Aviation Jobs for OPT Students
Aviation jobs on OPT span aircraft maintenance, air traffic control support, aerospace engineering, and airline operations. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions under engineering or transportation science CIP codes, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization without employer H-1B sponsorship on day one.
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The College of Business (COB) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide (ERAU-W) is seeking a Full Time Tenure-Track Faculty to join the COB and Department of Business Administration as Assistant/Associate Professor in Aviation Commercial Management.
This is a remote position and will require an at home office. The successful candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate commercial management courses. The typical teaching load is 24 credit hours per academic year, which extends from 1 August to 31 May. The role represents a great opportunity to work alongside dedicated colleagues committed to making a difference to industry and features key lifestyle benefits such as the opportunity to work at home, paid holidays in addition to summer release (June-July off), exceptional health benefits, generous retirement contributions and Embry-Riddle tuition waivers for faculty and their family members. Faculty will teach with innovative academic technologies and delivery platforms almost entirely online. Courses reside within the College of Business and have a strong business and commercial aviation focus.
Responsibilities:
- Teach primarily commercial aviation business courses
- Develop, maintain, and assess courses, particularly those that feature on the College’s M.S. Airline and Airport and Air Mobility-related degree programs
- Develop and update curricula as needed
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching, staying current in the profession, and providing service to the department, college, university, and profession
- Limited travel for meetings and conferences will be required
About the College of Business
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation, aerospace, and related fields. ERAU is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 80 baccalaureate, master’s, and Ph.D. degree programs. The Worldwide campus has an enrollment of over 20,500 students. Courses are delivered online via Canvas, synchronously via Zoom, and face-to-face around the globe in the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. Over the last decade Embry-Riddle Worldwide has earned high rankings as one of the Best Online Bachelors programs from US News and World Report often ranked in the top 5. In 2026, the ranking was 11.
The Worldwide College of Business is a highly entrepreneurial organization with a broad reach in the aviation industry. COB values and supports activities that are directed at solving business challenges, especially in the broader aviation sector. The college offers two Associate’s Degrees (Aviation Business Administration and Technical Management), six Bachelor’s degrees (Aviation Business Administration, Business Analytics, Leadership, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Project Management and Technical Management), and eight Master’s degrees (Business Administration in Aviation, Engineering Management, Information Security & Assurance, Leadership, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Management Information Systems, and Project Management). Virtually all COB programs have industry affiliations, including with ISM, PMI, SAP, SAS, ASEM, RAeS and others.
Departments in the COB are Business Administration, Decision Sciences and Analytics, and Management. The successful candidate would be assigned to the Department of Management (DM). The DM houses the Associate in Technical Management, Bachelor of Science in Technical Management, Masters in Management, Masters in Leadership, Masters in Airline Management, and Masters in Airport and Air Mobility Management. A mixture of undergraduate minors, majors, professional education, and graduate certificates are also managed by the DM.
Embry-Riddle: Celebrating 100 Years of Leadership in Aviation and Aerospace
As Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University marks its Centennial, we proudly celebrate 100 years of advancing the future of flight and aerospace education. With vibrant residential campuses in Daytona Beach, FL, and Prescott, AZ — and a Worldwide network spanning nearly 120 global locations — Embry-Riddle stands as the world’s largest aviation and aerospace university.
For a century, we have led innovation in STEM education, serving more than 30,000 students around the globe. Our cutting-edge programs in Applied Science, Aviation, Business, Technology, Engineering, Safety, Security, and Space empower the next generation of leaders to shape the future of flight, exploration, and discovery.
As we launch our next century, we remain committed to excellence, innovation, and preparing graduates who will transform industries and redefine what is possible.
Perks Await You at Embry-Riddle!
- Generous Time Off: Enjoy 9+ paid holidays, including the day after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
- Tuition Coverage: Get 100% tuition coverage for yourself for one undergraduate and one graduate degree, and discounted rates for your spouse and dependent children up to age 26.
- Retirement Contributions: ERAU contributes 6% of your base salary to your retirement plan and offers a 4% matching contribution – with no vesting period.
Qualifications
Required Education and Qualifications:
- At Assistant level a relevant Masters from an accredited institution is required, while a doctorate is preferred. At Associate level a doctorate is required. Preferred candidates will have commercial management experience from the airline, airport or related commercial aviation supplier sector. Candidates with direct and demonstrable knowledge in the management of customer experience, brand and marketing strategies, revenue generation and cost management, sales and distribution, route and network evaluations and planning, or partnerships and sponsorship strategies are particularly encouraged to apply.
- The successful candidate should show excellence in teaching and demonstrate strong research potential/pipeline at the Assistant level and through publications and an ongoing pipeline at Associate level, that would include working papers or papers under review.
- Candidates must have excellent teaching evaluations in related fields.
- Experience in higher education teaching (web-based courses preferred), participation in university committees, industry boards or related community organizations, participation in state/national professional organizations, and past successful professional experience with diverse groups.
- Strong written and communication skills
- A clearly defined teaching philosophy
- Demonstrated ability to engage and mentor students from diverse backgrounds (in a remote setting preferred)
- Willingness to travel as necessary for the position (approximately 5-10%)
- Experience in course design and development for online course delivery is preferred
- Experience with online learning management systems is preferred
Candidates should be collegial professionals passionate about teaching and the aviation industry, treating them both as a hobby and a profession, and have a keen interest in all aspects of aviation business. The candidate will adhere to the COB-W values of: (a) integrity, (b) collaboration/collegiality, (c) student-centricity, (d) respect, and (e) innovation.
Personal attributes:
The ideal candidate is a dynamic team player who values collaboration and solution-focused approaches as well as possessing strong listening skills, an open and positive mindset, flexibility to adapt to rapid changes, prioritizes effectively even when resources are scarce, is adept at juggling multiple responsibilities simultaneously, welcomes constructive feedback and is committed to continuous improvement and personal growth.
Application process/requirements
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The expected start date is no later than August 2026.
To submit your application for this opportunity, please visit the Embry-Riddle Career Site and search for requisition number R311128. Please attach all relevant materials to your application when you apply online. Complete submissions include:
- A cover letter describing your interest in the position and qualifications for the role
- A current curriculum vitae
- Contact information for three professional references
- Summary of evidence of teaching effectiveness (i.e., course evaluations, teaching portfolio, etc.) and industry engagement/involvement
- For Associate Professor level a statement of research contributions to date and future aspirations (up to a page in length)
Current Embry-Riddle employees: Please apply directly through the ERAU Employee Hub Central application within Workday.
Embry-Riddle is committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly and provided equal opportunities for employment, advancement, compensation, training, and other benefits of employment. Embry-Riddle makes employment decisions — including hiring, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment — based on individual merit, qualifications, and abilities. Embry Riddle is strongly opposed to discrimination and harassment, and such behavior is prohibited by university policy. Embry Riddle does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, age, religion, or pregnancy status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law, in its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. For further information, please visit our website.
Embry-Riddle is not seeking assistance from staffing or recruitment agencies. All agencies are directed to contact eraujobs@erau.edu and should not reach out to hiring managers or staff.
The Opportunity
The College of Business (COB) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide (ERAU-W) is seeking a Full Time Tenure-Track Faculty to join the COB and Department of Business Administration as Assistant/Associate Professor in Aviation Commercial Management.
This is a remote position and will require an at home office. The successful candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate commercial management courses. The typical teaching load is 24 credit hours per academic year, which extends from 1 August to 31 May. The role represents a great opportunity to work alongside dedicated colleagues committed to making a difference to industry and features key lifestyle benefits such as the opportunity to work at home, paid holidays in addition to summer release (June-July off), exceptional health benefits, generous retirement contributions and Embry-Riddle tuition waivers for faculty and their family members. Faculty will teach with innovative academic technologies and delivery platforms almost entirely online. Courses reside within the College of Business and have a strong business and commercial aviation focus.
Responsibilities:
- Teach primarily commercial aviation business courses
- Develop, maintain, and assess courses, particularly those that feature on the College’s M.S. Airline and Airport and Air Mobility-related degree programs
- Develop and update curricula as needed
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching, staying current in the profession, and providing service to the department, college, university, and profession
- Limited travel for meetings and conferences will be required
About the College of Business
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation, aerospace, and related fields. ERAU is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 80 baccalaureate, master’s, and Ph.D. degree programs. The Worldwide campus has an enrollment of over 20,500 students. Courses are delivered online via Canvas, synchronously via Zoom, and face-to-face around the globe in the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. Over the last decade Embry-Riddle Worldwide has earned high rankings as one of the Best Online Bachelors programs from US News and World Report often ranked in the top 5. In 2026, the ranking was 11.
The Worldwide College of Business is a highly entrepreneurial organization with a broad reach in the aviation industry. COB values and supports activities that are directed at solving business challenges, especially in the broader aviation sector. The college offers two Associate’s Degrees (Aviation Business Administration and Technical Management), six Bachelor’s degrees (Aviation Business Administration, Business Analytics, Leadership, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Project Management and Technical Management), and eight Master’s degrees (Business Administration in Aviation, Engineering Management, Information Security & Assurance, Leadership, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Management Information Systems, and Project Management). Virtually all COB programs have industry affiliations, including with ISM, PMI, SAP, SAS, ASEM, RAeS and others.
Departments in the COB are Business Administration, Decision Sciences and Analytics, and Management. The successful candidate would be assigned to the Department of Management (DM). The DM houses the Associate in Technical Management, Bachelor of Science in Technical Management, Masters in Management, Masters in Leadership, Masters in Airline Management, and Masters in Airport and Air Mobility Management. A mixture of undergraduate minors, majors, professional education, and graduate certificates are also managed by the DM.
Embry-Riddle: Celebrating 100 Years of Leadership in Aviation and Aerospace
As Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University marks its Centennial, we proudly celebrate 100 years of advancing the future of flight and aerospace education. With vibrant residential campuses in Daytona Beach, FL, and Prescott, AZ — and a Worldwide network spanning nearly 120 global locations — Embry-Riddle stands as the world’s largest aviation and aerospace university.
For a century, we have led innovation in STEM education, serving more than 30,000 students around the globe. Our cutting-edge programs in Applied Science, Aviation, Business, Technology, Engineering, Safety, Security, and Space empower the next generation of leaders to shape the future of flight, exploration, and discovery.
As we launch our next century, we remain committed to excellence, innovation, and preparing graduates who will transform industries and redefine what is possible.
Perks Await You at Embry-Riddle!
- Generous Time Off: Enjoy 9+ paid holidays, including the day after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
- Tuition Coverage: Get 100% tuition coverage for yourself for one undergraduate and one graduate degree, and discounted rates for your spouse and dependent children up to age 26.
- Retirement Contributions: ERAU contributes 6% of your base salary to your retirement plan and offers a 4% matching contribution – with no vesting period.
Qualifications
Required Education and Qualifications:
- At Assistant level a relevant Masters from an accredited institution is required, while a doctorate is preferred. At Associate level a doctorate is required. Preferred candidates will have commercial management experience from the airline, airport or related commercial aviation supplier sector. Candidates with direct and demonstrable knowledge in the management of customer experience, brand and marketing strategies, revenue generation and cost management, sales and distribution, route and network evaluations and planning, or partnerships and sponsorship strategies are particularly encouraged to apply.
- The successful candidate should show excellence in teaching and demonstrate strong research potential/pipeline at the Assistant level and through publications and an ongoing pipeline at Associate level, that would include working papers or papers under review.
- Candidates must have excellent teaching evaluations in related fields.
- Experience in higher education teaching (web-based courses preferred), participation in university committees, industry boards or related community organizations, participation in state/national professional organizations, and past successful professional experience with diverse groups.
- Strong written and communication skills
- A clearly defined teaching philosophy
- Demonstrated ability to engage and mentor students from diverse backgrounds (in a remote setting preferred)
- Willingness to travel as necessary for the position (approximately 5-10%)
- Experience in course design and development for online course delivery is preferred
- Experience with online learning management systems is preferred
Candidates should be collegial professionals passionate about teaching and the aviation industry, treating them both as a hobby and a profession, and have a keen interest in all aspects of aviation business. The candidate will adhere to the COB-W values of: (a) integrity, (b) collaboration/collegiality, (c) student-centricity, (d) respect, and (e) innovation.
Personal attributes:
The ideal candidate is a dynamic team player who values collaboration and solution-focused approaches as well as possessing strong listening skills, an open and positive mindset, flexibility to adapt to rapid changes, prioritizes effectively even when resources are scarce, is adept at juggling multiple responsibilities simultaneously, welcomes constructive feedback and is committed to continuous improvement and personal growth.
Application process/requirements
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The expected start date is no later than August 2026.
To submit your application for this opportunity, please visit the Embry-Riddle Career Site and search for requisition number R311128. Please attach all relevant materials to your application when you apply online. Complete submissions include:
- A cover letter describing your interest in the position and qualifications for the role
- A current curriculum vitae
- Contact information for three professional references
- Summary of evidence of teaching effectiveness (i.e., course evaluations, teaching portfolio, etc.) and industry engagement/involvement
- For Associate Professor level a statement of research contributions to date and future aspirations (up to a page in length)
Current Embry-Riddle employees: Please apply directly through the ERAU Employee Hub Central application within Workday.
Embry-Riddle is committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly and provided equal opportunities for employment, advancement, compensation, training, and other benefits of employment. Embry-Riddle makes employment decisions — including hiring, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment — based on individual merit, qualifications, and abilities. Embry Riddle is strongly opposed to discrimination and harassment, and such behavior is prohibited by university policy. Embry Riddle does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, age, religion, or pregnancy status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law, in its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. For further information, please visit our website.
Embry-Riddle is not seeking assistance from staffing or recruitment agencies. All agencies are directed to contact eraujobs@erau.edu and should not reach out to hiring managers or staff.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Aviation
Confirm your CIP code qualifies for STEM OPT
Aviation roles under aerospace engineering, aeronautical science, or air transportation often qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Verify your degree's CIP code against the official STEM OPT designated degree program list before applying.
Target FAA-regulated employers with established hiring pipelines
Airlines, MRO facilities, and aerospace contractors operating under FAA certification routinely hire international students. These organizations understand OPT authorization and have HR processes designed to handle work authorization documentation without friction.
Highlight your security clearance eligibility early
Some aviation roles require or prefer U.S. security clearances, which OPT students cannot hold. Filter for civilian commercial roles at airlines or private aerospace firms and address your authorization status proactively in your cover letter.
Use your university's designated school official strategically
Your DSO must recommend your STEM OPT extension in SEVIS before you file with USCIS. Meet with them early, confirm your employer qualifies, and get the I-20 endorsement completed well before the 90-day filing window opens.
Negotiate start dates that account for OPT reporting timelines
OPT requires you to report new employers within 10 days of starting. When negotiating with aviation employers, build in time to update your SEVIS record and confirm your authorization documentation is in order before your first day.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do aviation jobs typically qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many aviation roles qualify, but it depends on your degree. Aerospace engineering, aeronautical science, aviation systems, and air transportation degrees commonly appear on the STEM designated degree program list. Roles tied to non-STEM degrees like aviation management may only qualify for the standard 12-month OPT period. Always verify your specific CIP code before applying.
Can I work for an airline or airport on OPT?
Yes. Airlines, airport authorities, and ground handling companies regularly hire F-1 OPT students for operations, engineering, logistics, and safety roles. These employers are accustomed to work authorization requirements. Security-sensitive positions requiring TSA or DOD clearances may be restricted, so focus on civilian operations and engineering tracks when searching on Migrate Mate.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I'm laid off from an aviation employer?
You have a cumulative 150-day unemployment limit during standard OPT, which extends to 150 days total across your combined initial and STEM OPT periods. If you lose your aviation job, report the change to your DSO immediately and begin searching for a new qualifying role. Acting quickly protects your remaining authorized days and keeps your status intact.
Do aviation employers need to do anything special to hire me on OPT?
For initial OPT, employers simply verify your EAD card and complete Form I-9. For STEM OPT, employers must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan (Form I-983) with you. Most major airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and MRO companies already use E-Verify, making the STEM OPT process straightforward for both sides.
How do I find aviation employers willing to hire OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters aviation job listings specifically for employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship, saving you from applying to positions that will screen you out. Look for roles at commercial airlines, aerospace engineering firms, air traffic management companies, and aviation safety consultancies. These sectors have historically hired international talent and are more likely to support future H-1B sponsorship.
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