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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INTRODUCTION
We are seeking an HVAC Controls Technician to join our federal team based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We have a growing team of experienced Controls Technicians and Chiller Mechanics currently supporting the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex on a full-time basis. ORNL offers an environment with many unique systems that primarily integrate into our Metasys system. ORNL is home to some of the world's fastest supercomputers and our Metasys system is responsible for cooling the computers, as well as central chiller plants and boiler plant that feed utilities site wide. Y-12 has more than 100 buildings on site ranging from chiller plants to general office spaces. This is an ever-changing position that can provide a growth path for each team member to develop new talents and advance within the company.
At Johnson Controls, we support our nation’s most critical facilities, the people who occupy them, and the missions they enable. Johnson Controls Federal Systems (JCFS) is a specialized team serving as a trusted partner to the federal government. We help modernize U.S. military installations, Department of Defense and other federal agency facilities to be smarter, more resilient, efficient, sustainable, and secure.
Pay range: $33.00 - $43.00 per hour. Negotiable based on experience.
Company vehicle: Yes
Benefits: Eligible for benefits on first day of employment
Vacation: 3 weeks of paid vacation, 5 sick days, 3 floating holidays, and 10 standard holidays per calendar year (6.5 weeks in total)
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Controls Technician, you will:
- Perform preventive maintenance, repair, installation, commissioning, point-to-point checkouts, troubleshooting and/or replacement of HVAC controls systems & equipment, and building control systems
- Diagnose and repair a variety of electronic and digital control system malfunctions
- Test and perform modifications to systems software when needed
- Assist with sketching and documenting field changes and discrepancies for engineering corrections and drawings
- Provide training and associated manuals and documentation to customers on electronic control systems operations
- Provide support to mechanical staff to troubleshoot issues
- Ensure work performed complies with company, state, local and federal regulations, industry standards and guidelines, and customer requirements
- Compile project documentation, such as certificate of completion, customer training forms, training certificates and punch lists
- Conduct self-study (reading, research and practice) to improve and maintain technical proficiency in company's product lines; completes certifications as required
- Read and properly interpret blueprints, diagrams, submittals, specifications, software/systems programs, schematics and operational product manuals
- Adhere to Johnson Controls and customer safety standards, provide safety awareness leadership and instruction to technicians and subcontractors on Johnson Controls work sites
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working with commercial or industrial HVAC mechanical equipment, controls or building automation systems, electrical systems, or MEP systems.
- Knowledge of a variety of electronic or digital controls systems, HVAC controls systems, facilities management systems, site preparation, peripheral equipment installation and servicing techniques
- Must be able to obtain and maintain required security clearances (background/character, criminal history, employment, and credit checks)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Commissioning, troubleshooting, installing or doing point-to-point checks with Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems
- Programming and/or troubleshooting various brands of HVAC controls products is highly desired, Metasys being the most preferred.
- Experience with BAS communication protocols; BACnet MSTP, BACnet IP, N2, P1, Modbus, LON, etc
- Proficiency with Johnson Controls Metasys® (DDC) system highly preferred
- Experience using SMP, SCT, and/or CCT
- Control system design experience
- Programming of DDC systems from sequences provided by engineering
- Creating and edits to MUI graphics
PREFERRED EDUCATION
- Technical School or Associates Degree in HVAC, electronics, mechanical systems, Engineering, Computer Technology, or a relevant field, or equivalent experience.
WHO WE ARE
We are a Fortune 500 company with more than 100,000 employees worldwide offering the world’s largest portfolio of building technology products, solutions and services. As a member of our Federal Systems team, we specialize in supporting working at U.S. military and other federal government sites.
To learn more about who we are and what we do, please check out our Take a Journey video.
Recently, Johnson Controls has been recognized by several organizations for leadership in Environment, Sustainability and Governance, as well as innovations in smart building platforms along with other awards:
- Named to FORTUNE’s “Most Admired Companies” List
- Corporate Knights Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World
- Named to Forbes Net Zero Leaders list
- CDP 2023 Climate Change 'A List'
- Ranked 67 on the Drucker Institute’s list of best-managed companies in America
- Forbes Best Employers for Diversity list.
- Newsweek America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity
- Ethisphere 2024 World's Most Ethical Companies list for the 17th time
- Newsweek America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women in 2024
- Named to Newsweek America’s Greatest Workplaces for Veterans 2024 / 2025 listing
- Named to Forbes America’s Best Employers for Veterans 2024
- Named one of the top military friendly employers by military.com.
Johnson Controls is an equal employment opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, please view EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/careers
Division: JCFS (Johnson Controls Federal Systems)
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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.