Fashion & Apparel OPT Jobs in South Carolina
F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in South Carolina's fashion and apparel sector are concentrated around the Upstate textile corridor, where manufacturers and brands in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia actively hire international graduates in design, merchandising, sourcing, and production management. Employers such as Hamrick's and regional textile manufacturers have a history of working with OPT candidates across technical and creative roles.
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This position will drive reliability and innovation in a highly automated manufacturing environment by designing, programming, and troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, drives, robotics, and industrial control systems. You will lead automation projects, equipment upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives that boost production performance, reduce downtime, and support world-class manufacturing operations.
Benefits:
- Paid vacation plus 12 paid holidays
- Up to 7% 401K match
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits starting day one
- Additional disability, life insurance, and supplemental plans
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Field
- 3-5 years experience in automation or controls engineer role
- Problem solving/troubleshooting skill
- Proficiency with computers including Microsoft Office
- Demonstrated familiarity with manufacturing processes or equipment preferably of polymer industry
- Statistical Analysis skills with the ability to establish and audit against goals
What You Will Do:
- Leads/supports internal Project and Maintenance Engineers, Maintenance Technicians & Production personnel, OEMs, vendors, and contractors to design, install, interface, start up new equipment and process controls including: electrical component selection and approval, electrical design approval, software assessments & modifications, machine acceptance testing and problem identification and resolution.
- Responsible for specifying PLC's, HMI's, servo systems, motors, drives, sensors, vision sensors and data collection and analysis software, based on our companies controls standards criteria. Evaluates electrical equipment from multiple sources and recommends best value for use.
- Makes complex program modifications in DCS's, PLC's logic, HMI's programs, and servo controller logic to improve individual equipment and overall system's performance.
- Performs high level troubleshooting to solve any electrical, mechanical or process problem.
- Leads & assists others in troubleshooting machinery, equipment, components, and programs including PLC's HMI's Servo systems and Robotics.
- Leads Controls support during machine installations and upgrades. This includes interfacing auxiliary equipment, identifying and correcting errors in programming and wiring and ensuring vendors and contractors are meeting our needs and expectations.
- Expected to keep abreast of all of the new controls technologies, industry trends, health and safety regulations and standards that affect current operations.
- Proactively identifies opportunities to increase production operation performance, then initiates and oversees projects through completion.
- Provides technical and operating training to production, warehouse, and other personnel as needed. Shares knowledge and techniques with team members and coordinates the training of new personnel.
- Assists in project planning and forecasting as part of budgeting process.
- Provide training of Maintenance Technicians with new control equipment or schedule outside training to enhance troubleshooting skills.
- Develop Maintenance Technician Electrical/Electronic Training Matrix to identify skill gaps, then design training program to address them.
- Organize equipment documentation from OEMs, produced documents and troubleshooting guides.
- Develop Safety Procedures for installed machines Lock-Out /Tag-Out for operations and maintenance personnel.
- All other duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements:
- Regularly lift up to 25 lbs, occasionally up to 50 lbs
- Stand and walk for extended periods
- Work in a non-climate-controlled manufacturing environment
- Work around varying temperatures
- Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision as well as depth perception and ability to adjust focus
Additional Information:
Fitesa offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. Fitesa is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Fitesa will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen.
Eligibility to apply is in accordance with Fitesa hiring policies and practices. Please contact Fitesa HR with questions regarding eligibility.
This position is reserved for US candidates only and does not offer international transfer.
Description:
This position will drive reliability and innovation in a highly automated manufacturing environment by designing, programming, and troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, drives, robotics, and industrial control systems. You will lead automation projects, equipment upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives that boost production performance, reduce downtime, and support world-class manufacturing operations.
Benefits:
- Paid vacation plus 12 paid holidays
- Up to 7% 401K match
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits starting day one
- Additional disability, life insurance, and supplemental plans
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Field
- 3-5 years experience in automation or controls engineer role
- Problem solving/troubleshooting skill
- Proficiency with computers including Microsoft Office
- Demonstrated familiarity with manufacturing processes or equipment preferably of polymer industry
- Statistical Analysis skills with the ability to establish and audit against goals
What You Will Do:
- Leads/supports internal Project and Maintenance Engineers, Maintenance Technicians & Production personnel, OEMs, vendors, and contractors to design, install, interface, start up new equipment and process controls including: electrical component selection and approval, electrical design approval, software assessments & modifications, machine acceptance testing and problem identification and resolution.
- Responsible for specifying PLC's, HMI's, servo systems, motors, drives, sensors, vision sensors and data collection and analysis software, based on our companies controls standards criteria. Evaluates electrical equipment from multiple sources and recommends best value for use.
- Makes complex program modifications in DCS's, PLC's logic, HMI's programs, and servo controller logic to improve individual equipment and overall system's performance.
- Performs high level troubleshooting to solve any electrical, mechanical or process problem.
- Leads & assists others in troubleshooting machinery, equipment, components, and programs including PLC's HMI's Servo systems and Robotics.
- Leads Controls support during machine installations and upgrades. This includes interfacing auxiliary equipment, identifying and correcting errors in programming and wiring and ensuring vendors and contractors are meeting our needs and expectations.
- Expected to keep abreast of all of the new controls technologies, industry trends, health and safety regulations and standards that affect current operations.
- Proactively identifies opportunities to increase production operation performance, then initiates and oversees projects through completion.
- Provides technical and operating training to production, warehouse, and other personnel as needed. Shares knowledge and techniques with team members and coordinates the training of new personnel.
- Assists in project planning and forecasting as part of budgeting process.
- Provide training of Maintenance Technicians with new control equipment or schedule outside training to enhance troubleshooting skills.
- Develop Maintenance Technician Electrical/Electronic Training Matrix to identify skill gaps, then design training program to address them.
- Organize equipment documentation from OEMs, produced documents and troubleshooting guides.
- Develop Safety Procedures for installed machines Lock-Out /Tag-Out for operations and maintenance personnel.
- All other duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements:
- Regularly lift up to 25 lbs, occasionally up to 50 lbs
- Stand and walk for extended periods
- Work in a non-climate-controlled manufacturing environment
- Work around varying temperatures
- Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision as well as depth perception and ability to adjust focus
Additional Information:
Fitesa offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. Fitesa is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Fitesa will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen.
Eligibility to apply is in accordance with Fitesa hiring policies and practices. Please contact Fitesa HR with questions regarding eligibility.
This position is reserved for US candidates only and does not offer international transfer.
OPT Fashion & Apparel Job Roles in South Carolina
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Search Fashion & Apparel Jobs in South CarolinaFashion & Apparel OPT Sponsorship Jobs in South Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
Which fashion and apparel companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in South Carolina?
South Carolina's fashion and apparel employers most likely to work with F-1 OPT candidates include regional retailers like Hamrick's, textile manufacturers operating in the Upstate corridor, and apparel production facilities near Spartanburg and Greenville. Larger national brands with distribution or sourcing offices in the state also hire OPT students, particularly in technical design, supply chain, and product development roles where specialized degree backgrounds are relevant.
Which cities in South Carolina have the most fashion and apparel F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Greenville and Spartanburg lead South Carolina for fashion and apparel OPT opportunities, given their historic ties to textile and fiber manufacturing. Columbia, as the state capital and a university hub, also generates apparel retail and merchandising roles. Charleston has a smaller but growing retail and fashion marketing presence. Most technical manufacturing and sourcing positions are concentrated in the Upstate region rather than coastal areas.
What types of fashion and apparel roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in South Carolina?
Roles that tend to qualify include fashion design, textile engineering, apparel merchandising, production management, quality assurance, and supply chain coordination. Positions requiring a directly related bachelor's degree, such as textile science, fashion design, or business with a merchandising focus, align well with OPT authorization criteria. Technical roles in fiber and fabric manufacturing are particularly common in South Carolina's Upstate region and are well-suited to OPT employment.
How do I find fashion and apparel F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in South Carolina?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT job seekers and filters listings by visa type and industry, making it straightforward to find fashion and apparel employers in South Carolina that have OPT sponsorship history. You can search by role type and location to surface positions in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia. Checking employer LCA filing records through DOL's OFLC data can also help verify which companies have sponsored international workers previously.
Are there state-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in South Carolina's fashion sector?
South Carolina's apparel industry skews toward manufacturing and textile production rather than high-fashion retail, so OPT candidates with technical degrees in textile science, industrial engineering, or materials science may find stronger alignment with available roles. The state has no additional licensing requirements for most fashion and apparel positions. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on whether your specific role and degree fall within a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code, which you should confirm with your DSO.