OPT Civil Designer Jobs
Civil Designer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or a related field. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in infrastructure, transportation, and land development regularly hire OPT candidates with CAD and design software proficiency.
Find OPT Civil Designer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 45+ Civil Designer jobs
See all 45+ Civil Designer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Civil Designer roles.
Get Access To All JobsDescription
The Staff Civil Designer will play a vital role in assisting with site civil design and land development for innovative projects within the Oil, Gas, & Chemicals division. This position focuses on developing the critical civil infrastructure required for midstream and downstream facilities such as NGL fractionation plants, terminals, pipeline stations, refineries, and other petrochemical facilities.
- Develop design deliverables for civil engineering projects including site design, land development, roads, storm drainage systems, storm water management facilities, and sediment and erosion control.
- Develop 3D model and drawings for production work including problem analysis, design layout, and calculations on non-routine assignments of substantial variety and complexity.
- Execute a variety of civil design assignments using prescribed methods and standard techniques, including drawing sequence and presentation, sizing various system components, and refining rough sketches.
- Execute changes to designs or sketches and mark-ups on ongoing projects.
- Analyze reports, maps, drawings, tests, and other topographical and geologic data to plan and design projects.
- Examine vendor drawings and equipment documentation across civil and other engineering disciplines to ensure compliance and alignment with the civil design.
- Responsible for incorporating design codes and specifications related to CADD design requirements.
- Review design drawings for quality assurance within scope, budget and schedule.
- Review and check design work performed by other designers including high value engineering centers.
- Report volume calculations for excavation, dredging, and upland site grading.
- Review schedules, budgets and project criteria into civil design and layouts.
- Responsible for revisions of project drawings, plot files and project-related information storage in a logical and well-structured manner.
- Comply with all policies and standards.
- Other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in drafting technology or a related field and 7 years of related experience required, or an Associate Degree and 8 years of related experience required, or 9 years of progressive detailing and design experience required.
- Thorough understanding of design software such as: AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, and Excel to develop the design deliverables.
- Thorough knowledge in the theory and practices of civil discipline; competent in the fundamental concepts of other disciplines as they relate to the assigned discipline.
- Ability to work collaboratively with others (Project Managers, Engineers and Designers) in a multi-discipline project team environment to resolve design or drawing issues as appropriate and to accomplish objectives.
- Excellent written & verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Computer Aided Drafting & Design
Primary Location US-TX-Houston
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
Req ID: 265378
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-JJ #OGC
Description
The Staff Civil Designer will play a vital role in assisting with site civil design and land development for innovative projects within the Oil, Gas, & Chemicals division. This position focuses on developing the critical civil infrastructure required for midstream and downstream facilities such as NGL fractionation plants, terminals, pipeline stations, refineries, and other petrochemical facilities.
- Develop design deliverables for civil engineering projects including site design, land development, roads, storm drainage systems, storm water management facilities, and sediment and erosion control.
- Develop 3D model and drawings for production work including problem analysis, design layout, and calculations on non-routine assignments of substantial variety and complexity.
- Execute a variety of civil design assignments using prescribed methods and standard techniques, including drawing sequence and presentation, sizing various system components, and refining rough sketches.
- Execute changes to designs or sketches and mark-ups on ongoing projects.
- Analyze reports, maps, drawings, tests, and other topographical and geologic data to plan and design projects.
- Examine vendor drawings and equipment documentation across civil and other engineering disciplines to ensure compliance and alignment with the civil design.
- Responsible for incorporating design codes and specifications related to CADD design requirements.
- Review design drawings for quality assurance within scope, budget and schedule.
- Review and check design work performed by other designers including high value engineering centers.
- Report volume calculations for excavation, dredging, and upland site grading.
- Review schedules, budgets and project criteria into civil design and layouts.
- Responsible for revisions of project drawings, plot files and project-related information storage in a logical and well-structured manner.
- Comply with all policies and standards.
- Other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in drafting technology or a related field and 7 years of related experience required, or an Associate Degree and 8 years of related experience required, or 9 years of progressive detailing and design experience required.
- Thorough understanding of design software such as: AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, and Excel to develop the design deliverables.
- Thorough knowledge in the theory and practices of civil discipline; competent in the fundamental concepts of other disciplines as they relate to the assigned discipline.
- Ability to work collaboratively with others (Project Managers, Engineers and Designers) in a multi-discipline project team environment to resolve design or drawing issues as appropriate and to accomplish objectives.
- Excellent written & verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Computer Aided Drafting & Design
Primary Location US-TX-Houston
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
Req ID: 265378
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-JJ #OGC
See all 45+ OPT Civil Designer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Civil Designer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Civil Designer
Lead with your design software skills
Civil designers live in AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, and similar tools. List every platform you're proficient in prominently on your resume. Employers scanning for OPT candidates want to know you're productive from day one, not a training investment.
Target firms with active infrastructure contracts
Engineering and consulting firms with active DOT, municipal, or federal contracts hire designers consistently and have established OPT sponsorship workflows. These firms need production capacity on project teams, which creates recurring entry-level demand that fits your timeline well.
Clarify your STEM OPT timeline upfront
If your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension, confirm it with your DSO before applying. Communicating a 36-month authorization window rather than 12 months meaningfully reduces employer hesitation and makes you a more viable candidate for longer project cycles.
Highlight project experience with real deliverables
Employers want evidence you can produce construction documents, grading plans, or utility layouts. Reference specific deliverables from coursework, internships, or co-ops. Describing the output, not just the project, signals that you understand professional design production workflows.
Pursue EIT certification before or during your job search
The Engineer-in-Training exam is not required for designer roles, but passing it signals commitment to licensure and long-term career investment. Many firms prefer candidates working toward PE licensure, and it strengthens your case for H-1B visa sponsorship down the road.
Connect with project engineers, not just HR
Civil design teams are small and project-driven. Reaching out directly to project engineers or team leads at target firms, referencing specific project types they work on, is far more effective than submitting through general application portals and waiting for a response.
Civil Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Civil Designer roles qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Most Civil Designer positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or another field on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. That gives you up to 36 months total. Confirm your degree's eligibility with your DSO before applying, since some adjacent majors like construction management may not qualify.
How often do civil engineering firms sponsor OPT students?
Mid-size and large civil engineering and consulting firms sponsor OPT students regularly, particularly for production-heavy designer roles where they need consistent output on active projects. Smaller firms with fewer than 20 employees are less likely to have established OPT workflows. Browsing Civil Designer listings on Migrate Mate lets you filter to employers who are actively hiring OPT candidates in this field.
What does a Civil Designer do day-to-day on OPT?
Civil Designers spend most of their time producing design drawings and plans in software like AutoCAD Civil 3D or MicroStation, supporting licensed engineers on grading, drainage, roadway, or utility projects. On OPT, your role must align with your degree field, so positions involving structural, transportation, or site design are all appropriate placements for civil or environmental engineering graduates.
Can I work as a Civil Designer on OPT without a PE license?
Yes. Civil Designer roles are specifically structured for unlicensed engineers working under the supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer. Your stamped deliverables go out under their seal. This is the standard entry-level model in the industry and is fully compatible with OPT work authorization, as long as your job duties align with your degree program.
What should I know about transitioning from OPT to H-1B as a Civil Designer?
Civil Designer roles at established engineering firms are well-suited for H-1B sponsorship because the specialty occupation requirement is clearly satisfied by a civil engineering degree. The H-1B lottery runs annually with an April 1 registration window, so timing matters if your OPT expires before selection. Larger firms and those with federal contracts tend to have more experience managing this transition for design staff.