OPT Civil Project Engineer Jobs
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.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.
Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.
Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to join the Xcel Energy team in constructing new electric generation stations around Colorado. The role involves active participation in the design and construction phases of utility-scale renewable and dispatchable generation. It is an excellent chance to develop engineering and operational skills within a rapidly expanding generation portfolio. The successful candidate will work closely with the EPC contractor, equipment suppliers, Operations, construction team, and Company engineers to achieve top-quartile facility performance. Candidate should expect to be on-site at least three days a week until the end of site commissioning. Following this period, a hybrid work arrangement at the office will be anticipated. Strong communication skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and the ability to work independently with limited supervision are essential for success in this role.
Position Summary
Under general direction, demonstrates complete understanding & wide application of engineering technical principle, theories, & concepts in the field. Independently determines & develops approaches to solutions. Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives. May lead small-medium non-critical projects or critical projects under direction of higher level engineer/supervisor. May provide work direction to other professionals &/or staff. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects. Frequent inter-organizational & outside customer contact. Demonstrates a broad knowledge & proficiency of precedents in the specialty area, a good knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Essential Responsibilities
- Uses & applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, & techniques to perform activities/assignments that may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials or methods & difficult coordination requirements.
- Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes & may assist with the development of procedures requiring a broad knowledge & proficiency in a specialty area & has a general knowledge of related disciplines.
- Works under the general direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor for routine engineering projects. Provide ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, testing/diagnostics & Regulatory. May provide field engineering oversight &/or direction for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections, etc.
- May lead small-medium, non-critical projects. Coordinate/leads critical projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation & commissioning), under the direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor. Work reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.
- Under the direction of a higher level engineer/supervisor supports bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals; provide recommendations for selection, etc. Partners & communicates with areas such as Supply Chain & Legal following appropriate processes.
- Frequently exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance & complexity both inter-organizationally & with outside customers.
- May assign tasks & coordinate work of interns, drafters, technicians, craft personnel &/or others. Provide guidance & mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills & competencies.
- Performs activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.
Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $81,000 - $106,267)
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
- 2+ years relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
- Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
- EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.
Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-$129,267)
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
- 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
- Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
- Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.
Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-$156,600)
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
- 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
- Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Preferred Experience & Skills
- Experience in utility-scale projects, particularly in renewable such as wind, solar, or battery storage projects, with design experience in these areas being particularly valuable.
- Experience in utility-scale combustion turbine and/or reciprocating engines is an acceptable alternative to renewable facilities.
- Experience designing facilities such as sizing foundations and understanding geotechnical reporting, will be preferred.
- Experience overseeing construction and commissioning of utility equipment.
Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.
Our Values
Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe
Our Employee Commitments
- Work that makes a difference
- A team you can count on
- Opportunities to grow
- Rewards that help you thrive
Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $81,000.00 to $156,600.00 per year
This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave
Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Deadline to Apply: 11/12/26
EEO is the Law (PDF) | Equal Opportunity Statement (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.
Accessibility Statement
Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.
INTRODUCTION
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.
Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.
Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to join the Xcel Energy team in constructing new electric generation stations around Colorado. The role involves active participation in the design and construction phases of utility-scale renewable and dispatchable generation. It is an excellent chance to develop engineering and operational skills within a rapidly expanding generation portfolio. The successful candidate will work closely with the EPC contractor, equipment suppliers, Operations, construction team, and Company engineers to achieve top-quartile facility performance. Candidate should expect to be on-site at least three days a week until the end of site commissioning. Following this period, a hybrid work arrangement at the office will be anticipated. Strong communication skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and the ability to work independently with limited supervision are essential for success in this role.
Position Summary
Under general direction, demonstrates complete understanding & wide application of engineering technical principle, theories, & concepts in the field. Independently determines & develops approaches to solutions. Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives. May lead small-medium non-critical projects or critical projects under direction of higher level engineer/supervisor. May provide work direction to other professionals &/or staff. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects. Frequent inter-organizational & outside customer contact. Demonstrates a broad knowledge & proficiency of precedents in the specialty area, a good knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Essential Responsibilities
- Uses & applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, & techniques to perform activities/assignments that may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials or methods & difficult coordination requirements.
- Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes & may assist with the development of procedures requiring a broad knowledge & proficiency in a specialty area & has a general knowledge of related disciplines.
- Works under the general direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor for routine engineering projects. Provide ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, testing/diagnostics & Regulatory. May provide field engineering oversight &/or direction for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections, etc.
- May lead small-medium, non-critical projects. Coordinate/leads critical projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation & commissioning), under the direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor. Work reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.
- Under the direction of a higher level engineer/supervisor supports bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals; provide recommendations for selection, etc. Partners & communicates with areas such as Supply Chain & Legal following appropriate processes.
- Frequently exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance & complexity both inter-organizationally & with outside customers.
- May assign tasks & coordinate work of interns, drafters, technicians, craft personnel &/or others. Provide guidance & mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills & competencies.
- Performs activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.
Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $81,000 - $106,267)
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
- 2+ years relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
- Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
- EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.
Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-$129,267)
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
- 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
- Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
- Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.
Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-$156,600)
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, civil engineering degree preferred.
- 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
- Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Preferred Experience & Skills
- Experience in utility-scale projects, particularly in renewable such as wind, solar, or battery storage projects, with design experience in these areas being particularly valuable.
- Experience in utility-scale combustion turbine and/or reciprocating engines is an acceptable alternative to renewable facilities.
- Experience designing facilities such as sizing foundations and understanding geotechnical reporting, will be preferred.
- Experience overseeing construction and commissioning of utility equipment.
Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.
Our Values
Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe
Our Employee Commitments
- Work that makes a difference
- A team you can count on
- Opportunities to grow
- Rewards that help you thrive
Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $81,000.00 to $156,600.00 per year
This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave
Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Deadline to Apply: 11/12/26
EEO is the Law (PDF) | Equal Opportunity Statement (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.
Accessibility Statement
Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.
See all 97+ OPT Civil Project Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Civil Project Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT 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 visa 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 OPT: 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.