STEM OPT Substation Electrical Engineer Jobs

Substation Electrical Engineer roles qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in electrical or power engineering. Employers must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a Form I-983 training plan, giving you up to 36 months of total work authorization to build experience in power systems design and grid infrastructure.

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Overview

Open Jobs95+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type83% On-site
Median Salary$100K
Top LocationCharlotte, NC
Most JobsHDR

Showing 5 of 95+ Substation Electrical Engineer jobs

WSP
Early Career Substation Electrical Engineer
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WSP
Added 2w ago
Early Career Substation Electrical Engineer
WSP
Fort Worth, Texas
Electrical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Kimley-Horn
Substation Electrical Engineer
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Kimley-Horn
Added 2mo ago
Substation Electrical Engineer
Kimley-Horn
Portland, Oregon
Electrical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

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HDR
Substation Electrical Engineer
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HDR
Added 4mo ago
Substation Electrical Engineer
HDR
Vienna, Virginia
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Substation Designer
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E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc.
New 22m ago
Substation Designer
E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Emeryville, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Not listed
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Associate's

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Westwood Professional Services
Senior Substation Engineer
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Westwood Professional Services
Added 1d ago
Senior Substation Engineer
Westwood Professional Services
Charlotte, North Carolina
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
On-Site
4+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Tips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Substation Electrical Engineer

Verify your degree CIP code early

Check your DSO's records to confirm your electrical engineering degree is listed under an eligible STEM CIP code before you apply. A mismatch between your transcript field and the approved CIP list can delay or disqualify your extension.

Target utilities with E-Verify accounts

Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting any offer. Investor-owned utilities, transmission operators, and engineering consultancies that work on federal infrastructure projects are required or strongly incentivized to maintain active E-Verify accounts.

Use O*NET to frame your training plan

The I-983 requires you to link your daily tasks to concrete learning objectives. Pull the Substation Electrical Engineer occupation profile from O*NET to identify recognized skills and knowledge areas that map directly to your engineering role.

Search Migrate Mate for verified employer postings

Filter your job search to employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and a history of hiring STEM OPT candidates. Migrate Mate surfaces substation and power systems roles at companies that already understand the I-983 process.

Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer

Run the relevant SOC code for electrical engineers through the OFLC Wage Search to see the Level I through Level IV prevailing wage bands in your target metro. Your offer needs to clear the applicable level if the employer later files an LCA for H-1B transition.

Clarify cap-gap coverage before your first OPT expires

If your employer files an H-1B petition before your OPT end date and you're selected, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. Notify your DSO immediately after USCIS issues a receipt notice so your I-20 reflects the updated end date.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does a substation electrical engineering role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?

Yes, if your degree was awarded under an approved STEM CIP code in electrical, electronics, or power engineering. The role itself must also constitute practical training directly related to your major. Your DSO confirms eligibility by verifying the CIP code on your I-20 against the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program list before recommending the extension.

What does the I-983 training plan need to include for this role?

Your I-983 must describe the specific learning objectives tied to your substation engineering duties, such as protection relay design, switchgear specification, or fault analysis, and explain how those tasks advance your competency in electrical power systems. Both you and your employer's authorized representative must sign it, and you'll update it every six months or whenever your role changes materially.

How do I confirm that a substation employer is enrolled in E-Verify?

Ask the recruiter or HR contact directly and request written confirmation before signing an offer. You can also ask to see the company's E-Verify participation statement, which enrolled employers are required to post in a visible location. STEM OPT regulations prohibit you from working for any employer that is not actively enrolled in E-Verify, so verification before day one is essential.

How do I find substation electrical engineer jobs that sponsor STEM OPT students?

Migrate Mate filters postings to employers with E-Verify enrollment and experience hiring STEM OPT candidates, which narrows your search to companies already familiar with the I-983 process. Utilities, independent power producers, and transmission engineering firms are the most active hirers in this space and tend to have established OPT onboarding workflows.

What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my employer files an H-1B petition?

If your employer submits a cap-subject H-1B petition before your OPT end date and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap provisions automatically extend your work authorization until October 1 of that fiscal year. You must remain employed by the same E-Verify employer throughout the cap-gap period, and your DSO needs to issue an updated I-20 reflecting the extension once USCIS issues the receipt notice.

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