Automotive OPT Jobs in Kansas
Automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Kansas are concentrated around Wichita and Kansas City, where manufacturers like Textron Aviation and KCAD suppliers maintain engineering and technical operations. International students in mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering are most competitive for OPT-eligible roles. Kansas's mid-sized automotive and aerospace-adjacent manufacturing base offers real entry points for F-1 graduates.
Find Automotive JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 11+ Automotive OPT Jobs in Kansas
See all Automotive OPT Jobs in Kansas
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Automotive OPT Jobs in Kansas.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Kalmar, we are moving goods in critical supply chains around the world. As the forerunner in sustainable material handling equipment and services, we set the industry benchmark for a zero-emission future. We are driven by teamwork, innovation, and taking ownership to deliver results. With our global reach and local expertise, our success starts with a strong focus on the customer, ensuring their needs guide our daily work. We are dedicated to respecting others and fostering an inclusive culture where all voices are heard, empowering us to succeed together. With us, your work has an impact. Your work moves the world!
ROLE
The Development Engineer, Electrics will perform engineering tasks related to New Product Development, for both Diesel and Electric powered Kalmar Terminal Tractors globally based on customer needs, legislation, and internal requirements. Also, to assist in other design tasks when needed.
Compensation Data:
- Competitive Base Salary
- Eligible for Annual Bonus
- Eligible for Annual Salary Review & Performance-based Merit Increase
- Competitive Benefits
What are your key responsibilities:
- Responsible for the design of electrical vehicle subsystems and components including, but not limited to, high voltage power distribution, low voltage power distribution, and electrical harness design.
- Ensure that components and systems meet specified technical product demands, product safety requirements, legislations requirements, and internal demands for Terminal Tractor products (TT).
- Respond to service, production and supplier issues.
- Plan and perform activities according to specified requirements and time schedule.
- Initiate and order testing for verification and evaluation of a design.
- Coordinate components and systems design between TT products.
- Contribute toward co-operation between TT RDE and Supply including both sourcing and assembly.
- Support prototype build troubleshooting and support root cause analysis in designs.
What we offer you:
“Green business is good business – it’s not just a slogan; we’re investing in fossil-free steel and real change.”
- Rewards that truly count: We offer meaningful development opportunities through varied assignments, fair and gender-neutral pay, and flexible working conditions — all within a culture that values your growth and celebrates success.
- Work-Life Balance: Our generous time-off policy includes vacation time, personal/sick time, paid/floating holidays, and paid parental leaves, supporting a healthy balance between your professional and personal life.
- Safety that moves us forward: Build your career with a company rooted in safety since the 1940s, ensuring stability and an environment that empowers you to speak and be heard.
- Purpose that drives change: You'll contribute to solutions that transform global trade, creating environmental and operational innovations. You'll be in the driver's seat of ideas, developing digital technologies that set industry standards and position us as the forerunner.
- People who move together: You'll collaborate with people who build lasting relationships through global expertise, connections, and a commitment to sustainability.
- Become part of our global network of 5,200 professionals across 120+ countries, where your work drives innovation, sustainability, and meaningful impact around the world.
What you bring to the role:
Education:
- Undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering
Experience:
- Recent graduates and experienced engineers are encouraged to apply
- Mobile equipment experience is a plus
Competencies:
- Understanding of vehicle electrical system topologies
- Working knowledge of CAN bus including J1939 and UDS protocols
- Theoretical and applied knowledge of pneumatic, hydraulic and electrical systems related to mobile equipment preferred
- Strong aptitude for learning new software tools to complete above responsibilities
- Good communication skills
- Fluent in English both spoken and written
- Will be required to work closely with other TT Engineering personnel, Project Managers, Sourcing & Production groups worldwide.
Other information:
- Travel domestically and internationally will be needed
- Willingness to learn, at a high level, about the product requiring software development is required
Ready to elevate your career? Apply today!
Submit your resume to apply.
ABOUT KALMAR
Kalmar (Nasdaq Helsinki: KALMAR) is moving goods in critical supply chains around the world, with the vision to be the forerunner in sustainable material handling equipment and services. The company offers a wide range of industry shaping heavy material handling equipment and services to ports and terminals, distribution centres, manufacturing and heavy logistics. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Kalmar operates globally in over 120 countries and employs approximately 5,300 people. In 2025, the company's sales totalled approximately EUR 1.7 billion.
LOCATION
Job Location: Ottawa, USA
INTRODUCTION
At Kalmar, we are moving goods in critical supply chains around the world. As the forerunner in sustainable material handling equipment and services, we set the industry benchmark for a zero-emission future. We are driven by teamwork, innovation, and taking ownership to deliver results. With our global reach and local expertise, our success starts with a strong focus on the customer, ensuring their needs guide our daily work. We are dedicated to respecting others and fostering an inclusive culture where all voices are heard, empowering us to succeed together. With us, your work has an impact. Your work moves the world!
ROLE
The Development Engineer, Electrics will perform engineering tasks related to New Product Development, for both Diesel and Electric powered Kalmar Terminal Tractors globally based on customer needs, legislation, and internal requirements. Also, to assist in other design tasks when needed.
Compensation Data:
- Competitive Base Salary
- Eligible for Annual Bonus
- Eligible for Annual Salary Review & Performance-based Merit Increase
- Competitive Benefits
What are your key responsibilities:
- Responsible for the design of electrical vehicle subsystems and components including, but not limited to, high voltage power distribution, low voltage power distribution, and electrical harness design.
- Ensure that components and systems meet specified technical product demands, product safety requirements, legislations requirements, and internal demands for Terminal Tractor products (TT).
- Respond to service, production and supplier issues.
- Plan and perform activities according to specified requirements and time schedule.
- Initiate and order testing for verification and evaluation of a design.
- Coordinate components and systems design between TT products.
- Contribute toward co-operation between TT RDE and Supply including both sourcing and assembly.
- Support prototype build troubleshooting and support root cause analysis in designs.
What we offer you:
“Green business is good business – it’s not just a slogan; we’re investing in fossil-free steel and real change.”
- Rewards that truly count: We offer meaningful development opportunities through varied assignments, fair and gender-neutral pay, and flexible working conditions — all within a culture that values your growth and celebrates success.
- Work-Life Balance: Our generous time-off policy includes vacation time, personal/sick time, paid/floating holidays, and paid parental leaves, supporting a healthy balance between your professional and personal life.
- Safety that moves us forward: Build your career with a company rooted in safety since the 1940s, ensuring stability and an environment that empowers you to speak and be heard.
- Purpose that drives change: You'll contribute to solutions that transform global trade, creating environmental and operational innovations. You'll be in the driver's seat of ideas, developing digital technologies that set industry standards and position us as the forerunner.
- People who move together: You'll collaborate with people who build lasting relationships through global expertise, connections, and a commitment to sustainability.
- Become part of our global network of 5,200 professionals across 120+ countries, where your work drives innovation, sustainability, and meaningful impact around the world.
What you bring to the role:
Education:
- Undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering
Experience:
- Recent graduates and experienced engineers are encouraged to apply
- Mobile equipment experience is a plus
Competencies:
- Understanding of vehicle electrical system topologies
- Working knowledge of CAN bus including J1939 and UDS protocols
- Theoretical and applied knowledge of pneumatic, hydraulic and electrical systems related to mobile equipment preferred
- Strong aptitude for learning new software tools to complete above responsibilities
- Good communication skills
- Fluent in English both spoken and written
- Will be required to work closely with other TT Engineering personnel, Project Managers, Sourcing & Production groups worldwide.
Other information:
- Travel domestically and internationally will be needed
- Willingness to learn, at a high level, about the product requiring software development is required
Ready to elevate your career? Apply today!
Submit your resume to apply.
ABOUT KALMAR
Kalmar (Nasdaq Helsinki: KALMAR) is moving goods in critical supply chains around the world, with the vision to be the forerunner in sustainable material handling equipment and services. The company offers a wide range of industry shaping heavy material handling equipment and services to ports and terminals, distribution centres, manufacturing and heavy logistics. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Kalmar operates globally in over 120 countries and employs approximately 5,300 people. In 2025, the company's sales totalled approximately EUR 1.7 billion.
LOCATION
Job Location: Ottawa, USA
OPT Automotive Job Roles in Kansas
See all Automotive OPT Jobs in Kansas
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Automotive Jobs in KansasAutomotive OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Kansas: Frequently Asked Questions
Which automotive companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Kansas?
Kansas employers with a track record of hiring international students in technical roles include Textron Aviation, Bombardier Learjet, and suppliers connected to the Kansas City metropolitan automotive corridor. Companies with dedicated engineering programs tend to be more experienced with F-1 OPT paperwork. Smaller Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers exist throughout the state but vary significantly in their familiarity with OPT authorization requirements.
Which cities in Kansas have the most automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Wichita is the strongest market, anchored by its manufacturing and aerospace-adjacent engineering sector. The Kansas City metro area, which straddles the Kansas-Missouri border, offers additional automotive supplier and logistics roles on the Kansas side, particularly in Overland Park and Lenexa. Smaller industrial hubs like Salina and Hutchinson have manufacturing operations but fewer F-1 OPT-friendly employers overall.
What types of automotive roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that most commonly align with F-1 OPT authorization in Kansas automotive settings include mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, quality assurance, supply chain analysis, and embedded systems or controls engineering. These positions require a directly related degree, which satisfies the OPT requirement that work must be in a field consistent with the student's major. General labor and non-degree production roles do not qualify.
How do I find automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Kansas?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters jobs by visa type and industry, making it straightforward to search for automotive F-1 OPT roles in Kansas without sifting through listings that don't support international candidates. You can filter by state and industry to surface employers in Wichita, Overland Park, and the broader Kansas City corridor that have actively hired F-1 OPT workers in engineering and technical functions.
Are there any state-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in Kansas automotive jobs?
Kansas does not have state-level immigration restrictions that affect OPT employment, but automotive and aerospace manufacturers in the state often require security clearance or export control compliance under ITAR regulations. ITAR-controlled positions may restrict foreign national participation, which can affect F-1 OPT eligibility for certain roles even when a company otherwise supports international hiring. Confirming ITAR status with the employer before applying is a practical step for F-1 candidates.