Automotive STEM OPT Jobs in Michigan
Michigan's automotive industry is a leading destination for F-1 STEM OPT talent, with companies like Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and Bosch regularly hiring engineers, data scientists, and software developers in the Detroit metro, Ann Arbor, and Auburn Hills. STEM OPT's 24-month extension gives automotive employers a meaningful runway to evaluate international hires before committing to longer-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsJob ID
66188
Category
Research and Advance Engineering
Location
Dearborn, Michigan
Work Type
Hybrid
In this position...
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Verification & Validation Application Engineer and focuses on ensuring the feature delivers the expectations of the customer. You will develop and implement feature requirements and specifications (including functional safety) for features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, cross traffic alert, pro trailer features, advanced lighting, and 360 camera systems at a system and sub-system level and validate them according to the systems engineering model. As an Application Engineer, you will collaborate with research engineers, user experience teams, designers, hardware and software developers to define, develop, and verify the customer-facing attributes and performance capabilities of ADAS features. You will also develop new verification methods and work with vehicle, hardware-in-the-loop, model-in-the-loop and other advanced testing methodologies to validate your feature.
What you'll do...
- Define and document the vehicle-level acceptance criteria for ADAS features
- Lead / support the development of verification plans and verification methods
- Collaborate with global functional partners to meet system and vehicle level performance requirements
- Cascade system-level requirements to functional partners
- Lead/support the development and sign-off of ADAS features on vehicle programs
- Support feature calibration studies to satisfy vehicle-level performance requirements
- Develop MATLAB and CAN tools for data collection and analysis
- Identify opportunities to utilize HiL and CAE methods for feature calibration and performance verification
- Plan and execute real-world evaluations of ADAS features via vehicle/HIL/virtual testing and identify system problems and issues
- Support and coordinate root-cause analysis with internal functions and external suppliers to ensure delivered system achieves feature requirements
- Benchmark competitors and monitor public domain requirements
You'll have...
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field
- Experience preferably in developing features in the Driver Assistance domain using radars, cameras, lidars, ultrasonic sensors and other related vehicle systems (body, electrical, chassis, powertrain)
- Familiarity with actuators and control systems
Even better, you may have...
- Masters in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Software, Computer Science, AI, Systems Engineering, Product Development) or related technical field
- Experience applying Systems Engineering principles
- Experience with robotic verification and testing methods
- Troubleshooting experience with electromechanical systems
- Experience with differential GPS equipment
- Experience using typical automotive interfaces: CAN, CANFD, Autosar, Auto-Ethernet, etc.
- Experience using Vector CANape, CANalyzer and dSPACE Controls Desk or similar tools
- Experience with Matlab/Simulink
- Experience in verification techniques (design verification methods, vehicle data acquisition/analysis)
- Experience with virtual validation methods (HIL/MIL/SIL)
- Strong leadership skills, passion for quality, passion to improve customer satisfaction
- Good communications and project management skills
- Strong oral & written skills
- Ability to work both independently and take initiative when necessary
- Strong teamwork & interpersonal skills
You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
- Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
- Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
- Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
- Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
- Tuition assistance
- Established and active employee resource groups
- Paid time off for individual and team community service
- A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a range of salary grades 6-8.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSRSP2
Visa sponsorship is available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
Onsite work of up to four days per week will be required for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub location.
LI-Hybrid
LI-CL2
Job ID
66188
Category
Research and Advance Engineering
Location
Dearborn, Michigan
Work Type
Hybrid
In this position...
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Verification & Validation Application Engineer and focuses on ensuring the feature delivers the expectations of the customer. You will develop and implement feature requirements and specifications (including functional safety) for features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, cross traffic alert, pro trailer features, advanced lighting, and 360 camera systems at a system and sub-system level and validate them according to the systems engineering model. As an Application Engineer, you will collaborate with research engineers, user experience teams, designers, hardware and software developers to define, develop, and verify the customer-facing attributes and performance capabilities of ADAS features. You will also develop new verification methods and work with vehicle, hardware-in-the-loop, model-in-the-loop and other advanced testing methodologies to validate your feature.
What you'll do...
- Define and document the vehicle-level acceptance criteria for ADAS features
- Lead / support the development of verification plans and verification methods
- Collaborate with global functional partners to meet system and vehicle level performance requirements
- Cascade system-level requirements to functional partners
- Lead/support the development and sign-off of ADAS features on vehicle programs
- Support feature calibration studies to satisfy vehicle-level performance requirements
- Develop MATLAB and CAN tools for data collection and analysis
- Identify opportunities to utilize HiL and CAE methods for feature calibration and performance verification
- Plan and execute real-world evaluations of ADAS features via vehicle/HIL/virtual testing and identify system problems and issues
- Support and coordinate root-cause analysis with internal functions and external suppliers to ensure delivered system achieves feature requirements
- Benchmark competitors and monitor public domain requirements
You'll have...
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field
- Experience preferably in developing features in the Driver Assistance domain using radars, cameras, lidars, ultrasonic sensors and other related vehicle systems (body, electrical, chassis, powertrain)
- Familiarity with actuators and control systems
Even better, you may have...
- Masters in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Software, Computer Science, AI, Systems Engineering, Product Development) or related technical field
- Experience applying Systems Engineering principles
- Experience with robotic verification and testing methods
- Troubleshooting experience with electromechanical systems
- Experience with differential GPS equipment
- Experience using typical automotive interfaces: CAN, CANFD, Autosar, Auto-Ethernet, etc.
- Experience using Vector CANape, CANalyzer and dSPACE Controls Desk or similar tools
- Experience with Matlab/Simulink
- Experience in verification techniques (design verification methods, vehicle data acquisition/analysis)
- Experience with virtual validation methods (HIL/MIL/SIL)
- Strong leadership skills, passion for quality, passion to improve customer satisfaction
- Good communications and project management skills
- Strong oral & written skills
- Ability to work both independently and take initiative when necessary
- Strong teamwork & interpersonal skills
You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
- Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
- Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
- Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
- Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
- Tuition assistance
- Established and active employee resource groups
- Paid time off for individual and team community service
- A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a range of salary grades 6-8.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSRSP2
Visa sponsorship is available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
Onsite work of up to four days per week will be required for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub location.
LI-Hybrid
LI-CL2
STEM OPT Automotive Job Roles in Michigan
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Search Automotive Jobs in MichiganAutomotive STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
Which automotive companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Michigan?
Michigan's largest automotive employers, including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Stellantis, Bosch, Aptiv, and Magna International, have consistent records of hiring F-1 STEM OPT workers in engineering and technology roles. Tier-1 suppliers and mobility-tech startups concentrated in the Detroit metro and Ann Arbor corridor also participate in STEM OPT hiring, though sponsorship practices vary by division and role.
Which cities in Michigan have the most automotive F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Detroit metropolitan area accounts for the largest share of automotive STEM OPT positions in Michigan, with significant concentrations in Dearborn, Auburn Hills, Warren, and Southfield, where OEM headquarters and major engineering centers are based. Ann Arbor has grown as a secondary hub, particularly for mobility software, autonomous vehicle research, and electrification roles tied to university partnerships with the University of Michigan.
What types of automotive roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that qualify must correspond to a STEM-designated degree field as defined by the Department of Homeland Security's STEM OPT degree list. In the automotive sector, this typically includes positions in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, data science, software development, systems engineering, and battery or powertrain technology. Roles in manufacturing operations management or non-technical functions generally do not qualify, even at automotive companies.
How do I find automotive F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Michigan?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa type and industry, making it straightforward to search for automotive F-1 STEM OPT positions across Michigan employers. You can browse roles in Dearborn, Auburn Hills, Ann Arbor, and the broader Detroit metro, with employer sponsorship history surfaced directly in results. Searching by STEM-eligible job titles such as systems engineer or software developer will return the most relevant listings.
Are there any Michigan-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in the automotive industry?
Michigan employers in the automotive sector are required to be enrolled in E-Verify as a condition of hiring STEM OPT workers, and the student's DSO must recommend the STEM OPT extension through SEVIS before work begins. Michigan's concentration of OEM and Tier-1 supplier offices means that many STEM OPT roles involve formal rotational programs or engineering development tracks, which can affect how training plans, a STEM OPT requirement, are structured and evaluated by the employer.