Aerospace & Defense OPT Jobs in Florida
Florida is one of the strongest states for aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship, anchored by major employers like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and Raytheon along the Space Coast and in Tampa. Kennedy Space Center and Patrick Space Force Base drive consistent demand for engineering, systems integration, and data analysis talent eligible for OPT work authorization.
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Responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction and compliance with the Quality Management System (QMS) through the definition, planning, implementation, maintenance, regulatory integration and continuous improvement of quality strategies and processes. Leads Quality Engineering activities at MLB, driving quality performance, operational excellence, certification compliance, risk management, customer satisfaction, and reduction of Cost of Non-Quality throughout the product lifecycle.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and develop Quality Engineering teams, ensuring talent attraction, qualification, retention, succession planning, safety, ethics, compliance and performance management.
- Establish, maintain and improve the Quality Management System and applicable certifications including ISO 9001, AS9100, AS9120, RBAC 21 and other regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate internal and external audits and act as primary interface with certification bodies, customers and regulatory authorities.
- Drive corrective and preventive action processes addressing product and process nonconformities from development through customer operation.
- Deploy quality planning tools including PFMEA, Control Plans, Statistical Process Control, Measurement System Analysis and sampling techniques.
- Lead quality readiness activities, FAI monitoring, process qualification, technical standard reviews and personnel qualification programs.
- Manage dimensional inspection and metrology processes to ensure product compliance with engineering requirements.
- Lead digital transformation and Industry 4.0 initiatives supporting quality processes, analytics, software applications and continuous improvement projects.
- Deploy quality and operational safety strategies through KPI management, performance reviews and Lean methodologies.
- Manage departmental budgeting, resources, and operational performance targets.
- Support product and aircraft development programs by ensuring quality requirements are defined and deployed from early design phases.
- Oversee calibration systems, nondestructive testing activities and laboratory validation processes.
- Ensure compliance and control of aircraft, product, customer and regulatory documentation.
- Manage material review board (MRB) and nonconformance documentation processes.
- Promote continuous improvement initiatives focused on customer satisfaction, product quality and cost reduction.
- Monitors, reviews and coordinates compliance of Airworthiness Directives, Federal Aviation Regulations and manufacturer's service bulletins as applicable to airplane structures, systems, instruments, components, appliances, and engines and ensures compliance with.
- Acts as the company liaison for FAA coordination for all maintenance activities and is responsible for timely submission of all required FAA maintenance reports.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Education:
Bachelor degree in Engineering required. Postgraduate degree or MBA in Quality, Operations or related field preferred.
Experience:
Minimum 3 years as Quality, Manufacturing or Product Engineer, or 2 years in a supervisory leadership role within related operational areas.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- People leadership and talent development
- Business and risk management
- Project management (Agile and traditional methodologies)
- Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement
- Quality and aerospace regulations (ISO 9001, AS9100, RBAC 21)
- Quality tools, statistics and problem-solving methodologies
- Human factors, flight safety and aerospace culture
- Budget management and performance measurement
- Advanced English communication skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP/MRP systems and data analytics tools
- 14 CFR Part 21 knowledge dealing with documents in an engineering or manufacturing environment to present to the FAA
- SAP experience a plus
- Ability to understand work and procedures, acting in problem solving, suggesting improvements.
- Extensive knowledge of aircraft preferred.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and strong phone etiquette.
- Ability to work in a safe professional manner adhering to all regulatory requirements including, OSHA, EPA, State and Federal regulations.
Working Conditions / Environment/ Special Requirements
Ability to work in compliance with company safety, regulatory and environmental requirements. Availability for occasional travel, audits, customer interactions and flexible working hours as business needs require.
Ability to work flexible hours and different shifts if required.
Employees will be subject to the random drug and alcohol testing under FAA regulations.
GENERAL COMMITMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
Commitment to company values and complies with department norms, policies, directives, and procedures.
Incorporates Lean processes and concepts into daily activities.
Strive for continuous improvement to processes and procedures.
Honors and protects confidential and proprietary documents and information.
Satisfies work schedule requirements.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required by the employee. Performs other duties as assigned.
Embraer is an equal opportunity employer.
Position Summary
Responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction and compliance with the Quality Management System (QMS) through the definition, planning, implementation, maintenance, regulatory integration and continuous improvement of quality strategies and processes. Leads Quality Engineering activities at MLB, driving quality performance, operational excellence, certification compliance, risk management, customer satisfaction, and reduction of Cost of Non-Quality throughout the product lifecycle.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and develop Quality Engineering teams, ensuring talent attraction, qualification, retention, succession planning, safety, ethics, compliance and performance management.
- Establish, maintain and improve the Quality Management System and applicable certifications including ISO 9001, AS9100, AS9120, RBAC 21 and other regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate internal and external audits and act as primary interface with certification bodies, customers and regulatory authorities.
- Drive corrective and preventive action processes addressing product and process nonconformities from development through customer operation.
- Deploy quality planning tools including PFMEA, Control Plans, Statistical Process Control, Measurement System Analysis and sampling techniques.
- Lead quality readiness activities, FAI monitoring, process qualification, technical standard reviews and personnel qualification programs.
- Manage dimensional inspection and metrology processes to ensure product compliance with engineering requirements.
- Lead digital transformation and Industry 4.0 initiatives supporting quality processes, analytics, software applications and continuous improvement projects.
- Deploy quality and operational safety strategies through KPI management, performance reviews and Lean methodologies.
- Manage departmental budgeting, resources, and operational performance targets.
- Support product and aircraft development programs by ensuring quality requirements are defined and deployed from early design phases.
- Oversee calibration systems, nondestructive testing activities and laboratory validation processes.
- Ensure compliance and control of aircraft, product, customer and regulatory documentation.
- Manage material review board (MRB) and nonconformance documentation processes.
- Promote continuous improvement initiatives focused on customer satisfaction, product quality and cost reduction.
- Monitors, reviews and coordinates compliance of Airworthiness Directives, Federal Aviation Regulations and manufacturer's service bulletins as applicable to airplane structures, systems, instruments, components, appliances, and engines and ensures compliance with.
- Acts as the company liaison for FAA coordination for all maintenance activities and is responsible for timely submission of all required FAA maintenance reports.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Education:
Bachelor degree in Engineering required. Postgraduate degree or MBA in Quality, Operations or related field preferred.
Experience:
Minimum 3 years as Quality, Manufacturing or Product Engineer, or 2 years in a supervisory leadership role within related operational areas.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- People leadership and talent development
- Business and risk management
- Project management (Agile and traditional methodologies)
- Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement
- Quality and aerospace regulations (ISO 9001, AS9100, RBAC 21)
- Quality tools, statistics and problem-solving methodologies
- Human factors, flight safety and aerospace culture
- Budget management and performance measurement
- Advanced English communication skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP/MRP systems and data analytics tools
- 14 CFR Part 21 knowledge dealing with documents in an engineering or manufacturing environment to present to the FAA
- SAP experience a plus
- Ability to understand work and procedures, acting in problem solving, suggesting improvements.
- Extensive knowledge of aircraft preferred.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and strong phone etiquette.
- Ability to work in a safe professional manner adhering to all regulatory requirements including, OSHA, EPA, State and Federal regulations.
Working Conditions / Environment/ Special Requirements
Ability to work in compliance with company safety, regulatory and environmental requirements. Availability for occasional travel, audits, customer interactions and flexible working hours as business needs require.
Ability to work flexible hours and different shifts if required.
Employees will be subject to the random drug and alcohol testing under FAA regulations.
GENERAL COMMITMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
Commitment to company values and complies with department norms, policies, directives, and procedures.
Incorporates Lean processes and concepts into daily activities.
Strive for continuous improvement to processes and procedures.
Honors and protects confidential and proprietary documents and information.
Satisfies work schedule requirements.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required by the employee. Performs other duties as assigned.
Embraer is an equal opportunity employer.
OPT Aerospace & Defense Job Roles in Florida
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Search Aerospace & Defense Jobs in FloridaAerospace & Defense OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
Which aerospace and defense companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Florida?
Florida's aerospace and defense sector includes major OPT sponsors such as Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies (headquartered in Melbourne), Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Leidos. Smaller defense contractors and aerospace suppliers concentrated around the Space Coast and Tampa Bay also hire OPT candidates, particularly for engineering and technical roles tied to active government contracts.
Which cities in Florida have the most aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Space Coast corridor, covering Melbourne, Titusville, and Cape Canaveral, is Florida's densest concentration of aerospace and defense employers due to proximity to Kennedy Space Center and Patrick Space Force Base. Orlando hosts defense technology and simulation firms, while Tampa and St. Petersburg have a significant defense contracting presence tied to U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command headquarters nearby.
What types of aerospace and defense roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Florida?
Roles that commonly qualify include systems engineering, avionics, propulsion engineering, software development, electrical engineering, mechanical design, data analysis, and cybersecurity positions. These roles align with STEM OPT extension eligibility, which allows qualifying graduates an additional 24 months of work authorization beyond the standard 12 months. Defense contractors in Florida routinely hire for these specializations under active government programs.
How do I find aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Florida?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters aerospace and defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Florida by employer, role type, and OPT eligibility. Rather than sorting through general job boards where visa sponsorship details are buried or absent, Migrate Mate surfaces positions where employers have demonstrated a pattern of sponsoring international candidates, saving significant research time during a tight OPT authorization window.
Are there any Florida-specific considerations for F-1 OPT candidates pursuing aerospace and defense jobs?
Many Florida aerospace and defense roles involve work on government contracts requiring security clearances. F-1 OPT candidates who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are generally ineligible for most security clearances, which can limit access to certain classified positions. Candidates should look for roles explicitly open to non-cleared applicants or positions on unclassified programs, which remain common across Florida's commercial space and defense technology sectors.