J-1 Visa Controls Engineer Jobs
Controls Engineer roles in the United States are accessible to exchange visitors through the J-1 visa Trainee or Intern program categories, both of which require sponsorship from a U.S. Department of State-designated organization. Host employers in automation, manufacturing, and process industries regularly partner with designated sponsors to place qualified candidates in structured training programs.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Dematic is looking to build upon our Co-Op Program and bring on a student for our Controls Engineering team!
We offer:
Job Duties:
Provides assistance in routine planning and execution of Engineering activities:
- Will be assigned a project implementation team to work with.
- Working with the Controls CAD team, assist in the development of Layout and Electrical Schematic Drawings using Maestro and Autocad-E.
- Assist in the preparation of Bill of Material creation.
- Gain familiarity with the various controls components used in the system design and where to place them on the layouts and schematics.
- Learn the basics of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) and how to program them.
- Travel to North American job-sites to assist with commissioning equipment/systems.
- Seeks advice and guidance on nonroutine or problem areas from others.
- Identifies problems as they occur and takes appropriate steps to solve them in situations where the problem is not difficult or complex.
What We’re Looking For:
- Innovative Thinkers: Individuals who dare to think boldly and are not afraid to challenge the status quo.
- Extraordinary Teammates: Individuals ready to learn from and contribute to a diverse team.
- Self-Starters: Candidates who are committed to personal growth and continuous learning.
- Future Leaders: Individuals who seek to build a career that goes beyond a regular job and is driven by their passion.
Tasks and Qualifications:
Qualifications
- You must be a full-time student at an accredited U.S. college or university.
- Actively pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering.
- Able to work from Dematic office in Grand Rapids, MI.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Interested in working in collaborative teams.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Demonstrates a basic knowledge of professional principles and skills.
- Effectively uses fundamental concepts and procedures of Engineering and Administration.
- Proficient at Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
- Proactive, diligent, self-motivated.
- Experience or familiarity with AutoCAD or modeling program is preferred.
- Participate in various Future Talent Programming events, such as weekly professional development sessions, a team-based innovation challenge and endless development opportunities.
INTRODUCTION
Dematic is looking to build upon our Co-Op Program and bring on a student for our Controls Engineering team!
We offer:
Job Duties:
Provides assistance in routine planning and execution of Engineering activities:
- Will be assigned a project implementation team to work with.
- Working with the Controls CAD team, assist in the development of Layout and Electrical Schematic Drawings using Maestro and Autocad-E.
- Assist in the preparation of Bill of Material creation.
- Gain familiarity with the various controls components used in the system design and where to place them on the layouts and schematics.
- Learn the basics of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) and how to program them.
- Travel to North American job-sites to assist with commissioning equipment/systems.
- Seeks advice and guidance on nonroutine or problem areas from others.
- Identifies problems as they occur and takes appropriate steps to solve them in situations where the problem is not difficult or complex.
What We’re Looking For:
- Innovative Thinkers: Individuals who dare to think boldly and are not afraid to challenge the status quo.
- Extraordinary Teammates: Individuals ready to learn from and contribute to a diverse team.
- Self-Starters: Candidates who are committed to personal growth and continuous learning.
- Future Leaders: Individuals who seek to build a career that goes beyond a regular job and is driven by their passion.
Tasks and Qualifications:
Qualifications
- You must be a full-time student at an accredited U.S. college or university.
- Actively pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering.
- Able to work from Dematic office in Grand Rapids, MI.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Interested in working in collaborative teams.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Demonstrates a basic knowledge of professional principles and skills.
- Effectively uses fundamental concepts and procedures of Engineering and Administration.
- Proficient at Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
- Proactive, diligent, self-motivated.
- Experience or familiarity with AutoCAD or modeling program is preferred.
- Participate in various Future Talent Programming events, such as weekly professional development sessions, a team-based innovation challenge and endless development opportunities.
See all 37+ J-1 Visa Controls Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Controls Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Controls Engineer
Align your credentials to Trainee category requirements
The J-1 Trainee category requires either a degree plus one year of related work experience, or five years of relevant work experience abroad. Document your PLC programming, SCADA systems, or control systems projects in detail before approaching a designated sponsor.
Build a Training Plan before employer outreach
Designated sponsors require a signed Training Plan outlining your learning objectives, supervision structure, and weekly activities. Draft a preliminary version focused on measurable controls engineering skills so host employers can see exactly what the arrangement entails.
Target host employers in automation-intensive industries
Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers in manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, and industrial automation sectors, where J-1 Trainee placements for controls and instrumentation roles are most structurally common and where host agreements are easier to negotiate.
Verify the host employer's E-Verify enrollment status
Some designated sponsors require host employers to be enrolled in E-Verify before issuing a DS-2019. Confirm enrollment status directly with the prospective host before advancing to offer stage to avoid delays in the sponsor approval process.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early
Controls Engineers from countries on the Exchange Visitor Skills List may face a two-year home-country residency requirement after their J-1 program ends. Determine your status under that list before accepting a host placement, as it affects any subsequent H-1B visa or green card plans.
Negotiate offer terms that satisfy DOL wage compliance
Your host employer must pay J-1 Trainees wages commensurate with similarly employed U.S. workers. Cross-reference the offered salary against OFLC Wage Search data for your specific SOC code and location before signing any offer letter or training agreement.
Controls Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Controls Engineer?
The J-1 Trainee category is the standard fit for working controls engineers with a degree plus experience or five or more years of field experience. Current university students completing a degree in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering typically qualify under the J-1 Intern category instead, which is limited to the duration of their academic program plus 30 days.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Controls Engineer placement?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, not the hiring employer. The employer acts as the host organization and signs the Training Plan, but the designated sponsor issues the DS-2019, monitors compliance throughout the program, and bears regulatory responsibility for the exchange visitor.
How do I find U.S. employers who will host a J-1 Controls Engineer trainee?
Use Migrate Mate to search for Controls Engineer roles at U.S. employers in sectors like industrial automation, utilities, and advanced manufacturing, where J-1 Trainee hosting is common. Once you identify a willing host, you then work with a designated sponsor organization to complete the DS-2019 application and Training Plan.
What does the Training Plan need to cover for a Controls Engineer J-1 placement?
The Training Plan must detail your specific learning objectives tied to controls engineering disciplines, such as PLC programming, distributed control systems, HMI development, or instrumentation calibration. It should include a phase-by-phase schedule, the names and qualifications of your supervisors, and measurable competency benchmarks. Generic plans are regularly rejected by designated sponsors.
Can a J-1 Controls Engineer trainee transition to an H-1B after the program ends?
A transition is possible but depends on whether you carry the two-year home-country residency requirement. Engineers subject to that requirement must either complete the two years abroad, obtain a waiver from USCIS based on exceptional hardship or an interested government agency recommendation, or apply through a no-objection statement from their home country before pursuing H-1B status.