STEM OPT Jobs in Ohio
Ohio's manufacturing, healthcare, and tech sectors actively sponsor F-1 STEM OPT workers, with employer density concentrated in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Companies in advanced manufacturing, software development, and life sciences regularly file E-Verify enrollments required for STEM OPT extensions, making Ohio a practical target for STEM graduates.
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At SEL, we create digital products and solutions that protect, control, and automate power systems around the world. The devices and software we make at SEL are embedded in the power grid. They prevent blackouts. They make outages safer and shorter in duration; they add cybersecurity, automation, and communication. They use cutting-edge technologies and operate at speeds that push other pieces of the grid to go faster. As a Designer in Engineering Services, you’ll provide solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure and power systems worldwide.
As a Designer in Engineering Services a typical day might include the following:
- Creating detailed substation physical and electrical designs and support job estimates under the supervision of a technical lead.
- Preparing CAD drawings and other project documentation.
- Drawing development involving substation general arrangements, section/elevation views, conduit plans, grounding plans, fencing plans, lighting plans, foundation plans, and bill of materials.
- Providing design engineering support to project technical leads.
- Completing assigned work and submitting within timelines and budgets with a high level of quality.
- Developing and maintaining an acceptable level of expertise in SEL and industry design practices.
- Assisting and mentoring junior designers and/or drafters with technical tasks.
- Developing and maintaining an acceptable level of knowledge of SEL equipment and solutions for electric power system protection and automation.
- Using best available processes and tools and provide feedback on process enhancements.
This job might be for you if you possess the following:
- BSET or related design degree from an accredited college or university OR associate's degree in EET, CAD, Drafting, or relevant discipline; or possess equivalent experience for each academic year.
- Four plus years of relevant experience with high voltage electrical design, including several projects in substation design or protective relay controls systems.
- Electrical utility, consulting or system integrator experience.
- Application knowledge of protective relay applications and/or automation applications.
- Ability to learn concepts and technical details of products.
- Demonstrated competency in CAD drafting (AUTOCAD, Civil 3D or Microstation).
Location: We are open to MULTIPLE locations.
Lewis Center, OH - This position is located in Lewis Center, OH, located 15 miles outside of downtown Columbus. Here you will enjoy all the big city has to offer, including easy access to outdoor recreation, professional sports teams, and great universities. Centrally located in Ohio and quickly growing, you won't have to look far for great dining, shopping, and entertainment. There has never been a better time to call Lewis Center home.
King of Prussia, PA - This position is located in King of Prussia, PA. Located just twenty miles from Philadelphia, its close proximity allows residents to enjoy all that the big city has to offer. Enjoy easy access to trails along the river, or attend sporting events nearby. The diverse options make King of Prussia the perfect place to call home.
Hanover, MD - This position is located in Hanover, MD. Conveniently located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Hanover offers residents convenient commuting options, excellent shopping, hiking and easy access to BWI Airport. With all these variety, it makes Hanover a desirable place to live.
Wesley Chapel, FL – This position is located in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Just north of Tampa, Wesley Chapel offers the perfect blend of suburban comfort and city convenience. Residents enjoy access to top-rated schools, vibrant shopping centers, and a growing food scene. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore scenic parks, nature trails, and nearby Gulf Coast beaches. With its welcoming community and dynamic growth, Wesley Chapel is an ideal place to live and work.
Open to candidates at various levels
Pay
We base our starting pay offer on job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Pay range for position is $25.00 - $60.
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
Job Description
At SEL, we create digital products and solutions that protect, control, and automate power systems around the world. The devices and software we make at SEL are embedded in the power grid. They prevent blackouts. They make outages safer and shorter in duration; they add cybersecurity, automation, and communication. They use cutting-edge technologies and operate at speeds that push other pieces of the grid to go faster. As a Designer in Engineering Services, you’ll provide solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure and power systems worldwide.
As a Designer in Engineering Services a typical day might include the following:
- Creating detailed substation physical and electrical designs and support job estimates under the supervision of a technical lead.
- Preparing CAD drawings and other project documentation.
- Drawing development involving substation general arrangements, section/elevation views, conduit plans, grounding plans, fencing plans, lighting plans, foundation plans, and bill of materials.
- Providing design engineering support to project technical leads.
- Completing assigned work and submitting within timelines and budgets with a high level of quality.
- Developing and maintaining an acceptable level of expertise in SEL and industry design practices.
- Assisting and mentoring junior designers and/or drafters with technical tasks.
- Developing and maintaining an acceptable level of knowledge of SEL equipment and solutions for electric power system protection and automation.
- Using best available processes and tools and provide feedback on process enhancements.
This job might be for you if you possess the following:
- BSET or related design degree from an accredited college or university OR associate's degree in EET, CAD, Drafting, or relevant discipline; or possess equivalent experience for each academic year.
- Four plus years of relevant experience with high voltage electrical design, including several projects in substation design or protective relay controls systems.
- Electrical utility, consulting or system integrator experience.
- Application knowledge of protective relay applications and/or automation applications.
- Ability to learn concepts and technical details of products.
- Demonstrated competency in CAD drafting (AUTOCAD, Civil 3D or Microstation).
Location: We are open to MULTIPLE locations.
Lewis Center, OH - This position is located in Lewis Center, OH, located 15 miles outside of downtown Columbus. Here you will enjoy all the big city has to offer, including easy access to outdoor recreation, professional sports teams, and great universities. Centrally located in Ohio and quickly growing, you won't have to look far for great dining, shopping, and entertainment. There has never been a better time to call Lewis Center home.
King of Prussia, PA - This position is located in King of Prussia, PA. Located just twenty miles from Philadelphia, its close proximity allows residents to enjoy all that the big city has to offer. Enjoy easy access to trails along the river, or attend sporting events nearby. The diverse options make King of Prussia the perfect place to call home.
Hanover, MD - This position is located in Hanover, MD. Conveniently located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Hanover offers residents convenient commuting options, excellent shopping, hiking and easy access to BWI Airport. With all these variety, it makes Hanover a desirable place to live.
Wesley Chapel, FL – This position is located in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Just north of Tampa, Wesley Chapel offers the perfect blend of suburban comfort and city convenience. Residents enjoy access to top-rated schools, vibrant shopping centers, and a growing food scene. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore scenic parks, nature trails, and nearby Gulf Coast beaches. With its welcoming community and dynamic growth, Wesley Chapel is an ideal place to live and work.
Open to candidates at various levels
Pay
We base our starting pay offer on job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Pay range for position is $25.00 - $60.
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
Search F-1 STEM OPT Jobs by Industry in Ohio
Tips for Finding STEM OPT Jobs in Ohio
Verify your CIP code matches the role
USCIS determines STEM OPT eligibility based on your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code. Before applying to Ohio employers, confirm your CIP code appears on the official STEM Designated Degree Program List and that the job duties align with your field of study.
Target Ohio employers already enrolled in E-Verify
Your STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify before your DSO submits the I-765. Filter your Ohio employer search to companies with active E-Verify participation, which manufacturing and federal contractors in Cincinnati and Dayton commonly maintain.
Search OFLC disclosure data for Ohio STEM filings
Use Migrate Mate to find Ohio employers with documented F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history. Cross-reference with OFLC disclosure data to see which Columbus and Cleveland companies file consistently for STEM-eligible occupations in your field.
Use O*NET to confirm your role qualifies
Not every technical job title maps to a STEM-eligible occupation. Look up your prospective Ohio role in O*NET and verify the Standard Occupational Classification code falls within a qualifying STEM category before you negotiate your start date.
File your I-983 training plan before your OPT end date
Your employer must sign the I-983 training plan and you must submit it to your DSO at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. Ohio employers unfamiliar with STEM OPT often need lead time to complete internal HR approval, so start the conversation during offer negotiation.
Prioritize Ohio employers with existing immigration counsel
Companies in Ohio's life sciences corridor around Columbus and Cleveland that already retain immigration attorneys move through STEM OPT paperwork faster. Ask during interviews whether the company has handled STEM OPT extensions before, which signals readiness to meet your filing deadlines.
See all 740+ F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Ohio
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Ohio.
Get Access To All JobsF-1 STEM OPT Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Ohio sponsor the most F-1 STEM OPT visas?
Advanced manufacturing, software development, healthcare technology, and financial technology are Ohio's highest-volume F-1 STEM OPT sponsoring sectors. Columbus draws significant tech and fintech employer activity, Cleveland anchors healthcare and biomedical engineering, and Cincinnati and Dayton are strong for aerospace, defense contracting, and chemical engineering roles that regularly file for STEM OPT workers.
Which cities in Ohio have the most F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Columbus has the densest concentration of F-1 STEM OPT opportunities, driven by its tech sector and major corporate headquarters. Cleveland's healthcare and research institutions make it a strong second, while Cincinnati and Dayton offer consistent demand in manufacturing, aerospace, and engineering. Toledo and Akron have smaller but active employer pools in polymer science and logistics technology.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Ohio?
Roles that qualify must directly relate to your STEM degree field and involve practical application of technical skills. Common qualifying positions in Ohio include software engineers, data analysts, mechanical and electrical engineers, biomedical researchers, and financial analysts with quantitative backgrounds. The role must map to a STEM-designated Standard Occupational Classification code, which you can verify using O*NET.
How do I find F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Ohio that actually sponsor?
Migrate Mate filters job listings by employers with verified STEM OPT sponsorship history in Ohio, so you're not guessing which companies will support your extension. You can also search OFLC public disclosure data to identify Ohio employers that have filed for STEM-eligible occupations in your field, then prioritize outreach to those with E-Verify enrollment already active.
Are there any Ohio-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Ohio has no state-level visa sponsorship requirements, but federal contractor density in Dayton and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base adjacent employers sometimes requires security clearance eligibility, which can affect F-1 holders. Ohio's large manufacturing base also means many employers are accustomed to E-Verify through federal contracting obligations, making STEM OPT enrollment procedurally familiar for HR teams at those companies.