Civil Engineering Intern Jobs for OPT Students
Civil Engineering Intern roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in civil, structural, or environmental engineering. Most positions qualify as STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers typically need to file an LCA, so start your search early and confirm sponsorship willingness upfront.
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Kimley-Horn is looking for Engineering students to join our Jacksonville, Florida (FL) office! This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities:
- Utilize technical software programs on a regular basis to analyze, produce, and QC deliverables for our clients.
- Contribute to the pre-construction civil engineering design, planning, modification, permitting, and analysis for multiple projects ranging in size and scope.
- Solve complex problems, assist project managers, and collaborate across disciplines to produce our clients’ visions for the future built environment.
- Develop familiarity with the federal, state, and local regulations, as well as Kimley-Horn’s and our client’s practices, procedures, and standards.
- Interns will learn one or more software programs specific to their disciplines: AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, Excel, Microstation, VISSIM, Open Roads, Synchro and/or GIS.
Qualifications
- In the process of receiving an ABET accredited engineering degree (Bachelors or Masters) in one of the following majors:
- Civil and/or Environmental Engineering
- Mechanical, Biological, Biosystems, Chemical, or Agricultural Engineering
- Engineering Technology
Why Kimley-Horn?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients and employees, are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 18 years!
Overview:
Kimley-Horn is looking for Engineering students to join our Jacksonville, Florida (FL) office! This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities:
- Utilize technical software programs on a regular basis to analyze, produce, and QC deliverables for our clients.
- Contribute to the pre-construction civil engineering design, planning, modification, permitting, and analysis for multiple projects ranging in size and scope.
- Solve complex problems, assist project managers, and collaborate across disciplines to produce our clients’ visions for the future built environment.
- Develop familiarity with the federal, state, and local regulations, as well as Kimley-Horn’s and our client’s practices, procedures, and standards.
- Interns will learn one or more software programs specific to their disciplines: AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, Excel, Microstation, VISSIM, Open Roads, Synchro and/or GIS.
Qualifications
- In the process of receiving an ABET accredited engineering degree (Bachelors or Masters) in one of the following majors:
- Civil and/or Environmental Engineering
- Mechanical, Biological, Biosystems, Chemical, or Agricultural Engineering
- Engineering Technology
Why Kimley-Horn?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients and employees, are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 18 years!
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Civil Engineering Intern
Confirm STEM OPT eligibility before applying
Civil engineering degrees from ABET-accredited programs typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Verify your program's CIP code with your DSO before applying so you can confidently tell employers you have up to 36 months of work authorization available.
Target firms with established H-1B sponsorship history
Large civil and infrastructure firms like AECOM, Jacobs, and WSP regularly sponsor international engineers. A company's track record of H-1B filings is a strong proxy for willingness to sponsor OPT students through to full-time roles after graduation.
Align your application materials to USCIS specialty occupation standards
Civil engineering internships require a degree directly related to the role to satisfy specialty occupation requirements. Emphasize coursework in structural analysis, geotechnics, or transportation engineering in your resume to make the connection between your degree and the position unmistakably clear.
Ask about OPT sponsorship early in the process
Raise work authorization during the second conversation or after an initial screening, not in your cover letter. Frame it factually: you have OPT authorization now and STEM extension eligibility later. This gives employers a clear, low-friction path to hiring you.
Watch your OPT start date and apply with enough lead time
OPT authorization can take two to four months to process after your DSO submits the application. Summer internship timelines are tight. Submit your OPT application as early as 90 days before your program end date to avoid gaps between graduation and your internship start.
Use your university's engineering career network strategically
Civil engineering departments often have direct relationships with regional firms that actively recruit international students. Faculty advisors and alumni working at infrastructure consultancies can open doors that cold applications rarely do, especially for smaller firms less familiar with OPT sponsorship requirements.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Civil Engineering Intern on OPT?
Yes, provided the internship is directly related to your civil, structural, environmental, or related engineering degree. OPT requires that your employment be in a job that is connected to your field of study. A position involving construction management, site engineering, or infrastructure design easily satisfies this requirement. Roles that are purely administrative or unrelated to engineering do not.
Do civil engineering internships qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do, as long as your degree is from an ABET-accredited program and your CIP code falls within a designated STEM field, which most civil and environmental engineering programs do. The STEM extension gives you an additional 24 months of work authorization beyond your initial 12-month OPT period, for a total of 36 months. Confirm your program's eligibility with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Where can I find Civil Engineering Intern jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers willing to hire international candidates. Searching through general job boards makes it hard to know which employers are open to OPT sponsorship. Migrate Mate surfaces civil engineering internship listings where OPT authorization is already understood, saving you the friction of filtering manually.
Does my employer need to do anything specific to hire me as a Civil Engineering Intern on OPT?
For standard OPT, your employer does not need to file any petition with USCIS. You work using your EAD card, and the employer simply verifies your I-9 documents. If you qualify for the STEM OPT extension, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan. Most established engineering firms already meet this requirement.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my civil engineering internship ends before my EAD expires?
You have an aggregate of 90 days of unemployment allowed during your OPT period. If your internship ends and you do not immediately start another authorized position, those days begin counting down. For STEM OPT holders, the limit increases to 150 days in total across both the standard and extension periods. Staying within that window is critical, so begin your next job search as soon as possible after an internship concludes.
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