Electrical Technician Jobs for OPT Students
Electrical Technician roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in electrical engineering, electronics, or a related technical field. Most positions qualify as STEM-designated roles, making you eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Employers in manufacturing, utilities, and defense regularly hire for this role.
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Get Access To All JobsInstrument & Electrical Technician in Rensselaer, NY
Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives.
It is the responsibility of the Instrument and Electrical Technician I to troubleshoot instrumentation and electrical problems and provide maintenance of equipment and systems at the facility in order to maintain consistent production requirements according to cGMP regulations and guidelines. All work must be completed in accordance to good engineering practices, FM Global, and National Electrical Code standards to ensure the Safety, Production and Environmental goals of the site.
Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life-saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers’ therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients’ lives.
We proudly offer
- Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment)
- Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
- Career advancement opportunities
- Education reimbursement
- 401K program with matching contributions
- Learning platform
- And more!
Responsibilities
- Install, calibrate and validate equipment, troubleshoot problems, provide preventative maintenance and support continuous improvement projects. Major areas of responsibility include power distribution, process controls and control systems, motor control and related devices, lighting, instrument maintenance and proper associated documentation
- Participate in ESH activities on the site, focusing on prevention of accidents, environmental releases and avoidance of personal exposure to hazards
- Participate in and facilitate team discussions between co-workers, supervisors, and production in order to share and improve best practices and assessment of priorities
- Participate in establishing and maintaining documentation procedures as required by the IE team according to cGMP’s and SOP guidelines. Develop clear, concise, consistent procedures as required; communicate and train other technicians in use of the same. Maintain accurate and complete records of ongoing calibrations and projects with emphasis on regulatory compliance
- Develop and/or acquire specific skills for maintenance of equipment as defined in training matrix
- Troubleshoot failures on instruments and control systems. Contact vendors and manufacturers as needed for support in resolving issues. Support production via specific equipment knowledge Instrumentation/Electrical Technician Maintenance and/or expertise in specialized fields, identifying and resolving recurring instrument and control failures
- Actively participate on project teams and act as a Subject Matter Expert for engineering evaluation and implementation. Affect continuous improvement through root cause analysis of problems using data based decision-making skills
- Participate in and support team concepts and methods by contributing to activities discussed in team meetings, seeking input from team members when developing new methods, procedures, and policies
- Recommend and implement methods to increase the quality of products and/or services
- Participate in self-development activities and training of others
- Exhibit safety awareness and safe work practices
- IE Technicians rotate on-call 24-hour coverage duties
Qualifications
Required
- High school education or equivalent
- Minimum of 0-1 years’ relevant experience
- ISA, CCST certification is required within two years of employment and must be maintained
Preferred
- Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree in an electric/electronic related field
- CMMS system experience
Pay Rate: $26.92/hour
We do not accept unsolicited assistance from any headhunters or recruitment firms for any of our job openings. All resumes or profiles submitted by search firms to any employee at Curia, in any form without a valid, signed search agreement by an authorized signatory in place for the specific position, approved by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Curia. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Curia because of the unsolicited referral.
All interested applicants must apply online. Please be aware of scammers. Curia will only send offer letters and requests for sensitive personal information from a curiaglobal.com email address. Curia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Curia is an E-Verify employer.
Instrument & Electrical Technician in Rensselaer, NY
Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives.
It is the responsibility of the Instrument and Electrical Technician I to troubleshoot instrumentation and electrical problems and provide maintenance of equipment and systems at the facility in order to maintain consistent production requirements according to cGMP regulations and guidelines. All work must be completed in accordance to good engineering practices, FM Global, and National Electrical Code standards to ensure the Safety, Production and Environmental goals of the site.
Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life-saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers’ therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients’ lives.
We proudly offer
- Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment)
- Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
- Career advancement opportunities
- Education reimbursement
- 401K program with matching contributions
- Learning platform
- And more!
Responsibilities
- Install, calibrate and validate equipment, troubleshoot problems, provide preventative maintenance and support continuous improvement projects. Major areas of responsibility include power distribution, process controls and control systems, motor control and related devices, lighting, instrument maintenance and proper associated documentation
- Participate in ESH activities on the site, focusing on prevention of accidents, environmental releases and avoidance of personal exposure to hazards
- Participate in and facilitate team discussions between co-workers, supervisors, and production in order to share and improve best practices and assessment of priorities
- Participate in establishing and maintaining documentation procedures as required by the IE team according to cGMP’s and SOP guidelines. Develop clear, concise, consistent procedures as required; communicate and train other technicians in use of the same. Maintain accurate and complete records of ongoing calibrations and projects with emphasis on regulatory compliance
- Develop and/or acquire specific skills for maintenance of equipment as defined in training matrix
- Troubleshoot failures on instruments and control systems. Contact vendors and manufacturers as needed for support in resolving issues. Support production via specific equipment knowledge Instrumentation/Electrical Technician Maintenance and/or expertise in specialized fields, identifying and resolving recurring instrument and control failures
- Actively participate on project teams and act as a Subject Matter Expert for engineering evaluation and implementation. Affect continuous improvement through root cause analysis of problems using data based decision-making skills
- Participate in and support team concepts and methods by contributing to activities discussed in team meetings, seeking input from team members when developing new methods, procedures, and policies
- Recommend and implement methods to increase the quality of products and/or services
- Participate in self-development activities and training of others
- Exhibit safety awareness and safe work practices
- IE Technicians rotate on-call 24-hour coverage duties
Qualifications
Required
- High school education or equivalent
- Minimum of 0-1 years’ relevant experience
- ISA, CCST certification is required within two years of employment and must be maintained
Preferred
- Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree in an electric/electronic related field
- CMMS system experience
Pay Rate: $26.92/hour
We do not accept unsolicited assistance from any headhunters or recruitment firms for any of our job openings. All resumes or profiles submitted by search firms to any employee at Curia, in any form without a valid, signed search agreement by an authorized signatory in place for the specific position, approved by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Curia. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Curia because of the unsolicited referral.
All interested applicants must apply online. Please be aware of scammers. Curia will only send offer letters and requests for sensitive personal information from a curiaglobal.com email address. Curia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Curia is an E-Verify employer.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as an Electrical Technician
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Electrical Technician roles typically fall under STEM OPT when your degree is in electrical engineering, electronics technology, or a related field. Verify your CIP code with your DSO before applying to ensure you can claim the 24-month extension.
Target employers with active government contracts
Defense contractors, utilities, and infrastructure firms hire Electrical Technicians regularly and are experienced with OPT work authorization. These employers often have dedicated HR teams familiar with I-983 reporting requirements and STEM OPT compliance obligations.
Get your licenses and certifications in order
Employers in electrical roles often look for OSHA 10, NFPA 70E, or state-specific journeyman certifications. Having these credentials before you apply signals work readiness and reduces employer hesitation about your shorter initial OPT authorization window.
Address your OPT timeline early in conversations
Electrical Technician hiring cycles can move slowly in regulated industries. Bring up your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility before the offer stage so employers can plan around your authorization timeline without last-minute surprises delaying a start date.
Emphasize hands-on lab and field experience
OPT employers want evidence you can work independently from day one. Highlight internship projects, university lab work, or capstone experience involving circuit testing, PLC programming, or equipment calibration to reduce concern about your learning curve on the job.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly employers
Not every employer who posts an Electrical Technician role is open to OPT candidates. Migrate Mate filters job listings by sponsorship willingness, saving you time by surfacing employers who have hired international candidates and understand work authorization requirements.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Electrical Technician jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do, but it depends on your degree, not just the job title. If your degree is in electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or a closely related STEM field, and the role is directly related to that field of study, your DSO can authorize the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code qualifies with your international student office before you accept an offer.
What does the I-983 training plan requirement mean for Electrical Technician OPT students?
If you're on STEM OPT, your employer must complete a Form I-983 training plan that describes how the job provides practical training in your field of study. For Electrical Technicians, this typically covers areas like circuit analysis, equipment maintenance, or systems testing. Your employer must also conduct mid-point and final evaluations. Make sure your hiring manager understands this before you start.
Can I work as an Electrical Technician at a staffing agency or on contract placements while on OPT?
Yes, but with conditions. On standard OPT, you can work for a staffing agency as long as the work is related to your field of study. On STEM OPT, staffing arrangements are more complicated because the I-983 employer of record requirements become harder to satisfy with third-party client sites. Talk to your DSO and the staffing agency's compliance team before accepting a contract placement.
Which industries hire the most Electrical Technicians open to OPT candidates?
Manufacturing, defense contracting, utilities, semiconductor fabrication, and telecommunications are the strongest industries for OPT-friendly Electrical Technician roles. Employers in these sectors frequently hire international candidates and are familiar with work authorization documentation. You can browse current openings from employers experienced with OPT on Migrate Mate, filtered specifically for sponsorship-willing companies.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my Electrical Technician job ends before my EAD expires?
You have a 60-day grace period after your employment ends to find a new qualifying position, transfer to a different visa status, or leave the country. During this window, you cannot work. If you find a new Electrical Technician role within the grace period, your OPT authorization continues under the same EAD card. Report any employment changes to your DSO promptly to stay in valid status.
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