J-1 Visa Structural Drafter Jobs
Structural Drafter roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship, most commonly under the Trainee or Intern program categories. Designated sponsor organizations issue your DS-2019, making it possible to gain hands-on drafting experience at U.S. architecture, engineering, and construction firms.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world’s challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career.
Our Forensic practice investigates problems in the built environment and provides evidence-based solutions founded on rigorous science and physics. We assist attorneys, property managers, building owners, contractors, manufacturers, and design professionals with a wide range of engineering and architectural issues.
Your Role
As a Structural Engineer Intern in our Forensics Practice, you will gain hands-on experience investigating structural failures, damage, and performance issues across buildings, infrastructure, and specialty structures. You will collaborate with talented professionals across disciplines in a dynamic, team-oriented environment, gaining meaningful exposure to innovative design and engineering solutions. This is a full-time co-op position for Spring 2027.
- Assist in field investigations, documenting conditions, and collecting data for analysis.
- Support structural evaluations using engineering tools and forensic methodologies.
- Help prepare technical reports and exhibits for clients and legal proceedings.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop practical solutions for repair or mitigation.
What You'll Bring
- Current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in civil, structural, or architectural engineering.
- Strong academic record and demonstrated interest in structural design and forensic problem-solving.
- Experience with Revit, AutoCAD, or analysis software is a plus but not required.
Compensation
The rate for this position generally is $25 - $35 hourly. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the New York Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful New York applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in New York or perform the position from New York. Similar positions located outside of New York will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New York Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employee already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee’s pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.
Benefits
Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare
- Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Commuter Transit (where available)
- 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments
- Fitness Reimbursement
- And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Thornton Tomasetti Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Thornton Tomasetti are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.
To request a reasonable accommodation during the application process for this role, please contact talentconcierge@throntontomasetti.com
Beware Of Recruitment Fraud: Scammers may attempt to impersonate Thornton Tomasetti. Messages from our firm come only from the ThorntonTomasetti.com domain, Thornton Tomasetti does not use any third-party recruiters. When in doubt, please contact us through our web form here and see how you can protect yourself online here.
INTRODUCTION
Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world’s challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career.
Our Forensic practice investigates problems in the built environment and provides evidence-based solutions founded on rigorous science and physics. We assist attorneys, property managers, building owners, contractors, manufacturers, and design professionals with a wide range of engineering and architectural issues.
Your Role
As a Structural Engineer Intern in our Forensics Practice, you will gain hands-on experience investigating structural failures, damage, and performance issues across buildings, infrastructure, and specialty structures. You will collaborate with talented professionals across disciplines in a dynamic, team-oriented environment, gaining meaningful exposure to innovative design and engineering solutions. This is a full-time co-op position for Spring 2027.
- Assist in field investigations, documenting conditions, and collecting data for analysis.
- Support structural evaluations using engineering tools and forensic methodologies.
- Help prepare technical reports and exhibits for clients and legal proceedings.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop practical solutions for repair or mitigation.
What You'll Bring
- Current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in civil, structural, or architectural engineering.
- Strong academic record and demonstrated interest in structural design and forensic problem-solving.
- Experience with Revit, AutoCAD, or analysis software is a plus but not required.
Compensation
The rate for this position generally is $25 - $35 hourly. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the New York Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful New York applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in New York or perform the position from New York. Similar positions located outside of New York will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New York Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employee already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee’s pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.
Benefits
Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare
- Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Commuter Transit (where available)
- 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments
- Fitness Reimbursement
- And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Thornton Tomasetti Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Thornton Tomasetti are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.
To request a reasonable accommodation during the application process for this role, please contact talentconcierge@throntontomasetti.com
Beware Of Recruitment Fraud: Scammers may attempt to impersonate Thornton Tomasetti. Messages from our firm come only from the ThorntonTomasetti.com domain, Thornton Tomasetti does not use any third-party recruiters. When in doubt, please contact us through our web form here and see how you can protect yourself online here.
See all 401+ Structural Drafter jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Structural Drafter roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Structural Drafter
Build a portfolio proving specialty occupation fit
Compile CAD drawings, BIM models, and structural details that demonstrate professional-level drafting skills. J-1 Trainee sponsors evaluate whether your background substantiates a formal training plan, so documentation of completed projects matters more than a job title.
Target firms with active J-1 host history
Search for structural engineering and architecture firms that have previously hosted J-1 Trainees. Use Migrate Mate to filter U.S. employers whose roles align with J-1 sponsorship, narrowing your search before you spend time on outreach.
Clarify Intern versus Trainee eligibility early
If you're currently enrolled in a degree program abroad, the Intern category applies. If you graduated within the past 12 months or have at least one year of professional drafting experience, you qualify for the Trainee category instead. Applying under the wrong category causes delays.
Confirm the host employer will sign your training plan
The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, but the host employer must co-sign a structured Training or Internship Placement Plan. Get written confirmation from a hiring manager or HR contact before submitting your application to the sponsor organization.
Check whether your role triggers the home residency requirement
Some J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home-country residency requirement after their program ends, which affects future U.S. visa eligibility. Confirm your status with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer, particularly if you plan to pursue an H-1B later.
Verify prevailing wage alignment using OFLC Wage Search
Host employers must compensate J-1 Trainees at wages comparable to U.S. workers in the same role. Cross-check the offered salary against the OFLC Wage Search for your target metro area and occupation before your training plan is submitted.
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Find Structural Drafter JobsStructural Drafter J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Structural Drafter positions?
Most Structural Drafter candidates qualify under the Trainee category, which is designed for foreign nationals with a degree in engineering, architecture, or a related field, or at least one year of relevant professional experience. Current students enrolled in a degree program abroad may qualify under the Intern category instead, but that requires concurrent enrollment.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Structural Drafter role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, not the employer. The employer acts as a host organization and must agree to a structured training plan. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, monitors program compliance, and serves as your point of contact with the State Department throughout your program.
How do I find U.S. firms that will host a J-1 Structural Drafter?
Use Migrate Mate to search for Structural Drafter roles at U.S. employers with J-1 sponsorship alignment. Not every employer advertises J-1 openings explicitly, so targeting firms in structural engineering, civil engineering consulting, and architecture that have hosted international professionals previously improves your chances of finding a willing host organization.
Does a Structural Drafter J-1 program carry the two-year home residency requirement?
It depends on your funding source and country of nationality. If your training is funded by your home country government or a U.S. government agency, or if your country is on the State Department's exchange visitor skills list, the two-year requirement applies. Your designated sponsor can confirm your specific status before you commit to a program, which matters significantly if you intend to pursue an H-1B or green card afterward.
What documents do I need before a designated sponsor will issue my DS-2019?
Sponsors typically require proof of your drafting qualifications, a signed training placement plan from the host employer, evidence of English proficiency, health insurance documentation, and proof of sufficient financial support. For Structural Drafter applicants, a portfolio of technical drawings or BIM project samples strengthens your application by demonstrating that the proposed training program is substantive and tied to your existing skill set.
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