H-1B Visa Environmental Scientist Jobs
Environmental Scientist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under the DOL's SOC 19-2041 classification, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in environmental science, ecology, or a related field. Federal agencies, consulting firms, and engineering companies are among the most active H-1B sponsors for this occupation.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
GFT is seeking a Project Environmental Scientist to join our growing Environmental Practice! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at either our Berkeley, CA or Roseville, CA offices.
GFT’s Environmental team delivers integrated planning, permitting, and compliance solutions that support infrastructure development across North America. With more than 140 professionals in 22 offices, the team guides clients through NEPA and permitting processes, ecological and regulatory assessments, and environmental remediation efforts. Their expertise spans transportation, power, water, and facilities markets — working alongside agencies at federal, state, and local levels. From stream restoration to complex regulatory requirements and advance critical infrastructure projects.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This is an excellent career opportunity for an experienced, motivated Project Environmental Scientist who is ready to take the next step in their career. We are looking for someone who combines strong technical permitting expertise – a professional that enjoys doing the work, working directly with clients and regulatory agencies and helping to build a growing environmental practice.
The successful candidate will have strong working knowledge of California and federal environmental permitting requirements, particularly as they apply to transportation, water, and power projects. This individual will lead and prepare permit applications and technical documentation, coordinate with regulatory agencies, manage permitting assignments, and support projects through planning and through design and construction.
In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Lead and support natural resource analysis and environmental permitting for transportation, water, and other infrastructure projects throughout California.
- Develop permitting strategies and identify federal, state, and local regulatory requirements during project planning, CEQA/NEPA, and design.
- Prepare and manage permit applications and supporting technical documentation, including Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401, California Fish and Game Code Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, and other applicable federal, state, and local permits and approvals.
- Coordinate directly with regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries, and other agencies as appropriate.
- Conduct wetland delineations, jurisdictional assessments, biological field studies, and other technical investigations necessary to support project permitting as well as CEQA/NEPA analysis.
- Author and review technical reports, CEQA/NEPA analysis, permit applications, environmental commitments, mitigation plans, and related environmental deliverables.
- Work closely with engineering and design teams to identify natural resource and permitting constraints, develop practical avoidance and minimization measures, and incorporate environmental requirements into project design and construction.
- Support environmental compliance during construction, including implementation and tracking of permit conditions and mitigation commitments.
- Manage environmental permitting assignments, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, deliverables, and client communications.
- Contribute to and increasingly lead environmental components of proposals, interviews, scopes of work, and cost estimates.
- Contribute to the continued development of GFT’s California Environmental Practice.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, the physical sciences, or closely related field.
- Approximately 5-8 years of progressively responsible experience, with significant experience delivering natural resources and permitting services for infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrated experience preparing and managing environmental permits for projects in California.
- Strong working knowledge of applicable federal and California environmental regulations.
- Experience working with and developing relationships with regulatory agencies such as USACE, CDFW, RWQCB, USFWA, and/or NOAA Fisheries.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Self-starter, able to complete tasks with minimal supervision and direction.
- Willingness to travel and execute work in a variety of settings and environmental conditions (heat, cold, rain, etc.).
- Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills to work effectively with others and achieve results.
- Demonstrated agility working with multi-disciplined infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrated professional judgment, consistency, strong attention to detail, and background of high-quality work products.
- Ability to prepare and deliver presentations and lead meetings, when needed.
- An entrepreneurial mindset and interest in helping grow a developing California environmental practice.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- A Master’s degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, or a closely related field.
- Established relationships with California transportation agencies, water agencies, municipalities, regulatory agencies, or other infrastructure clients.
- Experience with Caltrans, local transportation agencies, passenger rail/transit agencies, water districts, utilities, or similar California public-sector clients.
- GIS experience.
- Relevant professional certifications or specialized permitting/natural-resource credentials.
COMPENSATION
- The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $135,000; Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
FEATURED BENEFITS
- Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
- Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
- Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
- Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
- Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.
Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives. GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™
GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status, or other characteristics protected by law.
Unsolicited resumes from third-party agencies will be considered the property of GFT.
LOCATION
Location: Berkeley, CA or Roseville, CA
WORKING HOURS
Working Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Employment Status: Full-time
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
"California Applicants" Applicants in the County of Los Angeles - Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Applicants in the State of California - Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.
Gannett Fleming does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
Application deadline 1/31/2027
INTRODUCTION
GFT is seeking a Project Environmental Scientist to join our growing Environmental Practice! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at either our Berkeley, CA or Roseville, CA offices.
GFT’s Environmental team delivers integrated planning, permitting, and compliance solutions that support infrastructure development across North America. With more than 140 professionals in 22 offices, the team guides clients through NEPA and permitting processes, ecological and regulatory assessments, and environmental remediation efforts. Their expertise spans transportation, power, water, and facilities markets — working alongside agencies at federal, state, and local levels. From stream restoration to complex regulatory requirements and advance critical infrastructure projects.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This is an excellent career opportunity for an experienced, motivated Project Environmental Scientist who is ready to take the next step in their career. We are looking for someone who combines strong technical permitting expertise – a professional that enjoys doing the work, working directly with clients and regulatory agencies and helping to build a growing environmental practice.
The successful candidate will have strong working knowledge of California and federal environmental permitting requirements, particularly as they apply to transportation, water, and power projects. This individual will lead and prepare permit applications and technical documentation, coordinate with regulatory agencies, manage permitting assignments, and support projects through planning and through design and construction.
In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Lead and support natural resource analysis and environmental permitting for transportation, water, and other infrastructure projects throughout California.
- Develop permitting strategies and identify federal, state, and local regulatory requirements during project planning, CEQA/NEPA, and design.
- Prepare and manage permit applications and supporting technical documentation, including Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401, California Fish and Game Code Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, and other applicable federal, state, and local permits and approvals.
- Coordinate directly with regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries, and other agencies as appropriate.
- Conduct wetland delineations, jurisdictional assessments, biological field studies, and other technical investigations necessary to support project permitting as well as CEQA/NEPA analysis.
- Author and review technical reports, CEQA/NEPA analysis, permit applications, environmental commitments, mitigation plans, and related environmental deliverables.
- Work closely with engineering and design teams to identify natural resource and permitting constraints, develop practical avoidance and minimization measures, and incorporate environmental requirements into project design and construction.
- Support environmental compliance during construction, including implementation and tracking of permit conditions and mitigation commitments.
- Manage environmental permitting assignments, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, deliverables, and client communications.
- Contribute to and increasingly lead environmental components of proposals, interviews, scopes of work, and cost estimates.
- Contribute to the continued development of GFT’s California Environmental Practice.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, the physical sciences, or closely related field.
- Approximately 5-8 years of progressively responsible experience, with significant experience delivering natural resources and permitting services for infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrated experience preparing and managing environmental permits for projects in California.
- Strong working knowledge of applicable federal and California environmental regulations.
- Experience working with and developing relationships with regulatory agencies such as USACE, CDFW, RWQCB, USFWA, and/or NOAA Fisheries.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Self-starter, able to complete tasks with minimal supervision and direction.
- Willingness to travel and execute work in a variety of settings and environmental conditions (heat, cold, rain, etc.).
- Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills to work effectively with others and achieve results.
- Demonstrated agility working with multi-disciplined infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrated professional judgment, consistency, strong attention to detail, and background of high-quality work products.
- Ability to prepare and deliver presentations and lead meetings, when needed.
- An entrepreneurial mindset and interest in helping grow a developing California environmental practice.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- A Master’s degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, or a closely related field.
- Established relationships with California transportation agencies, water agencies, municipalities, regulatory agencies, or other infrastructure clients.
- Experience with Caltrans, local transportation agencies, passenger rail/transit agencies, water districts, utilities, or similar California public-sector clients.
- GIS experience.
- Relevant professional certifications or specialized permitting/natural-resource credentials.
COMPENSATION
- The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $135,000; Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
FEATURED BENEFITS
- Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
- Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
- Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
- Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
- Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.
Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives. GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™
GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status, or other characteristics protected by law.
Unsolicited resumes from third-party agencies will be considered the property of GFT.
LOCATION
Location: Berkeley, CA or Roseville, CA
WORKING HOURS
Working Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Employment Status: Full-time
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
"California Applicants" Applicants in the County of Los Angeles - Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Applicants in the State of California - Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.
Gannett Fleming does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
Application deadline 1/31/2027
See all 111+ H-1B Visa Environmental Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Environmental Scientist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Environmental Scientist
Align your degree to SOC 19-2041
USCIS evaluates whether your degree directly relates to environmental science work. Pull the O*NET profile for SOC 19-2041 and confirm your transcripts reflect coursework in environmental assessment, ecology, or physical sciences before applying.
Target federal contractors over startups
Engineering and environmental consulting firms with federal contracts file H-1B petitions routinely for this role. Their compliance infrastructure makes sponsorship smoother than at smaller firms without an established immigration process.
Check LCA filings before negotiating offers
Use Migrate Mate to filter Environmental Scientist roles by employers with verified LCA filing history, so you're targeting companies that have already cleared DOL prevailing-wage certification for this occupation code.
Verify prevailing wage before your offer stage
Run your job title, location, and experience level through the OFLC Wage Search before you receive an offer. Your employer's LCA must certify wages at or above the applicable wage level, and knowing the floor prevents surprises in negotiation.
Document field hours and specialized methodologies
USCIS RFEs for environmental science roles often challenge whether the position truly requires a specialized degree. A letter from your employer detailing site assessment protocols, regulatory reporting duties, and the degree requirements for those tasks strengthens the petition.
File in cap-exempt categories when possible
Positions at universities, research institutions, or nonprofit research organizations are cap-exempt, bypassing the April lottery entirely. If an environmental agency or university lab is recruiting, confirm cap-exempt status with the employer before the October 1 start-date window closes.
H-1B Visa Environmental Scientist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Environmental Scientist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. USCIS classifies Environmental Scientist under SOC code 19-2041, and the role meets the specialty occupation standard when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in environmental science, ecology, geology, or a closely related field. Employers must demonstrate the degree requirement in the LCA and petition. Roles that accept any bachelor's degree regardless of field can face RFEs challenging specialty occupation status.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Environmental Scientist positions?
Environmental consulting firms, civil and geotechnical engineering companies, federal contractors, state environmental agencies, and research universities are consistent H-1B sponsors for this role. Employers with long-term federal contracts tend to have established immigration counsel and file petitions more reliably. You can browse verified H-1B sponsoring employers for Environmental Scientist positions on Migrate Mate, filtered by LCA filing history.
How does prevailing wage apply to Environmental Scientist H-1B petitions?
Your employer's Labor Condition Application must certify that your offered wage meets or exceeds the DOL prevailing wage for your job title, experience level, and work location. The OFLC Wage Search tool publishes four wage levels for SOC 19-2041 by metropolitan area. Positions in high-cost markets like San Francisco or New York carry significantly higher wage floors than the national average, which affects how many employers in those areas can realistically sponsor.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new Environmental Scientist employer mid-status?
Yes. Under AC21 portability, you can start working for a new employer as soon as the transfer petition is filed, without waiting for approval, as long as your current H-1B has been approved for at least 180 days. The new employer files a new I-129 petition with a fresh LCA certified for the new worksite and wage level. Any change in job duties or location requires a new LCA even within the same employer.
What happens if my Environmental Scientist H-1B petition receives an RFE?
RFEs for this occupation most commonly challenge whether the specific position requires a degree in a directly related field, or whether the offered wage meets the prevailing wage level. Your employer's attorney should respond with a detailed specialty occupation analysis, including the O*NET job zone classification, industry hiring standards, and a description of the technical duties performed. USCIS typically gives 87 days to respond, and work authorization continues uninterrupted while the RFE is pending.