OPT Field Application Engineer Jobs
Field Application Engineer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT international students with engineering degrees, since the role directly applies technical coursework to real customer problems. STEM OPT extension eligibility is common here, giving you up to three years of authorized work experience in a hands-on engineering capacity.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Application / Industrial Engineer supports the Technical Quoting Team by evaluating customer requirements, assessing manufacturing feasibility, developing engineering estimates, and identifying technical risks during the quotation and contract review processes.
This role works closely with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Program Management to ensure customer requirements are understood, accurately quoted, and effectively transitioned into production. The ideal candidate has a strong manufacturing or engineering background, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate across functions to solve technical challenges.
Work Location & Flexibility
This position will initially be on-site to support hands-on training, product and process familiarization, relationship development, and integration with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Sales, and Program Management teams. Following successful onboarding and demonstrated proficiency in the role, the position may transition to a hybrid or remote work arrangement based on business needs, individual performance, and the ability to effectively support the responsibilities of the position remotely. Periodic on-site presence and customer travel will continue to be required.
Key Responsibilities
- Review customer RFQs, engineering drawings, specifications, statements of work, and contractual requirements to assess technical feasibility, manufacturability, and compliance obligations.
- Support technical quotations by evaluating labor, materials, tooling, manufacturing processes, testing requirements, and associated costs.
- Develop engineering estimates, including Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) hours, work breakdown structures, and preliminary lead-time assumptions.
- Leverage historical products, manufacturing data, and previous engineering efforts to improve quoting accuracy and efficiency.
- Identify technical requirements, assumptions, potential risks, and areas requiring customer clarification prior to quote submission.
- Review customer purchase orders and contracts to ensure alignment with quoted assumptions and resolve technical discrepancies before order acceptance.
- Coordinate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production to validate technical assumptions and execution requirements.
- Manage customer document revisions, evaluating changes to technical requirements and their potential impact on manufacturing, testing, cost, and schedule.
- Engage with customers through on-site customer visits and technical discussions, including engagements with ITAR-restricted customers, to support quotations, understand future requirements, and identify business opportunities.
- Support continuous improvement of quoting and contract review processes through improved estimating tools, standard work, and engineering documentation.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, technical estimating, applications engineering, or a related field.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements and translate into engineering estimates and work breakdown structures.
- General understanding of manufacturing processes, assembly operations, and engineering cost estimation.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.
COMPENSATION
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $96,800 to $121,000 (subject to change dependent on physical location)
- Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. TE Connectivity reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualification of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.
- Total Compensation = Base Salary + Incentive(s) + Benefits
BENEFITS
- A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), disability, life insurance, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off and voluntary benefits.
EOE, Including Disability/Vets
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING RECRUITMENT FRAUD
TE Connectivity has become aware of fraudulent recruitment activities being conducted by individuals or organizations falsely claiming to represent TE Connectivity. Please be advised that TE Connectivity never requests payment or fees from job applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings are posted exclusively on our official careers website at te.com/careers, and all email communications from our recruitment team will come only from actual email addresses ending in @te.com. If you receive any suspicious communications, we strongly advise you not to engage or provide any personal information, and to report the incident to your local authorities.
Job Locations:
1700 GILLESPIE WAY
EL CAJON, California 92020
United States
Posting City: EL CAJON
Job Country: United States
Travel Required: 25% to 50%
Requisition ID: 162021
Workplace Type: Hybrid
INTRODUCTION
The Application / Industrial Engineer supports the Technical Quoting Team by evaluating customer requirements, assessing manufacturing feasibility, developing engineering estimates, and identifying technical risks during the quotation and contract review processes.
This role works closely with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Program Management to ensure customer requirements are understood, accurately quoted, and effectively transitioned into production. The ideal candidate has a strong manufacturing or engineering background, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate across functions to solve technical challenges.
Work Location & Flexibility
This position will initially be on-site to support hands-on training, product and process familiarization, relationship development, and integration with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Sales, and Program Management teams. Following successful onboarding and demonstrated proficiency in the role, the position may transition to a hybrid or remote work arrangement based on business needs, individual performance, and the ability to effectively support the responsibilities of the position remotely. Periodic on-site presence and customer travel will continue to be required.
Key Responsibilities
- Review customer RFQs, engineering drawings, specifications, statements of work, and contractual requirements to assess technical feasibility, manufacturability, and compliance obligations.
- Support technical quotations by evaluating labor, materials, tooling, manufacturing processes, testing requirements, and associated costs.
- Develop engineering estimates, including Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) hours, work breakdown structures, and preliminary lead-time assumptions.
- Leverage historical products, manufacturing data, and previous engineering efforts to improve quoting accuracy and efficiency.
- Identify technical requirements, assumptions, potential risks, and areas requiring customer clarification prior to quote submission.
- Review customer purchase orders and contracts to ensure alignment with quoted assumptions and resolve technical discrepancies before order acceptance.
- Coordinate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production to validate technical assumptions and execution requirements.
- Manage customer document revisions, evaluating changes to technical requirements and their potential impact on manufacturing, testing, cost, and schedule.
- Engage with customers through on-site customer visits and technical discussions, including engagements with ITAR-restricted customers, to support quotations, understand future requirements, and identify business opportunities.
- Support continuous improvement of quoting and contract review processes through improved estimating tools, standard work, and engineering documentation.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, technical estimating, applications engineering, or a related field.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements and translate into engineering estimates and work breakdown structures.
- General understanding of manufacturing processes, assembly operations, and engineering cost estimation.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.
COMPENSATION
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience: $96,800 to $121,000 (subject to change dependent on physical location)
- Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. TE Connectivity reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualification of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.
- Total Compensation = Base Salary + Incentive(s) + Benefits
BENEFITS
- A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), disability, life insurance, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off and voluntary benefits.
EOE, Including Disability/Vets
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING RECRUITMENT FRAUD
TE Connectivity has become aware of fraudulent recruitment activities being conducted by individuals or organizations falsely claiming to represent TE Connectivity. Please be advised that TE Connectivity never requests payment or fees from job applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings are posted exclusively on our official careers website at te.com/careers, and all email communications from our recruitment team will come only from actual email addresses ending in @te.com. If you receive any suspicious communications, we strongly advise you not to engage or provide any personal information, and to report the incident to your local authorities.
Job Locations:
1700 GILLESPIE WAY
EL CAJON, California 92020
United States
Posting City: EL CAJON
Job Country: United States
Travel Required: 25% to 50%
Requisition ID: 162021
Workplace Type: Hybrid
See all 53+ OPT Field Application Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Field Application Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Field Application Engineer
Align your degree field with the role
FAE roles require a direct connection between your engineering degree and the technical domain. Electrical, mechanical, computer, or systems engineering degrees map cleanly. Confirm your degree field supports the specialty occupation requirement before applying.
Highlight customer-facing technical experience
Employers hiring FAEs want proof you can explain complex systems to non-technical audiences. Internships, lab demos, or teaching assistant roles where you translated technical concepts for others are worth calling out explicitly in your resume.
Target companies with established OPT pipelines
Semiconductor, test and measurement, and industrial automation companies regularly sponsor OPT students for FAE roles. Search Migrate Mate to identify employers who have sponsored similar engineering positions and prioritize outreach to those organizations.
Get your STEM OPT extension filed early
FAE roles at large technology companies almost always qualify for the STEM OPT extension. File your I-983 training plan with your DSO at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires to avoid any gap in work authorization.
Demonstrate product knowledge in applications
FAE hiring managers want engineers who genuinely understand the product line. Review technical datasheets, application notes, and product documentation for companies you target. Referencing specific product families during interviews signals preparation and technical credibility.
Address travel requirements proactively
FAE roles often involve customer site visits, which can raise questions about your work authorization on travel days. Be ready to explain that your OPT EAD authorizes work throughout the United States, including client-facing travel within the country.
Field Application Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Field Application Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. FAE roles typically fall under electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related STEM-designated field. As long as your degree program's CIP code appears on the STEM OPT designated degree program list and your employer signs an I-983 training plan, you can apply for the 24-month extension, giving you up to three years of total OPT authorization.
What engineering degrees are most competitive for FAE jobs on OPT?
Electrical engineering and computer engineering degrees are the most common pathways into FAE roles, particularly in semiconductors, RF systems, and embedded hardware. Mechanical and systems engineering degrees open doors in industrial automation and test equipment. The key is that your degree field must relate directly to the products you'll be supporting, satisfying the specialty occupation requirement for work authorization purposes.
Where can I find FAE jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists Field Application Engineer roles from employers who are open to sponsoring or working with OPT students. Filtering by OPT eligibility saves time compared to applying broadly and discovering visa restrictions late in the process. It also helps you identify which companies have an established track record of supporting international engineering hires.
Can I work at customer sites as an FAE while on OPT?
Yes. Your OPT Employment Authorization Document authorizes you to work for your sponsoring employer throughout the United States, including travel to customer locations. What you cannot do is work independently for a client or accept compensation directly from a third party. All your work must be performed as an employee of the company listed on your EAD.
How does changing employers affect my OPT if I take a new FAE job?
On initial OPT, you can change employers as long as the new role is directly related to your degree field and you report the change to your DSO within 10 days. On STEM OPT extension, a new employer must be E-Verify enrolled, and you must submit a new I-983 training plan before your start date. Notify your DSO promptly to keep your SEVIS record current.