Manufacturing OPT Jobs in Montana
F-1 OPT manufacturing jobs in Montana are concentrated around industrial hubs in Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls, where employers in food processing, lumber products, and refining operations hire international graduates. Companies like Stillwater Mining, REC Silicon, and regional agricultural processors have brought on OPT workers in engineering, quality control, and operations roles.
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Get Access To All JobsEngineer 1-4 – Rock Mechanics
Location:
Stillwater Mine – Nye, MT
Schedule:
5x4, 4x5 - 11.5-hour days
Job Responsibilities and Duties:
At Sibanye-Stillwater, the Rock Mechanic Engineer is responsible for carrying out ground control assessments and providing ground control and ground quality recommendations for existing and future mine designs. The Rock Mechanic Engineer will provide input to weekly and monthly planning processes as well as regularly perform underground audits of ground quality and installed ground support for adherence to Company ground control standards. Other responsibilities and duties may include:
- Promote and maintain a safe work environment, safe work practices, and a strong safety culture.
- Ensure that Environmental Excellence is practiced within area of responsibility.
- Participate in group, department, divisional, & company safety programs (PGI, Safety Meetings, etc.).
- Review and approve all development and stope extraction proposals - design and sequence.
- Mechanics Engineer.
- Assist in development & communication of Ground Control Management Plan, revisions to SOPs, and other ground control related documents.
- Research, and possible application of underground rock mechanics technology in design, monitoring, and support.
- Quality control and quality assurance of ground support, backfill, and shotcrete.
- Other responsibilities include assisting the general foremen and others in the individual mining areas in the execution of the plan.
Qualifications and Skills:
Required:
- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills.
- Proven ability to work autonomously, as well as, within a team-based environment.
- Familiarity with multiple mining method principles and theories.
- Solid understanding of the fundamentals of geotechnical or geological engineering.
- Strong computer skills in AutoCAD, Excel, and Word.
- Basic understanding of MSHA regulations.
- Working knowledge and experience with mine modelling and/or geotechnical mining software.
- Intermediate to advanced understanding of MSHA regulations.
Preferred:
- Proven short-range mine planning and scheduling experience.
- Proficient use of the Vulcan / Deswik or other 3D mine design planning software packages.
- Familiarity with cost reporting and cost tracking analysis.
Education and Experience:
BS in Geological Engineering or equivalent with mining experience such as internships or past work experience.
Sibanye-Stillwater is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions at Sibanye-Stillwater are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation or preference, marital or family status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Engineer 1-4 – Rock Mechanics
Location:
Stillwater Mine – Nye, MT
Schedule:
5x4, 4x5 - 11.5-hour days
Job Responsibilities and Duties:
At Sibanye-Stillwater, the Rock Mechanic Engineer is responsible for carrying out ground control assessments and providing ground control and ground quality recommendations for existing and future mine designs. The Rock Mechanic Engineer will provide input to weekly and monthly planning processes as well as regularly perform underground audits of ground quality and installed ground support for adherence to Company ground control standards. Other responsibilities and duties may include:
- Promote and maintain a safe work environment, safe work practices, and a strong safety culture.
- Ensure that Environmental Excellence is practiced within area of responsibility.
- Participate in group, department, divisional, & company safety programs (PGI, Safety Meetings, etc.).
- Review and approve all development and stope extraction proposals - design and sequence.
- Mechanics Engineer.
- Assist in development & communication of Ground Control Management Plan, revisions to SOPs, and other ground control related documents.
- Research, and possible application of underground rock mechanics technology in design, monitoring, and support.
- Quality control and quality assurance of ground support, backfill, and shotcrete.
- Other responsibilities include assisting the general foremen and others in the individual mining areas in the execution of the plan.
Qualifications and Skills:
Required:
- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills.
- Proven ability to work autonomously, as well as, within a team-based environment.
- Familiarity with multiple mining method principles and theories.
- Solid understanding of the fundamentals of geotechnical or geological engineering.
- Strong computer skills in AutoCAD, Excel, and Word.
- Basic understanding of MSHA regulations.
- Working knowledge and experience with mine modelling and/or geotechnical mining software.
- Intermediate to advanced understanding of MSHA regulations.
Preferred:
- Proven short-range mine planning and scheduling experience.
- Proficient use of the Vulcan / Deswik or other 3D mine design planning software packages.
- Familiarity with cost reporting and cost tracking analysis.
Education and Experience:
BS in Geological Engineering or equivalent with mining experience such as internships or past work experience.
Sibanye-Stillwater is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions at Sibanye-Stillwater are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation or preference, marital or family status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
OPT Manufacturing Job Roles in Montana
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Search Manufacturing Jobs in MontanaManufacturing OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Montana: Frequently Asked Questions
Which manufacturing companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Montana?
Montana manufacturers that have hired F-1 OPT workers include Stillwater Mining Company (metallurgical operations in Billings and Columbus), REC Silicon (polysilicon production in Butte), and large food and lumber processors in the Missoula and Great Falls areas. Agricultural equipment manufacturers and refinery operations along the Yellowstone corridor also bring on OPT graduates in engineering and technical roles, though sponsorship availability varies by hiring cycle and headcount needs.
Which cities in Montana have the most manufacturing F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Billings leads Montana for manufacturing employment overall, anchored by refining, food processing, and metal fabrication industries. Missoula has a growing advanced manufacturing base with ties to the University of Montana, making it active for OPT hiring. Great Falls and Butte support mining-adjacent manufacturing and materials processing. Smaller concentrations exist in Kalispell and Bozeman, where precision manufacturing and technology-adjacent production roles have expanded in recent years.
What types of manufacturing roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that align well with OPT in Montana's manufacturing sector include process engineering, quality assurance, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, materials science, and production operations. These positions draw directly on STEM degree fields, which also qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if the employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Non-STEM OPT holders are limited to 12 months, so degree-field alignment with the specific role is important when evaluating opportunities.
How do I find manufacturing F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Montana?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for F-1 OPT eligibility, so you can search manufacturing roles in Montana without sifting through positions that don't support international candidates. The platform surfaces employers who have a documented history of OPT sponsorship in manufacturing and related industries. Given Montana's smaller labor market, setting up alerts for Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls will capture most of the active sponsoring employers as new roles are posted.
Are there state-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Montana's manufacturing sector?
Montana has no state-level work authorization program, so OPT authorization is entirely governed by federal USCIS rules and the student's DSO-issued OPT card. One practical consideration is that Montana's manufacturing employers tend to be smaller operations than national manufacturers, which can mean less in-house immigration infrastructure. It's worth confirming early in the hiring process whether a company is enrolled in E-Verify, since STEM OPT extension requires E-Verify enrollment from the sponsoring employer.