Automotive F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Missouri
Automotive F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Missouri are concentrated around St. Louis and Kansas City, where manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis maintain engineering and R&D operations. Roles in vehicle systems, manufacturing engineering, and quality assurance frequently qualify under STEM-designated degree fields, making Missouri's automotive sector a practical target for F-1 students completing STEM degrees.
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Overview
At Ford, you’ll work on ideas that matter, alongside passionate people who want to make a global impact. Together, we’re shaping the next era of transportation—grounded in purpose, driven by progress. Make your move.
- Job Type: Full time
- Work Type: Hybrid
In this position...
We are building a team of the world’s best automotive, software and electrical talent, and turning them loose to create insanely great electric vehicles and digital experiences for new generations of customers.
We are an agile team… leveraging rapidly evolving technology to innovate, fail fast and pivot.
We create with passion delivering extraordinary solutions to change the world.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop novel brakes, steering, wheel, tire, and suspension concepts that improve product cost, mass, efficiency, manufacturability, serviceability, and driving dynamics
- Challenge existing design requirements and define new design requirements for system sizing, functions, and features based on regulations, first principles, and product attributes
- Assess and validate manufacturing, assembly, and service feasibility of design proposals
- Design, analyze, build, and test prototypes at component, subsystem, and full vehicle level
- Subjectively and objectively evaluate braking, steering, ride and handling attributes in production vehicles, prototype vehicles, and simulator
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience
- 3+ years experience in automotive or related field, EV preferred
- Strong engineering fundamentals, and ability to apply broadly to vehicle systems and manufacturing processes
- Strong proficiency in 3D modelling, Catia and 3D Experience preferred
- Excellent technical collaboration and communication, written and verbal
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing, prototyping, and testing mechanical and electromechanical systems
- Experience developing and delivering a chassis system from concept to production
- Strong working knowledge of all chassis systems and vehicle dynamics fundamentals
- Proficiency in manufacturing and assembly methods and GD&T
- Strong proficiency in Atlassian tools (Confluence, JIRA)
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 salary grade 8 and ranges from $135,420-226,980.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR
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.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid
LI-SE1 #UEV
Automotive Job Roles in Missouri
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Search Automotive Jobs in MissouriAutomotive Jobs in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
Which automotive companies in Missouri sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas?
Missouri's automotive sector includes General Motors' Wentzville Assembly plant, Ford's Kansas City Assembly operation, and a network of Tier 1 suppliers such as Magna International and Continental. These employers have histories of filing Labor Condition Applications for engineering and technical roles. Sponsorship decisions are made case-by-case based on role eligibility and employer policy, so confirming directly with each company's recruiting team is important.
Which cities in Missouri have the most automotive F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
St. Louis and Kansas City account for the majority of Missouri's automotive engineering activity. Wentzville, just west of St. Louis, hosts significant assembly and supplier operations. Kansas City draws automotive supply chain and manufacturing engineering roles tied to its Ford and GM-adjacent supplier base. Smaller clusters exist in Springfield and Columbia, typically through Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers serving the broader Midwest automotive corridor.
How do I find automotive F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Missouri?
Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for automotive employers in Missouri that have filed LCAs for F-1 STEM OPT-eligible roles, so you're not sorting through listings that don't lead to sponsorship. Beyond the platform, targeting Tier 1 suppliers concentrated around St. Louis and Kansas City increases your chances, as these firms regularly hire for STEM-designated engineering functions and have established immigration filing workflows.
What types of automotive roles in Missouri typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles most commonly qualifying for F-1 STEM OPT in Missouri's automotive sector include manufacturing engineering, quality systems engineering, vehicle dynamics, embedded software development, and industrial engineering. These positions typically require degrees in mechanical, electrical, computer, or industrial engineering, all of which appear on the STEM OPT designated degree program list. Roles requiring only a general business or non-STEM degree are unlikely to qualify regardless of industry.
Are there any Missouri-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT in automotive?
Missouri does not impose state-level restrictions on F-1 STEM OPT employment, but automotive employers in the state often require background checks and facility security clearances tied to OEM partnerships, which can add lead time before a start date. Many Missouri automotive plants operate on shift schedules, and STEM OPT roles must be paid, full-time positions meeting the employer's standard employment relationship requirements as defined by USCIS. Confirm your job offer satisfies all USCIS criteria before accepting.