STEM OPT Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs
Electrical Controls Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree is in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related CIP-coded field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to authorize the 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months of total OPT work authorization to build experience in PLC programming, industrial automation, and control systems design.
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INTRODUCTION
Dematic has an immediate need for an Electrical Controls Engineer in our Life Cycle and Services Modernizations & Upgrades group. Candidates will have up to 5 years' experience in controls engineering. Qualified candidates are proficient in planning, creating schematic and panel assembly drawings, working with PLCs (Allen Bradley and/or Siemens), HMIs, and VFD's, implementation and commissioning of engineering design projects. Employees must be willing to travel no more than 50% to customer locations in the USA.
Dematic is an intralogistics innovator that designs, builds and supports intelligent, automated solutions for manufacturing, warehouse and distribution environments for customers that are powering the future of commerce. With engineering centers, manufacturing facilities and service centers located in more than 25 countries, Dematic’s global network of 8,000 employees have helped achieve more than 6,000 worldwide customer installations for some of the world’s leading brands. Headquartered in Atlanta, Dematic is a member of KION Group, a global leader in industrial trucks, supply chain solutions and related services, and a leading provider of warehouse automation.
We offer:
- Career Development
- Competitive Compensation and Benefits
- Pay Transparency
- Global Opportunities
Dematic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The base pay range for this role is estimated to be $64,000 - $116,400 at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined by various factors such as work location, education, experience, knowledge, and skills.
TASKS AND QUALIFICATIONS
What you Will Do in This Role:
- Deliver assigned work packages on time and within budget, as defined by the Project Manager.
- Ensure all deliverables and solutions meet quality standards, processes, and established engineering practices.
- Interpret design input requirements to produce semi-complex system designs.
- Select and place electrical and controls components for conveyor systems to ensure accurate and reliable operation (e.g., photoeyes, I/O blocks, beacon lights, control stations, gateways, VFDs, etc.).
- Develop electrical layouts and schematic drawings using appropriate CAD tools.
- Perform FLA, power drop, cable length, and other engineering calculations to ensure proper system functionality and compliance with Dematic and industrial standards.
- Design industrial networks in accordance with Dematic guidelines and industry standards (Ethernet, ProfiBus/ProfiNet, AS-i, DCAN, etc.).
- Design semi-complex conveyor control software using tools such as AB Logix Designer.
- Configure Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) parameters to meet specific application requirements.
- Create configuration and parameter files for Embedded Conveyor Controllers (ECCs).
- Emulation testing of designed systems to ensure proper functionality.
- Document findings and results in alignment with Dematic standards, including Best Practices, Standard Work Packages, process documentation, application guidelines, and manuals.
- Share developed documentation and knowledge with less experienced engineers through training sessions, spreadsheets, manuals, and other collaborative formats.
- Track engineering progress against schedule; report updates with ME/CE Leads.
- Completes the commissioning of complex systems that integrate hardware and software.
- Completes recommendations for ideas related to productivity improvement, cost reduction and improvement in customer satisfaction.
- Must be open to travel up to 50% to customer location in the USA.
What We Are Looking For
- BS/BA in electrical engineering or advanced degree.
- 0-5 years of successful experience in related field.
- Demonstrates and applies a broad knowledge of field of specialization through successful completion of moderately complex assignments.
- Demonstrates knowledge of organization's business practices and issues.
- Proficient in AutoCAD.
- Proficient in either Rockwell or Siemens PLCs.
- Knowledgeable on AC drives, both open & closed loop.
- Experience in Ethernet IP network design and machine safety a plus.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an Electrical Controls Engineer
Verify your degree CIP code first
Electrical engineering degrees typically fall under CIP code 14.1001, but control systems coursework may also qualify under related codes. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before applying, so you don't discover eligibility issues after accepting an offer.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Before submitting applications, confirm each employer is enrolled in E-Verify using the E-Verify employer search. Manufacturers and automation firms sometimes operate across subsidiaries, so verify the specific legal entity listed on your offer letter, not just the parent company.
Target industries with high controls engineering demand
Automotive OEMs, food and beverage manufacturers, semiconductor fabrication facilities, and utility companies file the highest volume of LCAs for controls engineer roles. Focusing your search on these sectors increases your chances of finding E-Verify-enrolled employers actively hiring OPT candidates.
Use Migrate Mate to surface verified sponsorship history
Search Migrate Mate to identify employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and active LCA filings for electrical controls and automation roles. This lets you prioritize outreach to companies already familiar with OPT paperwork rather than educating hiring teams from scratch.
Submit your I-983 training plan before your start date
Your employer must sign the I-983 documenting your training goals, supervision structure, and how the role relates to your STEM degree. Have your hiring manager or HR contact review the form before your first day, since ICE requires it to be in place at the start of the extension period.
Check prevailing wage levels before negotiating
Look up the wage level for your role using the OFLC Wage Search and the O*NET occupation code for electrical and electronics engineers. Knowing the DOL prevailing wage for your metro area prevents you from accepting offers that could create compliance problems for your employer during the extension period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension as an Electrical Controls Engineer?
Your degree qualifies if it falls under an approved STEM CIP code, which includes electrical engineering (14.1001), computer engineering (14.0901), and several related fields. Your DSO can confirm whether your specific program is on the STEM Designated Degree Program list maintained by USCIS. Automation and controls roles are consistently recognized as matching these degree fields, but the degree itself, not the job title, determines eligibility.
Does my Electrical Controls Engineer employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT. Your employer must be enrolled before your extension begins, and enrollment must cover the specific worksite location listed on your I-983 training plan. If your employer operates across multiple entities or sites, verify that the legal entity signing your offer letter and I-983 is the enrolled one, since parent company enrollment doesn't automatically extend to subsidiaries.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a controls engineering role?
The I-983 must describe the specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, the supervision structure, how your daily work connects to your field of study, and the practical skills you'll develop. For controls engineering, this typically means documenting PLC programming projects, instrumentation work, or control system design tasks that align with your electrical or computer engineering coursework. Both you and your employer sign the form, and your DSO must receive a copy before the extension starts.
How does cap-gap protection work if my employer files an H-1B petition while I'm on STEM OPT?
If your employer files a timely H-1B visa petition and your STEM OPT expires before October 1 of that fiscal year, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization until the H-1B start date. USCIS confirms cap-gap status through the USCIS website, and your DSO will issue an updated I-20 reflecting the extension. You can continue working in your controls engineering role without interruption as long as the petition remains pending or approved.
How do I find Electrical Controls Engineer jobs that accept STEM OPT students?
Search Migrate Mate to find Electrical Controls Engineer roles at employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history in automation and controls engineering. Many manufacturers and industrial firms actively hire STEM OPT candidates but don't advertise it explicitly in job postings, so filtering by verified sponsorship history saves significant time compared to applying broadly and asking each recruiter individually.