Electrical Controls Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Tennessee
Tennessee's electrical controls engineer jobs are concentrated in its manufacturing and automotive sectors, with major employers like Volkswagen, Bridgestone, and Eastman Chemical operating large facilities in Chattanooga, Nashville, and Kingsport. The state's expanding EV supply chain and industrial automation growth have increased demand for controls engineers with sponsorship experience.
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Job Summary:
Design of Electrical Hardware and Software for Industrial Production Machinery; Negotiate with Production Engineering to Clarify Project Specification; Develop Quotation for Electrical System, Including Purchased Components and Labor; Design of Safety Control Circuit, Hardware Circuit, and Generating Hardware Drawings; Creation of Machine Software to Control the Machine (PLC, Robot, Vision, Servo Motors, etc.); Adjustment / Debug of the Machine Software during Machine Construction and Install; Updating Final Electrical Drawings to Reflect Changes Made during Machine Construction; Create Electrical Portion of the Machine Operation Manual; Some travel is expected, domestic and international.
The E3-level Electrical/Controls Engineer exhibits nearly full autonomy over executing their assigned work. They are assigned a job or task and are able to develop their own plan of action to complete it satisfactorily. They can handle working on broad or undeveloped, high-level concepts.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Designs safety and operational controls for new and existing equipment and troubleshoots any issues with these controls, referring complex issues to more experienced engineers when needed.
- Specifies components for use in equipment for controls systems. Documents control systems in drawings, schematics and spec sheets.
- Programs PLC controllers and documents PLC programs using ladder logic diagrams.
- Collaborates with Automation Engineering and Maintenance to verify that the design of all production equipment meets all regulatory and DENSO standards.
- After consulting with Automation Engineering and Maintenance, creates equipment specifications based upon requirements for GUI/communication interfaces and networking requirements.
- Collaborates with production planning to schedule electrical work and equipment modifications and/or installation.
- Develops clear and concise operator instruction manuals.
- May train or mentor less experienced engineers.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Skills and Abilities:
- PLC programming, controls circuit design, machine safety standards and component selection criteria knowledge and experience required
- Analytical skills with an ability to independently evaluate and develop innovative solutions to complex situations
- Written and verbal communication skills and presentation skills. Ability to communicate with internal and external customers on issues of moderate to considerable importance, up to and including senior management.
- Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
- Ability to work within tight timeframes and meet strict deadlines
- Project management skills, including identifying and scheduling process steps, determining resources and staff required to successfully complete assigned projects or project steps and reporting on project
- Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Ability to apply process improvement planning and checking to own work output and to assist others with identifying gaps in work results
Required Qualifications:
5-8 years of relevant experience as a Controls Engineer or related experience
Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or other related technical degree
While a candidate at the E3 level is preferred, the M&T Electrical Engineering department will also consider candidates at an E2 or E1 level, based on their qualifications.
Benefits Summary:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Plans
- 401K with 4% Company Match
- Vacation/PTO and 13 Paid Holidays
- Bonus Program
- FSA/HSA and Dependent Care Programs
- Company provided Life, Disability, ADD, and Business Travel Insurance
- Various No Cost Wellness & Chronic Condition Management Programs
- Various Optional Insurance Programs such as Legal, Identity Theft, Critical Illness, etc.
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Career Development and Ongoing Training
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Spotlight and Recognition Program
- Volunteer opportunities
- Onsite Fitness Center (vary by location)
- Cafeteria and food markets (vary by location)
- Onsite Health Clinic and Pharmacy (vary by location)
Candidates residing 50+ miles from the work location are eligible for relocation assistance.
Annual Salary: $96,000 - $120,000
Electrical Controls Engineer Job Roles in Tennessee
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Search Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs in TennesseeElectrical Controls Engineer Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for electrical controls engineers in Tennessee?
Manufacturers with large Tennessee footprints have an established history of H-1B visa sponsorship for controls engineering roles. Companies like Volkswagen Group of America in Chattanooga, Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, and Bridgestone Americas in Nashville regularly appear in Department of Labor disclosure data for specialty occupation filings. Automotive suppliers and industrial automation firms operating in the state's manufacturing corridors also sponsor controls engineers with relevant credentials.
Which visa types are most common for electrical controls engineer roles in Tennessee?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for electrical controls engineers in Tennessee, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field. Candidates with Canadian or Mexican citizenship may qualify for TN visa status under the USMCA, which covers engineers and can be processed at the border without a petition. Some multinational manufacturers also use L-1 visa transfers for engineers moving from overseas facilities.
Which cities in Tennessee have the most electrical controls engineer sponsorship jobs?
Chattanooga leads due to Volkswagen's assembly plant and its growing EV supplier ecosystem, which generates consistent demand for controls and automation engineers. Nashville and its surrounding Middle Tennessee corridor attract roles tied to Bridgestone's Americas headquarters and a broad base of advanced manufacturers. Kingsport and Johnson City in the Tri-Cities region, anchored by Eastman Chemical, also produce sponsorship opportunities for controls engineers in chemical and industrial processing environments.
How to find electrical controls engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Tennessee?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to browse electrical controls engineer openings in Tennessee without sorting through roles that don't offer sponsorship. You can search by state and role to surface positions from manufacturers, automotive suppliers, and industrial firms actively hiring in Chattanooga, Nashville, and the Tri-Cities. Migrate Mate also provides context on which employers have a documented history of sponsoring similar engineering roles.
What should electrical controls engineers know about the Tennessee job market before pursuing sponsorship?
Tennessee's controls engineering market is heavily tied to manufacturing cycles, so hiring activity often tracks automotive production schedules and capital investment announcements from major plants. Employers filing H-1B petitions must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and location as determined by the Department of Labor, which is calculated at the county level. The state's engineering programs at Tennessee Tech and the University of Tennessee generate a local talent pipeline, so sponsoring employers typically seek candidates with specialized PLC, SCADA, or automation systems experience that is harder to source domestically.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored electrical 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.