Marine Electrician Jobs for OPT Students
Marine Electrician jobs on OPT involve installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting electrical systems on ships, submarines, and offshore platforms. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions under electrical engineering classifications, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Shipyards and defense contractors are your most active hiring sectors.
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Get Access To All JobsMarine Electrician
This position is located On-site in our Portland, CT or Bellingham, WA
Roles and Responsibilities:
- The installation of all vessel-related electrical system components, to include wiring/cables, power generation components, control panels, junction boxes, etc.
- Performing system start-up and functional testing of electrical systems and troubleshoot/repair system issues.
- Removing, installing, and repairing electrical equipment and fixtures.
- Removing and installing diverse types of cable tray systems.
- Troubleshooting motor and control systems.
- Performing routine maintenance on electrical wiring and systems.
- Building control panels.
- Understanding proper safety and abiding by all quality rules instructed.
- Creating solutions, procedures and policies while working with various departments.
- Resolving problems using established procedures and common sense.
Qualifications / Skills / Experience:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Minimum of 1-2 years’ experience in marine electrical installation.
- Basic electrical knowledge of low voltage systems, familiar with electrical schematics and drawings. May need assistance with drawing interpretations, work will be supervised and checked.
- Ability to use hand tools; owning and using own set of tools is required for this position.
- Ability to work in limited spaces.
- Understand how to use a multi-meter.
- Strong communication skills and effective at building relationships at all levels.
- Energetic motivated and goal oriented.
- Able to work well in a fast-paced team environment.
- Focus on detail and accuracy in all efforts.
- A quick learner who is resourceful.
- Prior experience in a small organization, demonstrating abilities with multiple objectives and multitasking efforts.
Birdon offers a full benefits package including:
- Health/Dental/Vision
- EAP/Life
- STD/LTD
- 401(k) with company match (pre- and post-tax options)
- Vacation/Sick accrual and holiday pay
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Employee referral program
- Pet Insurance
Birdon is committed to the HEALTH and SAFETY of our workforce and to the ENVIRONMENT we expect this same commitment from all employees.
Birdon America Inc. 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. Know Your Rights. The Company invites any applicant and/or employee to review the Company’s written Affirmative Action Plan. This plan is available for inspection upon request by emailing hr@birdon.us. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact hr@birdon.us for further assistance.
Marine Electrician
This position is located On-site in our Portland, CT or Bellingham, WA
Roles and Responsibilities:
- The installation of all vessel-related electrical system components, to include wiring/cables, power generation components, control panels, junction boxes, etc.
- Performing system start-up and functional testing of electrical systems and troubleshoot/repair system issues.
- Removing, installing, and repairing electrical equipment and fixtures.
- Removing and installing diverse types of cable tray systems.
- Troubleshooting motor and control systems.
- Performing routine maintenance on electrical wiring and systems.
- Building control panels.
- Understanding proper safety and abiding by all quality rules instructed.
- Creating solutions, procedures and policies while working with various departments.
- Resolving problems using established procedures and common sense.
Qualifications / Skills / Experience:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Minimum of 1-2 years’ experience in marine electrical installation.
- Basic electrical knowledge of low voltage systems, familiar with electrical schematics and drawings. May need assistance with drawing interpretations, work will be supervised and checked.
- Ability to use hand tools; owning and using own set of tools is required for this position.
- Ability to work in limited spaces.
- Understand how to use a multi-meter.
- Strong communication skills and effective at building relationships at all levels.
- Energetic motivated and goal oriented.
- Able to work well in a fast-paced team environment.
- Focus on detail and accuracy in all efforts.
- A quick learner who is resourceful.
- Prior experience in a small organization, demonstrating abilities with multiple objectives and multitasking efforts.
Birdon offers a full benefits package including:
- Health/Dental/Vision
- EAP/Life
- STD/LTD
- 401(k) with company match (pre- and post-tax options)
- Vacation/Sick accrual and holiday pay
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Employee referral program
- Pet Insurance
Birdon is committed to the HEALTH and SAFETY of our workforce and to the ENVIRONMENT we expect this same commitment from all employees.
Birdon America Inc. 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. Know Your Rights. The Company invites any applicant and/or employee to review the Company’s written Affirmative Action Plan. This plan is available for inspection upon request by emailing hr@birdon.us. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact hr@birdon.us for further assistance.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Marine Electrician
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Marine Electrician roles typically fall under electrical or marine engineering SOC codes. Verify your degree program appears on the STEM OPT designated degree list before applying, since your 36-month extension eligibility depends entirely on that classification matching your employer's job.
Target defense and government shipyard contractors
Companies like Huntington Ingalls and BAE Systems hire marine electricians regularly and have established OPT hiring pipelines. Large defense contractors are more familiar with work authorization requirements than smaller marine service shops, making the sponsorship conversation considerably more straightforward from the start.
Get your TWIC card before you apply
A Transportation Worker Identification Credential is mandatory for unescorted access to secure port facilities. Applying early signals professional readiness to employers and removes a common onboarding bottleneck. Processing takes four to six weeks, so start your application before you begin interviewing for shipyard positions.
Frame your OPT timeline around project cycles
Shipyard projects run on multi-year contracts. When discussing your OPT status, connect your 36-month STEM window to the project duration your employer is hiring for. This reframes your authorization as an asset aligned with their work schedule rather than an administrative inconvenience worth avoiding.
Highlight relevant certifications prominently
OSHA 10 or 30, NFPA 70E electrical safety, and any marine classification society training significantly strengthen your application. Hiring managers in shipyards use certifications as a first filter. List them at the top of your resume, not buried in a separate section, to clear that screen immediately.
Apply to commercial shipyards alongside naval contractors
Cruise lines, ferry operators, and offshore energy companies also hire marine electricians and are often more flexible on visa status than defense contractors requiring security clearances. Spreading applications across both sectors improves your chances and gives you leverage when negotiating your start date and onboarding timeline.
Marine Electrician jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Marine Electrician jobs qualify for the 36-month STEM OPT extension?
Most do, but it depends on your degree field. Marine Electrician roles are commonly classified under SOC code 49-2096 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers) or adjacent electrical engineering codes. If your degree is in electrical engineering, marine engineering, or a related STEM field on the designated degree list, you'll likely qualify for the full 36-month extension. Confirm with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Can I work on U.S. naval or military vessels as an OPT student?
Roles on active U.S. naval vessels typically require U.S. citizenship due to security clearance requirements. However, OPT students can work for private defense contractors at shipyards on naval construction and repair projects without a clearance, provided the specific role doesn't require classified access. Commercial shipyards and offshore platforms generally have no citizenship restrictions for marine electricians on OPT.
What happens to my OPT status if my shipyard contract ends before my authorization expires?
You have a 60-day unemployment grace period after your employment ends, during which you can search for a new position. On STEM OPT, you're also allowed up to 150 days of unemployment total across your entire extension period. Use that window actively. Migrate Mate lists Marine Electrician roles specifically open to OPT candidates, which can shorten your search significantly.
Do Marine Electrician employers need to file any immigration paperwork to hire me on OPT?
For standard OPT, the employer doesn't file anything with USCIS. Your EAD card covers your work authorization. For the STEM OPT extension, your employer must enroll in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan (Form I-983) with your school. Most large shipyards already use E-Verify, so this is rarely an obstacle at established contractors.
Where can I find Marine Electrician jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for F-1 OPT candidates, so you're not wasting time applying to roles where work authorization will disqualify you. Marine Electrician openings on Migrate Mate include shipyard positions, offshore platform roles, and commercial vessel contractors across major port cities including Seattle, Norfolk, Houston, and San Diego.
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