OPT Electrical Engineer Jobs
Electrical Engineer roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in the U.S. job market. Most positions require a degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field, which makes STEM OPT extension eligibility straightforward. Your 12-month OPT window can extend to 36 months at companies enrolled in E-Verify.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Georgia-Pacific's Oriented Strand Board (OSB) plant in Fordyce, AR is seeking a motivated individual to join our team as an Electrical and Instrumentation Technician. This position creates value by performing preventative and corrective maintenance that leads to increased uptime and reliability and contributes to the site's ability to meet production and quality goals.
Employees in this role will work a 12-Hour rotating shift, rotating Days (6:00am-6:00pm) and Nights (6:00pm-6:00am). This includes, but is not limited to overtime, holidays, and weekends scheduled as needed.
OUR TEAM
Our Georgia Pacific facility in Fordyce, AR manufactures Oriented Strand Board (OSB), compressed strands of wood chips that are bound together by adhesives which prevent moisture intrusion. This type of OSB is used for floor, wall, and roof sheathing in residential and light commercial construction applications.
We offer our employees the following:
- In addition to base pay, operators may be eligible for variable pay, provided as a monetary bonus, based on performance metrics and production targets.
- As part of Koch Industries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401k with company match, and much more.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Share knowledge with other technicians for maintaining and troubleshooting PLCs, instrumentation, and controls
- Troubleshoot and install equipment at the component level, ensuring it is done in compliance with state, company plant codes, policies, and procedures
- Work on motors, pneumatic components, conveyor systems, and production machines
- Participate in project planning support and new equipment installation
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Two (2) year technical degree/certificate or a minimum of three (3) years of industrial experience in the electrical and/or instrumentation field
- Experience installing, troubleshooting, repairing, and calibrating electrical components
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working with variable frequency drives and servo drives
- Experience working with pneumatic and hydraulic systems
- Experience with systems integration, including PLCs such as RSLogix and RSLinx, HMI, DCS, networking, communication, and power distribution
- Experience reading technical drawings, electrical & pneumatic schematics
- Experience working with the National Electric Code and compliance to the code
- Experience troubleshooting issues with bearings, chains, sprockets, gearboxes, and conveyors
- Experience working with and troubleshooting electrical systems that use 24v, 120v, 480v, 4160v, 13.8kv, single and 3-phase power
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
HIRING PHILOSOPHY
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here.
WHO WE ARE
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
OUR BENEFITS
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave, and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify.
INTRODUCTION
Georgia-Pacific's Oriented Strand Board (OSB) plant in Fordyce, AR is seeking a motivated individual to join our team as an Electrical and Instrumentation Technician. This position creates value by performing preventative and corrective maintenance that leads to increased uptime and reliability and contributes to the site's ability to meet production and quality goals.
Employees in this role will work a 12-Hour rotating shift, rotating Days (6:00am-6:00pm) and Nights (6:00pm-6:00am). This includes, but is not limited to overtime, holidays, and weekends scheduled as needed.
OUR TEAM
Our Georgia Pacific facility in Fordyce, AR manufactures Oriented Strand Board (OSB), compressed strands of wood chips that are bound together by adhesives which prevent moisture intrusion. This type of OSB is used for floor, wall, and roof sheathing in residential and light commercial construction applications.
We offer our employees the following:
- In addition to base pay, operators may be eligible for variable pay, provided as a monetary bonus, based on performance metrics and production targets.
- As part of Koch Industries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401k with company match, and much more.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Share knowledge with other technicians for maintaining and troubleshooting PLCs, instrumentation, and controls
- Troubleshoot and install equipment at the component level, ensuring it is done in compliance with state, company plant codes, policies, and procedures
- Work on motors, pneumatic components, conveyor systems, and production machines
- Participate in project planning support and new equipment installation
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Two (2) year technical degree/certificate or a minimum of three (3) years of industrial experience in the electrical and/or instrumentation field
- Experience installing, troubleshooting, repairing, and calibrating electrical components
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working with variable frequency drives and servo drives
- Experience working with pneumatic and hydraulic systems
- Experience with systems integration, including PLCs such as RSLogix and RSLinx, HMI, DCS, networking, communication, and power distribution
- Experience reading technical drawings, electrical & pneumatic schematics
- Experience working with the National Electric Code and compliance to the code
- Experience troubleshooting issues with bearings, chains, sprockets, gearboxes, and conveyors
- Experience working with and troubleshooting electrical systems that use 24v, 120v, 480v, 4160v, 13.8kv, single and 3-phase power
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
HIRING PHILOSOPHY
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here.
WHO WE ARE
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
OUR BENEFITS
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave, and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify.
See all 1,162+ OPT Electrical Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Electrical Engineer
Target STEM-designated employers from day one
Not all employers are enrolled in E-Verify, which is required for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer. This single check protects your ability to stay authorized for up to 36 months total.
Frame your degree field precisely on applications
Electrical Engineering degrees map cleanly to the STEM OPT CIP code list. List your exact degree title as it appears on your transcript. Mismatches between your I-20 field of study and your job function can complicate STEM extension reporting with your DSO.
Prepare to explain your OPT timeline upfront
Hiring managers in engineering often ask about work authorization early. Be ready to state your OPT end date, whether you qualify for STEM extension, and whether the company's E-Verify enrollment enables that extension. Clear answers reduce employer hesitation significantly.
Prioritize roles where the technical function matches your degree
STEM OPT regulations require your job to be directly related to your field of study. A circuit design or power systems role is a clean match. Roles that drift toward general project management or sales engineering may create problems at your 12-month reporting checkpoint.
File your STEM OPT extension application 90 days early
USCIS recommends applying for the STEM extension no later than 90 days before your initial OPT expires. Late filing puts you at risk of a gap in work authorization. Start collecting your employer validation form from your supervisor well ahead of that window.
Use your internship and co-op history as proof of training
Engineering employers respond well to candidates who can show hands-on lab or industry experience. Prior internships and co-ops also demonstrate that other employers have navigated OPT authorization with you before, which reduces perceived hiring risk for your next employer.
Electrical Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Electrical Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Electrical Engineering (CIP code 14.1001) is on the STEM Designated Degree Program list, so a qualifying job offer from an E-Verify employer unlocks the 24-month STEM extension. Your role must be directly related to your degree, meaning hands-on engineering work rather than a general business or administrative function.
What types of employers hire Electrical Engineers on OPT?
Defense contractors, semiconductor manufacturers, utilities, aerospace companies, and consumer electronics firms are among the largest employers of electrical engineers in the U.S. Many are large enough to be enrolled in E-Verify, which matters for STEM extension eligibility. You can browse employers currently hiring on Migrate Mate, filtered by OPT-friendly sponsorship status.
How does the 24-month STEM OPT extension work for Electrical Engineers?
Once your initial 12-month OPT period nears its end, you can apply for a 24-month extension if your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your role is related to your STEM degree. Your employer must complete a formal training plan, and you report your training progress to your DSO at 12 and 24 months into the extension period.
Can I work as a contractor or on-site at a third-party client as an Electrical Engineer on OPT?
You can work through a staffing firm or contractor arrangement, but your day-to-day work must still qualify as a bona fide employer-employee relationship for STEM OPT purposes. USCIS scrutinizes third-party placement arrangements carefully. The E-Verify enrollment requirement applies to your employer of record, not the end client site where you perform the work.
What should I include in my resume to improve my chances of getting an interview as an OPT student?
List your degree field exactly as it appears on your transcript and note your OPT authorization status clearly in a summary line. Highlight technical skills relevant to the role, such as circuit design, PCB layout, power systems, or embedded systems, depending on the specialization. Internship and co-op experience is particularly persuasive because it shows prior employer familiarity with OPT processes.