STEM OPT Power Systems Engineer Jobs
Power Systems Engineer roles in grid design, transmission planning, and energy storage qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension if your degree is in electrical engineering or a related STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) is focused on making electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.
SEL manufactures intelligent electronic devices (IED), Remote Terminal Units (RTU), and logic controllers that provide state-of-the-art monitoring, communication, and protection of power systems in multiple industries.
SEL Engineering Services (SEL ES) is the sector of SEL that creates solutions to target applications of SEL equipment for worldwide customers. The SEL ES engineering team designs, develops, tests, and commissions projects to meet our customers’ requirements. Applications include, but are not limited to:
- Utilities – Generation, Transmission and Distribution
- Data centers – Electrical Distribution, Power Monitoring, Protection, and Automation
- Industrial Plants and Universities – Substation and Switchgear
- Renewables – Wind, Solar, and BESS
SEL ES - Automation projects focus on providing solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure and power systems worldwide. This can involve data collection of system IEDs, logic controls, transfer schemes, SCADA design, communication network design, FLISR, advanced monitoring for power system solutions and many more.
Utilizing real-time logic controllers and communication equipment, the SEL ES Automation engineer owns the planning, design, development, testing and commissioning of the project.
Position Experience Requirement:
- Minimum of 2+ years
- Past work history, or equivalency, to meet position description and skill requirements
As an Automation Engineer, a typical day might include the following:
- Apply fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures related to power system automation, protection, and control systems.
- Design, configure, validate, install, commission, and support automation and protection systems utilizing SEL products and related technologies.
- Provide technical training and support to customers during project execution and system operation.
- Develop and contribute to functional design specifications, engineering studies, and system architectures.
- Prepare and maintain engineering deliverables, including design documents, reports, checklists, validation records, test reports, and commissioning documentation.
- Collaborate with customers, project managers, and cross-functional engineering teams to ensure successful project delivery.
- Promote and maintain a strong commitment to quality, safety, and customer satisfaction throughout all project phases.
This position will consider candidates from an Associate to Engineering III level.
This job might be for you if:
- Understanding of project engineering scope in relation to project budget (labor and equipment)
- Professional communication skills to be the direct technical contact for customers and colleagues.
- Ability to analyze electrical one-line drawings, DC/AC Schematics, and Bill of Materials
- Experience with industry standard communication protocols (IEC-61850, DNP, Modbus, etc.)
- Experience with design/development suite of HMI applications
- Willing to travel at least 20% of the time domestically
Additions skills but not requirements:
- Experience with phase I/O style project management
- Experience with SEL product configurations
- Experience with AVEVA Wonderware, Copadata Zenon, Ignition, Cimplicity, EcoStruxure or similar
- Experience with PLC programming
- Network troubleshooting tools
This position is open to multiple locations
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Salary Information
$90,000 - 145,000 per year. We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the pay range may differ if filled at a different level. Our pay ranges are determined by job and responsibility. We base our starting pay offer and title and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. #INDD2
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
Job Description
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) is focused on making electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.
SEL manufactures intelligent electronic devices (IED), Remote Terminal Units (RTU), and logic controllers that provide state-of-the-art monitoring, communication, and protection of power systems in multiple industries.
SEL Engineering Services (SEL ES) is the sector of SEL that creates solutions to target applications of SEL equipment for worldwide customers. The SEL ES engineering team designs, develops, tests, and commissions projects to meet our customers’ requirements. Applications include, but are not limited to:
- Utilities – Generation, Transmission and Distribution
- Data centers – Electrical Distribution, Power Monitoring, Protection, and Automation
- Industrial Plants and Universities – Substation and Switchgear
- Renewables – Wind, Solar, and BESS
SEL ES - Automation projects focus on providing solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure and power systems worldwide. This can involve data collection of system IEDs, logic controls, transfer schemes, SCADA design, communication network design, FLISR, advanced monitoring for power system solutions and many more.
Utilizing real-time logic controllers and communication equipment, the SEL ES Automation engineer owns the planning, design, development, testing and commissioning of the project.
Position Experience Requirement:
- Minimum of 2+ years
- Past work history, or equivalency, to meet position description and skill requirements
As an Automation Engineer, a typical day might include the following:
- Apply fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures related to power system automation, protection, and control systems.
- Design, configure, validate, install, commission, and support automation and protection systems utilizing SEL products and related technologies.
- Provide technical training and support to customers during project execution and system operation.
- Develop and contribute to functional design specifications, engineering studies, and system architectures.
- Prepare and maintain engineering deliverables, including design documents, reports, checklists, validation records, test reports, and commissioning documentation.
- Collaborate with customers, project managers, and cross-functional engineering teams to ensure successful project delivery.
- Promote and maintain a strong commitment to quality, safety, and customer satisfaction throughout all project phases.
This position will consider candidates from an Associate to Engineering III level.
This job might be for you if:
- Understanding of project engineering scope in relation to project budget (labor and equipment)
- Professional communication skills to be the direct technical contact for customers and colleagues.
- Ability to analyze electrical one-line drawings, DC/AC Schematics, and Bill of Materials
- Experience with industry standard communication protocols (IEC-61850, DNP, Modbus, etc.)
- Experience with design/development suite of HMI applications
- Willing to travel at least 20% of the time domestically
Additions skills but not requirements:
- Experience with phase I/O style project management
- Experience with SEL product configurations
- Experience with AVEVA Wonderware, Copadata Zenon, Ignition, Cimplicity, EcoStruxure or similar
- Experience with PLC programming
- Network troubleshooting tools
This position is open to multiple locations
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Salary Information
$90,000 - 145,000 per year. We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the pay range may differ if filled at a different level. Our pay ranges are determined by job and responsibility. We base our starting pay offer and title and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. #INDD2
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
See all 704+ STEM OPT Power Systems Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Power Systems Engineer
Verify your CIP code matches STEM OPT
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the official STEM OPT designated degree program list maintained by USCIS. Electrical Engineering (14.1001) and Power Engineering (14.1004) qualify, but interdisciplinary degrees sometimes carry codes that don't appear on the list.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before applying
Ask recruiters directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before your first interview. Many utilities and energy contractors aren't enrolled despite hiring engineers, which disqualifies them from employing you on STEM OPT regardless of their sponsorship intent.
Target employers with active LCA filings in power sectors
Use the OFLC Wage Search to identify companies that have filed Labor Condition Applications under SOC code 17-2071 for Electrical Engineers. Frequent LCA filers in transmission, grid operations, and renewable energy development have established immigration workflows and are more likely to support your extension paperwork.
Find Power Systems Engineer roles on Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate to filter Power Systems Engineer openings by employers already verified for STEM OPT eligibility. This removes the guesswork of checking E-Verify status and LCA history employer by employer before you apply.
Build your I-983 training plan around engineering milestones
Draft your I-983 before your offer letter is finalized so your employer's legal team can review it alongside onboarding documents. Power systems roles should map learning objectives to specific technical activities: protection relay coordination, load flow studies, or substation commissioning projects.
Time your H-1B registration to your OPT end date
If your STEM OPT extension expires before October 1 of the fiscal year following your H-1B visa selection, cap-gap coverage automatically extends your work authorization. Confirm your exact OPT end date with your DSO so your employer files the H-1B petition during the correct registration window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Power Systems Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your employer maps your role to SOC code 17-2071 (Electrical Engineers) or a closely related engineering classification and your degree carries an eligible CIP code. Power systems, transmission planning, and protection engineering functions routinely satisfy the STEM OPT training requirement because they directly apply the quantitative methods covered in accredited electrical or power engineering programs.
Which STEM degrees make me eligible for OPT extension as a Power Systems Engineer?
Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering are the most direct matches. Energy Systems, Mechatronics, and Applied Physics degrees may also qualify depending on their CIP code. Cross-reference your transcript's degree classification against the STEM OPT designated degree program list published by USCIS before assuming eligibility, since program names alone don't determine qualification.
How do I confirm my Power Systems Engineer employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Ask your recruiter or HR contact to confirm enrollment in writing, or request the company's E-Verify employer identification number so your DSO can verify it. E-Verify enrollment is a federal requirement for all STEM OPT employers without exception. Utilities, independent power producers, and engineering consultancies vary widely in enrollment status, so verify this before accepting an offer.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a Power Systems Engineer position?
Your I-983 must describe how the job applies and develops the knowledge from your STEM degree. For power systems roles, include specific technical activities such as steady-state and transient stability analysis, protection system design, or grid interconnection studies. USCIS requires the plan to identify performance evaluation criteria and a supervision structure, so work with your manager to complete it before your STEM OPT extension start date.
Where can I find Power Systems Engineer jobs that support STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Power Systems Engineer openings filtered for employers with E-Verify enrollment and documented sponsorship history, so you're not spending interviews discovering a company can't legally hire you on STEM OPT. You can also use the OFLC Wage Search to identify companies that have filed LCAs under the electrical engineering SOC code as a signal of prior experience with work authorization filings.