OPT Aviation Jobs
Aviation jobs on OPT span aircraft maintenance, air traffic control support, aerospace engineering, and airline operations. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions under engineering or transportation science CIP codes, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization without employer H-1B visa sponsorship on day one.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
For six decades Garver has provided quality aviation planning and design services for more than 250 clients nationwide. Our team understands the complexities of airport planning and development and the multitude of factors that must be diligently managed to ensure a project’s success. Garver’s Aviation Team maintains a diverse, skilled planning and design team dedicated to providing the expertise and leadership needed to assist our clients in meeting both current and future needs.
Garver’s Aviation Project Engineer will play an important role in the design and delivery of airport improvement projects, including runways, taxiways, aprons, airfield grading, drainage, hangars, fuel farms, parking areas, terminal buildings, and other aviation-related infrastructure. The Aviation Project Engineer will collaborate with a multi-disciplined team, work with a variety of clients, and produce high-quality design phase deliverables, including drawings, specifications, cost estimates, exhibits, technical reports, and narratives. This role also involves supporting the development of construction documents through drafting, quantity calculations, and technical coordination using tools such as AutoCAD Civil 3D and other civil design software.
At Garver, we are committed to creating an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to do their best work while serving clients and communities with excellence. If you are looking for an opportunity to contribute to meaningful airport infrastructure projects while building your expertise in an environment that supports professional growth and teamwork, we encourage you to apply for and learn more about a career with Garver.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform periodic onsite construction observation duties
- Provide construction administration support
- Review projects under construction and provide feedback as needed
- Detail-oriented and a team player with solid self-initiative to meet deadlines
- Development of Plans, Specifications, Reports, Estimates, and other technical deliverables
- Design projects in AutoCAD and Civil 3D
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited program
- 1-4 years of related experience
- Strong working knowledge and ability to design in CAD programs, including AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Passed the FE exam
- Strong written and oral communication skills with both internal employees and external clients
- Some travel may be required (approximately 10% with occasional overnight)
Grow With Us
Garver offers its employees programs such as company-paid professional memberships, company support for industry licenses and continuing education opportunities that foster a progressive atmosphere. Garver provides the tools, resources, and environment to develop leaders, stimulate ideas, and accomplish projects. By offering highly competitive salary packages, attractive benefits, and a comprehensive wellness program; Garver walks the talk when it comes to work-life balance.
Founded in 1919, Garver is an employee-owned engineering, planning, and environmental services firm focused on aviation, transportation, buildings, federal, water and wastewater services; surveying; advisory services; and construction engineering and inspection. In the top 100 of Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms list, with more than 1,400 employees, Garver provides an exceptional level of client service that reflects our people-first culture, which has achieved Zweig Group Best Firm to Work For Legacy Status. Learn how Garver invests in people and places they call home at GarverUSA.com.
Garver is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Our employment practices are based upon an individual's capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by law.
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INTRODUCTION
For six decades Garver has provided quality aviation planning and design services for more than 250 clients nationwide. Our team understands the complexities of airport planning and development and the multitude of factors that must be diligently managed to ensure a project’s success. Garver’s Aviation Team maintains a diverse, skilled planning and design team dedicated to providing the expertise and leadership needed to assist our clients in meeting both current and future needs.
Garver’s Aviation Project Engineer will play an important role in the design and delivery of airport improvement projects, including runways, taxiways, aprons, airfield grading, drainage, hangars, fuel farms, parking areas, terminal buildings, and other aviation-related infrastructure. The Aviation Project Engineer will collaborate with a multi-disciplined team, work with a variety of clients, and produce high-quality design phase deliverables, including drawings, specifications, cost estimates, exhibits, technical reports, and narratives. This role also involves supporting the development of construction documents through drafting, quantity calculations, and technical coordination using tools such as AutoCAD Civil 3D and other civil design software.
At Garver, we are committed to creating an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to do their best work while serving clients and communities with excellence. If you are looking for an opportunity to contribute to meaningful airport infrastructure projects while building your expertise in an environment that supports professional growth and teamwork, we encourage you to apply for and learn more about a career with Garver.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform periodic onsite construction observation duties
- Provide construction administration support
- Review projects under construction and provide feedback as needed
- Detail-oriented and a team player with solid self-initiative to meet deadlines
- Development of Plans, Specifications, Reports, Estimates, and other technical deliverables
- Design projects in AutoCAD and Civil 3D
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited program
- 1-4 years of related experience
- Strong working knowledge and ability to design in CAD programs, including AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Passed the FE exam
- Strong written and oral communication skills with both internal employees and external clients
- Some travel may be required (approximately 10% with occasional overnight)
Grow With Us
Garver offers its employees programs such as company-paid professional memberships, company support for industry licenses and continuing education opportunities that foster a progressive atmosphere. Garver provides the tools, resources, and environment to develop leaders, stimulate ideas, and accomplish projects. By offering highly competitive salary packages, attractive benefits, and a comprehensive wellness program; Garver walks the talk when it comes to work-life balance.
Founded in 1919, Garver is an employee-owned engineering, planning, and environmental services firm focused on aviation, transportation, buildings, federal, water and wastewater services; surveying; advisory services; and construction engineering and inspection. In the top 100 of Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms list, with more than 1,400 employees, Garver provides an exceptional level of client service that reflects our people-first culture, which has achieved Zweig Group Best Firm to Work For Legacy Status. Learn how Garver invests in people and places they call home at GarverUSA.com.
Garver is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Our employment practices are based upon an individual's capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by law.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Aviation
Confirm your CIP code qualifies for STEM OPT
Aviation roles under aerospace engineering, aeronautical science, or air transportation often qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Verify your degree's CIP code against the official STEM OPT designated degree program list before applying.
Target FAA-regulated employers with established hiring pipelines
Airlines, MRO facilities, and aerospace contractors operating under FAA certification routinely hire international students. These organizations understand OPT authorization and have HR processes designed to handle work authorization documentation without friction.
Highlight your security clearance eligibility early
Some aviation roles require or prefer U.S. security clearances, which OPT students cannot hold. Filter for civilian commercial roles at airlines or private aerospace firms and address your authorization status proactively in your cover letter.
File your STEM OPT extension 90 days before expiration
USCIS allows you to file up to 90 days before your initial OPT ends. Filing early keeps you authorized during processing. A timely application also preserves your 180-day cap for remaining employment gaps.
Use your university's designated school official strategically
Your DSO must recommend your STEM OPT extension in SEVIS before you file with USCIS. Meet with them early, confirm your employer qualifies, and get the I-20 endorsement completed well before the 90-day filing window opens.
Negotiate start dates that account for OPT reporting timelines
OPT requires you to report new employers within 10 days of starting. When negotiating with aviation employers, build in time to update your SEVIS record and confirm your authorization documentation is in order before your first day.
Aviation OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do aviation jobs typically qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many aviation roles qualify, but it depends on your degree. Aerospace engineering, aeronautical science, aviation systems, and air transportation degrees commonly appear on the STEM designated degree program list. Roles tied to non-STEM degrees like aviation management may only qualify for the standard 12-month OPT period. Always verify your specific CIP code before applying.
Can I work for an airline or airport on OPT?
Yes. Airlines, airport authorities, and ground handling companies regularly hire F-1 OPT students for operations, engineering, logistics, and safety roles. These employers are accustomed to work authorization requirements. Security-sensitive positions requiring TSA or DOD clearances may be restricted, so focus on civilian operations and engineering tracks when searching on Migrate Mate.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I'm laid off from an aviation employer?
You have a cumulative 150-day unemployment limit during standard OPT, which extends to 150 days total across your combined initial and STEM OPT periods. If you lose your aviation job, report the change to your DSO immediately and begin searching for a new qualifying role. Acting quickly protects your remaining authorized days and keeps your status intact.
Do aviation employers need to do anything special to hire me on OPT?
For initial OPT, employers simply verify your EAD card and complete Form I-9. For STEM OPT, employers must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan (Form I-983) with you. Most major airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and MRO companies already use E-Verify, making the STEM OPT process straightforward for both sides.
How do I find aviation employers willing to hire OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters aviation job listings specifically for employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship, saving you from applying to positions that will screen you out. Look for roles at commercial airlines, aerospace engineering firms, air traffic management companies, and aviation safety consultancies. These sectors have historically hired international talent and are more likely to support future H-1B visa sponsorship.