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.
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Get Access To All JobsTHIS IS AN ON-SITE POSITION IN HOUSTON
Supercharge your career and shape the future with Johnson Controls—where bold ideas, breakthrough innovation, and real‑world impact come to life.
We’re not just a global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings—we’re the team rewriting what’s possible for people, places, and the planet. When you join us, you step into a world of cutting‑edge technology, meaningful challenges, and opportunities that push your potential further than you imagined.
At Johnson Controls, your voice sparks change. Your creativity fuels progress. And your growth is our priority. You’ll take on work that matters, learn from the best in the industry, and thrive in a culture built on empowerment, collaboration, and forward momentum.
If you’re ready to make an impact, accelerate your career, and help build a smarter, more sustainable world, your next big opportunity is just a few clicks away.
What we offer
- Competitive base salary and a comprehensive bonus program.
- Three weeks paid vacation in a calendar year/holidays/sick time/three PTO days in a calendar year.
- Comprehensive benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, and vision care - Available day one.
- Extensive product and on the job/cross training opportunities
- Encouraging and collaborative team environment
- Dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy
- Providing Scheduling and management support.
- JCI Employee discount programs (The Loop by Perk Spot)
What you do
Be responsible for the design, configuration, and operation of complete building control systems including fire, security, and other low voltage control sub-systems (i.e., lighting, nurse call, data networks, etc.) to meet the intent of the project requirements.
Accountable to field teams for quality, timeliness and efficiency of designs. Develops complex software programs, commissioning and solving to ensure proper operations of the building control system.
Provides detailed information and submittals to communicate design and operation to customers, consultants, Johnson Controls field installation team and subcontractors.
How will you do it
- Designs and configures are technically complex building control systems as defined by the contract documents. Creates flow diagrams, sequence of operations, bill of material, network layouts and electrical schematics as required.
- Develop and tests software programs necessary to operate the system per the project requirements' intent.
- Coordinates and creates necessary drawings and equipment schedules for submittals and installation.
- Selects, orders, and tracks the delivery of materials for assigned projects.
- Coordinates factory-mounting processes to meet factory and project schedule.
- Assists in the loading and commissioning of all system and network-level controllers as required.
- Assists in validation of complete system functionality and solves problems with subcontractors and other trades to ensure proper operation.
- Provides field change information to the project team for the creation of as-built drawings and software.
- Keeps management and JCI contractor or customer informed of job progress and issues.
- Assists in performing site-specific training for owner/operator on the total building control system.
- Participates in the release meeting with project field team.
- Performs value engineering to provide cost effective results while maintaining customer satisfaction.
- May provide work directions to Systems Design Assistants.
- Adheres to safety standards with a high degree of employee and subcontractor safety.
- Travel is required for this role.
What we look for
Required
- bachelor’s degree in engineering and minimum 3 years' experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of the construction or HVAC industry.
- Demonstrated knowledge of control theory, automatic temperature controls, building automation systems and other building subsystems.
- Experience with JCI software programming
- Demonstrated experience in the integration of low voltage building sub-systems using various industry protocols (i.e., LON, BACnet, etc.).
- Ability to relate technical knowledge to a non-technical audience.
- Demonstrated advanced computer skills required, particularly computer-related drafting tools.
- Ability to travel regularly.
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $80,000 – 110,000. USD Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data. This position includes a competitive benefits package.
THIS IS AN ON-SITE POSITION IN HOUSTON
Supercharge your career and shape the future with Johnson Controls—where bold ideas, breakthrough innovation, and real‑world impact come to life.
We’re not just a global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings—we’re the team rewriting what’s possible for people, places, and the planet. When you join us, you step into a world of cutting‑edge technology, meaningful challenges, and opportunities that push your potential further than you imagined.
At Johnson Controls, your voice sparks change. Your creativity fuels progress. And your growth is our priority. You’ll take on work that matters, learn from the best in the industry, and thrive in a culture built on empowerment, collaboration, and forward momentum.
If you’re ready to make an impact, accelerate your career, and help build a smarter, more sustainable world, your next big opportunity is just a few clicks away.
What we offer
- Competitive base salary and a comprehensive bonus program.
- Three weeks paid vacation in a calendar year/holidays/sick time/three PTO days in a calendar year.
- Comprehensive benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, and vision care - Available day one.
- Extensive product and on the job/cross training opportunities
- Encouraging and collaborative team environment
- Dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy
- Providing Scheduling and management support.
- JCI Employee discount programs (The Loop by Perk Spot)
What you do
Be responsible for the design, configuration, and operation of complete building control systems including fire, security, and other low voltage control sub-systems (i.e., lighting, nurse call, data networks, etc.) to meet the intent of the project requirements.
Accountable to field teams for quality, timeliness and efficiency of designs. Develops complex software programs, commissioning and solving to ensure proper operations of the building control system.
Provides detailed information and submittals to communicate design and operation to customers, consultants, Johnson Controls field installation team and subcontractors.
How will you do it
- Designs and configures are technically complex building control systems as defined by the contract documents. Creates flow diagrams, sequence of operations, bill of material, network layouts and electrical schematics as required.
- Develop and tests software programs necessary to operate the system per the project requirements' intent.
- Coordinates and creates necessary drawings and equipment schedules for submittals and installation.
- Selects, orders, and tracks the delivery of materials for assigned projects.
- Coordinates factory-mounting processes to meet factory and project schedule.
- Assists in the loading and commissioning of all system and network-level controllers as required.
- Assists in validation of complete system functionality and solves problems with subcontractors and other trades to ensure proper operation.
- Provides field change information to the project team for the creation of as-built drawings and software.
- Keeps management and JCI contractor or customer informed of job progress and issues.
- Assists in performing site-specific training for owner/operator on the total building control system.
- Participates in the release meeting with project field team.
- Performs value engineering to provide cost effective results while maintaining customer satisfaction.
- May provide work directions to Systems Design Assistants.
- Adheres to safety standards with a high degree of employee and subcontractor safety.
- Travel is required for this role.
What we look for
Required
- bachelor’s degree in engineering and minimum 3 years' experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of the construction or HVAC industry.
- Demonstrated knowledge of control theory, automatic temperature controls, building automation systems and other building subsystems.
- Experience with JCI software programming
- Demonstrated experience in the integration of low voltage building sub-systems using various industry protocols (i.e., LON, BACnet, etc.).
- Ability to relate technical knowledge to a non-technical audience.
- Demonstrated advanced computer skills required, particularly computer-related drafting tools.
- Ability to travel regularly.
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $80,000 – 110,000. USD Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data. This position includes a competitive benefits package.
See all 823+ 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.