STEM OPT Senior Power Systems Engineer Jobs
Senior Power Systems Engineer roles qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in electrical, systems, or power engineering. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your DSO submits the extension request to SEVIS.
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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 Senior Power Systems Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Power Systems Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's CIP code from your transcript or DSO and cross-reference it against the USCIS STEM OPT designated degree list. Electrical Engineering (14.1001) and Power Systems Engineering variants qualify, but some interdisciplinary programs get miscoded and need correction before you can file.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask HR directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before you sign anything. A company not enrolled cannot legally employ STEM OPT students, and retroactive enrollment takes time you may not have during your OPT window.
Target utilities, grid operators, and defense contractors
Check LCA filings through the OFLC public disclosure data to identify which power sector employers have a consistent record of sponsoring technical roles. Utilities, national labs, and defense contractors often have established international hiring processes for power engineering positions specifically.
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by authorization type
Search for Senior Power Systems Engineer roles on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and sponsorship history. This lets you skip the manual LCA lookup step and focus your applications on companies already set up to hire STEM OPT students.
Draft your I-983 training plan around grid-specific deliverables
Work with your hiring manager to map your role's objectives, protection systems design work, or load-flow analysis tasks directly to learning goals in the I-983. Generic training plans draw scrutiny from your DSO; engineering-specific milestones tied to power system deliverables are easier to approve and support.
Understand cap-gap coverage if your H-1B is filed on time
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your STEM OPT expires, the cap-gap rule automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. Confirm your employer's timeline for H-1B filing in the offer stage so there's no gap between your OPT end date and petition receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Power Systems Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in an eligible STEM field such as electrical engineering, power systems engineering, or a related discipline with an approved CIP code. The role itself must also provide practical training directly related to your degree. Confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before submitting the STEM OPT extension request, since some interdisciplinary degrees require documentation to establish eligibility.
How do I know if a power engineering employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Ask the HR or recruiting contact directly whether the company holds an active E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding with DHS. You can also request written confirmation before accepting an offer. STEM OPT rules require your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify before your extension is approved, so verifying this early prevents delays. Browse Senior Power Systems Engineer listings on Migrate Mate, which filters for employers already enrolled.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a power systems engineering role?
The I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your engineering degree, your employer's supervision structure, and how the work connects to your field of study. For power systems roles, this typically includes objectives around protection relay coordination, transmission planning, fault analysis, or grid modeling. Your direct supervisor signs the plan, and your DSO must submit it to SEVIS before your extension start date.
Can I start a new Senior Power Systems Engineer job during my STEM OPT extension?
Yes, but you must update your I-983 and have your DSO report the employer change in SEVIS within 10 days of starting the new role. The new employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. Your existing STEM OPT authorization remains valid during the transition, but the paperwork must be completed correctly and on time to stay in compliance with your F-1 status.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my H-1B petition is selected in the lottery?
If your employer files an H-1B petition during the regular filing window and it is selected, the cap-gap rule extends your STEM OPT work authorization automatically through September 30, even if your EAD expires earlier. You can continue working in your Senior Power Systems Engineer role without interruption as long as the petition is timely filed and properly receipted. Check your I-94 and EAD end dates with your DSO once you receive the H-1B receipt notice.