Aerospace & Defense F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California
California is the center of U.S. aerospace and defense, home to contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Boeing across hubs in Los Angeles, El Segundo, San Diego, and the Antelope Valley. F-1 students on STEM OPT in engineering, computer science, and physics-related disciplines will find that many California aerospace employers have established processes for supporting OPT authorization.
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Imagine a piloted air taxi that takes off vertically, then quietly carries you and your fellow passengers over the congested city streets below, enabling you to spend more time with the people and places that matter most. At Joby, we've been working to make that dream a reality since 2009 and we're now in the final stages of certifying our aircraft with the FAA. With plans to launch our aircraft in the US and Dubai, we're now scaling manufacturing and preparing for the launch of our commercial service.
Overview
Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate Technical Program Manager to lead and support projects and initiatives for our battery system, helping to drive them through our final test and certification phase. You will be immersed in an engineering environment, interfacing directly with design, manufacturing, systems, test, and company operations to lead scope definition, risk identification, and mitigation strategies, ensuring schedule and objectives are met and exceeded. This role will operate in a fast-paced, demanding, and rewarding environment where you will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy while contributing to the development of processes and tools that improve the organization's productivity and efficiency.
The position will be based at our San Carlos location with occasional travel to Marina and Santa Cruz sites as needed.
Responsibilities
- Lead cross-functional teams in project scope definition, development planning, and project execution toward aircraft type certification and manufacturing introduction.
- Drive collaborative problem-solving while managing new product introduction into manufacturing. This includes coordinating the design and manufacturing feedback cycle and ensuring proper manufacturing readiness.
- Own your project team’s schedule for conformity and qualification; establish the basis of estimation, identify the critical path and constraints, determine the effect of changes to the schedule, identify creative ways to recover, and recommend workarounds for problem areas.
- Drive prioritization across shared resources and programs, using "if-analysis" effectively to assess and support company-level decision-making.
- Manage changes, including but not limited to: requirements, design, manufacturing processes, operation, and testing; assess the change impact, evaluate and handle the approval process with the program, and ensure clear communication from the team to the company level.
- Champion a culture of open communication and continuous improvement across teams; lead and collaborate with stakeholders to turn lessons learned or identified risks into clear, logical problem statements, then drive solutions and improvement plans to the team and the company at large. Optimize efficiency and develop initiative leadership.
- Leverage past experiences to understand requirements, technical risk, and validation strategy; provide valuable insights and mentorship in the development and execution of the project; ensure design reviews, and assessments from DFx, system safety, and other processes are effectively conducted.
Required
- Bachelor's in engineering or relevant field.
- 3+ years of experience in an engineering environment with responsibility for project development, scope definition, change evaluation, or new product introduction.
- Experience guiding new hardware designs through required development milestones.
- Expertise in project management tools such as Microsoft Project, OmniPlan, SmartSheet, Confluence, and JIRA.
- Proficiency in common workplace software: Word, spreadsheet, presentation software, etc.
- Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to details.
- Demonstrated experience in the simultaneous management of multiple high-paced engineering projects.
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
Desired
- Advanced degree, MS in engineering or MBA.
- Experience introducing new designs into a manufacturing environment.
- Exposure to battery, electric powertrain or similar development.
Additional Information
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $118,700 - $185,000/yr. The compensation package will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Joby also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan with a company match, an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.
Joby is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Company Overview
Imagine a piloted air taxi that takes off vertically, then quietly carries you and your fellow passengers over the congested city streets below, enabling you to spend more time with the people and places that matter most. At Joby, we've been working to make that dream a reality since 2009 and we're now in the final stages of certifying our aircraft with the FAA. With plans to launch our aircraft in the US and Dubai, we're now scaling manufacturing and preparing for the launch of our commercial service.
Overview
Joby Aviation is seeking a passionate Technical Program Manager to lead and support projects and initiatives for our battery system, helping to drive them through our final test and certification phase. You will be immersed in an engineering environment, interfacing directly with design, manufacturing, systems, test, and company operations to lead scope definition, risk identification, and mitigation strategies, ensuring schedule and objectives are met and exceeded. This role will operate in a fast-paced, demanding, and rewarding environment where you will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy while contributing to the development of processes and tools that improve the organization's productivity and efficiency.
The position will be based at our San Carlos location with occasional travel to Marina and Santa Cruz sites as needed.
Responsibilities
- Lead cross-functional teams in project scope definition, development planning, and project execution toward aircraft type certification and manufacturing introduction.
- Drive collaborative problem-solving while managing new product introduction into manufacturing. This includes coordinating the design and manufacturing feedback cycle and ensuring proper manufacturing readiness.
- Own your project team’s schedule for conformity and qualification; establish the basis of estimation, identify the critical path and constraints, determine the effect of changes to the schedule, identify creative ways to recover, and recommend workarounds for problem areas.
- Drive prioritization across shared resources and programs, using "if-analysis" effectively to assess and support company-level decision-making.
- Manage changes, including but not limited to: requirements, design, manufacturing processes, operation, and testing; assess the change impact, evaluate and handle the approval process with the program, and ensure clear communication from the team to the company level.
- Champion a culture of open communication and continuous improvement across teams; lead and collaborate with stakeholders to turn lessons learned or identified risks into clear, logical problem statements, then drive solutions and improvement plans to the team and the company at large. Optimize efficiency and develop initiative leadership.
- Leverage past experiences to understand requirements, technical risk, and validation strategy; provide valuable insights and mentorship in the development and execution of the project; ensure design reviews, and assessments from DFx, system safety, and other processes are effectively conducted.
Required
- Bachelor's in engineering or relevant field.
- 3+ years of experience in an engineering environment with responsibility for project development, scope definition, change evaluation, or new product introduction.
- Experience guiding new hardware designs through required development milestones.
- Expertise in project management tools such as Microsoft Project, OmniPlan, SmartSheet, Confluence, and JIRA.
- Proficiency in common workplace software: Word, spreadsheet, presentation software, etc.
- Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to details.
- Demonstrated experience in the simultaneous management of multiple high-paced engineering projects.
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
Desired
- Advanced degree, MS in engineering or MBA.
- Experience introducing new designs into a manufacturing environment.
- Exposure to battery, electric powertrain or similar development.
Additional Information
Compensation at Joby is a combination of base pay and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The target base pay for this position is $118,700 - $185,000/yr. The compensation package will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Joby also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan with a company match, an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, and more.
Joby is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Aerospace & Defense Job Roles in California
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Search Aerospace & Defense Jobs in CaliforniaAerospace & Defense Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which aerospace & defense companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in California?
Major California aerospace and defense contractors with documented OPT hiring include Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, SpaceX, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and L3Harris. Mid-size firms such as Rocket Lab and Joby Aviation also hire STEM OPT candidates. Sponsorship practices vary by division, role, and current contract requirements, so confirming directly with each employer's recruiting team is important.
Which cities in California have the most aerospace & defense F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Los Angeles metro, including El Segundo, Hawthorne, and Long Beach, concentrates the largest share of California aerospace employment. San Diego is a major hub for defense electronics and space systems, while the Antelope Valley cities of Palmdale and Lancaster anchor aircraft production and testing. Sacramento and Silicon Valley also host defense-adjacent roles in software, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems.
What types of aerospace & defense roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that commonly qualify include aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, software engineering, avionics, propulsion, structural analysis, and data science positions. These occupations typically appear under STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs codes. Candidates should confirm that their specific degree CIP code aligns with the role through their Designated School Official before accepting an offer.
How do I find aerospace & defense F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for employers with verified F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history in the aerospace and defense sector across California. Rather than manually reviewing company career pages or sorting through general job boards, you can search by visa type, industry, and state in one place. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from contractors and primes that have actively supported OPT candidates in engineering and technical disciplines.
Are there state-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT in California aerospace jobs?
Many California aerospace and defense positions require access to export-controlled technology under International Traffic in Arms Regulations or Export Administration Regulations, which can restrict employment of non-U.S. persons regardless of work authorization status. Candidates should ask employers early whether a role requires U.S. citizenship or a security clearance, as STEM OPT authorization alone does not satisfy those requirements. This is distinct from visa sponsorship eligibility.