Operations Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's operations engineer jobs span manufacturing corridors in Milwaukee and Green Bay, energy infrastructure across the state, and industrial operations at employers like Oshkosh Corporation, Rockwell Automation, and Harley-Davidson. Companies in these sectors regularly sponsor H-1B and TN visas for qualified engineers with backgrounds in systems optimization, process control, and supply chain operations.
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INTRODUCTION
At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.
Overview
Lilly is entering an exciting period of growth and we are committed to delivering innovative medicines to patients around the world. Lilly is investing over $3 billion to create a new state-of-the-art manufacturing site, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The brand-new facility will utilize the latest technology to increase the company's manufacturing capacity in parenteral (injectable) medications, device assembly and packaging operations. This is an exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help build and operate a new site. The Lilly Kenosha County site will be built using the latest high-tech equipment, advanced highly integrated and automated manufacturing systems, and have a focus on minimizing the impact to our environment. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
POSITION
The Engineering Associate Director (AD) - Packaging Operations is responsible for the staffing, training, and leadership of the engineering group (both process, automation and maintenance) supporting asset delivery, process development, commissioning, qualification, validation and startup of the packaging lines in the site expansion project. After startup, the Engineering AD will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day engineering activities as well as planning for the 3 - 6-month horizon. The Engineering AD is expected to lead by example and provide coaching to others in the areas of safety, quality, engineering, optimization and continuous improvement.
KEY OBJECTIVES/DELIVERABLES:
Manage for Results /Strategic Planning:
- Manage Engineering and Maintenance support for Commercial Manufacturing Operations:
- Manage team of process and automation engineers and maintenance technicians providing Front Line support in one or more of the following areas:
- Parenteral Operations (Parts Washers, Autoclaves, Formulation, Isolator – Syringe Filler, Automated Visual Inspection)
- Device Assembly
- Packaging Operations
- Warehouse and Logistics (Autonomous Guided Vehicles, Automatic Storage and Retrieval System, etc.)
- Site Utilities (HVAC, Steam Water, Gases, etc.), BMS, Chambers (i.e. Refrigerators, Incubators, Cold Rooms, etc.)
- Ensure appropriate technical and maintenance support for manufacturing or utilities processes of the assigned area.
- Guide SMEs that will provide coaching/assistance to Front Line Engineers and drive increased equipment reliability and uptime, continuous improvements, support capital delivery, among other key strategic initiatives.
- Understand, ensure and decision making based on engineering standards and policies, procedures and business plan that impact the ability of the team members to meet performance objectives.
- Provide Functional Leadership to engineering and maintenance representatives by coaching the following business processes: Change Management, Deviations/Investigations, Equipment and Process Improvements, Process Controls and Variability Reduction
- Lead, support and peer review root cause analysis around equipment and operational events, support complex change controls and quality investigations with strong Root Cause analysis focus.
- Prioritize teams work to optimize equipment output and impact, ensuring proactive and continuous improvement mindset for process and operational improvements and optimization.
- Apply statistical thinking and data analysis methods to understand process variability and capability to drive improvement
- Support regulatory inspections.
- Utilize control systems to monitor, trend and verify equipment performance and downtime. Identify and Optimize unit operation cycle time, yield performance, loop tuning, recipes, etc.
- Support or lead troubleshooting efforts to resolve equipment and operational problems and ensure formal problem-solving techniques are appropriately utilized. On call/off hours support required.
- Understand and ensure compliance with environment health & safety requirements.
- Present and attend various Governance teams to represent engineering.
- Represent group as technical SMEs on capital projects supporting/leading design, modifications, testing, qualifications, and associated documentation.
- Support commissioning and qualification activities.
LEADERSHIP
- This position involves direct management of front-line & SME engineering and maintenance team members.
- Provide leadership, training, development, coaching and support of engineering team members.
- Engage and promote use of internal and external networks and partnerships to help deliver sound technical decisions.
- Promote use of first principals with engineering staff, and drive engineering solutions for problems.
- Monitor and ensure compliance with quality requirements. (trainings, CAPA, deviations)
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering
- At least 7 years process engineering experience
ADDITIONAL PREFERENCES:
- Previous management or leadership experience including leading or working effectively with a cross functional group
- Strong experience in equipment optimization, reliability and troubleshooting
- Strong technical aptitude and ability to train and mentor others
- Solid understanding of basic requirements of regulatory agencies such as the FDA, EMEA, DEKRA, and OSHA.
- Previous experience with highly automated equipment.
- Previous experience with combination products, device assembly, pharmaceutical packaging, drug product formulation and filling in aseptic environment.
- Previous facility or area start up experience.
- Previous equipment qualification and process validation experience.
- Previous experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems and electronic batch release.
- Previous experience with Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) Warehouses or AGVs.
- Previous experience with deviation and change management systems including Trackwise.
OTHER INFORMATION:
- Up to 20% travel and more can be expected during the startup phase.
- Required to be on call, as applicable.
Shift work may apply.
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $123,000 - $198,000. Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

INTRODUCTION
At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.
Overview
Lilly is entering an exciting period of growth and we are committed to delivering innovative medicines to patients around the world. Lilly is investing over $3 billion to create a new state-of-the-art manufacturing site, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The brand-new facility will utilize the latest technology to increase the company's manufacturing capacity in parenteral (injectable) medications, device assembly and packaging operations. This is an exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help build and operate a new site. The Lilly Kenosha County site will be built using the latest high-tech equipment, advanced highly integrated and automated manufacturing systems, and have a focus on minimizing the impact to our environment. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
POSITION
The Engineering Associate Director (AD) - Packaging Operations is responsible for the staffing, training, and leadership of the engineering group (both process, automation and maintenance) supporting asset delivery, process development, commissioning, qualification, validation and startup of the packaging lines in the site expansion project. After startup, the Engineering AD will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day engineering activities as well as planning for the 3 - 6-month horizon. The Engineering AD is expected to lead by example and provide coaching to others in the areas of safety, quality, engineering, optimization and continuous improvement.
KEY OBJECTIVES/DELIVERABLES:
Manage for Results /Strategic Planning:
- Manage Engineering and Maintenance support for Commercial Manufacturing Operations:
- Manage team of process and automation engineers and maintenance technicians providing Front Line support in one or more of the following areas:
- Parenteral Operations (Parts Washers, Autoclaves, Formulation, Isolator – Syringe Filler, Automated Visual Inspection)
- Device Assembly
- Packaging Operations
- Warehouse and Logistics (Autonomous Guided Vehicles, Automatic Storage and Retrieval System, etc.)
- Site Utilities (HVAC, Steam Water, Gases, etc.), BMS, Chambers (i.e. Refrigerators, Incubators, Cold Rooms, etc.)
- Ensure appropriate technical and maintenance support for manufacturing or utilities processes of the assigned area.
- Guide SMEs that will provide coaching/assistance to Front Line Engineers and drive increased equipment reliability and uptime, continuous improvements, support capital delivery, among other key strategic initiatives.
- Understand, ensure and decision making based on engineering standards and policies, procedures and business plan that impact the ability of the team members to meet performance objectives.
- Provide Functional Leadership to engineering and maintenance representatives by coaching the following business processes: Change Management, Deviations/Investigations, Equipment and Process Improvements, Process Controls and Variability Reduction
- Lead, support and peer review root cause analysis around equipment and operational events, support complex change controls and quality investigations with strong Root Cause analysis focus.
- Prioritize teams work to optimize equipment output and impact, ensuring proactive and continuous improvement mindset for process and operational improvements and optimization.
- Apply statistical thinking and data analysis methods to understand process variability and capability to drive improvement
- Support regulatory inspections.
- Utilize control systems to monitor, trend and verify equipment performance and downtime. Identify and Optimize unit operation cycle time, yield performance, loop tuning, recipes, etc.
- Support or lead troubleshooting efforts to resolve equipment and operational problems and ensure formal problem-solving techniques are appropriately utilized. On call/off hours support required.
- Understand and ensure compliance with environment health & safety requirements.
- Present and attend various Governance teams to represent engineering.
- Represent group as technical SMEs on capital projects supporting/leading design, modifications, testing, qualifications, and associated documentation.
- Support commissioning and qualification activities.
LEADERSHIP
- This position involves direct management of front-line & SME engineering and maintenance team members.
- Provide leadership, training, development, coaching and support of engineering team members.
- Engage and promote use of internal and external networks and partnerships to help deliver sound technical decisions.
- Promote use of first principals with engineering staff, and drive engineering solutions for problems.
- Monitor and ensure compliance with quality requirements. (trainings, CAPA, deviations)
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering
- At least 7 years process engineering experience
ADDITIONAL PREFERENCES:
- Previous management or leadership experience including leading or working effectively with a cross functional group
- Strong experience in equipment optimization, reliability and troubleshooting
- Strong technical aptitude and ability to train and mentor others
- Solid understanding of basic requirements of regulatory agencies such as the FDA, EMEA, DEKRA, and OSHA.
- Previous experience with highly automated equipment.
- Previous experience with combination products, device assembly, pharmaceutical packaging, drug product formulation and filling in aseptic environment.
- Previous facility or area start up experience.
- Previous equipment qualification and process validation experience.
- Previous experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems and electronic batch release.
- Previous experience with Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) Warehouses or AGVs.
- Previous experience with deviation and change management systems including Trackwise.
OTHER INFORMATION:
- Up to 20% travel and more can be expected during the startup phase.
- Required to be on call, as applicable.
Shift work may apply.
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $123,000 - $198,000. Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
Operations Engineer Job Roles in Wisconsin
See all 243+ Operations Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin
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Search Operations Engineer Jobs in WisconsinOperations Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in Wisconsin sponsor visas for operations engineers?
Wisconsin manufacturers and industrial companies are among the most active sponsors for operations engineer roles. Oshkosh Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls, Harley-Davidson, and SC Johnson have filed H-1B petitions for engineering positions in recent years. Larger employers in the food processing and paper manufacturing sectors, particularly in the Fox Valley region, also have established sponsorship programs for operations-focused engineers.
Which visa types are most common for operations engineer roles in Wisconsin?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for operations engineers in Wisconsin, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree in engineering, industrial engineering, or a related field. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify for the TN visa under the NAFTA/USMCA engineer category. Employers with multinational operations, such as Johnson Controls, may also sponsor L-1 transfers for engineers moving from overseas offices.
Which cities in Wisconsin have the most operations engineer sponsorship jobs?
Milwaukee is Wisconsin's primary hub for operations engineer sponsorship, driven by its concentration of advanced manufacturing, automation, and energy companies. The Fox Valley area, including Appleton and Oshkosh, generates significant demand through paper, packaging, and heavy equipment manufacturing. Madison sees sponsorship activity tied to technology operations and university-affiliated employers. Green Bay's food processing and logistics sector also produces a steady volume of operations engineering roles.
How to find operations engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for visa sponsorship, making it straightforward to search operations engineer roles in Wisconsin without sorting through positions that won't support international candidates. You can browse by location and role type to identify employers in Milwaukee, the Fox Valley, and Madison who have an active history of sponsoring engineers. Checking employer profiles on Migrate Mate can also help you assess sponsorship patterns before applying.
Are there state-specific considerations for operations engineers seeking sponsorship in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's manufacturing-heavy economy means prevailing wage determinations for operations engineers are often benchmarked against industrial and production sectors rather than tech, which can affect offered compensation relative to other states. The University of Wisconsin system, particularly UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee, supplies a pipeline of engineering talent, meaning employers are familiar with OPT and STEM OPT work authorization. Engineers with experience in process control, lean manufacturing, or supply chain optimization tend to align well with Wisconsin employer needs.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored operations engineer jobs in Wisconsin?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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