Aerospace & Defense OPT Jobs in New York
F-1 OPT aerospace & defense jobs in New York are concentrated around Long Island's defense corridor, where companies like Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and Raytheon have major operations, along with aerospace suppliers in the Hudson Valley. New York's combination of defense contractors, research institutions, and advanced manufacturing creates meaningful OPT sponsorship opportunities for international students with engineering and technical backgrounds.
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We're Hiring: Sourcing Engineer | Solid Sealing Technology (SST)
Looking for an opportunity where your work has a real-world impact?
Solid Sealing Technology, a subsidiary of HEICO Corporation, designs and manufactures precision electrical components used in industrial, medical, and research applications around the globe. Our products support cutting-edge technologies found in energy storage systems, MRI machines, and particle accelerators.
And here's something we're especially proud of: Our components have even gone to Mars. NASA's Mars InSight Mission uses parts manufactured right here in Watervliet, NY.
As a Sourcing Engineer, you'll play a key role in ensuring the quality, availability, and performance of the materials and suppliers that make these innovative products possible. If you're passionate about engineering, supply chain excellence, and solving complex challenges, we'd love to hear from you.
Join a team where your work contributes to technologies that make a difference.
Apply today or share this opportunity with someone who would be a great fit!
Position Summary:
The Sourcing Engineer is responsible for sourcing materials, components and services required for ceramic product production. This role partners with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Sales/Customer Service teams to ensure suppliers meet technical, quality, cost, and delivery requirements. The Sourcing Engineer drives supplier development, cost reduction, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement initiatives while supporting production and new product development.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Identifies, evaluates, and qualifies suppliers for products, component, packaging, and manufacturing services.
- Establishes and maintains strategic supplier relationships.
- Performs audits and capability assessments to evaluate supplier qualifications and compliance.
- Monitors performance using KPIs such as on-time delivery, quality, and responsiveness, implementing corrective actions as needed.
- Assesses supplier risk by monitoring capacity, financial stability, and geopolitical factors that may impact supply continuity.
- Proactively develops alternative supply sources to strengthen supply chain reliability and continuity.
- Reviews engineering drawings, specifications, material requirements, and process needs.
- Sources materials and components in support of manufacturing, quality, and cost objectives.
- Develops qualification plans for newly sourced materials.
- Works with Engineering to ensure supplier capabilities align with product and process requirements.
- Prepares RFQs, analyzes supplier quotations, and supports departmental purchasing efforts.
- Negotiates pricing, contracts, lead times, and service agreements.
- Leads cost-reduction and value-engineering initiatives.
- Supports new product development and introduction by securing qualified suppliers and materials.
- Verifies supplier readiness to support production and delivery requirements.
- Collaborates with the Quality team to resolve supplier quality issues.
- Maintains and updates supplier qualification files, records, and related documentation in accordance with company requirements.
- Continuously identifies opportunities for improvement (OFI); suggests ways to improve processes.
- Continually strives to increase understanding of materials and processes associated with the products manufactured and sold to customers.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, supply chain, business, or a related field.
- Experience in sourcing, procurement, manufacturing engineering, or supply chain roles preferred.
- Experience with supplier quality management and audits preferred.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.
- Strong negotiation, communication, analytical, and project management skills.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
- Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel.
- Understanding of direct material sourcing (metals, fabricated parts, assemblies, etc.)
- Knowledge of basic properties and fabrication of material; including ceramics, metals, glass, and plastics.
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing and cost analysis.
- Comfortable operating in fast-paced environments with changing priorities and high levels of accountability.
- Strong work ethic and high level of integrity.
- Willingness to travel as needed to meet customers, suppliers and attend industry events.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/HAZARDS:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected status.
In order to support the Fair Compensation Strategy by the US Govt., HR Dept., clients are required to adhere to "Pay Transparency Law"; in the impacted states; that have mandated the employers to list the salary ranges in Job advertisements or postings for job opportunities and Job promotions.
OPT Aerospace & Defense Job Roles in New York
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Search Aerospace & Defense Jobs in New YorkAerospace & Defense OPT Sponsorship Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
Which aerospace & defense companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in New York?
Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, and Raytheon Technologies have substantial New York operations and have historically hired OPT candidates in engineering and technical roles. Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics also maintain New York facilities. Smaller defense contractors and aerospace suppliers on Long Island and in the Capital Region round out the employer pool, though sponsorship decisions are made on a role-by-role basis.
Which cities in New York have the most aerospace & defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Long Island, particularly Bethpage and Hauppauge, is New York's densest concentration of aerospace and defense employers, anchored by Northrop Grumman's campus. The Capital Region around Albany supports defense electronics and systems work. Rochester has aerospace optics and imaging companies, and the New York City metro area hosts corporate offices and defense consulting firms that also hire OPT candidates.
What types of aerospace & defense roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles in systems engineering, avionics, mechanical and electrical engineering, software development for defense systems, radar and signal processing, and manufacturing engineering are commonly filled through OPT. These positions align with degree fields like electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, and computer science. Candidates with STEM OPT extensions have 36 months of work authorization, which makes them more viable for defense contractors managing longer project timelines.
How do I find aerospace & defense F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in New York?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students on F-1 OPT and filters aerospace & defense jobs in New York by visa sponsorship availability, so you're not sifting through postings that won't support your status. Because defense roles often have citizenship or clearance requirements that can exclude OPT candidates, Migrate Mate's filtering helps you identify which New York employers are actively open to hiring international students in this sector.
Are there any special considerations for F-1 OPT students pursuing aerospace & defense jobs in New York?
Security clearance requirements are the most significant factor. Many defense roles require a U.S. security clearance, which is generally not available to non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents, which can limit OPT eligibility for certain positions. However, unclassified engineering, research, and software roles at defense contractors do not always require clearances. STEM OPT extensions, available for 24 additional months beyond the initial 12, are particularly valuable for staying competitive in New York's defense hiring cycles.