OPT Electrical Maintenance Technician Jobs
Electrical Maintenance Technician roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in electrical engineering, electrical technology, or a related field. Most positions qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to 36 months of authorized work experience in hands-on electrical systems and industrial maintenance environments.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: Silver Bay, MN
Cleveland-Cliffs has an immediate opportunity for an Electrical Maintenance Technician at our Northshore Mining Company facility in Silver Bay, MN. This role is will be required to repair, maintain, and install electrical and instrumentation equipment throughout the Silver Bay Processing facility.
Summary of Responsibilities:
- Repair and maintenance of plant electrical/instrumentation equipment.
- Ensure safety hazards are repaired.
- Maintain the integrity of plant electrical/instrumentation and process control systems.
- Use computerized maintenance management system for work order record keeping and inventory withdrawal.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Two-year electrical degree or four years of comparable industrial electrical work experience is required.
- Highly motivated.
- Ability to read schematics, blueprints and loop diagrams.
- Must be available for rotating shift work and/or weekend coverage.
- Must be willing/flexible to work overtime when needed.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent attendance record.
- Excellent safety record.
- Applicants must achieve a satisfactory score on the NSM Electrical/Instrumentation Assessment by the next available assessment date.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in an industrial electrical environment is preferred.
- Instrumentation knowledge is preferred.
- PLC background preferred.
The pay range for this role is $30.72/hour to $45.31/hour.
Please note that all applicants must meet the physical requirements of the position by the close of the posting period.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is the largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. We offer an excellent total compensation package including competitive pay with variable compensation opportunity, health insurance, retirement plan, education assistance, paid time off, and more.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to careers@clevelandcliffs.com or call 1-(312) 899-3097 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Do not email your application materials to this email address. Application materials sent to this email address will not be considered.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is an equal opportunity employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability. We are a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment screening as a condition of employment.
Location: Silver Bay, MN
Cleveland-Cliffs has an immediate opportunity for an Electrical Maintenance Technician at our Northshore Mining Company facility in Silver Bay, MN. This role is will be required to repair, maintain, and install electrical and instrumentation equipment throughout the Silver Bay Processing facility.
Summary of Responsibilities:
- Repair and maintenance of plant electrical/instrumentation equipment.
- Ensure safety hazards are repaired.
- Maintain the integrity of plant electrical/instrumentation and process control systems.
- Use computerized maintenance management system for work order record keeping and inventory withdrawal.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Two-year electrical degree or four years of comparable industrial electrical work experience is required.
- Highly motivated.
- Ability to read schematics, blueprints and loop diagrams.
- Must be available for rotating shift work and/or weekend coverage.
- Must be willing/flexible to work overtime when needed.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent attendance record.
- Excellent safety record.
- Applicants must achieve a satisfactory score on the NSM Electrical/Instrumentation Assessment by the next available assessment date.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in an industrial electrical environment is preferred.
- Instrumentation knowledge is preferred.
- PLC background preferred.
The pay range for this role is $30.72/hour to $45.31/hour.
Please note that all applicants must meet the physical requirements of the position by the close of the posting period.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is the largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. We offer an excellent total compensation package including competitive pay with variable compensation opportunity, health insurance, retirement plan, education assistance, paid time off, and more.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to careers@clevelandcliffs.com or call 1-(312) 899-3097 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Do not email your application materials to this email address. Application materials sent to this email address will not be considered.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is an equal opportunity employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability. We are a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment screening as a condition of employment.
See all 30+ OPT Electrical Maintenance Technician Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Electrical Maintenance Technician
Lead with your STEM OPT eligibility
Employers often avoid OPT candidates assuming short authorization windows. Clarify upfront that your STEM OPT gives you up to 36 months of work authorization, which covers a full training cycle and proves you're a long-term hire worth investing in.
Highlight hands-on lab and internship experience
Electrical maintenance roles prioritize practical skills over academic credentials alone. Emphasize any lab coursework, co-op placements, or internships where you worked with PLCs, motor controls, or electrical distribution systems. Specific equipment experience closes gaps employers worry about with new graduates.
Target industries with established OPT hiring patterns
Manufacturing, utilities, and facilities management companies regularly hire OPT candidates for maintenance roles. These sectors have HR teams familiar with work authorization paperwork, making the sponsorship conversation far less friction-heavy than with smaller or less experienced employers.
Get your OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification before applying
Many electrical maintenance job postings list OSHA certification as a preferred or required qualification. Completing it before you apply removes a hiring barrier and signals you understand industrial safety standards, which matters as much as technical skills in these environments.
Address the E-Verify requirement proactively
STEM OPT employers must be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirming this early in your conversations saves time and prevents late-stage offer withdrawals. Ask during the first interview or screening call so both sides can move forward with accurate information about eligibility.
Frame H-1B sponsorship as a future step, not an immediate ask
Raising H-1B visa sponsorship too early can stall conversations before they start. Lead with your current OPT authorization and technical qualifications. Once an employer sees your value on the job, the path to H-1B sponsorship becomes a retention decision rather than a hiring risk.
Electrical Maintenance Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Electrical Maintenance Technician role qualify for STEM OPT?
It depends on your degree. If you hold a degree in electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or a closely related STEM field, the role typically qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The job must also be directly related to your degree program. Your Designated School Official can confirm whether your specific degree and job description meet the STEM OPT criteria before you apply.
What work authorization do I need as an F-1 student to take an Electrical Maintenance Technician job?
You need an approved Employment Authorization Document before your start date. For post-graduation work, this means applying for OPT through your school and receiving your EAD card from USCIS. Your OPT must be authorized for the employer's location and the job must be related to your degree field. Do not start work before your EAD reflects an active authorization period.
How do I find Electrical Maintenance Technician jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Most general job boards don't filter by visa sponsorship willingness, which wastes time. Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and OPT workers, so you can browse Electrical Maintenance Technician roles from employers already familiar with or open to work authorization. This filters out postings where OPT sponsorship is a nonstarter before you spend time applying.
Can I work as an Electrical Maintenance Technician at multiple sites or for a staffing agency on OPT?
OPT authorizes employment related to your degree field but does not restrict you to a single fixed worksite. Staffing agency or contract placements are permissible as long as the work is directly related to your degree and you maintain at least 20 hours of work per week to stay in valid OPT status. Your employer of record for E-Verify purposes must be the agency or company listed on your EAD paperwork.
What happens to my OPT status if my Electrical Maintenance Technician role ends before my EAD expires?
You have a 90-day unemployment buffer across your total OPT period to find new qualifying employment. If you exceed that limit without securing a related role, you fall out of valid status. Start your job search immediately after a separation and document your job search activity. Roles in electrical maintenance, industrial maintenance, or facilities engineering all qualify if the work aligns with your degree program field.