Chemicals & Materials STEM OPT Jobs in Illinois
Illinois is a significant hub for chemicals and materials hiring, anchored by companies like BASF, Dow, and Abbott Laboratories operating across the Chicago metro, Joliet, and Waukegan corridors. F-1 students on STEM OPT can pursue roles in process engineering, materials science, and polymer research at employers with documented OPT sponsorship history in the state.
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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 Tooling Engineer - II to join our team. The ideal candidate will design and develop production tooling to support the NAL manufacturing process; provide support and expertise to NAL facilities and tooling vendors to ensure the production of quality injection molds, and that they are built to company standards, within budgeted cost, and completed on time.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Your Priorities
- Reviews product designs for tool construction.
- Reviews Mold Spec Sheets with Lead Plant Tool Engineer and tool vendor.
- Obtains approvals of tool designs at all stages (Preliminary, Intermediate, and Final).
- Travels to tooling vendors for on-site follow up and tool tryouts.
- Coordinates pre-production Engineering changes.
- Maintains mold trial process parameters and Mold Trial History Form with open issues.
The salary range for this position is $72,500 - $99,500 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
- BS in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline, plus 2 to 4 years of related manufacturing experience OR
- Associate’s Degree in Tool/Die Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline, plus 4 to 6 years of related manufacturing experience OR
- Journeyman Tool/Die Maker, plus 2 to 4 years of related manufacturing experience.
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: 21190
LOCATION: Salem 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 Tooling Engineer - II to join our team. The ideal candidate will design and develop production tooling to support the NAL manufacturing process; provide support and expertise to NAL facilities and tooling vendors to ensure the production of quality injection molds, and that they are built to company standards, within budgeted cost, and completed on time.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Your Priorities
- Reviews product designs for tool construction.
- Reviews Mold Spec Sheets with Lead Plant Tool Engineer and tool vendor.
- Obtains approvals of tool designs at all stages (Preliminary, Intermediate, and Final).
- Travels to tooling vendors for on-site follow up and tool tryouts.
- Coordinates pre-production Engineering changes.
- Maintains mold trial process parameters and Mold Trial History Form with open issues.
The salary range for this position is $72,500 - $99,500 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
- BS in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline, plus 2 to 4 years of related manufacturing experience OR
- Associate’s Degree in Tool/Die Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline, plus 4 to 6 years of related manufacturing experience OR
- Journeyman Tool/Die Maker, plus 2 to 4 years of related manufacturing experience.
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: 21190
LOCATION: Salem Plant
STEM OPT Chemicals & Materials Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Chemicals & Materials Jobs in IllinoisChemicals & Materials STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which chemicals & materials companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Illinois?
Illinois hosts several major chemicals and materials employers with F-1 STEM OPT hiring histories, including BASF, Stepan Company, Cabot Microelectronics, and Quaker Houghton. Specialty chemical producers and materials testing firms in the greater Chicago metro and along the I-90 corridor have also filed LCAs for OPT roles in process engineering, analytical chemistry, and materials characterization. Employer sponsorship practices vary, so reviewing DOL Labor Condition Application records is a useful starting point.
Which cities in Illinois have the most chemicals & materials F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Chicago metropolitan area, including suburbs like Naperville, Gurnee, and Waukegan, concentrates the majority of chemicals and materials STEM OPT opportunities in Illinois. Joliet and the broader Will County corridor also host manufacturing and specialty chemicals facilities with engineering and R&D functions. Peoria and Decatur occasionally have openings tied to agricultural chemicals and industrial materials production linked to large-scale processing operations in central Illinois.
What types of chemicals & materials roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that commonly qualify include process engineer, materials scientist, analytical chemist, polymer engineer, quality assurance engineer, and R&D chemist. These positions typically map to STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs codes in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, and related fields. The role must be directly related to the student's degree program for STEM OPT eligibility. Job titles in laboratory operations, formulation development, and coatings technology frequently appear in Illinois LCA filings for OPT candidates.
How do I find chemicals & materials F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 students seeking STEM OPT sponsorship and filters chemicals and materials jobs in Illinois by employers with verified sponsorship activity. You can search by role type, location, and visa category to identify companies that have filed LCAs for OPT positions in this industry. Reviewing employer LCA filing history through the OFLC Wage Search tool also helps confirm which Illinois chemicals and materials employers have sponsored international candidates in similar roles.
Are there any Illinois-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT in chemicals & materials?
Illinois chemicals and materials employers often require background checks and facility access clearances, which can affect onboarding timelines for OPT candidates. Some production and laboratory roles at defense-adjacent materials companies may involve export control regulations under EAR or ITAR, which can restrict international student hiring for certain positions. Students should confirm their degree's CIP code maps to the intended role and work with their Designated School Official to ensure STEM OPT authorization aligns with the employer's E-Verify enrollment status before accepting an offer.