Aerospace & Defense OPT Jobs in California

California is one of the strongest states for aerospace and defense F-1 OPT jobs, with major employers like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, and SpaceX operating across the state. Engineering, systems analysis, and defense technology roles in Los Angeles, El Segundo, San Diego, and the Inland Empire regularly hire international students on OPT authorization.

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Overview

Open Jobs139+
Work Type91% On-site
Top LocationMarina, CA
Most JobsJoby Aviation

Showing 5 of 139+ Aerospace & Defense OPT Jobs in California

Safran Cabin
Human Resources Generalist
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Safran Cabin
New 11m ago
Human Resources Generalist
Safran Cabin
Costa Mesa, California
Human Resources
Recruiting & Talent Acquisition
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
Compensation & Benefits
$57k - $69k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's

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GKN Aerospace
Manufacturing Engineer
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GKN Aerospace
Added 1d ago
Manufacturing Engineer
GKN Aerospace
El Cajon, California
Quality Control
Manufacturing Operations
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$95k - $100k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Safran
Industrial Engineer Level II
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Safran
Added 1d ago
Industrial Engineer Level II
Safran
Carson, California
Specialized Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Industrial Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Project Management
$70k - $101k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Wisk Aero
R&D Software Integration Engineer
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Wisk Aero
Added 2d ago
R&D Software Integration Engineer
Wisk Aero
Hollister, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Technical Product & Program Management
Embedded Systems Engineering
$167k - $208k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Wing
Machine Learning Engineer
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Wing
Added 3d ago
Machine Learning Engineer
Wing
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
$190k - $202k/yr
Hybrid
Master's
51-200

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OPT Aerospace & Defense Job Roles in California

Engineering (Non-Software)66 jobs
Specialized Engineering65 jobs
Mechanical Engineering37 jobs
Manufacturing Engineering34 jobs
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering32 jobs
Electrical Engineering27 jobs
Aerospace Engineering24 jobs
Quality Control22 jobs
Project & Program Management21 jobs
Project Management16 jobs

See all 139+ Aerospace & Defense OPT Jobs in California

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Aerospace & Defense OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

Which aerospace and defense companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in California?

Several large California-based contractors have established histories of hiring F-1 OPT candidates, including Northrop Grumman (El Segundo and Redondo Beach), Lockheed Martin (Palmdale and Sunnyvale), Raytheon Technologies (El Segundo), Boeing (Long Beach and Huntington Beach), SpaceX (Hawthorne), and Aerojet Rocketdyne (Sacramento). Many mid-size defense suppliers and aerospace engineering firms across the state also participate in OPT hiring, though availability varies by role and clearance requirements.

Which cities in California have the most aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?

The Los Angeles metropolitan area, including El Segundo, Hawthorne, Torrance, and Long Beach, is the densest cluster of aerospace and defense employers in California. San Diego has a strong naval defense and unmanned systems presence. The San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento corridor host satellite, space launch, and propulsion employers. Palmdale and the Antelope Valley are home to major aircraft development and test facilities.

What types of aerospace and defense roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?

Roles that commonly align with F-1 OPT authorization in this industry include systems engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, electrical and avionics engineering, software engineering for flight and defense systems, propulsion engineering, structural analysis, and manufacturing engineering. Research and development positions tied to STEM-eligible degrees can also qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, which is particularly relevant in California's aerospace sector.

How do I find aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in California?

Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters aerospace and defense roles in California by visa type, including F-1 OPT. Rather than manually screening hundreds of postings, you can search directly for positions where employers have indicated OPT sponsorship. Migrate Mate also surfaces companies with established hiring patterns for F-1 candidates in the California aerospace market, saving significant time in your job search.

Are there any state-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in California aerospace and defense?

Security clearance is a significant factor in California's defense sector. Many positions with major defense contractors require a U.S. government security clearance, which F-1 OPT holders are generally not eligible to obtain, as clearances require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency in most cases. This narrows the pool of available roles, so targeting commercial aerospace, space launch, satellite, and unclassified engineering positions typically yields more F-1 OPT opportunities in California.