J-1 Visa Roadway Engineer Jobs
Roadway Engineer roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 Trainee or Research Scholar program category, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsor organizations issue your DS-2019 and oversee compliance while your U.S. host employer provides the engineering experience. Securing J-1 sponsorship requires aligning your training objectives with an approved program plan.
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Get Access To All JobsProgram Timeframe: Mid-May through mid-August
Join GFT, an award-winning architecture, engineering, and construction firm, as a Roadway Engineering Intern and gain real-world experience in a dynamic environment. Our inclusive environment will fuel your innovation and imagination while fostering a sense of belonging.
Working on the roadway team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all. Explore some of our signature roadway projects here.
What you’ll be challenged to do:
During your internship, you will work on a highly functioning team and aid in providing design services for a wide variety of projects. You'll receive guidance, supervision and mentorship by experienced engineers and professionals with your success as the goal. The majority of our interns convert to full-time employees.
In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Support real client projects by creating engineering and construction drawings using MicroStation or AutoCAD.
- Assist in fundamental engineering tasks such as conducting basic engineering calculations and inputting data into analysis software.
- Participate in field assignments, including inspections of roadways and highways to support project needs.
- Contribute to various project phases by reviewing drawings, proofreading reports, and performing related engineering support tasks.
What you'll bring to our firm:
- Currently enrolled in an ABET-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program in Civil Engineering or a related field.
- Demonstrated interest or prior internship experience in Roadway and Highway Engineering, including design, inspection, and construction.
- Basic proficiency in CAD, spreadsheets, interpreting design drawings, and technical writing is required.
- Self-motivated team player with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Willingness to learn from and communicate with our experienced employees.
- Problem solving abilities and critical thinking skills.
What we prefer you bring:
- Working proficiency in CAD software, such as AutoCAD or MicroStation.
- Experience using engineering analysis and design software, such as Civil 3D and HEC-RAS.
Compensation:
- The salary range for this role is $21.00 - $28.00 per hour. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
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™ 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 GFT.
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Hourly
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
"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 City of San Francisco - Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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.
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Program Timeframe: Mid-May through mid-August
Join GFT, an award-winning architecture, engineering, and construction firm, as a Roadway Engineering Intern and gain real-world experience in a dynamic environment. Our inclusive environment will fuel your innovation and imagination while fostering a sense of belonging.
Working on the roadway team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all. Explore some of our signature roadway projects here.
What you’ll be challenged to do:
During your internship, you will work on a highly functioning team and aid in providing design services for a wide variety of projects. You'll receive guidance, supervision and mentorship by experienced engineers and professionals with your success as the goal. The majority of our interns convert to full-time employees.
In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Support real client projects by creating engineering and construction drawings using MicroStation or AutoCAD.
- Assist in fundamental engineering tasks such as conducting basic engineering calculations and inputting data into analysis software.
- Participate in field assignments, including inspections of roadways and highways to support project needs.
- Contribute to various project phases by reviewing drawings, proofreading reports, and performing related engineering support tasks.
What you'll bring to our firm:
- Currently enrolled in an ABET-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program in Civil Engineering or a related field.
- Demonstrated interest or prior internship experience in Roadway and Highway Engineering, including design, inspection, and construction.
- Basic proficiency in CAD, spreadsheets, interpreting design drawings, and technical writing is required.
- Self-motivated team player with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Willingness to learn from and communicate with our experienced employees.
- Problem solving abilities and critical thinking skills.
What we prefer you bring:
- Working proficiency in CAD software, such as AutoCAD or MicroStation.
- Experience using engineering analysis and design software, such as Civil 3D and HEC-RAS.
Compensation:
- The salary range for this role is $21.00 - $28.00 per hour. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
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™ 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 GFT.
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Hourly
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
"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 City of San Francisco - Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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.
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See all 6+ Roadway Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Roadway Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Roadway Engineer
Align your training plan with AASHTO standards
Your DS-2019 training plan must describe specific engineering competencies you'll develop. Frame objectives around pavement design, traffic analysis, or geometric design using AASHTO methodology so the designated sponsor can verify the program's technical merit.
Verify your credential equivalency before applying
U.S. host employers routinely ask whether your foreign engineering degree maps to ABET accreditation standards. Document your coursework in transportation systems, soil mechanics, and structural analysis to demonstrate equivalency during the host employer's review.
Target host employers with active DOT contracts
State departments of transportation and federal highway contractors regularly host J-1 Trainees and Research Scholars because their project timelines accommodate structured training programs. Search Migrate Mate to find roadway engineering roles at employers already familiar with J-1 host requirements.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early
Some Roadway Engineer J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home-country residency requirement before changing to certain other visa statuses. Confirm with your designated sponsor whether your program is government-funded or falls under a skills-shortage designation that triggers this rule.
Request an LCA wage check before accepting an offer
Your host employer must pay the prevailing wage for your occupation and work location. Cross-reference the offer against the OFLC Wage Search for your SOC code and county before signing, since roadway engineering wages vary significantly between rural and metropolitan regions.
Submit your training plan with measurable milestones
Designated sponsors require a detailed Training Placement Plan with phase-by-phase objectives tied to specific project deliverables. Vague descriptions like 'assist with roadway design' are routinely rejected. Structure each phase around concrete outputs such as completed roadway cross-section drawings or traffic impact assessments.
Roadway Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Roadway Engineer JobsRoadway Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Roadway Engineer role?
The Trainee category fits early-career engineers with one to five years of post-degree experience who are enrolled in a structured training program with a U.S. host employer. The Research Scholar category applies if your role involves university-affiliated research into transportation materials, pavement performance, or traffic modeling. The Specialist category can apply for senior engineers with recognized expertise in a narrow technical area such as interchange design or bridge approach geometry.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa as a Roadway Engineer?
Your J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your engineering employer. Organizations such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT issue your DS-2019, review your training plan, and monitor compliance throughout the program. Your engineering firm or public agency is the host employer. Conflating the two roles leads to confusion during the application process, so confirm your designated sponsor before you accept any offer.
How do I find U.S. roadway engineering employers open to J-1 trainees?
Many engineering consultancies and state transportation agencies host J-1 Trainees, but they rarely advertise this detail on standard job boards. Migrate Mate lets you filter roles by visa type so you can identify employers already familiar with J-1 host obligations, including training plan documentation and designated sponsor coordination. This saves significant time compared to cold outreach to firms that may never have hosted an exchange visitor.
Does a J-1 Roadway Engineer position count toward a PE license in the United States?
Work experience gained on a J-1 program can count toward Professional Engineer licensure requirements in most states, provided the work is performed under a licensed PE and is thoroughly documented. However, individual state boards set their own rules on experience verification for foreign-trained engineers. Contact the licensing board in the state where your host employer operates before your program begins to confirm documentation requirements.
What happens if my J-1 Trainee program ends before I receive a full-time offer?
J-1 Trainee programs for Roadway Engineers can last up to 18 months. When the program ends, your authorized stay ends with it and you have a 30-day grace period to depart unless you transition to another immigration status. Your host employer cannot simply extend your stay without the designated sponsor modifying or re-issuing your DS-2019. Plan any status change well before your program end date, as processing timelines for alternative statuses like H-1B or O-1 can take several months.
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