Civil Project Engineer Jobs for OPT Students

Civil Project Engineer jobs on OPT are available across infrastructure, transportation, and construction sectors. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations under F-1 OPT work authorization, and STEM OPT extensions apply if your degree is in civil or structural engineering, giving you up to three years of authorized work experience.

See All Civil Project Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs1,319+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type83% On-site
Salary Range$85K – $113K
Top LocationDallas, TX
Most JobsWestwood Professional Services

Showing 5 of 1,319+ Civil Project Engineer jobs

Jobot
Civil Project Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Jobot
New 1h ago
Civil Project Engineer
Jobot
Eagle, Idaho
Civil & Structural Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Civil Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$140,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
miller legg & associates, inc.
Civil Project Engineer
We won't show you this job again
miller legg & associates, inc.
Added 2d ago
Civil Project Engineer
miller legg & associates, inc.
Houston, Texas
Civil & Structural Engineering
Project & Program Management
Specialized Engineering
Civil Engineering
Project Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Not listed
On-Site
4+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Westwood Professional Services
Civil Project Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Westwood Professional Services
Added 1w ago
Civil Project Engineer
Westwood Professional Services
Englewood, Colorado
Specialized Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
Project Management
$80,000/yr - $95,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
HFW Companies
Civil Project Engineer
We won't show you this job again
HFW Companies
Added 1w ago
Civil Project Engineer
HFW Companies
Houston, Texas
Specialized Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
Project Management
On-Site
4+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
RRC Power and Energy
Civil Project Engineer
We won't show you this job again
RRC Power and Energy
Added 2w ago
Civil Project Engineer
RRC Power and Energy
Round Rock, Texas
Civil & Structural Engineering
Project & Program Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Civil Engineering
Project Management
On-Site
4+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)

See all 1,319+ Civil Project Engineer jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Civil Project Engineer roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Civil Project Engineer

Target infrastructure-heavy employers

Large construction firms, transportation agencies, and municipal contractors hire civil engineers at scale and have established visa sponsorship pipelines. These employers file H-1B petitions regularly and are more likely to support your transition beyond OPT.

Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT

Civil Engineering (CIP 14.0801) and Structural Engineering (CIP 14.1101) are both on the STEM OPT designated degree list. Confirm your exact degree classification with your DSO before applying, since your extension eligibility depends on the recorded CIP code.

Apply to project engineer roles, not just entry-level

Project Engineer is a specialty occupation with clear degree requirements, making H-1B sponsorship more straightforward. Roles with defined engineering responsibilities are easier for employers to justify sponsorship on versus vague or generalist titles.

Highlight licensure progress on your resume

Listing your Engineer-in-Training certification or active FE exam status signals long-term commitment to the profession. Employers sponsoring visas want candidates who are building a career in the U.S., and licensure progress is concrete evidence of that.

Ask about H-1B sponsorship before final interview rounds

Raise sponsorship directly after an employer expresses genuine interest, not in the first conversation. Frame it as confirming fit: ask whether they have sponsored H-1B petitions for engineers in similar roles before and what that process looks like.

Use Migrate Mate to filter for sponsoring employers

Migrate Mate surfaces civil engineering roles from employers with verified H-1B sponsorship history, so you spend less time chasing dead ends. Filter by role type and location to find positions where your OPT authorization and future sponsorship needs align.

Civil Project Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Civil Project Engineer Jobs

See all 1,319+ Civil Project Engineer jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Civil Project Engineer roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Civil Project Engineer role qualify for STEM OPT extension?

Yes, if your degree is in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related STEM field listed on the DHS STEM designated degree list. You can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12-month OPT period, giving you up to three years total to work in the U.S. while pursuing H-1B sponsorship. Your DSO must verify your degree's CIP code qualifies before you apply.

How do I find Civil Project Engineer jobs where employers will sponsor an H-1B?

Migrate Mate is built specifically for this. It aggregates civil engineering roles from employers with documented H-1B sponsorship histories, so you can identify which firms have actually sponsored engineers before rather than guessing. Filtering by role and location helps you prioritize applications to employers already comfortable navigating the visa process for positions like yours.

Can I work on federal infrastructure projects as a Civil Project Engineer on OPT?

It depends on the project and contract structure. Private firms working on federally funded projects typically do not require citizenship for civil engineering roles. However, some contracts with direct federal agencies or those involving sensitive infrastructure may require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Always ask the employer specifically whether the role has any citizenship or security clearance requirements before accepting an offer.

Is Civil Project Engineer considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?

Yes. Civil Project Engineer roles that require a bachelor's degree or higher in civil, structural, or geotechnical engineering meet the specialty occupation standard. USCIS has consistently approved H-1B petitions for engineering roles with specific degree requirements. The key is that the job description must require a degree in a specific engineering discipline, not just any bachelor's degree in any field.

What happens to my OPT authorization if my civil engineering project ends early?

Your OPT authorization remains valid through its expiration date even if a project ends, but you must find new employment within 90 days of unemployment to stay in status. Civil engineers on OPT should track cumulative unemployment carefully, since exceeding 90 days total during the OPT period triggers a status violation. Notify your DSO immediately if your employment situation changes so they can advise on next steps.

See which Civil Project Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.

Search Civil Project Engineer Jobs