Green Card Structural Drafter Jobs
Structural Drafter jobs with green card sponsorship are filed under EB-3 for most candidates and EB-2 for advanced-degree professionals. Employers use the PERM labor certification process to demonstrate no qualified U.S. worker is available before filing an I-140 immigrant petition. CAD proficiency and licensure documentation strengthen your sponsorship case significantly.
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At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.
Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.
About us:
Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.
We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.
Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.
Job Summary: The Drafter serves to work in a fast-paced multi-disciplined team environment. This role is to support the development of design and construction documents for building systems under the supervision of Senior Engineers. This role is designed for the right candidate that will tackle all challenges with a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
Responsibilities:
- Complete field investigation of existing site and system conditions.
- Use Revit and AutoCAD to assist in the production of design and construction documents for mechanical/electrical systems.
- Complete scheduling, programming, quality control, and coordinating information/work of all disciplines.
Qualifications and Experience:
Educational Background: training towards an associate degree in Computer-Aided Drafting, Engineering Technology program, or engineering degree.
Experience: 1+ years’ experience (preferred but not required)
Technical Skills: experience in drafting mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for various facilities is preferred but not required.
Location: Vista, CA
Travel: Up to 10%
Compensation & Benefits:
The expected hourly compensation range for this role is $25-32 USD per hour. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.
This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses, equity participation, and a comprehensive U.S.-based benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
- Professional development support
Salas O’Brien health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Team members have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Salas O’Brien has both U.S. and Canadian (PTO) plans for full-time salaried, exempt and non-team members, 10 paid holidays, and paid leave programs for military service and new parents. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, 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/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.
Third-Party Agency Notice
Salas O’Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.
Experience
Preferred* 1 year(s): 1+ years’ experience (preferred but not required)
Education
Preferred Associates or better in Drafting and Design CADD
Associates or better in Engineering Technology
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
CAD/Revit Drafter
At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.
Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.
About us:
Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.
We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.
Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.
Job Summary: The Drafter serves to work in a fast-paced multi-disciplined team environment. This role is to support the development of design and construction documents for building systems under the supervision of Senior Engineers. This role is designed for the right candidate that will tackle all challenges with a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
Responsibilities:
- Complete field investigation of existing site and system conditions.
- Use Revit and AutoCAD to assist in the production of design and construction documents for mechanical/electrical systems.
- Complete scheduling, programming, quality control, and coordinating information/work of all disciplines.
Qualifications and Experience:
Educational Background: training towards an associate degree in Computer-Aided Drafting, Engineering Technology program, or engineering degree.
Experience: 1+ years’ experience (preferred but not required)
Technical Skills: experience in drafting mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for various facilities is preferred but not required.
Location: Vista, CA
Travel: Up to 10%
Compensation & Benefits:
The expected hourly compensation range for this role is $25-32 USD per hour. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.
This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses, equity participation, and a comprehensive U.S.-based benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
- Professional development support
Salas O’Brien health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Team members have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Salas O’Brien has both U.S. and Canadian (PTO) plans for full-time salaried, exempt and non-team members, 10 paid holidays, and paid leave programs for military service and new parents. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, 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/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.
Third-Party Agency Notice
Salas O’Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.
Experience
Preferred* 1 year(s): 1+ years’ experience (preferred but not required)
Education
Preferred Associates or better in Drafting and Design CADD
Associates or better in Engineering Technology
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See all 52+ Green Card Structural Drafter Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship in Structural Drafter
Document your CAD certifications before applying
PERM requires your employer to prove you meet the minimum requirements for the posted position. Gather Autodesk, Revit, or BIM certification records now so your credentials are ready when your employer defines the job requirements for the labor certification.
Target AEC firms with PERM filing history
Architecture, engineering, and construction firms that have sponsored foreign workers before already understand the PERM process for drafting roles. Prioritize firms with active infrastructure or commercial project pipelines, where structural drafting demand is sustained enough to justify a multi-year sponsorship timeline.
Search green card sponsoring roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters Structural Drafter openings by employers with active employment-based green card sponsorship history, saving you from cold-applying to firms unfamiliar with PERM. Use it to identify which AEC employers are currently sponsoring at the EB-3 level.
Clarify the prevailing wage tier with your employer
DOL assigns your role a wage level using the OFLC Wage Search, and a Level I or Level II determination affects both your offered salary and how auditors assess the legitimacy of the position. Ask your employer which wage level they plan to request before PERM is filed.
Confirm your degree meets EB-2 or EB-3 requirements
EB-3 covers a two-year or four-year degree in drafting, engineering technology, or a related field. EB-2 requires an advanced degree. If your credential is from outside the U.S., request a foreign credential evaluation early, since PERM adjudicators scrutinize equivalency claims for technical roles.
Understand PERM recruitment timing before your offer
Your employer cannot begin the DOL recruitment phase until after extending your offer, and the process typically takes six to eighteen months before an I-140 can be filed. Negotiating a clear start date and interim work authorization bridge is part of structuring a realistic sponsorship timeline.
Green Card Structural Drafter: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Structural Drafter qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship?
Most Structural Drafter roles qualify under EB-3, which covers skilled workers and professionals with at least a two-year degree or equivalent training. EB-2 applies if the position requires an advanced degree and your employer can document that requirement. Candidates with a bachelor's or associate degree in drafting, engineering technology, or a related discipline typically fit the EB-3 skilled worker category without issue.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for this role?
H-1B visa sponsorship is temporary, tied to annual lottery caps, and requires the role to qualify as a specialty occupation, which can be difficult for some drafting positions. PERM-based green card sponsorship leads to permanent residency, has no lottery, and EB-3 backlogs are manageable for most countries outside India and China. The tradeoff is a longer overall timeline, typically two to four years from PERM filing to green card approval.
How long does the PERM process take for a Structural Drafter role?
The DOL PERM labor certification stage alone currently runs six to eighteen months, depending on whether the application is audited. After PERM certification, your employer files the I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS, which adds several additional months. Adjustment of status or consular processing follows. From start to finish, candidates in most countries outside India and China should plan for a two-to-four-year timeline.
How do I find Structural Drafter jobs where the employer will sponsor a green card?
Most standard job postings don't disclose sponsorship willingness upfront, which makes searching inefficient. Migrate Mate lets you filter Structural Drafter openings specifically by employers with documented employment-based green card sponsorship activity, so you can focus your applications on firms that have already navigated PERM for similar roles rather than discovering late in the process that sponsorship isn't available.
What documentation do I need to support my employer's PERM filing?
Your employer files PERM, but you need to provide documentation proving you meet the minimum requirements stated in the labor certification. For a Structural Drafter, that typically includes your degree transcripts, any CAD or BIM certifications, a foreign credential evaluation if your education is from outside the U.S., and a record of relevant work experience. Gaps or mismatches between your credentials and the posted requirements are a common audit trigger.