Controls Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Tennessee
Tennessee's advanced manufacturing and automotive sectors drive steady demand for controls engineers, with major employers like Volkswagen, Bridgestone, and Eastman Chemical operating large facilities across Chattanooga, Nashville, and Kingsport. International candidates with PLC programming, SCADA, or process automation experience will find visa-sponsored openings concentrated in these industrial corridors.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation:
Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
Job ID:
R0117417
Date Posted:
2026-05-01
Company Name:
WRIGHT INDUSTRIES, LLC
Profession (Job Category):
Engineering & Science
Job Schedule:
Full time
Remote:
No
Job Description:
The Opportunity:
JR Automation, a Hitachi Group Company, is driven to deliver customer success worldwide. We provide intelligent automated manufacturing and distribution technology solutions that transform how the world's leading manufacturers make and distribute products. Our strength is our people, and we’re always looking to strengthen our team across the globe. Join us as a Senior Controls Engineer.
We are seeking a Senior Controls Engineer with strong hands‑on experience in programming, debugging, and commissioning automated systems. This role focuses on PLC and HMI programming, robotics and vision integration, and continuous process automation across a range of complex equipment.
You will be deeply involved in building and refining control systems, supporting machine startups, and solving challenging automation problems in collaboration with cross‑functional engineering teams. The position is primarily technical and execution‑focused, with significant time spent on system development, troubleshooting, and on‑site deployment.
Location Type:
The position is onsite in Nashville, TN
What We Offer:
- Competitive wages, medical benefits starting your first day, and paid parental leave
- Opportunity to work on unique, custom automation projects
- A collaborative, engineering-driven environment
- Career growth and skill development opportunities
- A role where craftsmanship and quality truly matter
How You'll Make an Impact:
- Lead the full controls lifecycle for new automation builds, from initial concept and system definition through programming, machine power‑up, debugging, commissioning, and final acceptance.
- Design and program control systems from the ground up, including PLC logic, HMI applications, robotics integration, vision systems, and SCADA solutions for new and custom automated equipment.
- Design controls equipment and architectures to meet customer requirements, performance standards, and application specifications.
- Support multiple automation projects concurrently while maintaining focus on technical quality, schedule execution, and customer requirements.
- Lead and collaborate with cross‑functional technical teams throughout the project lifecycle to ensure successful execution and integration.
- Serve as a technical expert within the department, providing guidance on controls architecture, programming approaches, and complex automation challenges.
- Partner with engineering leadership to support technical development, training, and continuous improvement within the engineering organization.
- Travel up to 25% to customer sites and company locations to support commissioning, troubleshooting, and project execution.
Note:
This list of responsibilities is not inclusive; however, it is intended to be a guideline for activities.
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience (two years of relevant work experience for each year of academic study), OR an Associate’s degree with 2+ years of related experience.
- 10+ years of experience in controls engineering, automation, or related technical disciplines.
- 2+ years of experience leading technical projects, with ownership of technical decisions and execution.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and influence engineers, supporting technical excellence and career progression.
- Strong breadth and depth of experience with industrial automation technologies, systems, and industry practices.
- Proven ability to identify systemic issues and implement improvements that increase department efficiency and engineering effectiveness.
- Experience in the automation industry; prior JR Automation experience is strongly preferred.
- Proven collaboration across multiple engineering disciplines to solve complex, system‑level problems.
- Hands‑on experience programming and troubleshooting continuous processes in automated manufacturing environments.
- Ability to read and interpret P&IDs is a plus.
Disclaimer:
JR Automation requires candidates to successfully complete a 10-panel drug screen, physical examination, and background check.
Company Overview:
At JR Automation, A Hitachi Group Company, we discover potential, reimagine limits, and advance industry. When faced with a problem, we find a solution. Together, we push what’s possible to automate for tomorrow.
Join our team of 2,000+ at one of our 20+ facilities around the world and be a part of the most experienced team of advanced automation integrators.
Fueled by Possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) - Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at JR Automation, please send the nature of request and contact information to jrcareers@jrautomation.com. Queries other than accommodation requests will not be responded to.
Location:
Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
Job ID:
R0117417
Date Posted:
2026-05-01
Company Name:
WRIGHT INDUSTRIES, LLC
Profession (Job Category):
Engineering & Science
Job Schedule:
Full time
Remote:
No
Job Description:
The Opportunity:
JR Automation, a Hitachi Group Company, is driven to deliver customer success worldwide. We provide intelligent automated manufacturing and distribution technology solutions that transform how the world's leading manufacturers make and distribute products. Our strength is our people, and we’re always looking to strengthen our team across the globe. Join us as a Senior Controls Engineer.
We are seeking a Senior Controls Engineer with strong hands‑on experience in programming, debugging, and commissioning automated systems. This role focuses on PLC and HMI programming, robotics and vision integration, and continuous process automation across a range of complex equipment.
You will be deeply involved in building and refining control systems, supporting machine startups, and solving challenging automation problems in collaboration with cross‑functional engineering teams. The position is primarily technical and execution‑focused, with significant time spent on system development, troubleshooting, and on‑site deployment.
Location Type:
The position is onsite in Nashville, TN
What We Offer:
- Competitive wages, medical benefits starting your first day, and paid parental leave
- Opportunity to work on unique, custom automation projects
- A collaborative, engineering-driven environment
- Career growth and skill development opportunities
- A role where craftsmanship and quality truly matter
How You'll Make an Impact:
- Lead the full controls lifecycle for new automation builds, from initial concept and system definition through programming, machine power‑up, debugging, commissioning, and final acceptance.
- Design and program control systems from the ground up, including PLC logic, HMI applications, robotics integration, vision systems, and SCADA solutions for new and custom automated equipment.
- Design controls equipment and architectures to meet customer requirements, performance standards, and application specifications.
- Support multiple automation projects concurrently while maintaining focus on technical quality, schedule execution, and customer requirements.
- Lead and collaborate with cross‑functional technical teams throughout the project lifecycle to ensure successful execution and integration.
- Serve as a technical expert within the department, providing guidance on controls architecture, programming approaches, and complex automation challenges.
- Partner with engineering leadership to support technical development, training, and continuous improvement within the engineering organization.
- Travel up to 25% to customer sites and company locations to support commissioning, troubleshooting, and project execution.
Note:
This list of responsibilities is not inclusive; however, it is intended to be a guideline for activities.
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience (two years of relevant work experience for each year of academic study), OR an Associate’s degree with 2+ years of related experience.
- 10+ years of experience in controls engineering, automation, or related technical disciplines.
- 2+ years of experience leading technical projects, with ownership of technical decisions and execution.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and influence engineers, supporting technical excellence and career progression.
- Strong breadth and depth of experience with industrial automation technologies, systems, and industry practices.
- Proven ability to identify systemic issues and implement improvements that increase department efficiency and engineering effectiveness.
- Experience in the automation industry; prior JR Automation experience is strongly preferred.
- Proven collaboration across multiple engineering disciplines to solve complex, system‑level problems.
- Hands‑on experience programming and troubleshooting continuous processes in automated manufacturing environments.
- Ability to read and interpret P&IDs is a plus.
Disclaimer:
JR Automation requires candidates to successfully complete a 10-panel drug screen, physical examination, and background check.
Company Overview:
At JR Automation, A Hitachi Group Company, we discover potential, reimagine limits, and advance industry. When faced with a problem, we find a solution. Together, we push what’s possible to automate for tomorrow.
Join our team of 2,000+ at one of our 20+ facilities around the world and be a part of the most experienced team of advanced automation integrators.
Fueled by Possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) - Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at JR Automation, please send the nature of request and contact information to jrcareers@jrautomation.com. Queries other than accommodation requests will not be responded to.
Controls Engineer Job Roles in Tennessee
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Search Controls Engineer Jobs in TennesseeControls Engineer Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for controls engineers in Tennessee?
Tennessee's manufacturing-heavy economy includes employers with established visa sponsorship programs for controls engineers. Volkswagen's Chattanooga assembly plant, Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, and Nissan's Smyrna facility have all filed H-1B visa Labor Condition Applications for engineering roles. Bridgestone Americas, headquartered in Nashville, and several Tier 1 automotive suppliers operating across the state also sponsor controls and automation engineers with regularity.
Which visa types are most common for controls engineer roles in Tennessee?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for controls engineers in Tennessee, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering. TN visa status is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals under USMCA, provided the role and qualifications meet the engineer classification criteria. O-1 visas are less common but applicable for candidates with documented exceptional expertise in automation or industrial control systems.
How to find controls engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Tennessee?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates seeking visa-sponsored engineering roles. You can filter directly for controls engineer positions in Tennessee, surfacing employers who have an active track record of sponsoring work visas. Given that Tennessee's sponsoring employers are concentrated in automotive, chemical, and advanced manufacturing, filtering by industry alongside location on Migrate Mate helps narrow results to the highest-probability opportunities.
Which cities in Tennessee have the most controls engineer sponsorship jobs?
Chattanooga leads due to its automotive manufacturing concentration, anchored by Volkswagen and a dense network of supplier plants. Nashville follows, driven by Bridgestone Americas and a growing advanced manufacturing presence. Kingsport and the Tri-Cities region are significant for process controls roles in chemical and energy industries, particularly around Eastman Chemical. Memphis sees demand in logistics automation and food processing, making it a secondary but active market for controls engineers.
Are there state-specific considerations for controls engineers pursuing visa sponsorship in Tennessee?
Tennessee has no state income tax, which factors into how employers structure total compensation packages. Controls engineer roles in the state are heavily tied to automotive and chemical manufacturing cycles, so hiring often accelerates when major facilities expand or retool production lines. Tennessee Technological University and the University of Tennessee produce local engineering talent, but international candidates with specialized PLC, DCS, or motion control experience often fill gaps that domestic pipelines do not fully address.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored controls engineer jobs in Tennessee?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.