J-1 Visa Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs
Electrical Controls Engineer roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Research Scholar program category. Designated sponsors issue your DS-2019, while the U.S. engineering firm serves as your host organization. No lottery or annual cap applies.
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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.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as an Electrical Controls Engineer
Document your PLC and controls credentials clearly
Gather certifications, degree transcripts, and project portfolios that demonstrate hands-on experience with programmable logic controllers, SCADA systems, or industrial automation. Designated sponsors evaluate technical depth when approving Trainee program applications, so vague credentials slow the process.
Target host employers with existing J-1 infrastructure
Search for engineering firms that have previously hosted J-1 visa Trainees in controls or automation disciplines. Employers already familiar with training plan requirements and DS-2019 timelines move faster than those encountering the program for the first time.
Find J-1-aligned controls roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter for Electrical Controls Engineer positions at U.S. employers who have engaged international professionals before. Targeting hosts with relevant hiring patterns shortens the time between offer and sponsor approval.
Verify your program category matches your career stage
Current students in an engineering degree program typically qualify under the Intern category, while graduates with professional experience use the Trainee category. Mismatching your stage to the wrong category will cause your designated sponsor to reject the application outright.
Negotiate training plan scope before accepting an offer
Your host employer must submit a detailed Training or Internship Placement Plan to the designated sponsor. Confirm the plan covers PLC programming, controls commissioning, or safety system work relevant to your goals before signing, since changes after approval require sponsor review.
Check the two-year home residency requirement early
Some J-1 participants from countries with exchange agreements, or those funded by their home government, are subject to a two-year home residency requirement before changing to most other U.S. visa categories. Confirm your situation with your designated sponsor before your training plan is finalized.
Electrical Controls Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits an Electrical Controls Engineer?
It depends on your career stage. If you're currently enrolled in an engineering degree program, the Intern category applies. If you've already graduated and hold professional experience in controls or industrial automation, the Trainee category is the correct fit. Both categories require a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019, not the hiring employer directly.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for an engineering role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, not the employer. The engineering firm where you work is your host organization. The designated sponsor reviews and approves your Training or Internship Placement Plan, issues the DS-2019 form, and monitors program compliance throughout your stay.
How do I find Electrical Controls Engineer host employers open to J-1 arrangements?
Migrate Mate lets you search for Electrical Controls Engineer roles at U.S. employers who have experience working with international professionals. Because the J-1 requires host employer cooperation on the training plan and sponsor coordination, targeting employers already familiar with the process significantly reduces friction during the offer stage.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect controls engineers?
It can. J-1 participants whose home country government funded their training, whose skills appear on the State Department's Exchange Visitor Skills List, or who receive support from a U.S. government agency may be subject to the requirement. This bars you from changing to H-1B visa or other nonimmigrant work categories until you complete two years in your home country, unless you obtain a waiver.
What should an Electrical Controls Engineer's training plan include?
The Training or Internship Placement Plan submitted to your designated sponsor should detail specific technical activities tied to your engineering background, such as PLC programming tasks, control panel design reviews, SCADA system commissioning, or safety instrumented system validation. Generic descriptions like 'general engineering support' are often rejected. The more precisely the plan maps to your credentials, the smoother the sponsor approval process.