E-3 Visa Controls Engineer Jobs
Controls Engineer roles in automation, PLC programming, and industrial systems qualify as E-3 visa specialty occupations when your bachelor's degree aligns with the technical requirements of the position. Australian engineers in this field have a clear path to U.S. sponsorship with no lottery and no annual cap to worry about.
Find E-3 Visa Controls Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 363+ Controls Engineer jobs
See all 363+ Controls Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Controls Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsJob Summary:
The Controls Engineer provides technical leadership for industrial automation and control systems that support manufacturing operations. This role designs, implements, maintains, and optimizes control technologies that improve equipment reliability, production efficiency, and manufacturing performance. Working collaboratively with operations, maintenance, engineering, and external partners, the Controls Engineer drives automation initiatives and delivers technical solutions that support operational excellence and long-term business growth.
Required Qualifications:
-
Bachelor's of Science in Engineering degree and progressively responsible automation or controls engineering experience.
-
Ability to work safely within a manufacturing environment.
-
Ability to travel occasionally to support equipment installation, vendors, or customer sites as business needs require.
Preferred Qualifications:
-
Experience designing, programming, integrating, or supporting industrial robotic and automated manufacturing systems.
-
Experience with articulated robots, collaborative robots (cobots), machine vision, servo motion control, automated material handling, or comparable industrial automation technologies is highly desirable.
Required Experience:
-
Experience designing, programming, implementing, or supporting industrial automation and machine control systems within a manufacturing environment.
-
Experience troubleshooting electrical, controls, PLC, HMI, motion control, or automated production systems.
-
Experience supporting capital equipment installations, commissioning, equipment upgrades, or process improvements.
-
Experience collaborating with maintenance, engineering, production, and external vendors to resolve technical issues.
-
Demonstrated experience applying engineering principles to improve equipment reliability, productivity, safety, or process capability.
Preferred Experience:
-
Experience supporting composite manufacturing, industrial fabrication, aerospace, automotive, or related manufacturing industries.
-
Experience integrating robotic systems, vision systems, or advanced manufacturing technologies into production environments.
-
Experience supporting facility startups or large-scale automation projects.
-
Experience supporting customer acceptance testing, Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), or Site Acceptance Tests (SAT).
-
Experience working within ISO quality systems or regulated manufacturing environments.
Key Responsibilities:
-
Design, implement, maintain, and continuously improve industrial control systems that support safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations.
-
Troubleshoot complex automation, electrical, PLC, HMI, robotics, and machine control systems to minimize downtime and improve equipment performance.
-
Lead automation projects, equipment integrations, and control system upgrades that enhance production capability, reliability, and operational efficiency.
-
Partner with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams to identify process improvement opportunities and implement technical solutions.
-
Develop and maintain control system documentation, programming standards, electrical drawings, backups, and technical records that support equipment lifecycle management.
-
Support commissioning, validation, and startup of new manufacturing equipment while ensuring safe and reliable operation.
-
Analyze equipment performance and manufacturing data to improve system reliability, process capability, and production throughput.
-
Provide technical guidance and knowledge transfer to maintenance, engineering, and production personnel regarding automation and control system operation.
Environmental, Health & Safety Requirements
-
Follow all company safety policies, OSHA regulations, lockout/tagout procedures, and environmental compliance requirements.
-
Properly use required PPE and safely operate tools, machinery, and diagnostic equipment.
-
Identify, report, and correct unsafe conditions and hazardous work practices.
-
Participate in safety investigations, risk assessments, and corrective action activities.
-
Work in industrial manufacturing environments with exposure to moving machinery, electrical systems, noise, heat, vibration, dust, chemicals, and varying temperatures.
-
Maintain clean and organized work areas in accordance with housekeeping and 5S standards.
-
Participate in required safety training, emergency response procedures, and incident reporting activities.
Pay: $96,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year
Benefits:
-
401(k)
-
401(k) matching
-
Dental insurance
-
Health insurance
-
Health savings account
-
Life insurance
-
Paid time off
-
Referral program
-
Retirement plan
-
Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
-
Have you completed a Bachelor's of Science in Engineering?
-
Provide your awarded degree major
Work Location: In person
Job Summary:
The Controls Engineer provides technical leadership for industrial automation and control systems that support manufacturing operations. This role designs, implements, maintains, and optimizes control technologies that improve equipment reliability, production efficiency, and manufacturing performance. Working collaboratively with operations, maintenance, engineering, and external partners, the Controls Engineer drives automation initiatives and delivers technical solutions that support operational excellence and long-term business growth.
Required Qualifications:
-
Bachelor's of Science in Engineering degree and progressively responsible automation or controls engineering experience.
-
Ability to work safely within a manufacturing environment.
-
Ability to travel occasionally to support equipment installation, vendors, or customer sites as business needs require.
Preferred Qualifications:
-
Experience designing, programming, integrating, or supporting industrial robotic and automated manufacturing systems.
-
Experience with articulated robots, collaborative robots (cobots), machine vision, servo motion control, automated material handling, or comparable industrial automation technologies is highly desirable.
Required Experience:
-
Experience designing, programming, implementing, or supporting industrial automation and machine control systems within a manufacturing environment.
-
Experience troubleshooting electrical, controls, PLC, HMI, motion control, or automated production systems.
-
Experience supporting capital equipment installations, commissioning, equipment upgrades, or process improvements.
-
Experience collaborating with maintenance, engineering, production, and external vendors to resolve technical issues.
-
Demonstrated experience applying engineering principles to improve equipment reliability, productivity, safety, or process capability.
Preferred Experience:
-
Experience supporting composite manufacturing, industrial fabrication, aerospace, automotive, or related manufacturing industries.
-
Experience integrating robotic systems, vision systems, or advanced manufacturing technologies into production environments.
-
Experience supporting facility startups or large-scale automation projects.
-
Experience supporting customer acceptance testing, Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), or Site Acceptance Tests (SAT).
-
Experience working within ISO quality systems or regulated manufacturing environments.
Key Responsibilities:
-
Design, implement, maintain, and continuously improve industrial control systems that support safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations.
-
Troubleshoot complex automation, electrical, PLC, HMI, robotics, and machine control systems to minimize downtime and improve equipment performance.
-
Lead automation projects, equipment integrations, and control system upgrades that enhance production capability, reliability, and operational efficiency.
-
Partner with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams to identify process improvement opportunities and implement technical solutions.
-
Develop and maintain control system documentation, programming standards, electrical drawings, backups, and technical records that support equipment lifecycle management.
-
Support commissioning, validation, and startup of new manufacturing equipment while ensuring safe and reliable operation.
-
Analyze equipment performance and manufacturing data to improve system reliability, process capability, and production throughput.
-
Provide technical guidance and knowledge transfer to maintenance, engineering, and production personnel regarding automation and control system operation.
Environmental, Health & Safety Requirements
-
Follow all company safety policies, OSHA regulations, lockout/tagout procedures, and environmental compliance requirements.
-
Properly use required PPE and safely operate tools, machinery, and diagnostic equipment.
-
Identify, report, and correct unsafe conditions and hazardous work practices.
-
Participate in safety investigations, risk assessments, and corrective action activities.
-
Work in industrial manufacturing environments with exposure to moving machinery, electrical systems, noise, heat, vibration, dust, chemicals, and varying temperatures.
-
Maintain clean and organized work areas in accordance with housekeeping and 5S standards.
-
Participate in required safety training, emergency response procedures, and incident reporting activities.
Pay: $96,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year
Benefits:
-
401(k)
-
401(k) matching
-
Dental insurance
-
Health insurance
-
Health savings account
-
Life insurance
-
Paid time off
-
Referral program
-
Retirement plan
-
Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
-
Have you completed a Bachelor's of Science in Engineering?
-
Provide your awarded degree major
Work Location: In person
See all 363+ E-3 Visa Controls Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new E-3 Visa Controls Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding E-3 Visa Sponsorship as a Controls Engineer
Align your degree to the role
Controls Engineer positions require a degree in electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a closely related field. A general engineering degree paired with unrelated experience can trigger specialty occupation questions during E-3 adjudication, so document the direct connection clearly on your resume.
Target manufacturers with automation investment
Industrial manufacturers expanding their automation footprint, particularly in automotive, food processing, and semiconductor sectors, file LCAs regularly for Controls Engineers. Search DOL's FLAG portal by job title and state to identify employers with recent E-3 or H-1B visa LCA filing activity in your target region.
Get your credentials assessed before applying
Australian three-year bachelor's degrees in engineering are generally accepted as equivalent to U.S. four-year degrees for E-3 purposes, but a formal credential evaluation from a NACES-recognized body removes any ambiguity and strengthens your application when employers ask USCIS to confirm specialty occupation.
Clarify the LCA requirement with your employer
Many U.S. hiring managers haven't sponsored an E-3 before and confuse it with the H-1B. Explain upfront that your employer files a Labor Condition Application with the DOL rather than a petition with USCIS, and that there's no lottery, which removes the most common objection to sponsoring Australian candidates.
Use Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service for the paperwork
Once you have an offer, use Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service to handle your LCA and visa paperwork end-to-end. Controls Engineer roles often involve multi-site or contractor arrangements that add complexity to the LCA, and having an expert manage the filing reduces errors that delay your consulate appointment.
Prepare for specialty occupation questions at your interview
Consular officers occasionally ask Controls Engineers to explain how their specific degree field connects to PLC programming or SCADA systems. Bring your offer letter, a detailed job description referencing the bachelor's degree requirement, and your transcripts to the interview to answer these questions directly.
E-3 Visa Controls Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find Controls Engineer jobs with E-3 visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate lists Controls Engineer roles where employers are open to E-3 sponsorship, so you're not cold-applying and hoping the hiring manager knows what the E-3 is. Filtering by visa type saves time compared to screening general job postings. You can also use DOL's FLAG portal to verify which employers have filed LCAs for Controls Engineer positions in your target state.
How much does it cost to get an E-3 visa?
Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service covers the entire process for $499, including the Labor Condition Application, visa document preparation, and consulate appointment guidance. Traditional immigration lawyers charge $2,000–$5,000+ for the same work. The E-3 has less paperwork than most work visas, so paying thousands for legal help is usually unnecessary.
Does a Controls Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for the E-3?
Controls Engineer positions generally qualify when the role requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a related technical field and the job duties involve designing, programming, or maintaining automated control systems. The degree must be a normal requirement for the specific position, not just a preferred qualification. If the job description says 'degree preferred,' ask the employer to revise it to 'required' before filing the LCA.
How does the E-3 compare to the H-1B for Controls Engineers?
The E-3 is available only to Australian citizens and has a 10,500 annual allocation that has never been fully used, so there's no lottery and no waiting for a cap slot. The H-1B is open to all nationalities but requires winning a randomized lottery with roughly a 25% selection rate. For a Controls Engineer with Australian citizenship, the E-3 is a direct path to a consulate appointment within weeks of receiving an offer, while the H-1B can mean waiting a year or more before you can start.
Can I switch Controls Engineer employers while on an E-3?
Yes, but you need to start the E-3 process fresh with the new employer before you stop working for the current one. Your employer must file a new LCA with the DOL and you'll need to either apply for a new E-3 visa at an Australian consulate or change status from within the U.S. There's no portability rule like the H-1B's AC21 provision, so timing the transition carefully matters.