Aerospace & Defense STEM OPT Jobs in Florida

Florida's aerospace and defense sector draws F-1 STEM OPT talent to employers like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, and L3Harris, with major hiring hubs in the Space Coast, Orlando, and Tampa Bay. The state's density of defense contractors, NASA-adjacent facilities, and aviation manufacturers makes it one of the more active regions for STEM-designated roles that qualify for F-1 STEM OPT authorization.

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Overview

Open Jobs5+
Work Type100% On-site
Top LocationMiramar, FL
Most JobsGarmin

Showing 3 of 5+ Aerospace & Defense STEM OPT Jobs in Florida

Embraer
Product Development Engineer
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Embraer
New 21h ago
Product Development Engineer
Embraer
Melbourne, Florida
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Aerospace Engineering
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Garmin
Manufacturing Engineer
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Garmin
Added 5mo ago
Manufacturing Engineer
Garmin
Miramar, Florida
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Quality Control
Manufacturing Engineering
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Wabtec
Signal Engineer IV
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Wabtec
Added 6mo ago
Signal Engineer IV
Wabtec
Jacksonville, Florida
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
$77k - $110k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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STEM OPT Aerospace & Defense Job Roles in Florida

Specialized Engineering3 jobs
Engineering (Non-Software)3 jobs
Electrical Engineering2 jobs
Manufacturing Engineering2 jobs
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering2 jobs
Quality Control1 jobs
Civil Engineering1 jobs
Aerospace Engineering1 jobs
Mechanical Engineering1 jobs
Manufacturing Operations1 jobs

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Aerospace & Defense STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions

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

Florida hosts a number of large defense contractors and aviation firms with documented F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship activity, including Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Sikorsky. Smaller defense subcontractors and space-technology firms concentrated around Brevard County and the Orlando corridor also hire STEM OPT candidates into engineering and technical roles regularly.

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

The Space Coast region centered on Melbourne and Titusville leads due to its proximity to Kennedy Space Center and Patrick Space Force Base. Orlando supports a significant cluster of defense and simulation-technology employers. Tampa Bay, particularly Clearwater and St. Petersburg, has a growing defense-electronics presence. Fort Lauderdale and Miami see activity in aviation MRO and aerospace manufacturing roles as well.

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

Roles most commonly eligible include systems engineering, avionics and electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, software engineering for embedded or defense systems, mechanical engineering, and data science applied to simulation or telemetry. Positions must appear on the USCIS list of STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs codes tied to your degree. O*NET can help confirm whether a specific job title aligns with a STEM-designated field.

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

Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for aerospace and defense roles in Florida that are posted by employers with F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history, so you're not sifting through listings from companies unfamiliar with the authorization process. Filtering by location and industry on Migrate Mate surfaces roles at Space Coast contractors, Orlando defense firms, and Tampa Bay defense-electronics employers where STEM OPT candidates are more commonly considered.

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

Many Florida aerospace and defense employers hold federal contracts that require security clearance eligibility, which can limit sponsorship opportunities for international students since most clearances require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Roles that are not clearance-gated, such as commercial space, unclassified engineering, and aviation manufacturing positions, tend to be more accessible. Confirming clearance requirements with each employer before applying is important for STEM OPT candidates.