J-1 Visa Controls Technician Jobs
Controls Technician roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Intern program category, depending on your experience level. A State Department-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019, while your U.S. host employer oversees day-to-day training in industrial automation, PLC systems, and control instrumentation.
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Get Access To All JobsBuild your best future with the Johnson Controls Team:
As a global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. As a member of the Johnson Controls Future Leaders Internship Program, you will learn to use your valuable skill set, knowledge, and passion to excel in a dynamic and competitive global environment. Our Internship Program is a unique opportunity to put classroom theory into practice while bolstering your resume and professional network. By joining a program that is rooted in community, connection, and memorable experiences, you will have an opportunity to transform your future. We are proud to share that our Intern Program has been recognized by Yello x WayUp as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the United States for 2025.
What you will do
Johnson Controls Inc. invites you to apply for an intern HVAC position in our Minot office. Our internship program is designed to provide you with a positive work/training experience and challenging objectives that are consistent with your career goals and current level of education. Specific identified internship responsibilities are outlined below.
Under direct supervision, completes assigned programming, commissioning, basic trouble shooting and preventive maintenance of HVAC systems per contract obligation.
How you will do it
- Assists experienced personnel with coordinating, scheduling, and executing HVAC Controls and Mechanical tasks.
- Adheres to safety standards and local and national codes, with a high degree of regard to employee and subcontractor safety.
- Continuous proactive customer interactions including an in-depth understanding of customer(s) needs wants and systems currently in place.
- Work with management staff to coordinate, manage, and install equipment data collection monitoring systems.
- Completes paperwork and onsite documentation as required.
- Performs self-study (reading, research, and practice) to obtain technical proficiency on required products and application.
What we look for
- Currently enrolled in a 1- or 2-year degree program in HVAC, mechanical or similar field or equivalent work experience.
- Working knowledge to include mechanical systems, low voltage, common Microsoft software and the ability to develop proficiency with JCI proprietary software.
- Effective interpersonal skills to properly represent Johnson Controls to customers and other outside contacts in an ethical and professional manner.
HIRING HOURLY RANGE: $19.00 – $22.00/hour (Hourly rate to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, location, and alignment with market data.) This position includes a competitive benefits package. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site.
Johnson Controls International plc. is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law. To view more information about your equal opportunity and non-discrimination rights as a candidate, visit EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit here.
Build your best future with the Johnson Controls Team:
As a global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. As a member of the Johnson Controls Future Leaders Internship Program, you will learn to use your valuable skill set, knowledge, and passion to excel in a dynamic and competitive global environment. Our Internship Program is a unique opportunity to put classroom theory into practice while bolstering your resume and professional network. By joining a program that is rooted in community, connection, and memorable experiences, you will have an opportunity to transform your future. We are proud to share that our Intern Program has been recognized by Yello x WayUp as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the United States for 2025.
What you will do
Johnson Controls Inc. invites you to apply for an intern HVAC position in our Minot office. Our internship program is designed to provide you with a positive work/training experience and challenging objectives that are consistent with your career goals and current level of education. Specific identified internship responsibilities are outlined below.
Under direct supervision, completes assigned programming, commissioning, basic trouble shooting and preventive maintenance of HVAC systems per contract obligation.
How you will do it
- Assists experienced personnel with coordinating, scheduling, and executing HVAC Controls and Mechanical tasks.
- Adheres to safety standards and local and national codes, with a high degree of regard to employee and subcontractor safety.
- Continuous proactive customer interactions including an in-depth understanding of customer(s) needs wants and systems currently in place.
- Work with management staff to coordinate, manage, and install equipment data collection monitoring systems.
- Completes paperwork and onsite documentation as required.
- Performs self-study (reading, research, and practice) to obtain technical proficiency on required products and application.
What we look for
- Currently enrolled in a 1- or 2-year degree program in HVAC, mechanical or similar field or equivalent work experience.
- Working knowledge to include mechanical systems, low voltage, common Microsoft software and the ability to develop proficiency with JCI proprietary software.
- Effective interpersonal skills to properly represent Johnson Controls to customers and other outside contacts in an ethical and professional manner.
HIRING HOURLY RANGE: $19.00 – $22.00/hour (Hourly rate to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, location, and alignment with market data.) This position includes a competitive benefits package. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site.
Johnson Controls International plc. is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law. To view more information about your equal opportunity and non-discrimination rights as a candidate, visit EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit here.
See all J-1 Visa Controls Technician Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Controls Technician
Document your PLC and SCADA credentials first
Gather certifications in specific platforms like Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Beckhoff before applying. Designated sponsors and host employers both review your technical credentials when approving your J-1 visa Trainee training plan, so gaps in documentation slow the process.
Distinguish Intern from Trainee category eligibility
If you're currently enrolled in a degree program, you qualify for the J-1 Intern category. If you've graduated within the past 12 months or have related work experience, the Trainee category applies. Applying under the wrong category invalidates your DS-2019.
Target manufacturers with structured training programs
Host employers must submit a detailed Training or Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) outlining your rotations across control systems, instrumentation, and safety protocols. Manufacturers with dedicated engineering development programs are far more prepared to fulfill this requirement than smaller shops.
Search Migrate Mate for J-1-aligned Controls Technician roles
Use Migrate Mate to find U.S. employers actively hosting J-1 exchange visitors in technical and engineering roles. Filtering by industry and role type surfaces host organizations already familiar with the DS-2019 process and DS-7002 training plan requirements.
Confirm the home residency requirement before accepting an offer
Some Controls Technician J-1 participants are subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement, particularly if your training is government-funded or your home country has a skills shortage designation. Verify your status with your designated sponsor before signing any offer letter.
Align your training plan phases with real job duties
USCIS and your designated sponsor both scrutinize whether the DS-7002 training plan reflects genuine skill development rather than routine production work. Each phase should map to a distinct competency: diagnostics, preventive maintenance, system integration, or commissioning, with clear timelines.
Controls Technician J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Controls Technician positions?
Most Controls Technician participants enter under the J-1 Trainee category, which covers early-career professionals with a degree and some work experience, or relevant work experience of at least five years. Current students completing a U.S. training placement as part of their curriculum typically qualify under the J-1 Intern category instead. Your designated sponsor confirms which category applies based on your background.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa as a Controls Technician?
Your J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your host employer. Organizations like CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or AIPT issue your DS-2019, administer your exchange program, and maintain compliance oversight. The manufacturing or industrial facility where you perform your training is the host employer, not the legal sponsor, even if they arranged the placement.
How do I find Controls Technician host employers open to J-1 trainees?
Use Migrate Mate to search for Controls Technician roles at U.S. employers with a history of hosting international professionals in technical positions. Many manufacturers prefer candidates who arrive with a designated sponsor already identified, so researching sponsor organizations separately and then matching to host employers is the most effective sequence.
What does the DS-7002 training plan need to include for this role?
The DS-7002 must describe each phase of your controls training with specific objectives, supervision details, and timelines. For Controls Technician roles, this typically means separate phases covering PLC programming, instrumentation calibration, fault diagnostics, and safety system protocols. Vague or generic descriptions of job duties are the most common reason designated sponsors request revisions before issuing the DS-2019.
Can I change host employers or work sites during my J-1 Trainee program?
Any change to your host employer, training location, or program scope requires your designated sponsor's prior approval and an amended DS-2019. Working at an unauthorized site, even temporarily for travel or project-based assignments, constitutes a program violation. Notify your sponsor before accepting any change in assignment, not after the fact.