Automation and Controls Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Automation and Controls Engineer roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, making them strong candidates for visa sponsorship. Employers in manufacturing, oil and gas, and advanced robotics regularly file LCAs for these positions. Your degree in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering is the foundation sponsors need.
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INTRODUCTION
Be a part of our mission! As a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable, and efficient climate solutions for buildings, homes and transportation, it's our responsibility to put the planet first. For us at Trane Technologies, and through our businesses including Trane® and Thermo King, sustainability is not just how we do business—it is our business. Do you dare to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities? Do you want to contribute to making a better future? If the answer is yes, we invite you to consider joining us in boldly challenging what's possible for a sustainable world.
Learn about our benefits designed for you to thrive at work and at home.
We boldly go.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Automation and Controls Engineer
Position Type: Full-time, Exempt, Salary
Reports to: Reporting Manager Title
Supervisory Responsibility: None/Staff being overseen
Location: Jacksonville, FL or Fort Worth, TX
Company Summary
Stellar Energy is a trusted provider of turnkey liquid-to-chip cooling solutions for the world’s leading data center and industrial manufacturing customers. As computing demand and industrial processes continue to grow, modern facilities require cooling infrastructure that can scale quickly, efficiently, and reliably.
Our modular approach enables high-volume production while maintaining the flexibility to customize each solution. From Central Utility Plants to Coolant Distribution Units, Stellar Energy delivers scalable cooling infrastructure designed to support the rapid expansion of data centers and mission-critical industrial operations.
Backed by deep engineering expertise and large-scale manufacturing capability, Stellar Energy helps customers deploy critical infrastructure faster and with confidence.
Summary Objective
As a member of the technical staff, the Automation and Controls Engineer is responsible for the design and implementation of control systems for automated TIAC (Turbine Inlet Air Cooling) Plants, CHP, Mission Critical and District Cooling Plants. This includes specification reviews; development of design documents to meet specification requirements, component selection to meet process and client requirements; PLC or other intelligent control device configuration; design reviews; coordination with other engineering disciplines, client and fabrication personnel for complete system production, installation, and successful commissioning.
Essential Functions
- Manage and direct controls designer technical workload.
- Meet with client and internal project teams to define applications and produce functional specification documents.
- Select system controls components and generate bills of material for equipment procurement.
- Configure custom PLC programs for real-time control of automated equipment and collection of diagnostic and production data.
- Develop application programs to control automated equipment based upon specific electrical and mechanical system design as well as operational requirements.
- Create application programs for Human Machine Interface application.
- Configure network interfaces for devices such as network I/O, variable speed drives, chillers and MCCs.
- Conduct in-house preliminary testing and onsite acceptance testing of the system at the customer’s facility.
- Interact with other engineering disciplines, control panel fabricator, control system installer, and site commissioning personnel.
- Provide technical support to sales and marketing for bids and proposals, such as specification review, device layout, schematic and control panel design, communication architecture, and system costing data.
- Provide customer training and support.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Competencies
- Technical Capacity.
- Problem Solving/Analysis.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Work Location
This position will work out of our Main Office in Jacksonville, FL. or our Manufacturing Plant based in Fort Worth, TX. This position is not approved for telecommuting or working remotely.
Work Environment
Majority of work is performed in an office environment. Regular trips to the Fabrication Shop and job sites for startup, commissioning, and support may be necessary. Generally, these trips will require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, steel-toed boots, and head protection.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must frequently lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Travel
Anticipated up to 30% travel for this position. Both local day travel and extended duration periods for sitework may be required.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering Technology, or relevant disciplines from an accredited University.
- Over 4 years of experience in the HVAC, refrigeration, or chiller systems controls industry.
- Experience with the following: Control Systems Engineering/Electrical Engineering; PLC Programming Logic (Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens); Communication Networking; National Electric Code; 3-Phase power and electrical circuits.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Process Engineering experience.
- Knowledge of CAD software (AutoCAD preferred).
- Certifications for Rockwell products and other relevant applications.
- Membership, accreditation in IEEE, ISA, or other relevant group or awards in relevant industry groups.
WORK AUTHORIZATION
Must be authorized to work in the USA.
BENEFITS SUMMARY
We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plan options; preventive care covered at 100% in-network)
- Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions
- 401(k) with company match (100% match up to 3% + 50% match up to 6%)
- Company-paid life insurance and AD&D coverage
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage options
- Supplemental benefits including accident, critical illness, and hospital coverage
- Wellness programs, including incentives up to $300 annually and a no-cost weight management program
- Virtual healthcare options, including $0 virtual visits in many cases
- Additional voluntary benefits including legal services and pet insurance
- Competitive PTO plan for exempt and non-exempt employees
COMPENSATION
- Annual Base Salary Range or Hourly Base Pay Range: $84,740.00 - $118,860.00
- Compensation Type: Salary
- Incentive Eligible: No
- Sales Commission Eligible: No
Disclaimer: We strive to provide competitive compensation for this position, tailored to a variety of factors. The actual compensation will depend on elements such as seniority, merit, geographic location, education, experience, travel requirements, and union designation. Our compensation range is generally based on the national average for the country. Additionally, benefits may vary depending on the region, business alignment, union involvement, and employee status.
Thrive at work and at home:
- Benefits kick in on DAY ONE for you and your family, including health insurance and holistic wellness programs that include generous incentives – WE DARE TO CARE!
- Family building benefits include fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
- Paid time off includes up to 15 vacation days, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional options to support volunteer and parental leave.
- 401K match up, educational and training opportunities through company programs along with tuition assistance and student debt support.
SAFETY SENSITIVE ROLE
Yes. The company designates certain roles as Safety Sensitive. Safety Sensitive roles may require that you pass additional drug screening.
We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs. We are an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally protected status.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Automation and Controls Engineer
Align your degree to PLC and SCADA roles
Specialty occupation status depends on a direct link between your degree field and the role. A degree in electrical engineering, control systems, or mechatronics maps cleanly to Automation and Controls Engineer job descriptions and strengthens the LCA filing.
Target industries with active LCA filing histories
Manufacturing, automotive, oil and gas, and semiconductor fabrication companies file LCAs for Controls Engineers far more consistently than general engineering firms. Focusing your search on these verticals puts you in front of employers already familiar with the sponsorship process.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsors
Search Migrate Mate's job board to identify employers with verified LCA filing history for Automation and Controls Engineer roles, filtered by location and industry. That filing history signals the employer has already navigated DOL certification for this exact specialty occupation.
Check prevailing wage tiers before accepting offers
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your role, level, and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to verify which wage level your offer falls under before you sign, since Level I filings can flag experience mismatches during USCIS review.
Get OEM certifications documented before interviews
Rockwell Automation, Siemens, and Allen-Bradley certifications aren't visa requirements, but they reinforce the specialty occupation argument in RFE responses. Having these credentials on file speeds up the employer's ability to respond if USCIS questions whether the role genuinely requires a specialized degree.
Clarify H-1B transfer timing with your new employer
If you're already in H-1B status, you can start with a new Controls Engineering employer once the new I-129 petition is filed, without waiting for USCIS approval. Confirm the employer's HR team understands this portability rule before your start date to avoid unnecessary gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Automation and Controls Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Automation and Controls Engineer positions consistently qualify as specialty occupations because they typically require at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, control systems engineering, or a closely related field. USCIS evaluates the degree-to-role connection in every petition, so job descriptions that explicitly list a required degree in a specific engineering discipline strengthen the filing significantly.
Which visa types are realistic for Automation and Controls Engineers seeking U.S. sponsorship?
H-1B is the most common path, covering specialty occupation roles across manufacturing, energy, and advanced robotics. Canadian and Mexican nationals can pursue TN visa status under the USMCA engineer category, which requires no USCIS petition and no lottery. Australian nationals may qualify for the E-3 visa, which has a separate annual cap and no lottery. Each route requires a U.S. job offer before you can apply.
Where can I find employers who actively sponsor Automation and Controls Engineers?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for Automation and Controls Engineer roles, searchable by city and industry. Manufacturers, semiconductor fabs, automotive suppliers, and utilities are the most consistent sponsors for this specialty, so focusing your search on those sectors gives you the strongest starting point.
Does a three-year engineering degree from outside the U.S. satisfy the specialty occupation requirement?
It can, but it requires a credential evaluation. USCIS accepts foreign degrees that are equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in a directly related field. A three-year degree combined with progressive work experience in control systems or industrial automation can meet the threshold, but your employer's immigration attorney will need to document the equivalency in the I-129 petition.
How does the PERM labor certification process affect green card sponsorship for Controls Engineers?
Most employer-sponsored EB-2 and EB-3 green cards for Automation and Controls Engineers require PERM labor certification, where DOL verifies that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the role. The PERM process can take six months or longer before the I-140 petition is even filed. Priority date backlogs vary significantly by country of birth, so starting the green card conversation early with your employer matters.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Automation and Controls Engineer jobs?
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.