J-1 Visa Structural Engineer Jobs
Structural engineer roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Research Scholar category, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsor organizations issue your DS-2019 while a U.S. engineering firm or institution serves as your host employer.
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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 392+ Structural Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Structural Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Structural Engineer
Align your credentials with specialty occupation standards
Get your engineering degree evaluated by a NACES-accredited credential assessment service before applying. Sponsors and host employers need to confirm your qualifications meet U.S. equivalency, and delays at this stage push back your DS-2019 issuance.
Build a training plan around PE licensure milestones
J-1 Trainee programs require a formal training plan. Structure yours around identifiable engineering competencies tied to PE exam preparation, since sponsors like Cultural Vistas expect measurable skill objectives that go beyond day-to-day project work.
Target firms with active structural engineering project pipelines
Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers actively hosting international engineers, then cross-reference their project portfolio. Firms with ongoing infrastructure or commercial construction work are far more likely to commit to the J-1 host employer agreement.
Confirm the 2-year home residency rule applies to your country
If your home country appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List or your program is government-funded, the two-year home residency requirement applies before you can change status to H-1B or L-1. Verify your status with your designated sponsor before accepting any offer.
Request the host employer sign a site agreement early
Many structural engineering firms don't know they need to execute a host employer agreement with your designated sponsor. Raise this in the first conversation with HR, not after the offer letter, so compliance paperwork doesn't stall your program start date.
Check prevailing wage requirements for your work location
Although J-1 Trainees aren't subject to DOL PERM, your offer must reflect fair compensation for the role and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up Level I or II wages for structural engineer positions in your target metro before negotiating.
Structural Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Structural Engineer JobsStructural Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a structural engineer?
It depends on your career stage. If you're currently enrolled in a degree program or recently graduated, the Intern category covers short-term, curriculum-related placements. If you've completed your degree and have at least one year of relevant work experience, the Trainee category is the right fit for gaining hands-on structural engineering experience at a U.S. host firm.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a structural engineer role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the engineering firm that hires you. Designated sponsors such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT issue your DS-2019 form and oversee program compliance. The engineering firm functions as your host employer and provides the work environment, but it is not your visa sponsor in the legal sense.
How do I find structural engineering firms that are open to J-1 host arrangements?
Most engineering firms don't advertise J-1 host positions because the process is unfamiliar to them. Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. employers with a history of hosting international engineering talent, so you can focus your outreach on firms already comfortable with the documentation and training plan requirements that come with a J-1 program.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect structural engineers on J-1?
It can. If your home country is on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, which includes many countries with strong engineering workforces, or if your training is funded by your home government, you're subject to a two-year home residency requirement before switching to H-1B or applying for permanent residence. Confirm your eligibility with your designated sponsor before you commit to a program.
What does the J-1 training plan need to include for a structural engineering placement?
Your training plan, called the DS-7002 for the Trainee category, must outline specific structural engineering competencies you'll develop, the supervision structure, and a phase-by-phase schedule. Vague objectives like 'assist with design projects' won't pass sponsor review. Tie each phase to measurable skills such as load analysis methods, software proficiency in tools like ETABS or SAP2000, or code compliance under IBC or ASCE standards.
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