BKF Engineers OPT Eligible Jobs USA
BKF Engineers hires OPT students for engineering and consulting roles across its civil, structural, and land development practices. The firm operates across the western United States, making it a practical option for F-1 students in infrastructure and design fields who need an employer ready to support the OPT-to-H-1B visa transition.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years. At BKF, you'll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.
We're seeking Project Engineer for our Salinas, CA office. The ideal candidate will have a few years of industry experience and a strong technical Civil 3D foundation in Land Development design and civil engineering. This role involves independently applying standard engineering principles to a variety of projects, from small-scale developments to major infrastructure efforts. Candidates should be confident performing geometric calculations and design tasks with minimal supervision. This position also offers opportunities to professionally develop, mentor junior staff, and provide technical support throughout all project phases.
Responsibilities
- Design and coordination of site development projects for residential, commercial, mixed-use, and public works developments
- Preparation of grading and drainage plans in compliance with local and regional standards
- Design of utility systems including water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure
- Preparation of technical reports, master planning studies, and entitlement support documents
- Development of construction specifications, quantity takeoffs, and cost estimates
- Site layout planning including parking, access, and circulation design
- Integration of sustainable design elements such as low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure
- Application of Federal, State, City, and County codes and permitting requirements
- Preparation of conceptual design studies and feasibility analyses
- Collaboration across departments and external stakeholders, including other consultants throughout the project lifecycle
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of experience in Land Development working on site development and design of residential and/or commercial subdivisions, utility systems, roadways, and public works projects
- B.S. in Civil Engineering or a related field from an ABET-accredited program is required
- Must be proficient in AutoCAD Civil 3D
- EIT certification highly preferred (candidates with EIT will be prioritized)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners, including public agencies, consultants, and community stakeholders
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.
WORK CONDITIONS
Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.
BENEFITS
- The typical base salary range for this position is $90,000.00 - $125,000.00, annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly
- Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k
- Generous paid time off packages
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Flexible schedules
- Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations
- BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.
BKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. BKF does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF, BKF reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.
INTRODUCTION
BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years. At BKF, you'll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.
We're seeking Project Engineer for our Salinas, CA office. The ideal candidate will have a few years of industry experience and a strong technical Civil 3D foundation in Land Development design and civil engineering. This role involves independently applying standard engineering principles to a variety of projects, from small-scale developments to major infrastructure efforts. Candidates should be confident performing geometric calculations and design tasks with minimal supervision. This position also offers opportunities to professionally develop, mentor junior staff, and provide technical support throughout all project phases.
Responsibilities
- Design and coordination of site development projects for residential, commercial, mixed-use, and public works developments
- Preparation of grading and drainage plans in compliance with local and regional standards
- Design of utility systems including water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure
- Preparation of technical reports, master planning studies, and entitlement support documents
- Development of construction specifications, quantity takeoffs, and cost estimates
- Site layout planning including parking, access, and circulation design
- Integration of sustainable design elements such as low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure
- Application of Federal, State, City, and County codes and permitting requirements
- Preparation of conceptual design studies and feasibility analyses
- Collaboration across departments and external stakeholders, including other consultants throughout the project lifecycle
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of experience in Land Development working on site development and design of residential and/or commercial subdivisions, utility systems, roadways, and public works projects
- B.S. in Civil Engineering or a related field from an ABET-accredited program is required
- Must be proficient in AutoCAD Civil 3D
- EIT certification highly preferred (candidates with EIT will be prioritized)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners, including public agencies, consultants, and community stakeholders
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.
WORK CONDITIONS
Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.
BENEFITS
- The typical base salary range for this position is $90,000.00 - $125,000.00, annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly
- Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k
- Generous paid time off packages
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Flexible schedules
- Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations
- BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.
BKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. BKF does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF, BKF reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding BKF Engineers OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Match your degree to BKF's disciplines
BKF Engineers focuses on civil, structural, and land development engineering. Before applying, confirm your degree field maps directly to their active project types. OPT authorization requires your employment to relate to your field of study, so a direct match strengthens both your application and any future H-1B case.
Verify E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
If you plan to use the 24-month STEM OPT extension, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm BKF Engineers is enrolled before signing an offer letter. You can check employer E-Verify participation through USCIS before committing to a start date.
Target project-based roles in infrastructure teams
Consulting firms like BKF Engineers typically hire OPT students into project-delivery roles rather than corporate support functions. Focus your applications on positions tied to active civil or land development projects, where degree relevance is clearest and the business case for supporting your status transition is strongest.
Benchmark your salary against prevailing wage data
Before negotiating your offer, research wage levels for your occupation and region using the OFLC Wage Search. Consulting firms are required to meet prevailing wage standards if they later file an H-1B or PERM for you, and entering at the right level now avoids complications in that process.
Use Migrate Mate to confirm BKF's H-1B filing history
OPT is your authorization, but your next step is finding an employer that will follow through on H-1B sponsorship. Migrate Mate shows BKF Engineers' verified DOL Labor Condition Application filing history by role and location, so you can assess their sponsorship track record before your OPT clock starts running.
Submit your I-983 training plan with specific project details
For STEM OPT, your Form I-983 training plan must describe concrete learning goals tied to your actual work at BKF Engineers. Vague or generic plans draw scrutiny from USCIS. Align your stated objectives with specific engineering deliverables or project phases you'll contribute to, not just your job title.
BKF Engineers OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does BKF Engineers sponsor OPT visas?
BKF Engineers hires F-1 students who already hold OPT work authorization. USCIS grants OPT directly to the student, so BKF Engineers doesn't file a petition or sponsor OPT itself. What matters for your job search is that BKF Engineers is willing to hire OPT students and, if eligible, support the STEM OPT extension by enrolling in E-Verify.
Which roles at BKF Engineers typically hire OPT students?
BKF Engineers primarily hires for civil, structural, and land development engineering roles. OPT students with degrees in civil engineering, structural engineering, or related fields are most likely to find positions that satisfy the employment-to-field-of-study requirement USCIS requires. Project-delivery and technical design roles are the strongest fit for OPT authorization at a consulting firm like BKF.
How do I approach the OPT hiring process at BKF Engineers?
Apply through BKF Engineers' careers page and indicate your OPT status and authorization end date clearly in your application. Bring your EAD card and I-20 to any offer stage. If you're pursuing the STEM OPT extension, confirm BKF Engineers is enrolled in E-Verify early in the process, since that enrollment is required before your DSO can recommend the extension.
How do I know if BKF Engineers will sponsor my H-1B after OPT?
Migrate Mate shows verified DOL Labor Condition Application data for BKF Engineers, including the job titles and locations where they've filed in the past. Reviewing that history before you accept an offer gives you a clearer picture of whether the firm has a track record of supporting the OPT-to-H-1B transition for roles similar to yours.
What timeline should I expect for OPT employment at BKF Engineers?
You can begin working at BKF Engineers on your OPT start date as listed on your EAD. USCIS recommends applying for OPT up to 90 days before your program end date, and processing can take several months, so plan accordingly. If you qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, you must file with USCIS before your initial OPT period expires.
How does BKF Engineers hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. BKF Engineers can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check BKF Engineers's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.