Kimley-Horn OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Kimley-Horn hires OPT students across its engineering, planning, and environmental consulting practices, making it a well-regarded option for F-1 graduates seeking hands-on project work with a firm known for mentorship and visa pathway support into H-1B visa sponsorship.
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INTRODUCTION
Kimley-Horn's Warrenville, Illinois (IL) office is seeking an Electrical Engineer with 4+ years of experience to join their Power Delivery team! This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design and analysis of complex electrical systems for renewable generation, energy storage, and utility-scale substation projects
- Responsible for the development of design documents and reports, including electrical layouts, equipment schematics and block diagrams, electrical system calculations, and one-line diagrams
- Daily interaction and collaboration on multi-disciplinary teams, with interaction across Kimley-Horn offices
- Prepare project specifications, electrical construction cost estimates, and proposals, supporting the growth of electrical engineering service areas in the local market and across the country
- Expected to assist in mentoring, training, and growing a team to expand our Power Delivery practice
- Responsible for the development of reports and design documents, including electrical design plans, equipment selection, solar system sizing, and power analyses.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years experience in an Electrical Engineering role
- Professional Engineering (P.E.) License (or ability to obtain within 12 months)
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
- Understanding of the National Electrical Code, National Electrical Safety Code, IEEE and ANSI Standards
- Willingness to travel to support site visits and client meetings, as needed
- Ability to work in a team; both collaborating with and mentoring junior staff
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in utility-scale substation, utility-scale PV, wind generation, energy storage, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, microgrid, substation, or data center designs
- Experience in engineering project management
- Proficiency in AutoCAD
- Experience in power system analysis using SKM, ETAP, or equivalent
- Experience in transient studies using PSCAD, EMTP-RV, or equivalent
- Experience in lighting designs and photometrics using AGI32, or equivalent
- Comfortable programming in Python or MATLAB
SALARY RANGE
- Salary Range: $105,000 - $175,000
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
Job Roles at Kimley-Horn
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Kimley-Horn OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Target practice areas that match your degree
Kimley-Horn organizes hiring around specific technical disciplines like transportation, water, and land development. Matching your degree field to one of these practice areas strengthens your application because the firm ties OPT eligibility directly to role-specific technical requirements.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer
STEM OPT's 24-month extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask Kimley-Horn's recruiter to confirm enrollment before you sign. If you skip this step, you could lose eligibility for the extension entirely after your initial 12 months.
Submit your OPT EAD application 90 days early
USCIS allows you to file your OPT application up to 90 days before your program end date. Filing late compresses your job search window significantly. Start your DSO authorization process well before that window opens so paperwork delays don't cut into your timeline.
Use Migrate Mate to find Kimley-Horn job listings filtered for OPT
Search Migrate Mate to surface Kimley-Horn roles that are actively open to OPT candidates. The platform cross-references employer H-1B filing history and E-Verify status so you can prioritize applications where visa pathway support is already established.
Prepare a technical portfolio before your interview
Kimley-Horn's consulting work is project-driven, so interviewers in transportation, civil, or environmental teams will assess technical output directly. Bring design samples, software proficiency examples, or capstone project work that maps to the specific practice area you're applying for.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during your offer negotiation
Kimley-Horn has a track record of sponsoring H-1B visas for employees who convert from OPT. Raising this explicitly before you accept an offer lets you confirm internal timelines and understand whether your role qualifies before your OPT authorization period ends.
Kimley-Horn OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kimley-Horn sponsor OPT visas?
Kimley-Horn doesn't sponsor OPT itself because OPT is work authorization USCIS grants directly to F-1 students. What Kimley-Horn does is hire students who already hold an OPT EAD, and the firm is enrolled in E-Verify, which is required for employees who want to use the STEM OPT 24-month extension.
Which roles at Kimley-Horn typically hire OPT students?
Kimley-Horn hires OPT students most consistently in engineering and planning disciplines, including transportation, civil, water resources, and environmental consulting. Entry-level project engineer and analyst roles in these practice areas are the most common entry points for F-1 graduates on OPT. Use Migrate Mate to find open roles currently accepting OPT candidates.
How do I apply for OPT jobs at Kimley-Horn?
Apply through Kimley-Horn's careers page and disclose your OPT status in the work authorization section. Your DSO at your university authorizes your OPT application, and USCIS issues your EAD. Kimley-Horn's HR team handles onboarding and E-Verify verification after you receive an offer, not the OPT filing itself.
How long does it take to get hired at Kimley-Horn on OPT?
Kimley-Horn's interview process typically spans several weeks from application to offer. The main timing risk isn't Kimley-Horn's process but your EAD availability. USCIS recommends filing your OPT application up to 90 days before your program end date. If your EAD isn't in hand by your start date, your offer can be delayed or rescinded.
Does Kimley-Horn sponsor H-1B after OPT?
Kimley-Horn has a consistent history of sponsoring H-1B visas for employees who convert from OPT, particularly in technical engineering roles. H-1B sponsorship is a separate employer-filed petition, not automatic. Confirm sponsorship intent during your offer stage and clarify whether your role qualifies under the specialty occupation definition USCIS applies to H-1B petitions.
How does Kimley-Horn hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Kimley-Horn 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 Kimley-Horn's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.