Automotive OPT Jobs in Kentucky
Automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Kentucky are concentrated around the state's major manufacturing corridor, with employers like Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, and a growing network of Tier 1 suppliers actively hiring international graduates in engineering, quality, and operations roles.
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Get Access To All JobsIT Program Manager – Manufacturing Quality Systems
Location: Georgetown, KY / Plano, TX (final work location to be confirmed)
Work Arrangement: On-site
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Travel: Approximately 25%, including occasional international travel
Position Overview
K&K Technical Group is seeking an experienced IT Program Manager – Manufacturing Quality Systems to support enterprise technology and quality-system initiatives within a large automotive manufacturing organization.
This position will coordinate multiple cross-functional projects involving IT, manufacturing, quality systems, database technologies, and business operations. The ideal candidate is a highly organized project leader with strong communication skills and experience managing complex technology implementations across multiple teams and locations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate multiple technology and quality-system initiatives across manufacturing operations.
- Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
- Collaborate with IT, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and manufacturing stakeholders.
- Track project progress, identify risks, resolve issues, and communicate updates to leadership.
- Coordinate software implementations, system upgrades, releases, and deployment activities.
- Facilitate project meetings, stakeholder reviews, and executive presentations.
- Maintain project documentation, dashboards, and status reports.
- Support change management, process improvements, and technology transitions.
- Assist with project budgeting, resource planning, and business-case development.
- Ensure alignment between technical teams and business objectives.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Experience managing complex IT projects, technology programs, or enterprise system implementations.
- Strong project planning, scheduling, risk management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
- Experience working with cross-functional technical and business teams.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and other Microsoft 365 applications.
- Experience with Jira or similar project management and reporting tools.
- Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting automotive or manufacturing operations.
- Familiarity with manufacturing quality management systems.
- Experience with Agile, Scrum, or PI Planning methodologies.
- Knowledge of enterprise databases, including Oracle or PostgreSQL.
- Experience coordinating software releases, system migrations, and production deployments.
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Hoshin Kanri, or continuous improvement practices.
- Experience with change-control processes and project governance.
Work Environment
- On-site position supporting manufacturing and technology teams.
- Approximately 10% overtime, including occasional weekends.
- Up to 25% travel to manufacturing facilities throughout North America, including potential travel to Canada.
- Occasional manufacturing shop-floor access requiring appropriate safety equipment.
About K&K Technical Group
K&K Technical Group provides engineering, technical, and professional staffing solutions to leading manufacturing and industrial organizations. We connect talented professionals with opportunities to contribute to innovative projects and advanced manufacturing operations.
Apply today to learn more about this opportunity!
IT Program Manager – Manufacturing Quality Systems
Location: Georgetown, KY / Plano, TX (final work location to be confirmed)
Work Arrangement: On-site
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Travel: Approximately 25%, including occasional international travel
Position Overview
K&K Technical Group is seeking an experienced IT Program Manager – Manufacturing Quality Systems to support enterprise technology and quality-system initiatives within a large automotive manufacturing organization.
This position will coordinate multiple cross-functional projects involving IT, manufacturing, quality systems, database technologies, and business operations. The ideal candidate is a highly organized project leader with strong communication skills and experience managing complex technology implementations across multiple teams and locations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate multiple technology and quality-system initiatives across manufacturing operations.
- Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
- Collaborate with IT, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and manufacturing stakeholders.
- Track project progress, identify risks, resolve issues, and communicate updates to leadership.
- Coordinate software implementations, system upgrades, releases, and deployment activities.
- Facilitate project meetings, stakeholder reviews, and executive presentations.
- Maintain project documentation, dashboards, and status reports.
- Support change management, process improvements, and technology transitions.
- Assist with project budgeting, resource planning, and business-case development.
- Ensure alignment between technical teams and business objectives.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Experience managing complex IT projects, technology programs, or enterprise system implementations.
- Strong project planning, scheduling, risk management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
- Experience working with cross-functional technical and business teams.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and other Microsoft 365 applications.
- Experience with Jira or similar project management and reporting tools.
- Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting automotive or manufacturing operations.
- Familiarity with manufacturing quality management systems.
- Experience with Agile, Scrum, or PI Planning methodologies.
- Knowledge of enterprise databases, including Oracle or PostgreSQL.
- Experience coordinating software releases, system migrations, and production deployments.
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Hoshin Kanri, or continuous improvement practices.
- Experience with change-control processes and project governance.
Work Environment
- On-site position supporting manufacturing and technology teams.
- Approximately 10% overtime, including occasional weekends.
- Up to 25% travel to manufacturing facilities throughout North America, including potential travel to Canada.
- Occasional manufacturing shop-floor access requiring appropriate safety equipment.
About K&K Technical Group
K&K Technical Group provides engineering, technical, and professional staffing solutions to leading manufacturing and industrial organizations. We connect talented professionals with opportunities to contribute to innovative projects and advanced manufacturing operations.
Apply today to learn more about this opportunity!
OPT Automotive Job Roles in Kentucky
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Search Automotive Jobs in KentuckyAutomotive OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which automotive companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Kentucky?
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in Georgetown is one of the state's largest automotive employers and has a history of hiring international graduates through OPT. Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant and assembly operations in Louisville also recruit engineering talent. Beyond the OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers like Magna, Denso, and Toyota Boshoku operate facilities across the state and regularly hire F-1 OPT candidates in technical roles.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Georgetown and Louisville hold the highest concentration of automotive OPT opportunities. Georgetown anchors around Toyota's flagship North American plant, drawing dozens of supplier facilities into the surrounding area. Louisville supports Ford's heavy-duty truck production alongside a broader manufacturing ecosystem. Lexington and Elizabethtown also have notable supplier presences, making central Kentucky a practical target region for international automotive graduates.
What types of automotive roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that directly apply a graduate's degree field qualify most cleanly for OPT. In Kentucky's automotive sector that typically includes manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, process engineering, supply chain and logistics, robotics and automation, and materials science. Data analytics and software roles tied to vehicle systems or production operations also qualify. Positions must be in a field directly related to your degree program, so alignment between your major and the job function matters.
How do I find automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to search, since the platform filters specifically for F-1 OPT-eligible automotive roles in Kentucky, removing jobs from employers unlikely to support international graduates. Beyond Migrate Mate, targeting Georgetown and Louisville-area suppliers through company career portals is practical, as many Tier 1 operations post roles directly. Attending University of Kentucky or University of Louisville career fairs also connects you with local automotive recruiters familiar with OPT hiring.
Are there any Kentucky-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in automotive?
Kentucky's automotive sector is heavily manufacturing-focused, so most OPT roles are on-site at plant facilities rather than remote. Graduates should confirm their degree field directly aligns with the posted role, since OPT authorization is tied to that connection. STEM OPT extension eligibility is worth checking early, as it can extend your work period by 24 months if your degree qualifies, which is relevant given that many Kentucky automotive employers prefer longer-term placement candidates.