Manufacturing OPT Jobs in Minnesota
Minnesota's manufacturing sector spans medical devices, food processing, and industrial equipment, with major employers like 3M, Medtronic, General Mills, and Cargill concentrated in the Twin Cities metro and regional hubs like Rochester and St. Cloud. F-1 OPT candidates with engineering, supply chain, or quality assurance backgrounds will find relevant sponsorship opportunities across the state.
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Get Access To All JobsSales Associate - Plastic Injection Molding
- 31-Jul-2026 to Until Filled (CST)
- Plastics
- 1409 Vine Street, Le Sueur, MN, United States
- 100000-160000 per year DOQ (Base pay 2/3; commission 1/3 of pay)
- Base + Commission
- Full Time
- Medical, Dental, 401k with Match, Generous paid holidays, PTO, UTO and more
The Position:
The Sales Associate is responsible for supporting sales growth and customer relationship management for plastic injection molding products and services. This role works closely with customers, engineering, tooling, production, and quality teams to identify opportunities, prepare quotations, and ensure successful project execution. The Sales Associate serves as a key point of contact for customers while promoting the company's injection molding and thermoforming capabilities, value-added services, and manufacturing solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Generate leads and identify new business opportunities in target industries such as medical, automotive, consumer products, industrial equipment, electronics, and packaging.
- Capable of reviewing customer drawings, specifications, and product requirements.
- Coordinate with engineering and manufacturing teams to assess project feasibility and production costs.
- Follow up on quotations and convert opportunities into production orders.
- Maintain accurate customer records, sales activities, and forecasts within CRM systems.
- Assist with contract reviews, pricing negotiations, and customer agreements.
- Monitor market trends, customer needs, and competitor activities.
- Participate in trade shows, industry events, and networking opportunities.
Technical Responsibilities
- Understand plastic injection and thermoforming molding processes, tooling requirements, and manufacturing capabilities.
- Assist customers in selecting materials and molding solutions that meet performance and cost objectives.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to recommend cost-effective casting solutions.
- Evaluate casting feasibility, tooling requirements, and production capabilities.
Qualifications
Education & Education Experience
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent industry experience will be considered.
- 3-5 years of sales, customer service, account management, or manufacturing experience preferred.
- Experience in plastic injection molding, thermoforming, plastics manufacturing, tooling, or industrial sales is a plus.
Required Skills
- Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and customer relationship management skills
- Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and negotiation skills
- Strong technical and consultative selling abilities
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
- Basic understanding of manufacturing processes and cost drivers
- Strong organizational, time-management, and multitasking skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
- Strong problem-solving skills with a customer-focused mindset
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Number of qualified leads generated
- Gross margin performance
- Sales revenue growth
- Quote-to-order conversion rate
- Customer retention and satisfaction
- On-time quote completion
- New customer acquisition
- Account growth and profitability
Preferred Industry Experience
- Plastic injection molding.
- Thermoforming
- Mold manufacturing and tooling.
- Plastic resins and materials.
- Contract manufacturing.
Sales Associate - Plastic Injection Molding
- 31-Jul-2026 to Until Filled (CST)
- Plastics
- 1409 Vine Street, Le Sueur, MN, United States
- 100000-160000 per year DOQ (Base pay 2/3; commission 1/3 of pay)
- Base + Commission
- Full Time
- Medical, Dental, 401k with Match, Generous paid holidays, PTO, UTO and more
The Position:
The Sales Associate is responsible for supporting sales growth and customer relationship management for plastic injection molding products and services. This role works closely with customers, engineering, tooling, production, and quality teams to identify opportunities, prepare quotations, and ensure successful project execution. The Sales Associate serves as a key point of contact for customers while promoting the company's injection molding and thermoforming capabilities, value-added services, and manufacturing solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Generate leads and identify new business opportunities in target industries such as medical, automotive, consumer products, industrial equipment, electronics, and packaging.
- Capable of reviewing customer drawings, specifications, and product requirements.
- Coordinate with engineering and manufacturing teams to assess project feasibility and production costs.
- Follow up on quotations and convert opportunities into production orders.
- Maintain accurate customer records, sales activities, and forecasts within CRM systems.
- Assist with contract reviews, pricing negotiations, and customer agreements.
- Monitor market trends, customer needs, and competitor activities.
- Participate in trade shows, industry events, and networking opportunities.
Technical Responsibilities
- Understand plastic injection and thermoforming molding processes, tooling requirements, and manufacturing capabilities.
- Assist customers in selecting materials and molding solutions that meet performance and cost objectives.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to recommend cost-effective casting solutions.
- Evaluate casting feasibility, tooling requirements, and production capabilities.
Qualifications
Education & Education Experience
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent industry experience will be considered.
- 3-5 years of sales, customer service, account management, or manufacturing experience preferred.
- Experience in plastic injection molding, thermoforming, plastics manufacturing, tooling, or industrial sales is a plus.
Required Skills
- Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and customer relationship management skills
- Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and negotiation skills
- Strong technical and consultative selling abilities
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
- Basic understanding of manufacturing processes and cost drivers
- Strong organizational, time-management, and multitasking skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
- Strong problem-solving skills with a customer-focused mindset
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Number of qualified leads generated
- Gross margin performance
- Sales revenue growth
- Quote-to-order conversion rate
- Customer retention and satisfaction
- On-time quote completion
- New customer acquisition
- Account growth and profitability
Preferred Industry Experience
- Plastic injection molding.
- Thermoforming
- Mold manufacturing and tooling.
- Plastic resins and materials.
- Contract manufacturing.
OPT Manufacturing Job Roles in Minnesota
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Search Manufacturing Jobs in MinnesotaManufacturing OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
Which manufacturing companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Minnesota?
Several large Minnesota manufacturers have established records of hiring F-1 OPT workers, including 3M, Medtronic, General Mills, Cargill, and Donaldson Company. These employers regularly recruit engineering and technical graduates for OPT positions. Mid-size manufacturers in medical devices and food processing also hire OPT candidates, particularly those with degrees in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or food science.
Which cities in Minnesota have the most manufacturing F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Twin Cities metro, covering Minneapolis and St. Paul, concentrates the largest share of Minnesota manufacturing sponsorship opportunities, especially in medical devices and food production. Maplewood hosts 3M's headquarters, while Fridley and Arden Hills have significant manufacturing campuses. Rochester supports medical manufacturing tied to the broader Mayo Clinic ecosystem, and St. Cloud has a notable industrial and food processing presence.
What types of manufacturing roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles with a direct connection to your degree field are the strongest fit for OPT. Common qualifying positions in Minnesota manufacturing include process engineer, quality engineer, manufacturing engineer, R&D engineer, supply chain analyst, and production operations analyst. Roles in regulatory affairs and materials science are also common in the medical device segment. Purely manual or general labor positions do not qualify because OPT requires employment directly related to your field of study.
How do I find manufacturing F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Minnesota?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students on F-1 OPT, and filters jobs by visa type and industry so you can browse Minnesota manufacturing roles without sorting through positions that don't sponsor. Beyond using Migrate Mate, attending career fairs at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State universities puts you in direct contact with regional manufacturers who actively recruit international engineering and technical graduates.
Are there any state-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Minnesota manufacturing?
Minnesota's concentration in medical device manufacturing means many roles involve FDA-regulated environments, and employers in this segment are generally experienced with employment verification processes including E-Verify, which is federally required for OPT workers. Minnesota does not impose additional state-level work authorization requirements beyond federal rules. OPT STEM extension eligibility is particularly relevant here since engineering and science roles at qualifying manufacturers can support a 24-month STEM OPT extension if the employer is enrolled in E-Verify.