OPT Electrical Engineering Technician Jobs
Electrical Engineering Technician jobs on OPT typically fall under SOC code 17-3023, which STEM-designates your OPT extension to 36 months total. These roles involve hands-on circuit testing, equipment calibration, and systems support, work that maps cleanly to electrical engineering or related STEM degrees for DSO verification.
Find OPT Electrical Engineering Technician JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 57+ Electrical Engineering Technician jobs
See all 57+ Electrical Engineering Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Electrical Engineering Technician roles.
Get Access To All JobsWe are hiring for a 24-month onsite position in Fremont (ZIP 94538). Regular Mon-Fri, 40 hours, 8: 00 AM-5:00 PM.
Qualifications
- Minimum Associate's degree in Electronics or a related field required and/or equivalent military experience involving electronics, such as avionics technician.
- 1+ year of experience in the semiconductor capital equipment industry or equivalent.
- Cable/harness rework and assembly.
- PCB rework and troubleshooting.
- Three-phase AC power box rework and assembly.
General Responsibilities / Job Functions:
Equipment Management:
- Manage calibration processes for several hundred pieces of electrical equipment, including vendor coordination and asset tracking using RFID or other real-time tracking systems.
- Maintain outsourced electrical equipment service, ensuring timely, well-coordinated repairs in collaboration with engineering teams.
Test/Diagnostic Equipment Familiarity:
- Experience with oscilloscopes (including HV, differential, and current clamp probes), signal generators, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, DVMs, Hi-Pot testers, DAQs, TC/RTD loggers, FLIR cameras, power meters, solder/rework stations, 3D printing, and LabVIEW programming.
Engineering Lab:
- Responsible for lab cleanliness, upkeep of lab equipment, and moving parts to offsite storage or inventory.
- Manage equipment check-in/check-out.
- Maintain general laboratory safety.
- Monitor hand tool condition, replacement, and stocking of shared parts.
- Assist with lab space coordination, documentation of layouts, and equipment.
Rework PCBs:
- Perform through-hole and surface mount soldering.
- Install jumper wires and dead-bug ICs.
- Apply potting/epoxy materials.
- Document all rework performed.
Troubleshoot PCBs:
- Troubleshoot PCBs using provided schematics with minimal guidance.
Cable Assemblies:
- Build new and modify existing cables and harnesses.
- Experience with Harting, Molex, CPC, Ring Lugs, Ferrules, D-SUB, and Combo D-SUB connectors, including proper use of crimp tools, shield termination, wire gauge selection, and heat-shrink tubing application.
- Experience with coaxial cables and RF connectors is a plus.
- Experience with single-phase and three-phase 208/480 VAC wiring to circuit breakers and contactors, including proper torqueing of electrical connections.
Enclosure Build:
- Modify (drill and cut) engineering boxes/enclosures to house electrical components.
- Install bulkhead connectors, internal cabling, PCB mounts, circuit breakers, contactors, EMO devices, and panel-mounted status LEDs.
- Prototype fabrication skills, including sheet metal punching, nibbling, bending, shearing, and drilling.
Engineering Test Support:
- Assist engineering teams with a wide range of tests and experiments.
- Support thermal/humidity chamber testing, test fixture builds, and component cycling.
Office/PC:
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Copilot.
- Ability to perform web searches for parts, tools, datasheets, and technical solutions.
We are hiring for a 24-month onsite position in Fremont (ZIP 94538). Regular Mon-Fri, 40 hours, 8: 00 AM-5:00 PM.
Qualifications
- Minimum Associate's degree in Electronics or a related field required and/or equivalent military experience involving electronics, such as avionics technician.
- 1+ year of experience in the semiconductor capital equipment industry or equivalent.
- Cable/harness rework and assembly.
- PCB rework and troubleshooting.
- Three-phase AC power box rework and assembly.
General Responsibilities / Job Functions:
Equipment Management:
- Manage calibration processes for several hundred pieces of electrical equipment, including vendor coordination and asset tracking using RFID or other real-time tracking systems.
- Maintain outsourced electrical equipment service, ensuring timely, well-coordinated repairs in collaboration with engineering teams.
Test/Diagnostic Equipment Familiarity:
- Experience with oscilloscopes (including HV, differential, and current clamp probes), signal generators, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, DVMs, Hi-Pot testers, DAQs, TC/RTD loggers, FLIR cameras, power meters, solder/rework stations, 3D printing, and LabVIEW programming.
Engineering Lab:
- Responsible for lab cleanliness, upkeep of lab equipment, and moving parts to offsite storage or inventory.
- Manage equipment check-in/check-out.
- Maintain general laboratory safety.
- Monitor hand tool condition, replacement, and stocking of shared parts.
- Assist with lab space coordination, documentation of layouts, and equipment.
Rework PCBs:
- Perform through-hole and surface mount soldering.
- Install jumper wires and dead-bug ICs.
- Apply potting/epoxy materials.
- Document all rework performed.
Troubleshoot PCBs:
- Troubleshoot PCBs using provided schematics with minimal guidance.
Cable Assemblies:
- Build new and modify existing cables and harnesses.
- Experience with Harting, Molex, CPC, Ring Lugs, Ferrules, D-SUB, and Combo D-SUB connectors, including proper use of crimp tools, shield termination, wire gauge selection, and heat-shrink tubing application.
- Experience with coaxial cables and RF connectors is a plus.
- Experience with single-phase and three-phase 208/480 VAC wiring to circuit breakers and contactors, including proper torqueing of electrical connections.
Enclosure Build:
- Modify (drill and cut) engineering boxes/enclosures to house electrical components.
- Install bulkhead connectors, internal cabling, PCB mounts, circuit breakers, contactors, EMO devices, and panel-mounted status LEDs.
- Prototype fabrication skills, including sheet metal punching, nibbling, bending, shearing, and drilling.
Engineering Test Support:
- Assist engineering teams with a wide range of tests and experiments.
- Support thermal/humidity chamber testing, test fixture builds, and component cycling.
Office/PC:
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Copilot.
- Ability to perform web searches for parts, tools, datasheets, and technical solutions.
See all 57+ OPT Electrical Engineering Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Electrical Engineering Technician Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Electrical Engineering Technician
Confirm your role qualifies as STEM
Electrical Engineering Technician positions under SOC 17-3023 qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Verify your employer's job description references this SOC code before accepting an offer to protect your extension eligibility.
Target employers with E-Verify enrollment
STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask during the offer stage, not after. Most established manufacturers, defense contractors, and utilities are already enrolled, making them reliable targets.
Align your degree field to the job description
Your DSO must confirm the role directly relates to your degree. Electrical, electronics, or electromechanical engineering degrees map cleanly. If your degree is adjacent, document how your coursework covers the technical skills the job requires.
Prioritize companies that already file H-1B
Employers who regularly sponsor H-1B visa petitions have established immigration processes, making your transition from OPT far smoother. Search federal LCA disclosure data to identify which companies in this field have a sponsorship track record.
Start the STEM extension process 90 days early
File your STEM OPT extension application no later than 90 days before your initial OPT expires. A timely, pending application keeps you authorized to work during USCIS processing, which can take two to five months.
Request a clear job title on your offer letter
Vague titles like 'Lab Assistant' can complicate your DSO's STEM determination. Ask your employer to use a title that reflects your technical duties, such as Electrical Engineering Technician or Electronics Technician, on all official documentation.
Electrical Engineering Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Electrical Engineering Technician job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if the role falls under SOC code 17-3023 (Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians) and your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as electrical or electronics engineering. Your DSO confirms the connection between your degree and the job before approving the I-20 extension. Employers must also be enrolled in E-Verify.
What degree fields support an OPT application for Electrical Engineering Technician roles?
Electrical engineering, electronics engineering, electromechanical engineering technology, and closely related STEM fields are the strongest matches. Degrees in computer engineering or instrumentation engineering can also qualify if the job description involves work covered by your coursework. Your DSO makes the final determination, so bring the job description to that conversation.
How do I find Electrical Engineering Technician jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Electrical Engineering Technician jobs from employers who are open to OPT work authorization, so you're not filtering through postings that exclude international students. Defense contractors, semiconductor manufacturers, utilities, and large industrial companies tend to have the most consistent sponsorship infrastructure for this role category.
Can I work as an Electrical Engineering Technician on pre-completion OPT before graduating?
Yes, pre-completion OPT allows you to work in a role directly related to your major before you finish your degree. There are hour restrictions during the academic year: no more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session. Full-time work is permitted during official school breaks and after your last semester's coursework is complete.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my Electrical Engineering Technician employer loses E-Verify enrollment?
If you are on a STEM OPT extension, losing E-Verify enrollment at your employer is a compliance problem. You must report the change to your DSO within five business days. You may need to find a new E-Verify enrolled employer to maintain lawful status. Standard 12-month OPT does not have the E-Verify requirement, so this issue applies specifically to STEM extensions.