J-1 Visa Structural Project Engineer Jobs
Structural Project Engineer roles in the United States attract J-1 visa exchange visitors primarily through the Trainee and Research Scholar program categories. Finding a host employer willing to coordinate with a designated sponsor for DS-2019 sponsorship is the defining challenge, and the right job search strategy makes all the difference.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Do you want to help engineer what’s next?
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is a national engineering firm committed to delivering holistic advice for our clients’ most complex challenges. We leverage our collective and diverse experience, technical expertise, and industry knowledge of structures and building enclosures, advanced analysis, performance & code consulting, and applied science & research to deliver unrivaled, comprehensive solutions that drive superior performance. With 800 employees in offices nationwide, SGH’s industry-leading teams constantly seek to advance the meaning of what’s possible.
What makes careers at SGH so special?
The only way to advance is to question and explore. Every member of the SGH team is both a learner and an educator, committed to advancing ourselves, our teams, and our industry. Together we are creating a community that never settles for what is but always seeks what could be.
There are many reasons to love SGH:
- Our Work: Our clients trust us to bring clarity and deliver outstanding solutions for their most complex projects.
- Our People: We are bold thinkers and compassionate teammates, committed to lifelong learning and professional growth.
- Our Commitment: We live with integrity and embrace an obligation to give back to our professions and communities.
- Our Contribution: We offer a comprehensive and rich compensation and benefits package with company-paid and voluntary programs to help build healthy lifestyles, strong relationships, and future prosperity.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We want someone passionate about engineering who wants to gain invaluable experience.
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is seeking current students for a 2026 Internship in our Chicago, Illinois office.
As an Intern, you will work side-by-side with industry-leading experts in the office and in the field to gain hands-on experience while applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Assist with construction monitoring, field investigations, condition assessments, construction observations as well as project drafting, structural design and analysis, and site inspections.
- Analyze materials, support our petrography staff, develop test protocols, design and construct testing apparatus, perform tests, and analyze test data.
- Collaborate with SGH engineers to perform reconnaissance on existing structures, conduct field tests, or monitor construction in progress.
- Organize field data and assist with research to facilitate analysis, problem solving, and repair design.
- Perform analysis under the guidance of licensed professionals using a combination of hand calculations and analysis software.
- Assist with preparation of client deliverables, including construction documents, specifications, and written reports.
- Work may include travel and working from heights.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You’ll Need:
- Must be currently enrolled or plan to complete a MS in Civil, Structural, or Architectural engineering.
- Students should have an interest in civil and or structural engineering, materials science, architecture, and architectural engineering.
- Maintain high grades in their studies, interested in learning through hands-on work experience in a consulting engineering environment.
- Enthusiastic about the challenges associated with the development of sophisticated engineering work product in an atmosphere of high professionalism.
- Successful candidates must have strong communication abilities.
BENEFITS
Benefits Overview:
Full-time temporary employees are eligible for medical insurance, paid holidays and sick leave. Part-time temporary employees are eligible for sick leave.
Compensation:
This compensation range is a good faith estimate pursuant to applicable equal pay and pay transparency laws. The pay range is effective for 2026 and is based on enrollment in the applicable degree program as noted below. The actual rate will be dependent upon the candidate’s education level within the degree program.
- Undergraduate: $29.25 - $32.50 per hour
- Graduate: $33.75 - $34.75 per hour
- PhD student: $36.75 per hour
Technical Interns are eligible for a $1,000 sign-on bonus.
LOCATION
Location: Chicago, Illinois
SGH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all job applicants and employees. We consider all qualified applicants and encourage individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to apply. If the application system is not accessible to you, or you need a reasonable accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email jobs@sgh.com or call 781-907-9000 and ask for Human Resources.
INTRODUCTION
Do you want to help engineer what’s next?
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is a national engineering firm committed to delivering holistic advice for our clients’ most complex challenges. We leverage our collective and diverse experience, technical expertise, and industry knowledge of structures and building enclosures, advanced analysis, performance & code consulting, and applied science & research to deliver unrivaled, comprehensive solutions that drive superior performance. With 800 employees in offices nationwide, SGH’s industry-leading teams constantly seek to advance the meaning of what’s possible.
What makes careers at SGH so special?
The only way to advance is to question and explore. Every member of the SGH team is both a learner and an educator, committed to advancing ourselves, our teams, and our industry. Together we are creating a community that never settles for what is but always seeks what could be.
There are many reasons to love SGH:
- Our Work: Our clients trust us to bring clarity and deliver outstanding solutions for their most complex projects.
- Our People: We are bold thinkers and compassionate teammates, committed to lifelong learning and professional growth.
- Our Commitment: We live with integrity and embrace an obligation to give back to our professions and communities.
- Our Contribution: We offer a comprehensive and rich compensation and benefits package with company-paid and voluntary programs to help build healthy lifestyles, strong relationships, and future prosperity.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We want someone passionate about engineering who wants to gain invaluable experience.
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is seeking current students for a 2026 Internship in our Chicago, Illinois office.
As an Intern, you will work side-by-side with industry-leading experts in the office and in the field to gain hands-on experience while applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Assist with construction monitoring, field investigations, condition assessments, construction observations as well as project drafting, structural design and analysis, and site inspections.
- Analyze materials, support our petrography staff, develop test protocols, design and construct testing apparatus, perform tests, and analyze test data.
- Collaborate with SGH engineers to perform reconnaissance on existing structures, conduct field tests, or monitor construction in progress.
- Organize field data and assist with research to facilitate analysis, problem solving, and repair design.
- Perform analysis under the guidance of licensed professionals using a combination of hand calculations and analysis software.
- Assist with preparation of client deliverables, including construction documents, specifications, and written reports.
- Work may include travel and working from heights.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You’ll Need:
- Must be currently enrolled or plan to complete a MS in Civil, Structural, or Architectural engineering.
- Students should have an interest in civil and or structural engineering, materials science, architecture, and architectural engineering.
- Maintain high grades in their studies, interested in learning through hands-on work experience in a consulting engineering environment.
- Enthusiastic about the challenges associated with the development of sophisticated engineering work product in an atmosphere of high professionalism.
- Successful candidates must have strong communication abilities.
BENEFITS
Benefits Overview:
Full-time temporary employees are eligible for medical insurance, paid holidays and sick leave. Part-time temporary employees are eligible for sick leave.
Compensation:
This compensation range is a good faith estimate pursuant to applicable equal pay and pay transparency laws. The pay range is effective for 2026 and is based on enrollment in the applicable degree program as noted below. The actual rate will be dependent upon the candidate’s education level within the degree program.
- Undergraduate: $29.25 - $32.50 per hour
- Graduate: $33.75 - $34.75 per hour
- PhD student: $36.75 per hour
Technical Interns are eligible for a $1,000 sign-on bonus.
LOCATION
Location: Chicago, Illinois
SGH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all job applicants and employees. We consider all qualified applicants and encourage individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to apply. If the application system is not accessible to you, or you need a reasonable accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email jobs@sgh.com or call 781-907-9000 and ask for Human Resources.
See all J-1 Visa Structural Project Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Structural Project Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Structural Project Engineer
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
Confirm your engineering degree is evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's in civil or structural engineering. Many designated sponsors require a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved service before issuing a DS-2019 for Trainee applicants.
Build a training plan around measurable engineering milestones
Designated sponsors require a detailed Training or Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002). Structure yours around concrete deliverables like structural analysis software proficiency, load calculation reviews, and permit submission experience specific to U.S. building codes.
Target firms with active federal or municipal project portfolios
Structural engineering firms contracted for public infrastructure projects are accustomed to compliance documentation. These host employers are better positioned to coordinate with a designated J-1 sponsor because their HR teams already manage government reporting requirements.
Search for J-1-friendly structural roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter for Structural Project Engineer positions at U.S. firms that have previously hosted J-1 exchange visitors. This narrows your search to employers already familiar with the DS-2019 process and designated sponsor relationships.
Verify host employer obligations before accepting an offer
Once you have an offer, confirm your host employer understands they must pay J-1-level prevailing wages and maintain a compliant training environment. The designated sponsor, not the employer, issues the DS-2019, but the employer signs the training agreement and bears hosting responsibilities.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early
Structural Project Engineer roles tied to government-funded programs or skills on the Exchange Visitor Skills List may trigger a two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). Clarify your eligibility for a waiver before accepting a position if you plan to pursue an H-1B visa or green card afterward.
Structural Project Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Structural Project Engineer roles?
Most Structural Project Engineers enter the J-1 program under the Trainee category if they are recent graduates or early-career professionals with up to one year of post-degree experience, or the Intern category if they are still enrolled in a degree program. Senior engineers contributing to academic research may qualify under the Research Scholar category, which requires a host university or research institute as the employer.
How does J-1 sponsorship differ from employer visa sponsorship for engineers?
With J-1, the visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, that issues the DS-2019 form and monitors program compliance. The engineering firm hiring you is the host employer, not the visa sponsor. This differs from H-1B, where the employer files directly with USCIS. You must secure both a willing host employer and a designated sponsor before your J-1 can proceed.
What does the Form DS-7002 training plan need to cover for a structural engineer?
The DS-7002 must outline specific learning objectives tied to your engineering role, broken into phases with measurable outcomes. For a Structural Project Engineer, expect to document activities like structural load analysis, software tools such as ETABS or SAP2000, collaboration on permit documentation, and exposure to U.S. code compliance under ASCE and IBC standards. Vague descriptions of general engineering work are routinely rejected by designated sponsors.
How do I find U.S. engineering firms that will work with a J-1 designated sponsor?
Use Migrate Mate to identify Structural Project Engineer openings at firms that have previously hosted J-1 exchange visitors. Many mid-size structural and civil engineering practices are open to the arrangement but do not advertise it explicitly. Direct conversations with the hiring manager about your J-1 status, before the offer stage, help confirm whether the firm is prepared to coordinate with a designated sponsor organization.
Can the two-year home residency requirement affect my future visa options after a J-1 engineering role?
Yes. If your home country government funded your exchange program, if your skills appear on the DOS Exchange Visitor Skills List, or if you received U.S. government funding, you may be subject to the two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). This bars you from changing to H-1B or permanent resident status until you fulfill or waive the requirement. Confirm your situation with your designated sponsor before signing any employment offer.