OPT Field Application Specialist Jobs
Field Application Specialist jobs are a strong OPT fit for graduates in life sciences, engineering, or chemistry who want to blend technical expertise with client-facing work. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship. Your 12-month OPT window, plus a potential 24-month STEM extension, gives employers meaningful runway to sponsor you.
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Get Access To All JobsJoin Inframark: Pioneering Automation and Intelligence
Step into the future with Inframark's award-winning Automation and Intelligence team. We deliver cutting-edge solutions in instrumentation and controls, industrial cybersecurity, data analysis, and remote network operations center services for water and wastewater plants. Elevate your career and join us at Inframark. Apply today!
Why Work for Inframark?
Our dedication to sustainability and community impact drives us to ensure clean, safe water for future generations. Whether you're at the start of your career or looking for advancement, Inframark offers purpose-driven work and opportunities for growth. We offer an attractive salary package, including a generous benefits package with health, dental, and life insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off, sick leave, holidays, and wellness plan.
Position Summary
Systems East, an Inframark company, is seeking a Field Automation Systems (FAS) Engineer to play a crucial role in control system integration, commissioning, and customer support. This position involves configuring, programming, testing, and troubleshooting industrial control systems—including SCADA, PLCs, HMIs, networking equipment, and instrumentation—primarily in the Water/Wastewater Industry.
This is a hands-on field role that requires technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and a customer-focused approach. If you have experience with automation, control systems, and networking and enjoy working on-site to deliver innovative solutions, we encourage you to apply!
Key Responsibilities
- Project Management & Coordination
- Review project requirements through meetings with the Project Manager and contract document analysis.
- Maintain clear communication with Project Managers, keeping them informed of task status, milestones, and budgetary concerns.
- Produce accurate and timely documentation, including timesheets, trip reports, and system updates.
-
Follow established Best Practices, Development Standards, and Procedures to ensure high-quality project execution.
-
System Configuration & Programming
- Set up system servers, workstations, operating systems, networks, and peripheral equipment at job sites.
- Develop System Control Narratives to define automation logic.
- Program PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and develop HMI (Human-Machine Interface) applications according to contract specifications.
-
Conduct Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) when required.
-
Field Installation & Commissioning
- Perform control panel commissioning, including field signal wiring, panel terminations, and I/O checkout.
- Conduct system startups, integrating PLC, HMI, instrumentation, and networking equipment.
- Ensure system hardware, network operation, SCADA functionality, and data collection align with project requirements.
-
Provide on-site training for operators, supervisors, and administrative personnel on system operation and maintenance.
-
Technical Support & Documentation
- Provide on-call service support for customers, troubleshooting startup and warranty issues.
- Perform instrument installation and calibration services, including physical setup, wire terminations, commissioning, and documentation.
- Mark up control panel drawings to reflect final field modifications.
-
Assist with integrating third-party systems and devices into automation networks.
-
Other Duties
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system efficiency.
- Mentor and train junior team members to develop a strong engineering workforce.
- Ensure all projects comply with safety and industry standards.
Qualifications & Skills
✅ Education & Experience:
- Technical degree in an engineering-related field OR 3+ years of field service experience in instrumentation, control systems, or automation.
- Experience in the Water/Wastewater industry is highly preferred.
✅ Technical Skills:
- Strong understanding of control systems, PLC programming, and SCADA applications.
- Knowledge of networking fundamentals, IP addressing, and communication protocols (Ethernet, Modbus, BACnet, etc.).
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&ID diagrams, and contract documents.
- Hands-on experience with control panel integration, troubleshooting, and commissioning.
✅ Soft Skills:
- Excellent communication skills to interact with customers, project managers, and team members.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
Work Locations:
- This job requires working in diverse environments, including:
- Office settings for project planning and documentation.
- Manufacturing shops and control panel assembly areas.
- Customer jobsites (indoor and outdoor), including industrial and water treatment facilities.
- Construction sites where physical tasks (lifting, climbing, working on ladders) may be required.
Work Conditions:
- May require extended periods of sitting, standing, and manual work.
- Exposure to varying weather conditions in field environments.
- On-call availability for system troubleshooting, startup, and warranty support.
Inframark is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.
Join Inframark: Pioneering Automation and Intelligence
Step into the future with Inframark's award-winning Automation and Intelligence team. We deliver cutting-edge solutions in instrumentation and controls, industrial cybersecurity, data analysis, and remote network operations center services for water and wastewater plants. Elevate your career and join us at Inframark. Apply today!
Why Work for Inframark?
Our dedication to sustainability and community impact drives us to ensure clean, safe water for future generations. Whether you're at the start of your career or looking for advancement, Inframark offers purpose-driven work and opportunities for growth. We offer an attractive salary package, including a generous benefits package with health, dental, and life insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off, sick leave, holidays, and wellness plan.
Position Summary
Systems East, an Inframark company, is seeking a Field Automation Systems (FAS) Engineer to play a crucial role in control system integration, commissioning, and customer support. This position involves configuring, programming, testing, and troubleshooting industrial control systems—including SCADA, PLCs, HMIs, networking equipment, and instrumentation—primarily in the Water/Wastewater Industry.
This is a hands-on field role that requires technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and a customer-focused approach. If you have experience with automation, control systems, and networking and enjoy working on-site to deliver innovative solutions, we encourage you to apply!
Key Responsibilities
- Project Management & Coordination
- Review project requirements through meetings with the Project Manager and contract document analysis.
- Maintain clear communication with Project Managers, keeping them informed of task status, milestones, and budgetary concerns.
- Produce accurate and timely documentation, including timesheets, trip reports, and system updates.
-
Follow established Best Practices, Development Standards, and Procedures to ensure high-quality project execution.
-
System Configuration & Programming
- Set up system servers, workstations, operating systems, networks, and peripheral equipment at job sites.
- Develop System Control Narratives to define automation logic.
- Program PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and develop HMI (Human-Machine Interface) applications according to contract specifications.
-
Conduct Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) when required.
-
Field Installation & Commissioning
- Perform control panel commissioning, including field signal wiring, panel terminations, and I/O checkout.
- Conduct system startups, integrating PLC, HMI, instrumentation, and networking equipment.
- Ensure system hardware, network operation, SCADA functionality, and data collection align with project requirements.
-
Provide on-site training for operators, supervisors, and administrative personnel on system operation and maintenance.
-
Technical Support & Documentation
- Provide on-call service support for customers, troubleshooting startup and warranty issues.
- Perform instrument installation and calibration services, including physical setup, wire terminations, commissioning, and documentation.
- Mark up control panel drawings to reflect final field modifications.
-
Assist with integrating third-party systems and devices into automation networks.
-
Other Duties
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system efficiency.
- Mentor and train junior team members to develop a strong engineering workforce.
- Ensure all projects comply with safety and industry standards.
Qualifications & Skills
✅ Education & Experience:
- Technical degree in an engineering-related field OR 3+ years of field service experience in instrumentation, control systems, or automation.
- Experience in the Water/Wastewater industry is highly preferred.
✅ Technical Skills:
- Strong understanding of control systems, PLC programming, and SCADA applications.
- Knowledge of networking fundamentals, IP addressing, and communication protocols (Ethernet, Modbus, BACnet, etc.).
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&ID diagrams, and contract documents.
- Hands-on experience with control panel integration, troubleshooting, and commissioning.
✅ Soft Skills:
- Excellent communication skills to interact with customers, project managers, and team members.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
Work Locations:
- This job requires working in diverse environments, including:
- Office settings for project planning and documentation.
- Manufacturing shops and control panel assembly areas.
- Customer jobsites (indoor and outdoor), including industrial and water treatment facilities.
- Construction sites where physical tasks (lifting, climbing, working on ladders) may be required.
Work Conditions:
- May require extended periods of sitting, standing, and manual work.
- Exposure to varying weather conditions in field environments.
- On-call availability for system troubleshooting, startup, and warranty support.
Inframark is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.
See all OPT Field Application Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Field Application Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Field Application Specialist
Target companies with active H-1B sponsorship histories
Instrument manufacturers, biotech firms, and diagnostics companies like Thermo Fisher, Agilent, and Waters regularly sponsor Field Application Specialists. Companies with existing sponsorship patterns are far more likely to continue sponsoring than those with none.
Emphasize your STEM OPT extension eligibility upfront
If your degree is in biology, chemistry, engineering, or a related STEM field, you qualify for a 24-month extension beyond standard OPT. Telling employers this during outreach immediately reduces their urgency to rush the H-1B visa process.
Connect your degree field directly to the technical role
Visa sponsorship depends on the job qualifying as a specialty occupation. Clearly articulating how your academic background maps to the instrumentation, assay, or systems knowledge the role requires strengthens both your application and any future H-1B petition.
Prioritize regional sales territories near your university
Field Application Specialists cover defined territories. Targeting roles in regions where you already have connections, lab experience, or customer networks gives you a practical advantage and reduces relocation barriers that can slow down offer timelines.
Prepare to discuss your OPT timeline honestly and early
Hiring managers in field roles plan around territory coverage needs. Proactively explaining your authorized work period and extension options, rather than waiting until an offer is extended, builds trust and helps employers plan sponsorship timelines alongside onboarding.
Build product and application knowledge before your interviews
Demonstrating hands-on familiarity with the instruments or platforms a company sells, whether through lab coursework, research, or internships, signals you can reduce training time. That practical readiness makes the cost of sponsorship feel more justified to hiring teams.
Field Application Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Field Application Specialist jobs typically qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Field Application Specialist roles generally qualify under OPT because they require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field, such as life sciences, chemistry, or engineering, and involve applying that specialized knowledge directly. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field, you may also qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of work authorization total.
Will employers sponsor an H-1B visa for a Field Application Specialist?
Many do, particularly at established instrument, diagnostics, and biotech companies where the role is tied to a specific scientific or engineering discipline. Because the position typically requires a specialized degree, it usually satisfies the specialty occupation standard for H-1B eligibility. Your odds improve significantly when you target companies that have sponsored the same or similar job titles in prior years, which you can research through public DOL disclosure data.
What degree fields best support OPT eligibility for Field Application Specialist roles?
Degrees in molecular biology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, and materials science are the most common qualifying fields. The key is that your degree field must align with the specific instruments or applications the employer sells. A biochemistry graduate applying to support genomics instruments is a cleaner fit than someone with a general science background applying to a highly specialized niche.
How can I find Field Application Specialist jobs that are open to sponsoring OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers open to sponsoring international candidates. Browsing Field Application Specialist listings on Migrate Mate lets you focus on companies already willing to work with OPT timelines, rather than spending hours on general job boards filtering out roles that exclude visa holders.
Can I do a Field Application Specialist role on Curricular Practical Training before OPT?
CPT is possible if the position is directly tied to your academic program and your university approves it. Some graduate programs in applied sciences or engineering explicitly incorporate industry placements, which makes CPT approval more straightforward. However, using 12 or more months of full-time CPT eliminates your OPT eligibility entirely, so confirm the implications with your Designated School Official before accepting any CPT-based offer.