Chemicals & Materials Green Card Sponsorship Jobs in Tennessee
Tennessee's chemicals and materials sector spans from specialty chemical manufacturers along the Mississippi River corridor to advanced materials firms tied to Oak Ridge's research ecosystem. Major employers like Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, Ashland Global Holdings, and DuPont operations have established records of sponsoring Green Card petitions for qualified foreign national professionals in this industry.
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Electrical Controls Lead
Department: Maintenance
Reports to: Maintenance Leader
FLSA Status: Exempt; Hourly
Revised Date: 4/2026
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The Electrical Controls Lead is responsible for the technical leadership, reliability, and continuous improvement of electrical and automation systems within a high‑technology manufacturing facility. This role serves as the subject‑matter expert for PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, robotics, and process control systems, while leading and developing a team of electrical and controls technicians. The position partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Technical/Quality, Engineering, IT/OT, and Safety to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant performance.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical Leadership & Systems Ownership
- Serve as the site technical authority for electrical power distribution, PLCs, HMIs, motion control, robotics, vision systems, and industrial networks.
- Own standards for controls architecture, programming, documentation, and change management.
- Lead troubleshooting of complex electrical and controls failures to minimize downtime and prevent recurrence.
- Support new equipment installations, commissioning, and acceptance testing.
- Ensure compliance with electrical codes, safety standards, and company engineering guidelines.
Reliability & Continuous Improvement
- Drive reliability improvements through root cause analysis (RCA), failure mode analysis, and preventive/predictive maintenance strategies.
- Identify and implement control strategies.
- Support and lead kaizen events, 5S activities, and lean manufacturing initiatives across the plant.
- Recommend and implement process improvements to enhance equipment performance, reliability, and maintainability.
- Ensure all control systems operate reliably, effectively, and in alignment with plant safety and quality standards.
- Support TPM, continuous improvement, and digital manufacturing initiatives.
- Maintain accurate electrical schematics, PLC programs, backups, and asset documentation.
Team Leadership & Development
- Provide technical directions and coaching to electrical and controls technicians.
- Support training and skill development in PLC programming, troubleshooting, and automation technologies.
- Participate in staffing assessments, succession planning, and performance feedback.
- Act as escalation support for shift maintenance teams during critical events.
Collaboration & Project Support
- Partner with Operations and Engineering to optimize equipment performance and process control.
- Coordinate with IT/OT resources on network security, system integration, and data reliability.
- Support capital projects, automation expansions, and technology roadmaps.
- Communicate effectively across shifts and departments to ensure alignment and execution.
Safety & Compliance
- Champion electrical safety, lockout/tagout (LOTO), arc‑flash mitigation, and safe work practices.
- Ensure controls modifications follow proper management of change (MOC) processes.
- Promote a strong safety culture through visible leadership and accountability.
Job Requirements
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Associates Degree in technical field required
- 5 years of experience in electrical/controls maintenance within a manufacturing environment
- Experience in high‑technology, automated, or continuous‑process manufacturing.
- Robotics, vision systems, or advanced motion control experience.
- Familiarity with OT cybersecurity and networked control systems.
- Project leadership or capital project support experience.
- CMMS, TPM, or reliability‑centered maintenance experience.
- High level of competency with Allen-Bradley PLC (Control Logix), HMI.
- Knowledge of National Electrical Code (NEC).
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Technical depth and structured problem solving
- Leadership and coaching capability
- On‑call or off‑shift support as required for critical issues or project execution
- Strong communication across technical and non‑technical teams
- Bias for safety, reliability, and continuous improvement
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Planning and organizational skills
- Basic computer skills
- Knowledge of SAP system
- Analyze and interpret the area’s Top Losses
- Adhere to 5S Standard
- Identify abnormalities and write Red/Blue tags
- Create and train on OPL (One-point lessons)
- Adhere to CI Standard
- Identify HTA’s and SOC’s
- Identify safety hazards in work area as part of Step 0
- Understand Problem-Solving/5 Whys
- Understand TPM methodology
ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Wear required PPE equipment (safety glasses, bump cap, steel toe boots, ear protection, heat/cut resistant gloves, long sleeve shirt, and face mask)
- Climb and descend stairs
- Manufacturing environment with exposure to industrial equipment and electrical systems
- Lift, push, and pull 50lbs as needed
- Repetitive hand, arm, leg movements
COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE COMPETENCIES
- Proficient in Microsoft Suite
- SAP experience is a plus
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Complete all annual safety and role specific training, as required by the nature of this position
- Must pass all required assessments
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.
Green Card Chemicals & Materials Job Roles in Tennessee
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Search Chemicals & Materials Jobs in TennesseeChemicals & Materials Green Card Sponsorship Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
Which chemicals & materials companies sponsor Green Card visas in Tennessee?
Eastman Chemical Company, headquartered in Kingsport, is one of Tennessee's most active sponsors of Green Card petitions for chemicals and materials professionals. Other employers with sponsorship history in the state include Ashland Global Holdings, Celanese, and various specialty chemical manufacturers in the Memphis and Nashville corridors. Sponsorship patterns vary by company size, role criticality, and the employer's existing immigration infrastructure.
Which cities in Tennessee have the most chemicals & materials Green Card sponsorship jobs?
Kingsport leads the state given Eastman Chemical's large presence there, supporting roles across process chemistry, materials science, and R&D. Memphis has significant chemicals and industrial materials activity tied to its manufacturing and logistics base. Oak Ridge and the Knoxville metro attract advanced materials professionals linked to national laboratory partnerships and spinoff companies. Nashville increasingly hosts corporate and regulatory functions for regional chemicals firms.
What types of chemicals & materials roles typically qualify for Green Card sponsorship in Tennessee?
Roles that typically support employer-sponsored Green Card petitions in this sector include chemical engineers, materials scientists, polymer chemists, process development specialists, quality assurance engineers, and research scientists with advanced degrees. Positions requiring specialized expertise, a relevant bachelor's degree or higher in a technical field, and skills that are difficult to fill domestically are most commonly associated with sponsorship in Tennessee's chemicals and materials employers.
How do I find chemicals & materials Green Card sponsorship jobs in Tennessee?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship type, so you can search for Green Card-sponsored roles within Tennessee's chemicals and materials industry directly. This saves significant time compared to reviewing general job boards where sponsorship status is rarely disclosed upfront. On Migrate Mate, listings are tagged by visa category and industry, making it practical to identify which Tennessee employers are actively hiring foreign nationals for Green Card-eligible positions.
Are there state-specific or industry-specific considerations for Green Card sponsorship in Tennessee's chemicals sector?
Tennessee does not impose state-level immigration requirements on top of federal Green Card processes, so sponsorship follows standard PERM labor certification, I-140 petition, and adjustment of status or consular processing pathways. However, chemicals and materials roles at facilities handling regulated substances may require security clearances or compliance reviews that can affect hiring timelines. Employers near Oak Ridge's research corridor sometimes intersect with Department of Energy contractor requirements, which can introduce additional vetting for foreign national hires.
What is the prevailing wage for Green Card chemicals & materials 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.