Chemicals & Materials STEM OPT Jobs in South Carolina
South Carolina's chemicals and materials sector, anchored by employers like Michelin, BASF, and Eastman Chemical in the Upstate and Lowcountry regions, actively hires STEM graduates in engineering, process chemistry, and materials science. F-1 students on STEM OPT can find qualifying 24-month extension roles with manufacturers and R&D operations concentrated around Greenville, Spartanburg, Charleston, and Columbia.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What will you do as an Electrical Engineer at Sealed Air?
As an Electrical Engineer at Sealed Air, you will design, develop, and improve electrical and control systems that support our global manufacturing operations. You will independently contribute to engineering projects from design through startup, applying your technical expertise to improve equipment reliability, manufacturing efficiency, and operational performance.
Why do we need you?
- Design and develop electrical and control systems for manufacturing and packaging equipment.
- Manage electrical engineering activities within capital and equipment projects, including requirements, schedules, technical documentation, and implementation.
- Program, configure, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, variable frequency drives, servo systems, and industrial control networks.
- Develop electrical drawings, control system documentation, bills of material, and engineering specifications.
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, EH&S, internal customers, suppliers, and contractors to deliver effective technical solutions.
- Analyze complex equipment and process issues and implement solutions that improve reliability, throughput, yield, and cost.
- Evaluate new technologies and recommend improvements to existing manufacturing equipment and control systems.
- Provide technical guidance to engineering and manufacturing teams during equipment design, installation, startup, and troubleshooting activities.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What do you need to be successful?
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university.
- 3+ years of experience in electrical design, controls engineering, or project engineering.
- PLC programming and industrial control systems.
- Allen-Bradley PLCs and variable speed drives.
- HMI software, including GE Proficy or Rockwell platforms.
- Control system design and tuning.
- Industrial networks, including Ethernet/IP, ControlNet, DeviceNet, or Profibus.
- Motor control systems, servo drives, and variable frequency drives.
- Electrical distribution systems, including 480V three-phase, 110 VAC, and 24 VDC systems.
- AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical.
- Engineering documentation and electrical drawing development.
- Manufacturing equipment troubleshooting and startup.
- Microsoft Office and ERP systems.
- Project engineering and cross-functional project coordination.
BENEFITS AND PERKS
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discounts
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid elder care
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Requisition id: 56439
Relocation: Yes
Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
Please be cautious of fraudulent recruiting efforts using the Sealed Air name or logo. Sealed Air will never request private information during the application process, such as a Driver's License or Social Security Number. If you have any concerns about information received from SEE during the application process, please reach out to us directly at globalta@sealedair.com.
INTRODUCTION
Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What will you do as an Electrical Engineer at Sealed Air?
As an Electrical Engineer at Sealed Air, you will design, develop, and improve electrical and control systems that support our global manufacturing operations. You will independently contribute to engineering projects from design through startup, applying your technical expertise to improve equipment reliability, manufacturing efficiency, and operational performance.
Why do we need you?
- Design and develop electrical and control systems for manufacturing and packaging equipment.
- Manage electrical engineering activities within capital and equipment projects, including requirements, schedules, technical documentation, and implementation.
- Program, configure, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, variable frequency drives, servo systems, and industrial control networks.
- Develop electrical drawings, control system documentation, bills of material, and engineering specifications.
- Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, EH&S, internal customers, suppliers, and contractors to deliver effective technical solutions.
- Analyze complex equipment and process issues and implement solutions that improve reliability, throughput, yield, and cost.
- Evaluate new technologies and recommend improvements to existing manufacturing equipment and control systems.
- Provide technical guidance to engineering and manufacturing teams during equipment design, installation, startup, and troubleshooting activities.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What do you need to be successful?
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university.
- 3+ years of experience in electrical design, controls engineering, or project engineering.
- PLC programming and industrial control systems.
- Allen-Bradley PLCs and variable speed drives.
- HMI software, including GE Proficy or Rockwell platforms.
- Control system design and tuning.
- Industrial networks, including Ethernet/IP, ControlNet, DeviceNet, or Profibus.
- Motor control systems, servo drives, and variable frequency drives.
- Electrical distribution systems, including 480V three-phase, 110 VAC, and 24 VDC systems.
- AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical.
- Engineering documentation and electrical drawing development.
- Manufacturing equipment troubleshooting and startup.
- Microsoft Office and ERP systems.
- Project engineering and cross-functional project coordination.
BENEFITS AND PERKS
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discounts
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid elder care
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Requisition id: 56439
Relocation: Yes
Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
Please be cautious of fraudulent recruiting efforts using the Sealed Air name or logo. Sealed Air will never request private information during the application process, such as a Driver's License or Social Security Number. If you have any concerns about information received from SEE during the application process, please reach out to us directly at globalta@sealedair.com.
STEM OPT Chemicals & Materials Job Roles in South Carolina
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Search Chemicals & Materials Jobs in South CarolinaChemicals & Materials STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in South Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
Which chemicals and materials companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in South Carolina?
South Carolina hosts several large chemicals and materials employers with documented F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history. Michelin's North American headquarters in Greenville, BASF's agricultural solutions operations, Eastman Chemical's regional facilities, and specialty polymer manufacturers in the Upstate corridor regularly hire STEM graduates. Multinational manufacturers in tire manufacturing, specialty coatings, and advanced composites are among the most active sponsors for OPT-eligible engineering and chemistry graduates.
Which cities in South Carolina have the most chemicals and materials F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Greenville and Spartanburg in the Upstate region lead in chemicals and materials sponsorship opportunities, driven by Michelin's headquarters and a dense cluster of European-owned manufacturing firms. Charleston supports opportunities in specialty materials and port-adjacent chemical distribution. Columbia, as the state capital and home to the University of South Carolina, also sees demand from industrial and government-adjacent materials research operations.
What types of chemicals and materials roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that align with STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs codes qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. In chemicals and materials, qualifying positions commonly include chemical process engineer, materials scientist, polymer engineer, quality assurance chemist, R&D engineer, and environmental engineer. The position must require application of a STEM degree, and the employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. O*NET occupation profiles can help verify whether a specific role meets STEM criteria.
How do I find chemicals and materials F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in South Carolina?
Migrate Mate filters chemicals and materials jobs in South Carolina by F-1 STEM OPT eligibility, showing employers with confirmed sponsorship activity so you're not applying to roles that won't support your authorization. Search by role type, location, and STEM designation to surface positions at Upstate manufacturers, Lowcountry industrial facilities, and materials R&D operations that have sponsored STEM OPT workers. The OFLC Wage Search can also help you verify prevailing wages for specific roles before you apply.
Are there state-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in South Carolina's chemicals sector?
South Carolina's chemicals and materials industry is heavily manufacturing-oriented, which means many roles involve production floor or site-based work rather than pure research settings. STEM OPT employers must be enrolled in E-Verify and must sign a training plan (Form I-983) with the student. Some smaller specialty chemical firms may not yet have E-Verify enrollment, so confirming this status before accepting an offer is important. South Carolina also has no state income tax on wages, which can be a practical financial consideration when evaluating offers.