Aerospace & Defense OPT Jobs in Washington
Washington is one of the strongest states for aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship, anchored by Boeing's commercial and defense divisions in Everett and Renton, plus a dense cluster of defense contractors and engineering firms around the Puget Sound region. International students in engineering, computer science, and systems design find consistent demand here, particularly through STEM OPT extensions.
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Get Access To All JobsFLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $95,000.00-$145,000.00
Summary
Manufacturing Manager plans, schedules, and manages one or more manufacturing production processes. Assists with planning and directing an efficient layout of equipment and the flow of materials and production. The Manufacturing Manager manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs and oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization’s manufacturing facilities, planning, coordinating, and directing the activities (processes) that result in products. Their job description entails supervising and directing the technical personnel responsible for every stage of production to ensure manufacture of high quality and cost-effective product.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following with other duties as assigned:
Manufacturing
- Ensure the department continuously strives to be a World Class Manufacturing operation; pursuing being the best, the fastest, and lowest cost producer.
- Plan and determine optimal utilization of manufacturing workers and equipment to meet manufacturing goals.
- Determine if new manufacturing machines, methods are needed.
- Capacity/resource planning to ensure that manufacturing stays on schedule and within budget.
- Analyze manufacturing data and identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Identify and utilize methods of making manufacturing processes more efficient and effective (reducing waste, using lean, etc.).
- Help ensure that customer, statutory, industry standards, and internal requirements are met or exceeded.
Coordination
- Coordinate manufacturing with Planning, Procurement, Inventory, shipping and other departments to ensure smooth and timely adherence to schedule.
- Understand, prepare and execute departmental FY operational & controllable budgets.
- Support/prepare cost estimates and budget required for manufacturing proposals.
- Prepare manufacturing metrics & reports and present to management.
Employees
- Responsible for employee growth and creation/embodiment of a positive culture.
- Hire, train, coach, and evaluate manufacturing workers.
- Monitor and mentor workers to ensure they meet performance and safety requirements.
- Lead and motivate team to fulfill schedules, control costs and ensure quality.
- Exemplify and promote an atmosphere that supports the team to use the best of their skills.
- Employ, interview, monitor and conduct congratulatory and disciplinary actions.
- Ensure team maintains proper training on relevant manufacturing and quality procedure, processes and equipment.
- Mentor team and develop employee career growth plans.
- Establish training programs to enhance personnel job skill and knowledge and ensure quality manufacturing.
Quality/Safety
- Comply with entire QA manual to assure manufacturing of high-quality products.
- Direct corrective action of any manufacturing problems that may arise.
- Work with Quality Manager in development and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Ensure safety of all employees working in manufacturing department.
- Ensure manufacturing and production personnel comply with health and safety policies when carrying out job duties.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Depending on the size of the department the manager may or may not have a supervisor.
In situations with a supervisor the manager may have one or more supervisors who directly supervises the team. In this case the manager has supervisory responsibilities over the supervisor who, in turn, has potential supervisory responsibilities over lead(s) and a team of up to 40 individuals in the production process(es)/unit(s).
In situations without a supervisor the manager will also have the responsibilities outlined in the supervisor job description. In this case the manager has supervisory responsibilities over the lead(s), and a team of up to 40 individuals in the production process(es)/unit(s).
Requirements
Education and/or Experience:
- Position requires the completion of Associate's degree in a technical or non-technical field or formal certification in a technical field obtained through college level courses or professional curriculum with minimum of 5 years related experience.
Qualifications
- 2 to 3 years prior supervisory/leadership experience, with demonstrated ability to train/develop individuals for potential growth.
- Understand and/or working knowledge of master schedules, operating and recovery plans.
- Working knowledge of ISO-9000 or AS9100 requirements.
- Good communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to interact with customers, suppliers, and management team in coordination of various company requirements.
- Experience in and understanding of different types of manufacturing techniques.
- Knowledge of business and management principles.
- Advanced leadership techniques and coordination of people and resources.
- Able to work in a team environment: able to coordinate projects from start to end.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbal and written.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP software, preferably Epicor.
- Professional with proven organizational and time management skills.
Requirements
- All external hiring is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and a criminal background check.
- Moderate travel within the U.S. and abroad may be required to support JAMCO America programs.
Language Skill
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
- Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Reasoning Ability
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
Customer Orientation
- Must demonstrate concern and take actions to meet requirements and high standards of quality of both internal and external customers.
- Must display courtesy and sensitivity in all aspects of work environment and job duties.
- Manage difficult situations both in and out of own department.
- Respond promptly to customer needs.
- Solicit customer feedback to improve service.
Mathematical Skills
- Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Physical Demands
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
Work Environment
- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $95,000.00-$145,000.00
Summary
Manufacturing Manager plans, schedules, and manages one or more manufacturing production processes. Assists with planning and directing an efficient layout of equipment and the flow of materials and production. The Manufacturing Manager manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs and oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization’s manufacturing facilities, planning, coordinating, and directing the activities (processes) that result in products. Their job description entails supervising and directing the technical personnel responsible for every stage of production to ensure manufacture of high quality and cost-effective product.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following with other duties as assigned:
Manufacturing
- Ensure the department continuously strives to be a World Class Manufacturing operation; pursuing being the best, the fastest, and lowest cost producer.
- Plan and determine optimal utilization of manufacturing workers and equipment to meet manufacturing goals.
- Determine if new manufacturing machines, methods are needed.
- Capacity/resource planning to ensure that manufacturing stays on schedule and within budget.
- Analyze manufacturing data and identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Identify and utilize methods of making manufacturing processes more efficient and effective (reducing waste, using lean, etc.).
- Help ensure that customer, statutory, industry standards, and internal requirements are met or exceeded.
Coordination
- Coordinate manufacturing with Planning, Procurement, Inventory, shipping and other departments to ensure smooth and timely adherence to schedule.
- Understand, prepare and execute departmental FY operational & controllable budgets.
- Support/prepare cost estimates and budget required for manufacturing proposals.
- Prepare manufacturing metrics & reports and present to management.
Employees
- Responsible for employee growth and creation/embodiment of a positive culture.
- Hire, train, coach, and evaluate manufacturing workers.
- Monitor and mentor workers to ensure they meet performance and safety requirements.
- Lead and motivate team to fulfill schedules, control costs and ensure quality.
- Exemplify and promote an atmosphere that supports the team to use the best of their skills.
- Employ, interview, monitor and conduct congratulatory and disciplinary actions.
- Ensure team maintains proper training on relevant manufacturing and quality procedure, processes and equipment.
- Mentor team and develop employee career growth plans.
- Establish training programs to enhance personnel job skill and knowledge and ensure quality manufacturing.
Quality/Safety
- Comply with entire QA manual to assure manufacturing of high-quality products.
- Direct corrective action of any manufacturing problems that may arise.
- Work with Quality Manager in development and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Ensure safety of all employees working in manufacturing department.
- Ensure manufacturing and production personnel comply with health and safety policies when carrying out job duties.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Depending on the size of the department the manager may or may not have a supervisor.
In situations with a supervisor the manager may have one or more supervisors who directly supervises the team. In this case the manager has supervisory responsibilities over the supervisor who, in turn, has potential supervisory responsibilities over lead(s) and a team of up to 40 individuals in the production process(es)/unit(s).
In situations without a supervisor the manager will also have the responsibilities outlined in the supervisor job description. In this case the manager has supervisory responsibilities over the lead(s), and a team of up to 40 individuals in the production process(es)/unit(s).
Requirements
Education and/or Experience:
- Position requires the completion of Associate's degree in a technical or non-technical field or formal certification in a technical field obtained through college level courses or professional curriculum with minimum of 5 years related experience.
Qualifications
- 2 to 3 years prior supervisory/leadership experience, with demonstrated ability to train/develop individuals for potential growth.
- Understand and/or working knowledge of master schedules, operating and recovery plans.
- Working knowledge of ISO-9000 or AS9100 requirements.
- Good communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to interact with customers, suppliers, and management team in coordination of various company requirements.
- Experience in and understanding of different types of manufacturing techniques.
- Knowledge of business and management principles.
- Advanced leadership techniques and coordination of people and resources.
- Able to work in a team environment: able to coordinate projects from start to end.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbal and written.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP software, preferably Epicor.
- Professional with proven organizational and time management skills.
Requirements
- All external hiring is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and a criminal background check.
- Moderate travel within the U.S. and abroad may be required to support JAMCO America programs.
Language Skill
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
- Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Reasoning Ability
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
Customer Orientation
- Must demonstrate concern and take actions to meet requirements and high standards of quality of both internal and external customers.
- Must display courtesy and sensitivity in all aspects of work environment and job duties.
- Manage difficult situations both in and out of own department.
- Respond promptly to customer needs.
- Solicit customer feedback to improve service.
Mathematical Skills
- Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Physical Demands
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
Work Environment
- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
OPT Aerospace & Defense Job Roles in Washington
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Search Aerospace & Defense Jobs in WashingtonAerospace & Defense OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
Which aerospace and defense companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Washington?
Boeing is the largest aerospace employer in Washington and has historically hired F-1 OPT students across engineering and technical disciplines. Other active sponsors in the state include Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Raytheon (RTX), and a range of defense-focused subcontractors and engineering services firms concentrated in the greater Seattle and Everett areas. Sponsorship practices vary by role, team, and hiring cycle, so researching individual job postings is essential.
Which cities in Washington have the most aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Everett and Renton are the primary hubs, driven by Boeing's major manufacturing and engineering campuses. Seattle supports a broader aerospace supply chain and defense technology sector. Bellevue and Redmond also have defense-adjacent technology employers. Tacoma and its surrounding area host additional defense contractors tied to nearby military installations, including Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which generates demand for defense systems and logistics engineering roles.
What types of aerospace and defense roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Washington?
Roles that regularly qualify include aerospace systems engineering, avionics and electrical engineering, mechanical and structural engineering, software development for flight and defense systems, manufacturing engineering, and quality assurance. Many of these fall under STEM-designated fields, making F-1 students eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension beyond the standard 12 months. Positions requiring active U.S. security clearances are generally not accessible to F-1 visa holders.
How do I find aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Washington?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters aerospace and defense jobs in Washington by visa type, including F-1 OPT and STEM OPT. Rather than sorting through postings that exclude international applicants, Migrate Mate surfaces roles where employers have indicated sponsorship willingness. Focusing your search on STEM-designated roles in Everett, Seattle, and Renton gives you the strongest starting point for OPT-eligible positions in this industry.
Are there any Washington-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in aerospace and defense?
Washington's aerospace and defense sector has a high concentration of defense-contract work that requires U.S. government security clearances, which F-1 visa holders are generally ineligible to obtain. This narrows the pool of accessible roles to commercial aerospace, unclassified defense engineering, and software-heavy positions. Students should confirm a role's clearance requirements before applying. Additionally, STEM OPT employers in Washington must be enrolled in E-Verify, a standard requirement for most large aerospace employers in the state.