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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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Join our growing engineering team and support the design and execution of electrical, instrumentation, and controls (EIC) projects across the industrial, utility, energy, and infrastructure sectors.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support electrical, instrumentation, and controls engineering activities under the guidance of senior engineers.
- Assist with engineering calculations, specifications, drawings, and technical documentation.
- Contribute to electrical power system, instrumentation, and control system designs.
- Support equipment selection, vendor reviews, procurement, and project execution activities.
- Participate in technical reviews, project meetings, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Help ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
- 0-5 years of relevant engineering experience.
- EIT certification preferred (or ability to obtain).
- Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Familiarity with electrical power systems, instrumentation, controls, SCADA, and industry standards is a plus.
WHY JOIN US?
- Work on impactful industrial and energy projects.
- Collaborate with experienced engineering professionals.
- Gain exposure to projects from design through commissioning.
- Grow your technical and professional career in a supportive environment.
COMPENSATION
- Pay: $75,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
BENEFITS
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
LOCATION
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Minneapolis, MN 55402
INTRODUCTION
Join our growing engineering team and support the design and execution of electrical, instrumentation, and controls (EIC) projects across the industrial, utility, energy, and infrastructure sectors.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support electrical, instrumentation, and controls engineering activities under the guidance of senior engineers.
- Assist with engineering calculations, specifications, drawings, and technical documentation.
- Contribute to electrical power system, instrumentation, and control system designs.
- Support equipment selection, vendor reviews, procurement, and project execution activities.
- Participate in technical reviews, project meetings, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Help ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
- 0-5 years of relevant engineering experience.
- EIT certification preferred (or ability to obtain).
- Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Familiarity with electrical power systems, instrumentation, controls, SCADA, and industry standards is a plus.
WHY JOIN US?
- Work on impactful industrial and energy projects.
- Collaborate with experienced engineering professionals.
- Gain exposure to projects from design through commissioning.
- Grow your technical and professional career in a supportive environment.
COMPENSATION
- Pay: $75,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
BENEFITS
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
LOCATION
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Minneapolis, MN 55402
See all STEM OPT Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs
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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.