Electronics STEM OPT Jobs in Alabama
Electronics F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Alabama are concentrated around Huntsville's aerospace and defense corridor, where employers like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Dynetics hire electronics engineers and hardware specialists. Birmingham and Tuscaloosa add manufacturing and research roles. STEM OPT's 24-month extension makes Alabama electronics employers viable sponsors for F-1 graduates.
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INTRODUCTION
First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Manufacturing Engineer will install and qualify new process equipment as well as troubleshoot day-to-day manufacturing issues on the production line in a timely manner. These include tool-down issues, yield, quality issues, and identifying actions to prevent repeat issues. Identifying and/or implementing system improvements that contribute to the achievement of throughput, yield, and product performance goals.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must meet one of the following criteria to qualify:
- Associate’s Degree in an engineering or similar technical discipline combined with:
- 3 or more years of First Solar technical experience, or
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6 or more years of technical work experience in a Manufacturing setting.
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Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Ph.D. in an engineering or similar technical discipline with no experience required. Technical work experience in combination with a degree is preferred.
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The following certifications and experience can be used in lieu of the above degree requirements. In each case the candidate must demonstrate skills and experience in peer training/mentorship and basic data analysis:
- 3 or more years’ experience as a First Solar Maintenance Technician III, MET III, EPT III or Equipment Coordinator III, or
- Journeyman certification in a relevant technical discipline such as Machinist or Electrician combined with 5 or more years industry experience at Journeyman level, or
- 10 or more years’ experience as a highly skilled technician/specialist in a relevant discipline. Industry-recognized certification strongly preferred.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Required Skills/Competencies:
Manufacturing Engineer Required Skills:
- Understands and can apply Statistical Data Analysis.
- Good problem-solving skills.
- Understands metrology and measurement best practices.
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to write manufacturing documentation.
Manufacturing Engineer Desired Skills:
- Understands and can apply DOE.
- Understands and can apply Statistical Process Control (SPC).
- Understands and can apply structured problem-solving (such as DMAIC).
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- General Electrical / Electronics.
- General Mechanical.
- Previous experience in one or more of the following process areas: Vacuum Deposition/ Thermal/ Laser/ Wetline/ Automation/ Adhesive/ Welding/ Material Handling/ Robotics/ Vision Systems/ PLC Programming among others.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Responsible for solving day-to-day production, equipment, and process problems.
- Install and qualify new equipment.
- Maintain Gauges.
- Design and execute planned process experiments, collect and analyze data and report experimental results.
- Perform data collection relating to daily equipment performance and associated product performance.
- Interface with internal associates and supplier representatives as required to complete assigned projects.
- Maintain effective communication with production associates and manufacturing engineers.
- Develop and provide training to engineering technicians, and production associates.
- Identify and implement yield and product performance improvement.
- Develop and maintain drawings, process specifications, and develop and enforce standard operating procedures.
- Develop and maintain process control plans.
- Adhere to all safety procedures and good housekeeping standards.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Job description subject to change at any time.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
This position could have direct reports.
TRAVEL
Domestic and international travel as required.
ESTIMATED SALARY RANGE
$68,800 - $98,050
US PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Hybrid Physical Requirements:
- Will sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to the entire duration of a shift.
- Will climb stairs on an occasional basis.
- Will lift, push, or pull up to 27 pounds on an occasional basis.
- Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis.
- 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without correction is required.
- Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.
- May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
- May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including but not limited to, steel toed shoes, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jacket or apron and arm guards).
- All associates working on the production floor may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair).
Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check and any other tests that may be required.
First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.
LOCATION
1 First Solar Way, Trinity, AL, 35673, US
JOB SCHEDULE
Full time
WORK SCHEDULE
M-F 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (United States of America)
STEM OPT Electronics Job Roles in Alabama
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Search Electronics Jobs in AlabamaElectronics STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Alabama: Frequently Asked Questions
Which electronics companies in Alabama sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas?
Huntsville's defense and aerospace sector hosts some of Alabama's most active electronics sponsors, including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Dynetics, and SAIC. These employers regularly hire electronics engineers and embedded systems specialists on STEM OPT. Raytheon and L3Harris also maintain Alabama operations with documented sponsorship histories. Smaller defense contractors and semiconductor suppliers in the Tennessee Valley region have similarly filed Labor Condition Applications for STEM OPT-eligible roles.
Which cities in Alabama have the most electronics F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Huntsville leads by a significant margin, driven by the concentration of defense contractors, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and Redstone Arsenal. Birmingham offers opportunities through manufacturing firms and university-affiliated research employers. Decatur and Tuscaloosa have a smaller but active presence in electronics manufacturing. Most F-1 STEM OPT electronics roles in Alabama are clustered in the Huntsville metropolitan area, making it the primary city for job seekers in this field.
How do I find electronics F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Alabama?
Migrate Mate filters electronics job listings by verified STEM OPT sponsorship history, so you can see which Alabama employers have actively filed for F-1 workers in hardware, embedded systems, and electronics engineering roles. Search by the Electronics and Hardware industry tag and filter to Alabama to surface Huntsville-area defense contractors and Birmingham-based manufacturers that have sponsored STEM OPT candidates before, which is a stronger signal than a generic 'we sponsor visas' statement on a job posting.
What electronics roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Alabama?
Roles that qualify must fall under a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code tied to the graduate's degree. In electronics, common qualifying positions include electrical engineer, embedded systems engineer, RF engineer, hardware design engineer, and electronics test engineer. O*NET occupation codes help confirm whether a specific job title meets the specialty occupation standard. Alabama's defense sector also produces openings in signal processing, systems integration, and avionics that regularly qualify for STEM OPT.
Are there state-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT electronics jobs in Alabama?
Alabama's electronics hiring is heavily tied to federal defense contracts, which means some roles require security clearances. F-1 STEM OPT holders are generally ineligible for classified positions requiring U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, so it is important to confirm clearance requirements before applying. Employers on Redstone Arsenal or supporting classified NASA programs may list roles that appear open but are citizenship-restricted. Filtering for unclassified contract positions at Huntsville-area primes and their subcontractors is the practical approach for STEM OPT candidates.