be limited exposure to a manufacturing environment or outside weather conditions. When visiting a manufacturing area, the incumbent will be required to wear all mandatory personal protective equipment. The incumbent is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time, as well as talk and listen on the phone and in personal conversations or meetings. Environment is fast paced and demanding most of the time. Domestic travel, including overnights, may be required up to 10%. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms while working in the office with various files and forms and while working on the computer. The employee is occasionally required to move about the office. Incumbent must utilize proper ergonomic safeguards such as monitor height and positions, keyboard location and height and proper wrists rests. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds in working with large files, binders, and computer equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
Benefits
Valmont offers employees and their families a comprehensive Total Wellbeing benefit package to ensure their individual and family’s overall wellness needs are met. Some offerings are dependent upon the role, work schedule, or location and can include the following:
- Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
- 401k retirement plan with company match
- Paid time off
- Employer paid life insurance
- Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
- Work Life Support
- Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
- Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more
Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you have a disability and require any assistance in filling out the application for employment email EEOCompliance@Valmont.com.
STEM OPT Manufacturing Job Roles in Florida
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Search Manufacturing Jobs in FloridaManufacturing STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
Which manufacturing companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Florida?
Florida manufacturers with documented F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship activity include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Jabil, Siemens Energy, and L3Harris Technologies. These companies operate facilities in the Orlando metro, Tampa Bay, and Palm Beach County and regularly file Labor Condition Applications for engineering, quality, and operations roles. OFLC disclosure data is one way to verify an employer's filing history by occupation and location.
Which cities in Florida have the most manufacturing F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Orlando and the surrounding Orange County area lead in aerospace and defense manufacturing sponsorship activity, driven by a concentration of contractors near Kennedy Space Center. Tampa and St. Petersburg follow, with electronics manufacturers like Jabil anchoring that market. Palm Beach County and the Space Coast corridor also see consistent LCA filings for manufacturing roles, particularly in advanced electronics and systems integration.
How do I find manufacturing F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Florida?
Migrate Mate filters manufacturing job listings specifically for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Florida, showing employers with verified LCA filing history by location and occupation. This lets you focus on companies that have already sponsored similar roles rather than applying broadly. You can sort by city, manufacturing sub-sector, or job function to target positions that match your degree field, which is a key eligibility requirement for STEM OPT.
What types of manufacturing roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that qualify must fall under a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code linked to your degree and be in a specialty occupation requiring that degree. In manufacturing, this commonly includes mechanical engineers, industrial engineers, manufacturing process engineers, quality assurance engineers, electrical engineers, and supply chain analysts with engineering degrees. Production supervisor or general operations roles without a direct degree requirement typically do not qualify. O*NET occupation profiles can help confirm job zone and education requirements for a specific title.
Are there state-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Florida manufacturing?
Florida's manufacturing sector is heavily tied to defense and aerospace, industries where federal contractors must comply with export control and security clearance requirements. Some positions at companies like Northrop Grumman or L3Harris require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for clearance eligibility, limiting F-1 STEM OPT access to non-classified roles. Florida also has no state income tax, which affects total compensation comparisons, though eligibility for STEM OPT itself is governed entirely by USCIS and employer E-Verify enrollment, not state rules.