Food & Beverage STEM OPT Jobs in Texas
Food & beverage F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Texas span supply chain analytics, food science, and quality assurance roles at companies like Sysco, Dean Foods, and Whole Foods Market. Houston, Dallas, and Austin host significant food manufacturing and distribution operations, making Texas one of the more active states for STEM-designated roles in this industry.
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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.
Sr Automation Engineer
The Sr. Plant Automation Engineer role will partner with various departments gathering technical proposals, design and development of complex MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) projects primarily, but not limited to, support of manufacturing processes. You will act as the technical lead, and have hands on involvement in these engagements, contributing to software architecture design, development of software applications, and integration into enterprise systems.
Essential Functions
- Innovate, modify and deploy PLC and HMI software to support operational changes and improvements on the plant floor to drive Safety, Quality, Productivity, Line efficiency, and Predictive Maintenance/Cost.
- Organize all of plant’s automation documentation, such as – PLC programs, machine manuals, schematics, HMI files, etc. into a companywide Automation Vault. May use automation software that backs up programs into the Vault automatically.
- Investigate equipment failures and difficulties to diagnose faulty operation, and to make recommendations to plant leadership.
- Partner with vendors and internal stakeholders on projects related to automated solutions to improve plant operation, increase safety, reduce cost and increase efficiency.
- Specify hardware requirements and assist in the software development of systems dedicated to capturing process information related to OEE, FPY, Scrap, Rework, productivity, downtime analysis, and predictive maintenance.
- Learn and work with internal MES system to include LMS controlled changeovers.
- Learn the function of all line equipment and how they operate and communicate to be better equipped for fast troubleshooting.
- Recognize potential problems with existing equipment and develop solutions with the ability to adapt to various engineering designs, applications, and process criteria.
- Assist in safety improvements throughout the plant.
- Actively participate in a fast-paced, team environment; ensuring that effective relationships are built and maintained.
- Maintain technical skills and knowledge and continuously updating them.
- Proactively report on project progress against schedule.
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:
- 4 Years – Experience in Field or similar manufacturing environment
- 4 Years – Experience in Position
- 4 Years – Experience managing people/projects
experience may include a combination of work experience and education
Preferred Qualifications:
- 6 Years– Experience in Field or similar manufacturing environment
- 6 Years – Experience working in Position
- 6 Years – Experience managing people/projects
experience may include a combination of work experience and education
Competencies
This position embodies the values of Niagara’s LIFE competency model, focusing on the following key drivers of success:
- Lead Like an Owner
- Makes safety the number one priority
- Keeps alert for safety issues and escalates immediately
- Effectively prioritizes tasks based on department goals
- Shows respect to others and confronts interpersonal issues directly
- Prioritizes resolution of customer issues effectively
- Responds promptly and honors commitments to internal and external customers
- InnovACT
- Makes recommendations to continuously improve policies, methods, procedures, and/or products
- Demonstrates adaptability by reacting appropriately to unexpected changes in situations or circumstances
- Increases performance through greater efficiency
- Find a Way
- Seeks to develop technical knowledge through learning from other experts
- Understands interdepartmental impact of individual decisions and actions
- Seeks solutions rather than placing blame
- Empowered to be Great
- Consistently looks for ways to improve one’s self through growth and development opportunities
- Communicates clearly and promptly up, down, and across
- Communicates effectively to manage expectations
Education
Minimum Required:
- Bachelor's Degree with a certificate in PLC Programming and Electrical Maintenance or other related fields or equivalent experience
Preferred:
- Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Industrial Engineering or equivalent experience
Certification/License:
Required: PLC Programming and Electrical Maintenance
Foreign Language
Required: None Required
Preferred: None Required
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
TEMPLE
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.
Sr Automation Engineer
The Sr. Plant Automation Engineer role will partner with various departments gathering technical proposals, design and development of complex MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) projects primarily, but not limited to, support of manufacturing processes. You will act as the technical lead, and have hands on involvement in these engagements, contributing to software architecture design, development of software applications, and integration into enterprise systems.
Essential Functions
- Innovate, modify and deploy PLC and HMI software to support operational changes and improvements on the plant floor to drive Safety, Quality, Productivity, Line efficiency, and Predictive Maintenance/Cost.
- Organize all of plant’s automation documentation, such as – PLC programs, machine manuals, schematics, HMI files, etc. into a companywide Automation Vault. May use automation software that backs up programs into the Vault automatically.
- Investigate equipment failures and difficulties to diagnose faulty operation, and to make recommendations to plant leadership.
- Partner with vendors and internal stakeholders on projects related to automated solutions to improve plant operation, increase safety, reduce cost and increase efficiency.
- Specify hardware requirements and assist in the software development of systems dedicated to capturing process information related to OEE, FPY, Scrap, Rework, productivity, downtime analysis, and predictive maintenance.
- Learn and work with internal MES system to include LMS controlled changeovers.
- Learn the function of all line equipment and how they operate and communicate to be better equipped for fast troubleshooting.
- Recognize potential problems with existing equipment and develop solutions with the ability to adapt to various engineering designs, applications, and process criteria.
- Assist in safety improvements throughout the plant.
- Actively participate in a fast-paced, team environment; ensuring that effective relationships are built and maintained.
- Maintain technical skills and knowledge and continuously updating them.
- Proactively report on project progress against schedule.
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:
- 4 Years – Experience in Field or similar manufacturing environment
- 4 Years – Experience in Position
- 4 Years – Experience managing people/projects
experience may include a combination of work experience and education
Preferred Qualifications:
- 6 Years– Experience in Field or similar manufacturing environment
- 6 Years – Experience working in Position
- 6 Years – Experience managing people/projects
experience may include a combination of work experience and education
Competencies
This position embodies the values of Niagara’s LIFE competency model, focusing on the following key drivers of success:
- Lead Like an Owner
- Makes safety the number one priority
- Keeps alert for safety issues and escalates immediately
- Effectively prioritizes tasks based on department goals
- Shows respect to others and confronts interpersonal issues directly
- Prioritizes resolution of customer issues effectively
- Responds promptly and honors commitments to internal and external customers
- InnovACT
- Makes recommendations to continuously improve policies, methods, procedures, and/or products
- Demonstrates adaptability by reacting appropriately to unexpected changes in situations or circumstances
- Increases performance through greater efficiency
- Find a Way
- Seeks to develop technical knowledge through learning from other experts
- Understands interdepartmental impact of individual decisions and actions
- Seeks solutions rather than placing blame
- Empowered to be Great
- Consistently looks for ways to improve one’s self through growth and development opportunities
- Communicates clearly and promptly up, down, and across
- Communicates effectively to manage expectations
Education
Minimum Required:
- Bachelor's Degree with a certificate in PLC Programming and Electrical Maintenance or other related fields or equivalent experience
Preferred:
- Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Industrial Engineering or equivalent experience
Certification/License:
Required: PLC Programming and Electrical Maintenance
Foreign Language
Required: None Required
Preferred: None Required
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
TEMPLE
STEM OPT Food & Beverage Job Roles in Texas
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Search Food & Beverage Jobs in TexasFood & Beverage STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions
Which food & beverage companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Texas?
Texas-based food and beverage employers with documented STEM OPT sponsorship history include Sysco Corporation, headquartered in Houston, along with regional processors, beverage distributors, and agri-food manufacturers concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth corridor. Large national brands with Texas operations, such as PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz, also hire STEM-designated roles in supply chain optimization, data analytics, and food engineering that qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Which cities in Texas have the most food & beverage F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Houston leads due to its concentration of food distribution headquarters and petrochemical-adjacent food processing facilities. Dallas-Fort Worth is a close second, hosting regional offices for major food manufacturers and logistics companies. Austin's growing food-tech and consumer packaged goods sector offers data science and product development roles. San Antonio and Lubbock also have notable food manufacturing operations tied to agriculture and meat processing that generate STEM-eligible positions.
How do I find food & beverage F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Texas?
Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for food and beverage employers in Texas with verified F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history, so you can focus on companies that have actually supported STEM OPT extensions rather than guessing from general job postings. Look for roles with STEM degree classifications in food science, industrial engineering, or supply chain management, as these are most commonly designated STEM-eligible. Reviewing DOL LCA filings through OFLC can also confirm which Texas employers have filed prevailing wage certifications for relevant roles.
What types of food & beverage roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that qualify must align with a STEM-designated CIP code from your degree program. In food and beverage, this typically includes food scientist, quality assurance engineer, process improvement analyst, supply chain data analyst, and R&D chemist. Positions in operations research, industrial engineering, and applied statistics within food manufacturing also frequently qualify. Customer-facing or purely commercial roles like brand management generally do not meet the STEM OPT extension criteria under USCIS guidelines.
Are there any Texas-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in food & beverage?
Texas has no state-level immigration requirements beyond federal standards, but its large agricultural economy means many food and beverage employers also use H-2A visa and seasonal worker programs, which are separate from STEM OPT. Some Texas food manufacturers operate under USDA inspection requirements that may influence hiring timelines. Employers in E-Verify-enrolled facilities, which is common for food processing plants, are already positioned to meet the E-Verify requirement mandatory for all STEM OPT extension employers under USCIS rules.