OPT Control Systems Engineer Jobs
Control Systems Engineer jobs on OPT are well-suited for F-1 students with degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related fields. Many roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in manufacturing, aerospace, and automation regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this role.
See All OPT Control Systems Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 228+ Control Systems Engineer jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 228+ Control Systems Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Control Systems Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsOverview:
We are seeking a full-time Flight Controls Systems Engineer 2 at Garmin's U.S. headquarters in the Greater Kansas City area. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and developing requirements and conducting bench and flight testing in support of development and certification of moderately complex AFCS products.
Responsibilities:
Essential Functions:
- Develops systems requirements for moderately complex autopilot/flight director systems including system performance, system interfaces, architecture, and algorithms
- Analyzes and tests existing systems to determine transport delays and appropriate control system response
- Conducts verification/validation testing in accordance with formal or informal test plans
- Conducts frequency response of servos and systems
- Participates in flight testing when needed to investigate autopilot issues and performance problems
- Develops and conducts test plans, procedures, and results for bench and flight test validation in support of FAA certification
- Determines root cause of problems and recommends design changes
- Performs regression testing as needed
- Develops AFCS system wiring
- Serves as a mentor to less experienced Flight Controls Systems Engineer (Flight Controls Systems Engineer 1)
- Applies Garmin’s Mission Statement and Quality Policy and enthusiastically exhibits a desire to see Garmin succeed
- Participates in recruiting and mentoring new associates who will participate in AFCS R&D efforts
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering or related degree with an emphasis in dynamics and controls or similar field of study AND a minimum of 1 year relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
- Excellent academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 as a general rule)
- Must demonstrate sound educational background in classical control system theory and ability to apply principles of root locus, Bode and Nicols to flight controls systems design
- Demonstrated knowledge of digital control system theory, sampling theory and digital filtering
- Working knowledge of MATLAB, Simulink, and Control System toolbox
- Demonstrates software development understanding of C programming language
- Demonstrates fundamental knowledge of embedded microprocessor applications and electromechanical components
- Must be detail-oriented and have the ability to work proactively and effectively with minimal supervision
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a flexible, fast paced and challenging environment
- Demonstrated strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Outstanding academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.5)
- Experience in flight control design, including autopilots, flight directors, or stability augmentation systems
- Experience and/or education with MATLAB or Simulink design tools
- Software development experience including understanding of DO-178 C software requirements
- Pilot's License
Garmin International is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.
This position is eligible for Garmin's benefit program. Details can be found here: Garmin Benefits
Overview:
We are seeking a full-time Flight Controls Systems Engineer 2 at Garmin's U.S. headquarters in the Greater Kansas City area. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and developing requirements and conducting bench and flight testing in support of development and certification of moderately complex AFCS products.
Responsibilities:
Essential Functions:
- Develops systems requirements for moderately complex autopilot/flight director systems including system performance, system interfaces, architecture, and algorithms
- Analyzes and tests existing systems to determine transport delays and appropriate control system response
- Conducts verification/validation testing in accordance with formal or informal test plans
- Conducts frequency response of servos and systems
- Participates in flight testing when needed to investigate autopilot issues and performance problems
- Develops and conducts test plans, procedures, and results for bench and flight test validation in support of FAA certification
- Determines root cause of problems and recommends design changes
- Performs regression testing as needed
- Develops AFCS system wiring
- Serves as a mentor to less experienced Flight Controls Systems Engineer (Flight Controls Systems Engineer 1)
- Applies Garmin’s Mission Statement and Quality Policy and enthusiastically exhibits a desire to see Garmin succeed
- Participates in recruiting and mentoring new associates who will participate in AFCS R&D efforts
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering or related degree with an emphasis in dynamics and controls or similar field of study AND a minimum of 1 year relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
- Excellent academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 as a general rule)
- Must demonstrate sound educational background in classical control system theory and ability to apply principles of root locus, Bode and Nicols to flight controls systems design
- Demonstrated knowledge of digital control system theory, sampling theory and digital filtering
- Working knowledge of MATLAB, Simulink, and Control System toolbox
- Demonstrates software development understanding of C programming language
- Demonstrates fundamental knowledge of embedded microprocessor applications and electromechanical components
- Must be detail-oriented and have the ability to work proactively and effectively with minimal supervision
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a flexible, fast paced and challenging environment
- Demonstrated strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Outstanding academics (cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.5)
- Experience in flight control design, including autopilots, flight directors, or stability augmentation systems
- Experience and/or education with MATLAB or Simulink design tools
- Software development experience including understanding of DO-178 C software requirements
- Pilot's License
Garmin International is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.
This position is eligible for Garmin's benefit program. Details can be found here: Garmin Benefits
See all 228+ OPT Control Systems Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Control Systems Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Control Systems Engineer
Target STEM-designated employers first
Control systems roles almost always fall under STEM OPT extension eligibility. Prioritize companies with a history of filing H-1B petitions for engineers, since they already understand the sponsorship process and are less likely to hesitate at visa costs.
Frame your degree field precisely
Employers need to confirm your degree aligns with the role for OPT authorization. Electrical engineering, mechatronics, and control engineering are strong matches. If your degree is mechanical or computer engineering, highlight coursework in control theory, PLCs, or embedded systems explicitly.
Lead with your technical stack in applications
Hiring managers in controls scan for MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW, PLC programming, and SCADA experience. Listing these prominently signals you can contribute immediately, which reduces employer hesitation about the time and cost of sponsoring work authorization.
Pursue roles in aerospace, defense, and industrial automation
These industries file H-1B petitions for controls engineers at high rates. Defense contractors and aerospace manufacturers often have established immigration programs, making them more comfortable extending offers to OPT candidates who will eventually need H-1B sponsorship.
Raise OPT status early and clearly
Disclosing your OPT status in your first substantive conversation avoids wasted time. Briefly explain that STEM OPT gives you up to three years of work authorization and that H-1B sponsorship is a future step, not an immediate cost, to set accurate expectations.
Highlight project experience with real systems
Employers value controls engineers who have worked on physical systems, not only simulations. Academic or internship projects involving motor control, robotics, or industrial automation hardware demonstrate hands-on competency that differentiates you from candidates with only theoretical backgrounds.
Control Systems Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Control Systems Engineer jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Control Systems Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, or a related STEM field. Your DSO must confirm your degree's CIP code is on the STEM designated degree program list. If it qualifies, you get up to 36 months of total OPT work authorization.
How do I find Control Systems Engineer jobs that sponsor OPT and H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces Control Systems Engineer roles from employers with a demonstrated history of visa sponsorship. Filtering by sponsorship-willing companies saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that an employer does not sponsor work authorization.
Which industries hire Control Systems Engineers on OPT most consistently?
Aerospace, automotive, industrial automation, semiconductor manufacturing, and defense consistently hire controls engineers on OPT. Companies in these sectors file H-1B petitions for this role at high rates because the specialty occupation requirement is straightforward to establish with an engineering degree and relevant technical skills.
What does a Control Systems Engineer need to demonstrate for H-1B specialty occupation eligibility?
The role must require a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific technical field such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related discipline. Control systems work typically satisfies this standard because it requires applying theoretical knowledge of feedback systems, signal processing, and embedded control that is directly tied to a qualifying engineering degree.
Can I work as a Control Systems Engineer on OPT while my employer files my H-1B petition?
Yes. If your employer files your H-1B petition before your OPT expires, you may be covered by cap-gap work authorization, which extends your ability to work through September 30 of that year while USCIS processes the petition. Your DSO can issue an updated I-20 reflecting the cap-gap extension once your employer files.