Automotive OPT Jobs in Michigan

Michigan is the center of U.S. automotive manufacturing and engineering, making it one of the strongest states for F-1 OPT students seeking automotive work authorization. Companies like Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and a dense network of Tier 1 suppliers in Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Auburn Hills regularly hire international students in engineering, software, and design roles.

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Overview

Open Jobs272+
Work Type91% On-site
Top LocationSouthfield, MI
Most JobsStellantis

Showing 5 of 272+ Automotive OPT Jobs in Michigan

Electrical Engineer
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New 3h ago
Electrical Engineer
Cleveland-Cliffs
Dearborn, Michigan
Electrical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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PPAP Coordinator
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New 4h ago
PPAP Coordinator
Lear Corporation
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Quality Control
Manufacturing Operations
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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AI Platform Engineer
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New 4h ago
AI Platform Engineer
Ford Motor Company
Allen Park, Michigan
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Cloud Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
DevOps
$100k - $167k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Actuary
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New 11h ago
Actuary
Jackson National Life Insurance Company
Lansing, Michigan
Business Analysis
Data Science & Analytics
Project & Program Management
Data Science
Project Management
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Account Manager II
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New 11h ago
Account Manager II
Autoneum
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Sales
Account Management
Partnerships & Business Development
Business Development
Hybrid
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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OPT Automotive Job Roles in Michigan

Specialized Engineering98 jobs
Engineering (Non-Software)92 jobs
Manufacturing Operations56 jobs
Manufacturing Engineering55 jobs
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering54 jobs
Quality Control50 jobs
Project & Program Management50 jobs
Project Management43 jobs
Electrical Engineering39 jobs
Mechanical Engineering35 jobs

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Automotive OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions

Which automotive companies in Michigan sponsor F-1 OPT visas?

Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Stellantis are the largest employers of F-1 OPT students in Michigan's automotive sector. Beyond the Detroit Three, major Tier 1 suppliers such as BorgWarner, Aptiv, Magna International, and Bosch's Michigan operations have established histories of hiring international students. Many also support subsequent H-1B visa sponsorship after OPT ends, though this is not guaranteed and varies by role and business need.

Which cities in Michigan have the most automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?

Metro Detroit concentrates the majority of Michigan's automotive F-1 OPT opportunities. Dearborn hosts Ford's global headquarters, while Detroit and Warren are home to General Motors and Stellantis. Auburn Hills is a significant hub for supplier and technology firms. Ann Arbor has grown into a software-defined vehicle and autonomous driving center, with offices from Toyota Research Institute, Waymo, and several mobility startups actively hiring OPT candidates.

What types of automotive roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Michigan?

Roles that align with a STEM degree are most straightforward for F-1 OPT, and Michigan automotive employers most commonly hire OPT students as software engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, data scientists, and controls engineers. Vehicle cybersecurity, battery systems engineering, and ADAS development are particularly active hiring areas. Non-STEM business or design roles can qualify for standard 12-month OPT but do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.

How do I find automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Michigan?

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 Michigan without wading through listings that don't sponsor. You can filter by the automotive industry and Michigan location to see verified sponsoring employers. Beyond that, targeting university career fairs at University of Michigan and Michigan State often surfaces direct connections to local automotive recruiters actively seeking OPT candidates.

Are there any Michigan-specific considerations for F-1 OPT students in the automotive industry?

Michigan's automotive sector is heavily engineering-driven, meaning STEM OPT eligibility, which extends authorization from 12 to 36 months, is particularly valuable here. Students graduating from Michigan programs in mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering are well-positioned. Many large Michigan automotive employers are E-Verify participants, a federal requirement for STEM OPT extensions, so confirming E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer is an important step in the process.