Automotive OPT Jobs in Tennessee
Tennessee's automotive sector is one of the most active F-1 OPT hiring markets in the South, anchored by Nissan's North American headquarters in Franklin, Volkswagen's assembly plant in Chattanooga, and a growing network of Tier 1 suppliers across Nashville, Memphis, and Smyrna. International students in engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain fields will find concentrated sponsorship activity here.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Summary:
Support the design, planning, installation, and maintenance of automated test inspection machines and equipment. Engineers will interpret the product test specifications and develop testing methods to ensure quality of our inverter products. Using a variety of measurement hardware and custom software we ensure inverter products sold to our customers have zero defects and are ready to be installed in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide daily production line support
- Create/modify electrical inspection test software programs, test systems
- Setup/Repair/Modify production electrical inspection testers
- Develop machine/fixture/software specifications
- Travel to various vendors, customers, and other group companies
- Develop software solutions for analyzing data, automating common tasks, and process improvement
- General production improvement tasks upon request including time studies, cost analysis, ROI studies, cost reduction activities
- Project launch activities including obtaining funds, obtaining approval from upper management, and project management from project start until mass production launch
- Quality improvement tasks upon request including optimization of inspection tests, capability studies, defect root cause analysis, countermeasure development and implementation
- Performs other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field is required
0-5 years of relevant experience
Job level is flexible based on the candidate's experience
Skills and Abilities:
- Competent written and verbal communication skills and presentation skills
- Analytical skills with the ability to collect, analyze and interpret large amounts of data
- Project management/organization and scheduling abilities
- Problem solving skills, electrical troubleshooting, and root cause analysis
- Knowledge of C++, C#, or Python programming language (others may be considered)
- Capable of using benchtop equipment (Oscope, DMM, Power supplies, etc)
- Circuit analysis - schematic reading
- Technical reporting
- Basic knowledge of CAD (AutoCAD or SolidWorks) and engineering software
- Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Standard ADA Selection: Office Environment
Visual requirements include color, depth perception and field of vision. Physical requirements include standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, talking, hearing and repetitive motions. The work environment for this position is typically indoors in a pleasant, well-lighted area with comfortable temperatures and a controlled environment with no significant amounts of dust, fumes or odors. Unavoidable accidents and health hazards are unlikely.
Disclaimer
This job description reflects DENSO North America assignment of essential functions; and nothing within this job description restricts DENSO's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
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: $73,000 - $100,000
Job Summary:
Support the design, planning, installation, and maintenance of automated test inspection machines and equipment. Engineers will interpret the product test specifications and develop testing methods to ensure quality of our inverter products. Using a variety of measurement hardware and custom software we ensure inverter products sold to our customers have zero defects and are ready to be installed in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide daily production line support
- Create/modify electrical inspection test software programs, test systems
- Setup/Repair/Modify production electrical inspection testers
- Develop machine/fixture/software specifications
- Travel to various vendors, customers, and other group companies
- Develop software solutions for analyzing data, automating common tasks, and process improvement
- General production improvement tasks upon request including time studies, cost analysis, ROI studies, cost reduction activities
- Project launch activities including obtaining funds, obtaining approval from upper management, and project management from project start until mass production launch
- Quality improvement tasks upon request including optimization of inspection tests, capability studies, defect root cause analysis, countermeasure development and implementation
- Performs other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field is required
0-5 years of relevant experience
Job level is flexible based on the candidate's experience
Skills and Abilities:
- Competent written and verbal communication skills and presentation skills
- Analytical skills with the ability to collect, analyze and interpret large amounts of data
- Project management/organization and scheduling abilities
- Problem solving skills, electrical troubleshooting, and root cause analysis
- Knowledge of C++, C#, or Python programming language (others may be considered)
- Capable of using benchtop equipment (Oscope, DMM, Power supplies, etc)
- Circuit analysis - schematic reading
- Technical reporting
- Basic knowledge of CAD (AutoCAD or SolidWorks) and engineering software
- Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Standard ADA Selection: Office Environment
Visual requirements include color, depth perception and field of vision. Physical requirements include standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, talking, hearing and repetitive motions. The work environment for this position is typically indoors in a pleasant, well-lighted area with comfortable temperatures and a controlled environment with no significant amounts of dust, fumes or odors. Unavoidable accidents and health hazards are unlikely.
Disclaimer
This job description reflects DENSO North America assignment of essential functions; and nothing within this job description restricts DENSO's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
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: $73,000 - $100,000
OPT Automotive Job Roles in Tennessee
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Search Automotive Jobs in TennesseeAutomotive OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
Which automotive companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Tennessee?
Nissan North America in Franklin and Volkswagen in Chattanooga are among the largest automotive employers in Tennessee with established records of hiring international students. Major Tier 1 suppliers such as Bridgestone Americas (headquartered in Nashville) and Denso Manufacturing also operate significant Tennessee facilities. Sponsorship practices vary by role, team, and hiring cycle, so confirming OPT eligibility directly with each employer's HR or recruiting team is important.
Which cities in Tennessee have the most automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Franklin and Nashville in Middle Tennessee see consistent automotive hiring, driven by Nissan's corporate headquarters and a cluster of supplier offices. Chattanooga is a strong market for manufacturing and engineering roles tied to Volkswagen's assembly operations. Smyrna, home to Nissan's largest U.S. production plant, also generates steady demand for production engineers, quality specialists, and supply chain roles that commonly qualify for F-1 OPT.
What types of automotive roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that require a specific technical degree tend to qualify most reliably for F-1 OPT. In Tennessee's automotive sector, this includes mechanical and industrial engineering positions, manufacturing and process engineering, quality assurance and controls engineering, supply chain and logistics analysis, and software or embedded systems roles tied to vehicle technology. Positions where the employer can demonstrate a direct connection between the job duties and your field of study are the strongest fit for OPT authorization.
How do I find automotive F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Tennessee?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students seeking OPT-friendly roles and lets you filter by visa type, state, and industry to surface verified automotive F-1 OPT jobs in Tennessee. This saves significant time compared to sorting through general job boards that don't distinguish between sponsorship-willing and non-sponsoring employers. Focusing your search on Tennessee's automotive hubs, particularly Chattanooga, Franklin, Nashville, and Smyrna, will return the most relevant results.
Are there any Tennessee-specific considerations for F-1 OPT automotive jobs?
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, which is a practical consideration when evaluating offers. More relevant to F-1 OPT holders is timing: your OPT authorization period is fixed, and many Tennessee automotive employers, particularly those with structured rotational or co-op programs, begin recruiting several months in advance. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on whether your degree field appears on the DHS STEM designated degree program list, which is worth confirming before applying to roles requiring a 36-month authorization window.