OPT CAD Designer Jobs
CAD Designer jobs on OPT are available across engineering, architecture, manufacturing, and product design firms. Most roles require proficiency in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or Revit alongside a degree in engineering, architecture, or industrial design. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific degree classification.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We are seeking a talented and detail-oriented CAD Designer / Drafter to join the Earthworks Landscape team. This position plays a key role in transforming landscape concepts into high-quality technical drawings, renderings, and construction-ready plans that support our luxury outdoor living projects throughout the Lowcountry. The ideal candidate is creative, organized, technically skilled, and passionate about design excellence.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Create detailed 2D CAD drawings, renderings, and landscape construction documents
- Translate conceptual ideas, sketches, and site measurements into accurate design plans
- Collaborate closely with design team
- Prepare planting plans, hardscape layouts, grading plans, lighting plans, and irrigation layouts
- Revise drawings based on client feedback, field conditions, and project updates
- Assist in developing presentation materials for client meetings
- Maintain organized project files and drawing libraries
- Support field teams with as-built drawings and project revisions when necessary
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Proficiency in CAD software such as AutoCAD, or similar design platforms
- Experience with 3D rendering and visualization software is a plus
- Strong understanding of landscape construction, hardscape materials, and grading concepts preferred
- Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Degree or certification in CAD Design, Landscape Design, Drafting, or related field preferred
- Previous experience in landscape, construction, or outdoor living industries is a plus
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate has both technical expertise and a creative eye for design. We are looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, takes pride in producing high-quality work, and is excited to help bring luxury outdoor living spaces to life.
COMPENSATION
- Pay: $26.46 - $31.87 per hour
BENEFITS
- 401(k)
- Flexible schedule
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
Experience
- AutoCAD: 1 year (Required)
LOCATION
Work Location: In person
INTRODUCTION
We are seeking a talented and detail-oriented CAD Designer / Drafter to join the Earthworks Landscape team. This position plays a key role in transforming landscape concepts into high-quality technical drawings, renderings, and construction-ready plans that support our luxury outdoor living projects throughout the Lowcountry. The ideal candidate is creative, organized, technically skilled, and passionate about design excellence.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Create detailed 2D CAD drawings, renderings, and landscape construction documents
- Translate conceptual ideas, sketches, and site measurements into accurate design plans
- Collaborate closely with design team
- Prepare planting plans, hardscape layouts, grading plans, lighting plans, and irrigation layouts
- Revise drawings based on client feedback, field conditions, and project updates
- Assist in developing presentation materials for client meetings
- Maintain organized project files and drawing libraries
- Support field teams with as-built drawings and project revisions when necessary
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Proficiency in CAD software such as AutoCAD, or similar design platforms
- Experience with 3D rendering and visualization software is a plus
- Strong understanding of landscape construction, hardscape materials, and grading concepts preferred
- Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Degree or certification in CAD Design, Landscape Design, Drafting, or related field preferred
- Previous experience in landscape, construction, or outdoor living industries is a plus
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate has both technical expertise and a creative eye for design. We are looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, takes pride in producing high-quality work, and is excited to help bring luxury outdoor living spaces to life.
COMPENSATION
- Pay: $26.46 - $31.87 per hour
BENEFITS
- 401(k)
- Flexible schedule
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
Experience
- AutoCAD: 1 year (Required)
LOCATION
Work Location: In person
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a CAD Designer
Target STEM-designated degree holders first
If your degree falls under a STEM CIP code, you qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your designation with your DSO before applying so you can honestly tell employers you have up to three years of OPT work authorization available.
Lead with your software stack in every application
CAD Designer roles are filtered heavily by software proficiency. List every platform you know, including AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Revit, CATIA, and Fusion 360, in your resume header or skills section so recruiters find you before they read a single sentence.
Show a portfolio with measurable project outcomes
Employers hiring CAD Designers want proof of output. Include portfolio links showing final drawings, assemblies, or renderings alongside context like tolerances met, production timelines hit, or design iterations reduced. Quantified outcomes make your OPT application stand out.
Focus on mid-size manufacturers and engineering firms
Large defense contractors often require security clearances that exclude OPT holders. Mid-size manufacturers, industrial design studios, and mechanical engineering consultancies typically sponsor OPT without those restrictions and hire CAD Designers on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Confirm your role qualifies as directly related to your degree
USCIS requires OPT employment to be directly related to your degree field. A mechanical engineering graduate working in structural CAD design is clearly compliant. If your degree and role differ significantly, consult your DSO before accepting an offer to avoid status violations.
Start your employer search before your OPT start date
You can begin working on OPT only after your EAD arrives and your start date passes. Begin applying at least three months early so offer negotiations and onboarding timelines align with your authorized work period, leaving no gaps in your employment authorization.
CAD Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do CAD Designer jobs typically sponsor OPT students?
Many do, particularly in manufacturing, architecture, and mechanical engineering. Employers in these sectors are accustomed to hiring international talent and understand OPT work authorization. Browse CAD Designer roles on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for positions open to OPT candidates, to find employers actively willing to sponsor.
Does a CAD Designer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not your job title. If your degree in mechanical engineering, industrial design, architecture, or a related field carries a STEM CIP code, you qualify for the 24-month extension. Your DSO can confirm your degree's designation. The CAD Designer role itself does not independently trigger STEM OPT eligibility.
Can I work as a CAD Designer on OPT if my degree is in architecture rather than engineering?
Yes. OPT requires that your job be directly related to your degree field, and architecture programs routinely include CAD as a core competency. A CAD Designer role focused on building design, construction documentation, or BIM modeling would satisfy the direct relationship requirement for an architecture graduate.
Are there CAD Designer roles I should avoid as an OPT student?
Avoid roles at federal defense contractors or positions requiring a security clearance, as OPT holders are generally ineligible. Also avoid roles where CAD work is incidental to a broader non-design function, since your employment must be directly related to your degree. When in doubt, review the job description with your DSO before applying.
How much work authorization time should I disclose to a CAD Designer employer?
Be straightforward. Standard OPT provides 12 months of authorization. If you hold a STEM-eligible degree, disclose that a 24-month extension is available, giving the employer a total of up to 36 months before H-1B visa sponsorship becomes necessary. Employers making multi-year hiring decisions respond better to clarity than vague answers about future authorization.