Energy Jobs in Michigan with F-1 OPT Sponsorship
Michigan's energy sector spans utilities, automotive electrification, and renewables, with major employers like Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, and Ford's electrification divisions actively hiring international talent. Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Lansing concentrate the most F-1 OPT energy roles, particularly in electrical engineering, grid operations, and energy systems analysis.
See All Energy JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 225+ Energy F-1 OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 225+ Energy F-1 OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Energy F-1 OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan roles.
Get Access To All JobsJob Posting End Date
04-12-2026
Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.
Job Summary
Assign and recommend industry accepted management practices to provide corrective control of non-compatible vegetation conditions in utility rights of way to vegetation control contractors; inspect ongoing and completed assignments to assure contract compliance to reduce preventable vegetation interruptions of service and to provide, as much as practical, access to facilities for the purpose of repair and inspection.
Job Description
What you’ll do:
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- After training, patrol lines and facilities to assess vegetative conditions and recommend utility vegetation operations, maintain records of work and make the necessary arrangements with landowners for vegetation management and access to facilities.
- Investigate and resolve landowner issues and concerns.
- With assistance, estimate vegetation management requirements and costs for construction and rebuilding of new and existing facilities.
- With assistance, determine future utility vegetation management requirements and recommend short and long-term vegetation management work plans and best management practices.
- Contact governmental agencies, other utilities, landowners and others to arrange and coordinate right-of-way vegetation management work plans required.
- Inspect vegetation management and work planning contractors for contract compliance, recommending acceptance or corrective action.
- With assistance, recommend work plans, priorities, schedules and contractor requirements in accordance with the vegetation management program.
- Apply and keep informed of current contract provisions.
- Maintain records and prepare reports on costs, production and work quality. Operate the forestry computer programs and records systems.
- Guide and train others involved with the vegetation management program in proper work practices and utility vegetation management procedures.
What we’re looking for:
Minimum Requirements for Utility Forester Associate (SG 04):
- Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, or a related field and two (2) years of experience as a contract utility forester desired.
- OR associate’s degree in one of the same fields and four (4) years’ experience in utility vegetation management industry.
- OR High school diploma and six (6) years as a contract forester or other related positions in the utility industry.
Minimum Requirements for Utility Forester (SG 05):
- Bachelor Degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, or a related field and three (3) years of experience in utility vegetation management industry.
- OR Associate's degree in one of the same fields and five (5) years experience in utility vegetation management industry.
- OR High school diploma and seven (7) years as a contract forester or other related positions in the utility industry.
Licenses/Certificates:
- Knowledge and safe use of pesticides required.
- Possession of Certified Pesticide Applicator's license desirable.
- Arborist certification desirable.
Other requirements:
- Must act as a professional, employing a great deal of diplomacy to "sell" the Company's necessary right-of-way maintenance projects to the public.
- Courses in horticulture and/or vegetation management desirable.
- Competency in GIS systems and Microsoft Office components such as Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Word in addition to other analytical tools is required.
- Extensive travel is required to inspect and plan for the Company's right-of-way maintenance program.
- Apply AEP Accounting Policies & Guidelines related to expense vs. capitalization for labor, services, and material in a proficient manner.
- Valid State Driver’s License.
What you’ll get:
Utility Forester Associate (SG 04):
Starting pay between $54,063-$67,578
Utility Forester (SG 05):
Starting pay between $63,496-$79,369
In addition to a competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.
At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!
Compensation Data
Compensation Grade:
SP20-004
Compensation Range:
$54,063.00 - $79,369.00
The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.
Job Posting End Date
04-12-2026
Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.
Job Summary
Assign and recommend industry accepted management practices to provide corrective control of non-compatible vegetation conditions in utility rights of way to vegetation control contractors; inspect ongoing and completed assignments to assure contract compliance to reduce preventable vegetation interruptions of service and to provide, as much as practical, access to facilities for the purpose of repair and inspection.
Job Description
What you’ll do:
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- After training, patrol lines and facilities to assess vegetative conditions and recommend utility vegetation operations, maintain records of work and make the necessary arrangements with landowners for vegetation management and access to facilities.
- Investigate and resolve landowner issues and concerns.
- With assistance, estimate vegetation management requirements and costs for construction and rebuilding of new and existing facilities.
- With assistance, determine future utility vegetation management requirements and recommend short and long-term vegetation management work plans and best management practices.
- Contact governmental agencies, other utilities, landowners and others to arrange and coordinate right-of-way vegetation management work plans required.
- Inspect vegetation management and work planning contractors for contract compliance, recommending acceptance or corrective action.
- With assistance, recommend work plans, priorities, schedules and contractor requirements in accordance with the vegetation management program.
- Apply and keep informed of current contract provisions.
- Maintain records and prepare reports on costs, production and work quality. Operate the forestry computer programs and records systems.
- Guide and train others involved with the vegetation management program in proper work practices and utility vegetation management procedures.
What we’re looking for:
Minimum Requirements for Utility Forester Associate (SG 04):
- Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, or a related field and two (2) years of experience as a contract utility forester desired.
- OR associate’s degree in one of the same fields and four (4) years’ experience in utility vegetation management industry.
- OR High school diploma and six (6) years as a contract forester or other related positions in the utility industry.
Minimum Requirements for Utility Forester (SG 05):
- Bachelor Degree in Forestry, Urban Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Arboriculture, or a related field and three (3) years of experience in utility vegetation management industry.
- OR Associate's degree in one of the same fields and five (5) years experience in utility vegetation management industry.
- OR High school diploma and seven (7) years as a contract forester or other related positions in the utility industry.
Licenses/Certificates:
- Knowledge and safe use of pesticides required.
- Possession of Certified Pesticide Applicator's license desirable.
- Arborist certification desirable.
Other requirements:
- Must act as a professional, employing a great deal of diplomacy to "sell" the Company's necessary right-of-way maintenance projects to the public.
- Courses in horticulture and/or vegetation management desirable.
- Competency in GIS systems and Microsoft Office components such as Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Word in addition to other analytical tools is required.
- Extensive travel is required to inspect and plan for the Company's right-of-way maintenance program.
- Apply AEP Accounting Policies & Guidelines related to expense vs. capitalization for labor, services, and material in a proficient manner.
- Valid State Driver’s License.
What you’ll get:
Utility Forester Associate (SG 04):
Starting pay between $54,063-$67,578
Utility Forester (SG 05):
Starting pay between $63,496-$79,369
In addition to a competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.
At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!
Compensation Data
Compensation Grade:
SP20-004
Compensation Range:
$54,063.00 - $79,369.00
The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.
Job Roles in Energy in Michigan
See all 225+ Energy Michigan jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Energy Michigan roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Which energy companies in Michigan sponsor F-1 OPT visas?
DTE Energy and Consumers Energy are Michigan's two dominant utilities and have documented histories of hiring international students in engineering and operations roles. Ford Motor Company's electrification and battery research divisions in Dearborn and Ann Arbor also employ F-1 OPT workers in energy-adjacent roles. Smaller renewable energy developers and grid technology firms operating in Michigan may also support OPT authorization, though sponsorship practices vary significantly by employer and position.
Which cities in Michigan have the most energy F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Detroit and its suburbs, including Dearborn and Southfield, concentrate the largest share of energy-related OPT roles due to DTE Energy's headquarters and the automotive electrification corridor. Ann Arbor draws energy talent through University of Michigan research partnerships and clean energy startups. Lansing hosts Consumers Energy offices and state energy regulatory work. Grand Rapids has a growing renewable energy presence, particularly in solar and energy efficiency contracting.
What types of energy roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Michigan?
Roles that align with STEM-designated fields qualify for the standard 12-month OPT period, and many energy positions fall under electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or environmental science, which also qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Common qualifying titles include power systems engineer, energy analyst, battery engineer, grid operations analyst, and renewable energy project engineer. Roles requiring only general business or non-technical degrees are less likely to support STEM OPT extension eligibility.
How do I find energy F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Michigan?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters job listings by visa type, including F-1 OPT, and by industry, so you can search directly for energy roles in Michigan without sorting through positions that don't support work authorization. Beyond Migrate Mate, targeting Michigan-headquartered utilities and EV-related manufacturers directly through their careers pages is practical, as these employers have established OPT hiring pipelines and are familiar with the authorization process.
Are there any Michigan-specific considerations for F-1 OPT students pursuing energy jobs?
Michigan's energy sector is heavily shaped by the state's Clean Energy and Climate Action Plan, which has increased demand for engineers and analysts in grid modernization, EV infrastructure, and renewable integration. F-1 OPT students should note that Michigan's large automotive employers often treat energy engineering roles as part of broader STEM hiring, making STEM OPT extension eligibility common. Confirming your employer has a valid E-Verify enrollment is a prerequisite for any STEM OPT extension, regardless of company size.
See which energy employers are hiring and sponsoring visas in Michigan right now.
Search Energy Jobs in Michigan