J-1 Visa Operations Engineer Jobs
Operations Engineer roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Intern program categories. Host employers work with State Department-designated sponsors to issue your DS-2019, and no annual lottery or cap applies to your application.
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Get Access To All JobsIKO Industries Ltd. is a market leader in the manufacturing of roofing and building materials. IKO is a Canadian owned and operated business with production facilities worldwide and has many years of unparalleled success in the roofing materials industry. Quality, integrity, and trustworthiness are the values that underlie this success, and we have built this company by hiring people who hold these values. People like you!
Job Description
Operations Engineering Intern/Co-Op
Location: Chester, SC
Type: Full Time Co-Op / Paid Intern
Department: Plant Operations
Must be local to the Carolina States
Relocation Assistance not available
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
- Competitive Wage ($24.00-$26.00 per Hour)
- Hands-on experience with an industry leader in manufacturing, contributing to the production of high-quality roofing materials.
- Work with a company committed to eco-friendly practices and sustainable production methods.
- Exposure to different roles or departments to help you clarify your career interests and path.
- Potential for future Internship/Co-Op placements or full-time roles upon graduation.
WHEN YOU JOIN US, YOU WILL BE;
- Collaborating closely with the Operation Structure steering team to support the development and organization of key documentation for our evolving operational framework.
- Assisting in the creation and refinement of materials including Asset Hierarchy Lists, Document Navigation Accelerators (linked drawings), Inventory Lists, Spare Parts Lists, Job Plans, and Preventive Maintenance documentation.
- Creating detailed Safe Work Instructions (SWIs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and equipment-specific Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) documents with guidance from plant leadership.
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE;
- Sophomore, Junior, or Senior studying to be a Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
- Proficient in MS Excel, analyzing spreadsheet information, using Pareto's, Bar Charts, Look Up Tables, Pivot Tables, Drop Down Menus, etc.
- Proficient in AutoCAD, MS Word and MS Power Point.
- Troubleshooting capability is a plus.
- Self-starter and eager to work.
WORK AUTHORIZATIONS AND TRAVEL;
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
- No travel requirement
Benefits of Employment: IKO recognizes that its success is due to the strength of its employees. A primary goal of IKO is to promote individual employee's sense of accomplishment and contribution so that employees enjoy their association with IKO. The Company invests in its employees so that they are the most knowledgeable in the industry, and undertakes great efforts to nurture loyalty to, and teamwork at, IKO. We are pleased to offer competitive compensation, health care, a progressive and challenging workplace and a commitment to teamwork and integrity.
Diversity and Equal Opportunity Employment: IKO Industries Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. IKO Industries Ltd. encourages and welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
IKO Industries Ltd. is a market leader in the manufacturing of roofing and building materials. IKO is a Canadian owned and operated business with production facilities worldwide and has many years of unparalleled success in the roofing materials industry. Quality, integrity, and trustworthiness are the values that underlie this success, and we have built this company by hiring people who hold these values. People like you!
Job Description
Operations Engineering Intern/Co-Op
Location: Chester, SC
Type: Full Time Co-Op / Paid Intern
Department: Plant Operations
Must be local to the Carolina States
Relocation Assistance not available
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
- Competitive Wage ($24.00-$26.00 per Hour)
- Hands-on experience with an industry leader in manufacturing, contributing to the production of high-quality roofing materials.
- Work with a company committed to eco-friendly practices and sustainable production methods.
- Exposure to different roles or departments to help you clarify your career interests and path.
- Potential for future Internship/Co-Op placements or full-time roles upon graduation.
WHEN YOU JOIN US, YOU WILL BE;
- Collaborating closely with the Operation Structure steering team to support the development and organization of key documentation for our evolving operational framework.
- Assisting in the creation and refinement of materials including Asset Hierarchy Lists, Document Navigation Accelerators (linked drawings), Inventory Lists, Spare Parts Lists, Job Plans, and Preventive Maintenance documentation.
- Creating detailed Safe Work Instructions (SWIs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and equipment-specific Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) documents with guidance from plant leadership.
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE;
- Sophomore, Junior, or Senior studying to be a Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
- Proficient in MS Excel, analyzing spreadsheet information, using Pareto's, Bar Charts, Look Up Tables, Pivot Tables, Drop Down Menus, etc.
- Proficient in AutoCAD, MS Word and MS Power Point.
- Troubleshooting capability is a plus.
- Self-starter and eager to work.
WORK AUTHORIZATIONS AND TRAVEL;
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
- No travel requirement
Benefits of Employment: IKO recognizes that its success is due to the strength of its employees. A primary goal of IKO is to promote individual employee's sense of accomplishment and contribution so that employees enjoy their association with IKO. The Company invests in its employees so that they are the most knowledgeable in the industry, and undertakes great efforts to nurture loyalty to, and teamwork at, IKO. We are pleased to offer competitive compensation, health care, a progressive and challenging workplace and a commitment to teamwork and integrity.
Diversity and Equal Opportunity Employment: IKO Industries Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. IKO Industries Ltd. encourages and welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as an Operations Engineer
Match your training plan to SOC codes
Your DS-2019 training plan must align with O*NET occupation codes for operations engineering. Document your competency gaps clearly, since designated sponsors review whether the U.S. placement offers skills you cannot gain at home.
Confirm the host employer's compliance history
Ask prospective host employers whether they have hosted J-1 visa Trainees before and whether they carry Workers' Compensation coverage. Designated sponsors require both before countersigning your DS-2019, and gaps here delay placement.
Check your home-country residency requirement early
The two-year home-country physical presence requirement applies to certain J-1 Trainees based on government funding or skills-list status. Confirm your eligibility for a waiver before accepting a host offer, since this affects future H-1B visa or immigrant visa plans.
Use Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned roles
Search for operations engineering positions at employers already familiar with exchange visitor hosting. Migrate Mate surfaces roles and employers that match J-1 Trainee program structures, saving you the work of vetting each company's hosting history manually.
Time your SEVIS record transfer carefully
If you are already in the United States on a different J-1 program, your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record must be transferred to the new designated sponsor before your DS-2019 is issued. Gaps in SEVIS status affect your lawful presence.
Verify prevailing wage before signing your offer
Your host employer sets your stipend or salary independently of DOL oversight in most J-1 Trainee placements, but cross-checking the OFLC Wage Search for your SOC code and location ensures your compensation is competitive and defensible if your program is audited.
Operations Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits an Operations Engineer role?
Most Operations Engineer placements fall under the J-1 Trainee category if you have a degree plus one year of relevant experience, or the Intern category if you are currently enrolled in a degree program abroad. The Trainee category allows up to 18 months of structured on-the-job training in business, management, or engineering disciplines with a State Department-designated sponsor issuing your DS-2019.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for an operations engineering position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas, CIEE, or AIPT, not the hiring employer. The employer acts as your host, providing the training environment and signing the training plan. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, monitors program compliance, and is legally responsible for your exchange visitor status throughout the placement.
How do I find host employers open to J-1 operations engineering placements?
Migrate Mate is the recommended starting point. It surfaces operations engineering roles and employers already aligned with exchange visitor hosting structures, so you spend less time cold-approaching companies unfamiliar with J-1 requirements. Focus on employers in manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure, and supply chain sectors, where structured training programs map naturally to the Trainee category's competency requirements.
Does the J-1 Trainee program allow operations engineers to change host employers mid-program?
Changing host employers mid-program requires your designated sponsor to amend or terminate your DS-2019 and issue a new one with the updated host information. The training plan must be resubmitted and approved before you begin work at the new location. Not all sponsors permit mid-program transfers, so confirm this policy with your sponsor before accepting your initial placement.
Can the two-year home residency requirement affect an operations engineer's long-term U.S. career plans?
Yes. If the two-year home-country physical presence requirement applies to your J-1 status, you must return home for two years before becoming eligible for H-1B, L-1 visa, or most immigrant visas. Operations engineers funded by their home government or coming from a country on the Exchange Visitor Skills List should verify their waiver options with a designated sponsor or immigration attorney before committing to a J-1 placement.