H-1B Visa Civil Drafter Jobs
Civil Drafter roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree in civil engineering technology or a related field. Employers in infrastructure, transportation, and land development are among the most active H-1B sponsors for this occupation. Use this page to find employers with verified H-1B filing history for Civil Drafter positions.
See All H-1B Visa Civil Drafter JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 11+ Civil Drafter jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all Civil Drafter Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Civil Drafter roles.
Get Access To All JobsJOB SUMMARY:
Metro Engineering Solutions, LLC (“MES”) is looking for a Civil Drafter to join our team! We are looking for an experienced drafter with a background in civil or utility design using AutoCAD Civil 3D. MES is a multifaceted utility design and engineering firm serving clients throughout the Midwest. The Civil CAD Drafter is responsible for supporting our clients and co-workers in preparing plan and profile road and utility projects. The CAD Designer must also support our core principles – understand our customers and satisfy their needs, do what we say we are going to do and have fun.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage the setup and preparation of detailed project drawings during planning and design.
- Work closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, and other Technicians to provide drawings on schedule.
- Prepare permit drawing sets including plans, elevations, sections, details, and notes.
- Understand AutoCAD requirements needed for different clients as well as our firm.
- Perform QA/QC on drawing files.
- Coordinate project deadlines with Project Managers, Engineers, and Designers.
- Other duties as assigned by Project Manager.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Interpret sketches, drawings, building program and other similar material.
- Primarily work in an office setting.
- Ability to travel and/or work in the field as needed.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
- Compensation commensurate with experience.
- Medical benefits package that includes medical & prescription coverage, dental, and vision plans for employees and their qualifying family members (eligible after 90 days employment), which is 100% covered by the employer.
- Retirement benefits including a 401(k) plan with up to 4% employer match (eligible after 6 months of employment), which is 100% fully vested on day one.
- Group term life insurance and long-term disability offered to eligible employees.
- Additional voluntary benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, Short-Term Disability, HFSA and DCA, Life and AD&D) offered to eligible employees.
- Holiday pay as well as PTO available after 90 days of employment. Additional PTO vesting over time.
- Employee Assistance Program including counseling, coaching and financial resources.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Associates degree in AutoCAD drafting or equivalent work experience.
- 1-5 years of AutoCAD experience.
- Civil 3D experience is preferred.
- MDOT and MicroStation experience a plus.
- Excellent technical, written, and oral communication skills and familiarity of industry practices and regulations.
- Proficient in Adobe, Microsoft Office and Outlook.
JOB SUMMARY:
Metro Engineering Solutions, LLC (“MES”) is looking for a Civil Drafter to join our team! We are looking for an experienced drafter with a background in civil or utility design using AutoCAD Civil 3D. MES is a multifaceted utility design and engineering firm serving clients throughout the Midwest. The Civil CAD Drafter is responsible for supporting our clients and co-workers in preparing plan and profile road and utility projects. The CAD Designer must also support our core principles – understand our customers and satisfy their needs, do what we say we are going to do and have fun.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage the setup and preparation of detailed project drawings during planning and design.
- Work closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, and other Technicians to provide drawings on schedule.
- Prepare permit drawing sets including plans, elevations, sections, details, and notes.
- Understand AutoCAD requirements needed for different clients as well as our firm.
- Perform QA/QC on drawing files.
- Coordinate project deadlines with Project Managers, Engineers, and Designers.
- Other duties as assigned by Project Manager.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Interpret sketches, drawings, building program and other similar material.
- Primarily work in an office setting.
- Ability to travel and/or work in the field as needed.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
- Compensation commensurate with experience.
- Medical benefits package that includes medical & prescription coverage, dental, and vision plans for employees and their qualifying family members (eligible after 90 days employment), which is 100% covered by the employer.
- Retirement benefits including a 401(k) plan with up to 4% employer match (eligible after 6 months of employment), which is 100% fully vested on day one.
- Group term life insurance and long-term disability offered to eligible employees.
- Additional voluntary benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, Short-Term Disability, HFSA and DCA, Life and AD&D) offered to eligible employees.
- Holiday pay as well as PTO available after 90 days of employment. Additional PTO vesting over time.
- Employee Assistance Program including counseling, coaching and financial resources.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Associates degree in AutoCAD drafting or equivalent work experience.
- 1-5 years of AutoCAD experience.
- Civil 3D experience is preferred.
- MDOT and MicroStation experience a plus.
- Excellent technical, written, and oral communication skills and familiarity of industry practices and regulations.
- Proficient in Adobe, Microsoft Office and Outlook.
See all H-1B Visa Civil Drafter Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Civil Drafter Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Civil Drafter
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation requirements
USCIS requires your degree to directly relate to civil drafting work. A civil engineering technology or architecture degree satisfies this cleanly. A general drafting or unrelated degree may trigger an RFE, so gather transcripts and a credential evaluation before applying.
Target firms with active LCA filing history
Use Migrate Mate to filter Civil Drafter roles by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for this occupation. LCA history signals that the employer already knows the H-1B process, reducing the risk of sponsorship falling through mid-hiring.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for Civil Drafter roles in your specific metro area. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV wage tiers for SOC code 17-3011 before your salary conversation.
Confirm the role matches your O*NET occupation code
Civil Drafter positions vary by scope. Review the O*NET profile for SOC 17-3011 to confirm your job duties align with the official definition. Mismatches between your offer letter and the occupation code are a common source of H-1B denials for drafting roles.
Ask employers about cap-exempt filing options
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated entities are cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without waiting for the April lottery. Civil drafting roles at engineering departments within these organizations are worth targeting deliberately.
File during your 60-day grace period strategically
If you're between jobs on H-1B status, you have a 60-day grace period to secure a new offer. A new employer can file an H-1B transfer petition during this window, and you can start work as soon as USCIS receives the petition under portability rules.
H-1B Visa Civil Drafter: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Civil Drafter role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, provided the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as civil engineering technology, drafting, or architecture. USCIS evaluates each petition individually, so your offer letter must describe duties that genuinely require that level of theoretical and technical knowledge. Roles requiring only a two-year associate degree or vocational training are at higher risk of denial.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for Civil Drafter positions?
Engineering and design consulting firms, transportation departments, land development companies, and public infrastructure contractors are among the most active sponsors for Civil Drafter roles. Government-affiliated entities and university engineering departments can file outside the annual H-1B cap entirely. You can search employers by their verified H-1B filing history for this occupation on Migrate Mate.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new Civil Drafter job without starting over?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules, your new employer files a transfer petition and you can start work as soon as USCIS receives it, without waiting for approval. The new role must still qualify as a specialty occupation and meet DOL prevailing wage requirements for Civil Drafter in that location. Your six-year H-1B clock continues from where it left off.
How does the DOL prevailing wage affect my H-1B offer as a Civil Drafter?
Your employer must certify in the Labor Condition Application that your salary meets or exceeds the DOL prevailing wage for Civil Drafter roles in your specific metro area. Wages are tiered from Level I (entry) to Level IV (expert). You can verify the applicable wage using the OFLC Wage Search before accepting an offer to confirm the employer's number is compliant.
What documentation should I prepare before an employer sponsors my H-1B as a Civil Drafter?
Gather your degree transcripts, a credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the U.S., and any professional certifications relevant to civil drafting software or standards. If your degree field doesn't directly match the role, collect evidence of progressive work experience that bridges the gap. USCIS may request a detailed itinerary of project work if your duties span multiple client sites.