OPT Bridge Engineer Jobs
Bridge Engineer jobs are strong OPT fits because the role consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in civil or structural engineering. Most positions support H-1B visa sponsorship, giving STEM OPT students a clear 3-year runway to pursue long-term status.
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Get Access To All JobsThis Opportunity
WSP is currently initiating a search for an Early Career Bridge Inspection, Structural Engineer to join our exceptional Bridge & Infrastructure Inspection Team in New England, which includes offices in Boston, MA; Worcester, MA; Glastonbury, CT; Merrimack, NH and Providence, RI.
Be a part of a collaborative team of experts and contribute to projects that help shape our communities and our future.
Here at WSP, anything is within our reach and yours as a WSP employee. Come join us and help shape the future!
Your Impact
- Work with our Bridge & Infrastructure Inspection Team on a variety of inspection related projects.
- Work as a Team Member on Bridge, Tunnel & Ancillary Inspections.
- Assist in the preparation of Bridge & Tunnel Load Ratings.
- Assist with the development of plans/sketches using AutoCAD.
- Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work.
- Support a variety of engineering tasks with the goal to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
- Learn basic principles of Bridge and Transportation Engineering.
- Assist with project research, field work, and preliminary design calculations and analysis.
- Support preparation of cost proposals and scope of work documents.
- Assist in collecting and maintaining project documentation.
- Complete training on assignment specific tasks.
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Structural or Civil Engineering, or equivalent.
- 0 to 1 years of relevant post education experience in bridge, tunnel or ancillary inspection, design and/or other infrastructure related work.
- Demonstrated interest in structures, transportation or related field and have a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
- Physically capable of performing continuous field work, including working at heights and in close quarters; climbing; carrying ladders and gear; working in adverse weather conditions; and working at night; around moving vehicles; etc.
- This position has the potential to work 50% of the time in the field and 50% in the office.
- Successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Record check and a valid Driver’s License is required.
- Competent interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
- Capable of taking direction from leadership, mentors, and managers to execute projects.
- Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
- Occasional travel, including potential overnight stays, may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Engineer in Training Certification.
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD preferred.
- A member of and/or actively participate in local professional practice organizations.
Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
WSP Benefits:
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.
Compensation:
- Expected Salary (all locations): $61,300 - $96,030
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
LI-AC2
About WSP
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
This Opportunity
WSP is currently initiating a search for an Early Career Bridge Inspection, Structural Engineer to join our exceptional Bridge & Infrastructure Inspection Team in New England, which includes offices in Boston, MA; Worcester, MA; Glastonbury, CT; Merrimack, NH and Providence, RI.
Be a part of a collaborative team of experts and contribute to projects that help shape our communities and our future.
Here at WSP, anything is within our reach and yours as a WSP employee. Come join us and help shape the future!
Your Impact
- Work with our Bridge & Infrastructure Inspection Team on a variety of inspection related projects.
- Work as a Team Member on Bridge, Tunnel & Ancillary Inspections.
- Assist in the preparation of Bridge & Tunnel Load Ratings.
- Assist with the development of plans/sketches using AutoCAD.
- Work with cross-functional teams in executing project work.
- Support a variety of engineering tasks with the goal to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
- Learn basic principles of Bridge and Transportation Engineering.
- Assist with project research, field work, and preliminary design calculations and analysis.
- Support preparation of cost proposals and scope of work documents.
- Assist in collecting and maintaining project documentation.
- Complete training on assignment specific tasks.
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Structural or Civil Engineering, or equivalent.
- 0 to 1 years of relevant post education experience in bridge, tunnel or ancillary inspection, design and/or other infrastructure related work.
- Demonstrated interest in structures, transportation or related field and have a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
- Physically capable of performing continuous field work, including working at heights and in close quarters; climbing; carrying ladders and gear; working in adverse weather conditions; and working at night; around moving vehicles; etc.
- This position has the potential to work 50% of the time in the field and 50% in the office.
- Successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Record check and a valid Driver’s License is required.
- Competent interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
- Capable of taking direction from leadership, mentors, and managers to execute projects.
- Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
- Occasional travel, including potential overnight stays, may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Engineer in Training Certification.
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD preferred.
- A member of and/or actively participate in local professional practice organizations.
Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
WSP Benefits:
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.
Compensation:
- Expected Salary (all locations): $61,300 - $96,030
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
LI-AC2
About WSP
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
See all 147+ OPT Bridge Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Bridge Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Bridge Engineer
Target firms with active federal contracts
Engineering consultancies and state DOT contractors regularly file H-1B visa petitions for bridge engineers. Firms with federal infrastructure work have established sponsorship pipelines and are accustomed to navigating work authorization for international hires.
Verify your STEM OPT eligibility early
Civil and structural engineering degrees from STEM-designated programs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before applying so you can accurately communicate your full three-year OPT timeline to employers.
Frame your OPT timeline around project cycles
Bridge projects typically run two to five years. Emphasize to employers that your STEM OPT provides three years of authorization, which covers full project delivery. Connecting your timeline to project milestones makes sponsorship feel like an investment, not a risk.
Highlight licensure progress as a retention signal
Enrolling in or passing the FE exam signals long-term commitment to U.S. practice. Employers sponsoring H-1B petitions want engineers who plan to stay. Mentioning active PE licensure pursuit directly addresses concerns about whether sponsoring you is worth the effort.
Prioritize mid-size structural consultancies over large generalists
Mid-size firms specializing in bridge and transportation structures often have faster hiring decisions and more direct access to principals who approve sponsorship. Large generalist firms may have more bureaucracy and slower OPT-to-H-1B processes for specialized engineering roles.
Get comfortable discussing OPT clearly and confidently
Many hiring managers confuse OPT with H-1B sponsorship requirements. Prepare a concise explanation: you have authorization now, STEM extension gives three years total, and H-1B sponsorship would begin in year two. Clarity reduces employer hesitation significantly.
Bridge Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Bridge Engineer jobs typically qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Civil engineering, structural engineering, and closely related concentrations are STEM-designated fields under DHS guidelines. If your degree program carries a qualifying CIP code, you're eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12 months, giving you three years total to work and pursue H-1B sponsorship.
How do I find Bridge Engineer employers who sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search. Rather than guessing which firms sponsor, you can browse Bridge Engineer roles from employers who have indicated sponsorship willingness. Firms with active federal transportation contracts and state DOT work tend to have the most established sponsorship processes for structural and civil engineering roles.
Is Bridge Engineer considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, consistently. Bridge engineering requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering, which satisfies the specialty occupation standard USCIS applies. Employers and immigration attorneys rarely face challenges establishing specialty occupation status for this role, making it one of the more straightforward engineering titles to sponsor.
Can I work on bridge projects for a state DOT on OPT?
Yes, with an important caveat. State DOT positions are government roles, and some states restrict government employment to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. However, most bridge engineering work for state DOTs is performed through private consulting firms under contract, not as direct state employees. Those private firm positions are fully open to OPT workers.
What happens to my OPT status if my Bridge Engineer employer changes projects or locations?
OPT authorization is tied to your employment in a field related to your degree, not to a specific project or office location. Moving between projects or work sites within the same employer doesn't affect your status. If you change employers, you must update your employer information with your DSO and ensure the new role still aligns with your degree field.