STEM OPT Project Controls Engineer Jobs
Project Controls Engineer roles in construction, infrastructure, and energy sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization after graduation. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree in engineering, project management, or a related STEM field must match the role's CIP code to qualify for the 24-month extension.
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Get Access To All JobsSenior Controls Engineer
Join Kasa Companies and help deliver innovative automation and controls solutions for industry-leading customers. We're seeking a skilled Senior Controls Engineer who is passionate about electrical design, PLC/HMI programming, system integration, and bringing complex automation projects to life. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy seeing your work move from concept to commissioning, we'd love to hear from you.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Designs work including electrical schematics, power circuit and control circuit sizing and loading, SCCR calculations, thermal calculations for control panels, and control panel interior & exterior design and layouts.
- Follows Kasa design & sizing procedures as well as NEC (NFPA 70) and UL508A requirements and any other project specific code requirements.
- Assist with and perform formal electrical drawing quality control processes such as yellow lines for drafting accuracy or red lines for content. Follows document control procedures for revisions, submittals, and Kasa design process flow.
- Develops PLC programs and HMI programs.
- Industrial network configuration and setup for different communication protocols.
- Debugs and tests control systems at the customer's facility (start-up/stand-by).
- Works alone or with project team and communicate well with the project lead and or project manager.
- Writes operations manuals, user manuals, O&M manuals, etc.
- Develops checkout and validation forms for Factory Acceptance tests and on-site commissioning and all required documentation on projects per the Kasa Process Manual.
- On-site startup and commissioning of systems. May involve 10-to-20-hour shifts per day as required to meet specific start-up schedules. Sufficiently independent and capable of starting up a system without assistance.
- Attends and actively participate in project meetings.
- Basic level of understanding of UL508A for industrial control panels.
- Understands and follow Kasa Standard Operating Procedures.
- Manages small jobs, typically requiring a single engineer.
- Effectively engages with customers as needed on projects.
- Develops data structures, program efficiencies, upper-level programming for system control, monitoring and status displays.
- Read a Scope of Work for a system and have an understanding of what is required or be able to ask logical questions of the PM/PE to get clarification.
- Creates parameter files for DeviceNet Cards, VFDs, ArmorStarts, and other devices as applicable.
- Has a working knowledge of all relevant communication protocols such as Ethernet IP, Modbus, ProfiBus, ProfiNet, etc., pertinent to the industry work they are working on.
Leadership
- Helps direct, coordinate, and assist with planning, organizing, control integration, and completion of engineering projects within area of assigned responsibility.
- May act as the project lead engineer.
- May assign or delegate work to project personnel such as technical studies, electrical designs, preparation of specifications and technical plans, and testing.
- Track and be able to report to management personnel the status of all project tasks.
- May assist in review of engineering and designs for compliance with engineering principles, company standards, and customer contract requirements, and related specifications.
- Directly and appropriately communicates with the customer, end user, project team, etc.
Other Duties
- Exemplifies Kasa Values including Teamwork, Integrity, Relationships, Play, Improvement, Perseverance, Conscientiousness and Excellence.
- Demonstrates Kasa’s Behavioral Norms including Be Present, Speak Your Truth, Attend to Safety & Be Open to Outcomes.
- Complies with all safety policies and procedures.
- Complies with all attendance standards and company policies.
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
No supervisory responsibilities
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from four-year college or technical school; or three-years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- One-year controls engineer experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- PLC hardware and programming experience preferred.
- Prior experience in the conveyor, material handling or related industries desired.
Additional Qualifications
- Ability to interpret a variety of instruction, either written or verbal, diagram or schedule.
- Maintains an acceptable driving record (MVR).
- Ability to read, write and speak English.
- Ability to communicate effectively with peers and subordinates in a one-on-one and/or group setting.
- Ability to calculate figures and amounts, such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, and dimensions.
- Ability to work with fractions and decimals, converting them back and forth.
- Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
- Ability to multi-task in a high pace environment.
- Organizational skills and attention to detail a must.
- Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize time and various projects.
- Ability to work with confidential data.
- Skills in organization, prioritization and time management.
- Work under stress to meet project deadlines and minute attention to detail.
- Work with customers that are demanding and at times have unrealistic expectations.
Work Environment
This position operates in an office and job site setting. It routinely requires using standard office equipment, such as computer, phones, copiers, fax machines etc. Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm, but are project work dependent. Occasional evenings and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Travel is required. Start-ups or job site setting hours will vary based on project and location. Field hours can vary from 10 to 20 hours per day in addition for the need to work weekends and 7 or more days in a row depending on specific start-up schedules on projects and customer demands, which can vary. Customer interaction is required. Frequently, startup situations become very stressful under deadlines to meet a customer’s schedule or to overcome a situation where our customer may not be satisfied with progress or performance that is out of our control. Engineers are expected to handle these situations in a calm and helpful manner.
Senior Controls Engineer
Join Kasa Companies and help deliver innovative automation and controls solutions for industry-leading customers. We're seeking a skilled Senior Controls Engineer who is passionate about electrical design, PLC/HMI programming, system integration, and bringing complex automation projects to life. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy seeing your work move from concept to commissioning, we'd love to hear from you.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Designs work including electrical schematics, power circuit and control circuit sizing and loading, SCCR calculations, thermal calculations for control panels, and control panel interior & exterior design and layouts.
- Follows Kasa design & sizing procedures as well as NEC (NFPA 70) and UL508A requirements and any other project specific code requirements.
- Assist with and perform formal electrical drawing quality control processes such as yellow lines for drafting accuracy or red lines for content. Follows document control procedures for revisions, submittals, and Kasa design process flow.
- Develops PLC programs and HMI programs.
- Industrial network configuration and setup for different communication protocols.
- Debugs and tests control systems at the customer's facility (start-up/stand-by).
- Works alone or with project team and communicate well with the project lead and or project manager.
- Writes operations manuals, user manuals, O&M manuals, etc.
- Develops checkout and validation forms for Factory Acceptance tests and on-site commissioning and all required documentation on projects per the Kasa Process Manual.
- On-site startup and commissioning of systems. May involve 10-to-20-hour shifts per day as required to meet specific start-up schedules. Sufficiently independent and capable of starting up a system without assistance.
- Attends and actively participate in project meetings.
- Basic level of understanding of UL508A for industrial control panels.
- Understands and follow Kasa Standard Operating Procedures.
- Manages small jobs, typically requiring a single engineer.
- Effectively engages with customers as needed on projects.
- Develops data structures, program efficiencies, upper-level programming for system control, monitoring and status displays.
- Read a Scope of Work for a system and have an understanding of what is required or be able to ask logical questions of the PM/PE to get clarification.
- Creates parameter files for DeviceNet Cards, VFDs, ArmorStarts, and other devices as applicable.
- Has a working knowledge of all relevant communication protocols such as Ethernet IP, Modbus, ProfiBus, ProfiNet, etc., pertinent to the industry work they are working on.
Leadership
- Helps direct, coordinate, and assist with planning, organizing, control integration, and completion of engineering projects within area of assigned responsibility.
- May act as the project lead engineer.
- May assign or delegate work to project personnel such as technical studies, electrical designs, preparation of specifications and technical plans, and testing.
- Track and be able to report to management personnel the status of all project tasks.
- May assist in review of engineering and designs for compliance with engineering principles, company standards, and customer contract requirements, and related specifications.
- Directly and appropriately communicates with the customer, end user, project team, etc.
Other Duties
- Exemplifies Kasa Values including Teamwork, Integrity, Relationships, Play, Improvement, Perseverance, Conscientiousness and Excellence.
- Demonstrates Kasa’s Behavioral Norms including Be Present, Speak Your Truth, Attend to Safety & Be Open to Outcomes.
- Complies with all safety policies and procedures.
- Complies with all attendance standards and company policies.
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
No supervisory responsibilities
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from four-year college or technical school; or three-years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- One-year controls engineer experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- PLC hardware and programming experience preferred.
- Prior experience in the conveyor, material handling or related industries desired.
Additional Qualifications
- Ability to interpret a variety of instruction, either written or verbal, diagram or schedule.
- Maintains an acceptable driving record (MVR).
- Ability to read, write and speak English.
- Ability to communicate effectively with peers and subordinates in a one-on-one and/or group setting.
- Ability to calculate figures and amounts, such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, and dimensions.
- Ability to work with fractions and decimals, converting them back and forth.
- Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
- Ability to multi-task in a high pace environment.
- Organizational skills and attention to detail a must.
- Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize time and various projects.
- Ability to work with confidential data.
- Skills in organization, prioritization and time management.
- Work under stress to meet project deadlines and minute attention to detail.
- Work with customers that are demanding and at times have unrealistic expectations.
Work Environment
This position operates in an office and job site setting. It routinely requires using standard office equipment, such as computer, phones, copiers, fax machines etc. Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm, but are project work dependent. Occasional evenings and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Travel is required. Start-ups or job site setting hours will vary based on project and location. Field hours can vary from 10 to 20 hours per day in addition for the need to work weekends and 7 or more days in a row depending on specific start-up schedules on projects and customer demands, which can vary. Customer interaction is required. Frequently, startup situations become very stressful under deadlines to meet a customer’s schedule or to overcome a situation where our customer may not be satisfied with progress or performance that is out of our control. Engineers are expected to handle these situations in a calm and helpful manner.
See all 424+ STEM OPT Project Controls Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Project Controls Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Project Controls Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to a STEM-designated field recognized by ICE. Engineering and construction management degrees typically qualify, but mismatches between your transcript and your I-20 CIP code will block the extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether their company is enrolled in E-Verify before you sign anything. Construction firms and project management consultancies vary widely on compliance, and an unenrolled employer cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT.
Search verified sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter Project Controls Engineer openings by E-Verify enrollment status on Migrate Mate to skip the manual employer research step. Roles are sourced from DOL Labor Condition Application data, so you can see actual sponsorship history by employer and occupation.
Build your I-983 training plan around deliverables
USCIS requires your I-983 to show practical training tied directly to your STEM degree. For project controls roles, map cost estimating, schedule analysis, and earned value management responsibilities to the engineering or analytics competencies listed in your degree program.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark offers
Pull the prevailing wage for Project Controls Engineer by SOC code and work location using the OFLC Wage Search before negotiating. STEM OPT doesn't require prevailing wage compliance the way H-1B visa does, but knowing the DOL benchmark strengthens your position in early-stage offer discussions.
Time your application window around cap-gap risk
If you plan to transition to H-1B after STEM OPT, your employer must file the petition before your 36-month authorization expires. Project controls roles at large engineering firms often have long internal approval cycles, so start H-1B conversations at least six months before your EAD end date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Controls Engineer role qualify for STEM OPT?
Yes, if your underlying degree is STEM-designated and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Project controls work typically falls under engineering or construction management CIP codes recognized by ICE. Confirm that your I-20 reflects a qualifying CIP code and that the job duties align with your degree field before your DSO recommends the extension.
What STEM degrees support a Project Controls Engineer STEM OPT extension?
Civil, mechanical, industrial, and systems engineering degrees are the most common qualifying credentials for project controls roles. Construction management and applied mathematics degrees also qualify under STEM-designated CIP codes. Check your I-20 against the DHS STEM OPT designated degree program list to confirm your specific program is included before filing.
How do I verify that a Project Controls Engineer employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Ask the recruiter or HR contact directly, or search the employer's name in the E-Verify employer search tool maintained by DHS. STEM OPT regulations require E-Verify enrollment at the specific hiring site, not just at the corporate level, so confirm the worksite location is covered. An employer who can't confirm enrollment cannot sponsor your STEM OPT extension.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Project Controls Engineer?
Your I-983 must connect specific job tasks to your STEM degree objectives. For project controls, that means documenting responsibilities like schedule development, cost variance analysis, risk modeling, and resource planning, then linking each to engineering or quantitative analysis competencies from your degree program. USCIS reviews whether the practical training advances your academic field, not just whether you hold a qualifying degree.
Where can I find Project Controls Engineer jobs from E-Verify enrolled employers?
Migrate Mate lists Project Controls Engineer openings filtered by E-Verify enrollment and DOL Labor Condition Application filing history, so you can identify employers who have actively sponsored STEM workers without contacting each company individually. This matters for STEM OPT because confirming E-Verify status early prevents wasted applications at non-compliant firms.