Aerospace & Defense STEM OPT Jobs in Texas
Texas is one of the top states for aerospace and defense hiring, with major employers like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, and L3Harris operating facilities across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Houston, and San Antonio. F-1 students on STEM OPT authorization can pursue engineering, systems, and technical roles at companies with established OPT hiring programs in these hubs.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary: Completes more advanced activities of design engineering, including designing aircraft seats and components in compliance with FAA regulations, and customer and OEM requirements. To effectively work as a Design Engineer II, one must have obtained a higher degree of advanced knowledge and understanding of aircraft seating manufacturing and processes. In addition to completing piece part and assembly design using CATIA Version 4 and 5, including 3D modeling and drawing drafting, one must have the ability and knowledge to present and effectively participate in customer meetings to advise customers on drawings.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, other duties may be assigned:
- Utilizing knowledge of CAD 2D/3D systems (CATIA v5), design aircraft seats and components that meet customer expectations and are in conformance to applicable regulations. This includes the detail design of complex sheet metal, machined, cast or forged metal components, as well as injection molded or vacuum formed plastic components.
- Generate 2D drawings based on created 3D models, using standard aerospace drafting practices, as well as in house drafting standards.
- Responds to concerns of customers by making design changes in seat design and components in a manner that meets customer expectations and are in conformance with applicable regulations.
- Participates in design meetings with project engineers to discuss engineering issues, including design changes and requests from customers.
- Supports Purchasing and Production by providing the necessary documentation to support sourcing of parts.
- Interfaces with outside suppliers in the design process.
- Effectively participates and contributes in telecoms with overseas engineers and program management by applying manufacturing engineering knowledge, discussing manufacturing issues, and also suggesting potential seat development topics and innovations.
- Assists in creating bills of material for aircraft seat components and assemblies.
- Verifies use of appropriate materials according to their usage on the seat (Primary Load Path/Secondary Load Path).
- Assists in creating design change notification documents.
- Creates presentations outlining design direction and/or design issues.
- Familiar in the use of CFR, EASA CS, (E)TSO regulations, as well as the use of parts lists with high variant diversity is a plus.
- Must have advanced knowledge and understanding of engineering concepts and aircraft seat manufacturing processes, in order to assure that the appropriate manufacturing procedures are utilized to meet the requirements of individualized client specifications.
- Knowledge of PLM based database systems such as Teamcenter, Agile or Enovia is required.
Education/Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree required in a relevant Engineering field with 3-5 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Technical Experience:
- Experience in the design of Aircraft interiors is desired.
- Knowledge about aircraft documentation systems for after sales (CMM, SB) and aircraft configuration control systems is desired.
Computer Skills:
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience in CATIA v5 or similar is required.
- Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) is required.
Position Summary: Completes more advanced activities of design engineering, including designing aircraft seats and components in compliance with FAA regulations, and customer and OEM requirements. To effectively work as a Design Engineer II, one must have obtained a higher degree of advanced knowledge and understanding of aircraft seating manufacturing and processes. In addition to completing piece part and assembly design using CATIA Version 4 and 5, including 3D modeling and drawing drafting, one must have the ability and knowledge to present and effectively participate in customer meetings to advise customers on drawings.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, other duties may be assigned:
- Utilizing knowledge of CAD 2D/3D systems (CATIA v5), design aircraft seats and components that meet customer expectations and are in conformance to applicable regulations. This includes the detail design of complex sheet metal, machined, cast or forged metal components, as well as injection molded or vacuum formed plastic components.
- Generate 2D drawings based on created 3D models, using standard aerospace drafting practices, as well as in house drafting standards.
- Responds to concerns of customers by making design changes in seat design and components in a manner that meets customer expectations and are in conformance with applicable regulations.
- Participates in design meetings with project engineers to discuss engineering issues, including design changes and requests from customers.
- Supports Purchasing and Production by providing the necessary documentation to support sourcing of parts.
- Interfaces with outside suppliers in the design process.
- Effectively participates and contributes in telecoms with overseas engineers and program management by applying manufacturing engineering knowledge, discussing manufacturing issues, and also suggesting potential seat development topics and innovations.
- Assists in creating bills of material for aircraft seat components and assemblies.
- Verifies use of appropriate materials according to their usage on the seat (Primary Load Path/Secondary Load Path).
- Assists in creating design change notification documents.
- Creates presentations outlining design direction and/or design issues.
- Familiar in the use of CFR, EASA CS, (E)TSO regulations, as well as the use of parts lists with high variant diversity is a plus.
- Must have advanced knowledge and understanding of engineering concepts and aircraft seat manufacturing processes, in order to assure that the appropriate manufacturing procedures are utilized to meet the requirements of individualized client specifications.
- Knowledge of PLM based database systems such as Teamcenter, Agile or Enovia is required.
Education/Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree required in a relevant Engineering field with 3-5 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Technical Experience:
- Experience in the design of Aircraft interiors is desired.
- Knowledge about aircraft documentation systems for after sales (CMM, SB) and aircraft configuration control systems is desired.
Computer Skills:
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience in CATIA v5 or similar is required.
- Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) is required.
STEM OPT Aerospace & Defense Job Roles in Texas
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Search Aerospace & Defense Jobs in TexasAerospace & Defense STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions
Which aerospace and defense companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Texas?
Texas hosts a concentration of major aerospace and defense contractors with documented OPT hiring histories. Lockheed Martin operates large engineering facilities in Fort Worth and Grand Prairie. Raytheon Technologies has a significant presence in the Dallas area. L3Harris, Boeing, Bell Textron, and Northrop Grumman also maintain Texas operations. Sponsorship practices vary by location, business unit, and specific role, so verifying each employer's current STEM OPT policy directly is essential.
Which cities in Texas have the most aerospace and defense F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Dallas-Fort Worth leads in volume, anchored by defense contractors like Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth and numerous suppliers across the metroplex. Houston supports aerospace roles tied to NASA's Johnson Space Center and its commercial space contractor ecosystem. San Antonio has a strong defense aviation presence through military installations and maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations. Austin is a smaller but growing market for aerospace-adjacent technology roles.
What types of aerospace and defense roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that commonly qualify include systems engineering, avionics and electrical engineering, mechanical and structural engineering, software engineering for embedded or mission-critical systems, manufacturing engineering, and data analysis. These positions generally require a degree in engineering, computer science, physics, or a related STEM field. Positions requiring active U.S. security clearances can limit eligibility for international students, so candidates should confirm clearance requirements before applying.
How do I find aerospace and defense F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Texas?
Migrate Mate filters aerospace and defense job listings specifically by visa authorization type, making it practical to identify Texas employers with F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history rather than sorting through general postings manually. You can search by city, role type, and industry to surface companies that have previously filed for OPT workers in aerospace and defense disciplines. Reviewing employer DOL filing records through OFLC can also help confirm sponsorship activity.
Are there any Texas-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in aerospace and defense?
Security clearance requirements are a significant factor unique to defense work. Many positions at prime contractors require a U.S. security clearance, which F-1 students are generally ineligible to hold. This narrows the pool of accessible roles to unclassified programs and commercial aerospace work. Texas also has no state income tax, which affects compensation calculations. Students should confirm their STEM OPT employer meets E-Verify enrollment requirements, which USCIS mandates for all STEM OPT extension employers.