OPT Data Center Construction Jobs
Data center construction jobs on OPT typically fall under engineering or project management roles that qualify as specialty occupations, supporting your F-1 status. Most employers in this sector sponsor H-1B visas, making it a strong field for students on STEM OPT extensions seeking long-term U.S. work authorization.
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CBRE/Turner and Townsend is searching for a hard-working, motivated construction professional to provide support as the Associate Project Manager - Data Center Construction OFE Coordinator. Not required but having some datacenter MEP infrastructure projects experience is helpful. Full time on site in San Antonio, TX.
What you’ll do:
- Owner Furnished Equipment Project Manager
- Single point of contact for Owner Furnished Equipment (OFE) and Long Lead Equipment (LLE) in multiple data center campuses in Texas
- Owner furnished equipment vendor supplier relationship management
- Work closely with RSCM and their respective teams to ensure timely issue of PO's
- Foster a strong working relationship with the RSCM team so communication is transparent and timely
- Provide tracking matrix (source of truth) for all OFE delivery dates from suppliers
- Liaison with the project OR/PM to be sure they understand sequence of equipment deliveries, delays risks etc
- Work with General Contractor (GC) to identify risks & opportunities for OFE delivery, scope gaps, etc
- Work with Data Center Engineering, commissioning teams, GC & PM to coordinate Factory Witness testing (FWT) as requested by the owner's team
- Work with the PM's to understand equipment dependencies to meet construction sequence and work with the scheduling team to vet schedule logic
- Manage site LLE trackers
- Work with finance team and schedule team to ensure critical milestone dates are accurate and updated
- Manage specific issues relating to OFE such as: quality, logistics, delays, cashflow, submittals, delivery schedules, LLE
- Pre-Purchase Specifications, LLE tracker updates
- FWT and periodic progress QA/QC visits to factories
- Provide support in the development of process improvements
- Possible in factory Owner quality assurance / quality control
- OFE install & start up contractual changes (direct to electrical/mechanical, etc)
What You’ll Need:
- Bachelor's Degree preferred with 3-5 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered. Licensure as either a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect is desired.
- Experience in the areas of staffing, selection, training, development, coaching, mentoring, measuring, appraising, and rewarding performance and retention preferred.
- Ability to guide the exchange of sensitive, complicated, and difficult information. Convey performance expectations and handle problems.
- Leadership skills to motivate team impact on quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the job discipline and department.
- In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
- Extensive organizational skills with a strong inquisitive mindset.
- Advanced math skills. Ability to calculate difficult figures such as percentages, fractions, and other financial-related calculations.
Equal Employment Opportunity: CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Candidate Accommodations: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).
About the role:
CBRE/Turner and Townsend is searching for a hard-working, motivated construction professional to provide support as the Associate Project Manager - Data Center Construction OFE Coordinator. Not required but having some datacenter MEP infrastructure projects experience is helpful. Full time on site in San Antonio, TX.
What you’ll do:
- Owner Furnished Equipment Project Manager
- Single point of contact for Owner Furnished Equipment (OFE) and Long Lead Equipment (LLE) in multiple data center campuses in Texas
- Owner furnished equipment vendor supplier relationship management
- Work closely with RSCM and their respective teams to ensure timely issue of PO's
- Foster a strong working relationship with the RSCM team so communication is transparent and timely
- Provide tracking matrix (source of truth) for all OFE delivery dates from suppliers
- Liaison with the project OR/PM to be sure they understand sequence of equipment deliveries, delays risks etc
- Work with General Contractor (GC) to identify risks & opportunities for OFE delivery, scope gaps, etc
- Work with Data Center Engineering, commissioning teams, GC & PM to coordinate Factory Witness testing (FWT) as requested by the owner's team
- Work with the PM's to understand equipment dependencies to meet construction sequence and work with the scheduling team to vet schedule logic
- Manage site LLE trackers
- Work with finance team and schedule team to ensure critical milestone dates are accurate and updated
- Manage specific issues relating to OFE such as: quality, logistics, delays, cashflow, submittals, delivery schedules, LLE
- Pre-Purchase Specifications, LLE tracker updates
- FWT and periodic progress QA/QC visits to factories
- Provide support in the development of process improvements
- Possible in factory Owner quality assurance / quality control
- OFE install & start up contractual changes (direct to electrical/mechanical, etc)
What You’ll Need:
- Bachelor's Degree preferred with 3-5 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered. Licensure as either a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect is desired.
- Experience in the areas of staffing, selection, training, development, coaching, mentoring, measuring, appraising, and rewarding performance and retention preferred.
- Ability to guide the exchange of sensitive, complicated, and difficult information. Convey performance expectations and handle problems.
- Leadership skills to motivate team impact on quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the job discipline and department.
- In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
- Extensive organizational skills with a strong inquisitive mindset.
- Advanced math skills. Ability to calculate difficult figures such as percentages, fractions, and other financial-related calculations.
Equal Employment Opportunity: CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Candidate Accommodations: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Data Center Construction
Target STEM OPT-eligible degree fields
Data center construction roles often require degrees in electrical engineering, civil engineering, or construction management. Confirm your degree field appears on the STEM OPT designated degree program list before applying, as this determines whether you qualify for the 24-month extension.
Focus on employers with active H-1B filing history
Large data center operators and construction firms like Turner Construction and Holder Construction regularly sponsor H-1B visas. Prioritize employers with consistent sponsorship history, since your OPT window is limited and you need a path to long-term status after graduation.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Data center construction projects run on 12-to-36-month timelines. Tell hiring managers early how long your OPT work authorization lasts and whether you qualify for a STEM extension, so they can plan sponsorship timing around your authorization window.
Align your job title to your degree field
USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree and your job duties for OPT eligibility. An electrical engineering degree supports a role like MEP engineer or power systems engineer far more clearly than a generic construction coordinator title, which can create authorization complications.
Document your work authorization for site access
Federal data center construction projects often require background checks and site access approvals. Carry your EAD card and offer letter at all times, and notify your employer's HR team immediately when your OPT card is renewed or your STEM extension is approved.
Ask about I-983 training plan support during interviews
STEM OPT requires your employer to sign and maintain a formal training plan on Form I-983. Confirm the company has an HR or legal team familiar with this process before accepting an offer, since smaller contractors may not have handled it before.
Data Center Construction OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do data center construction jobs qualify for STEM OPT extension?
They can qualify if your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field such as electrical engineering, civil engineering, or construction management. The job duties must also have a direct relationship to that degree. Roles like MEP engineer, project engineer, or power systems designer typically meet this standard. A general laborer or administrative coordinator role likely would not, even at the same company.
How do I find data center construction employers that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and STEM OPT students and filters job listings by visa sponsorship willingness. Searching there lets you focus on employers who have already indicated they work with international candidates, which saves significant time compared to researching company H-1B filing histories manually.
Can I work on federal data center construction projects while on OPT?
OPT work authorization itself does not bar you from federal project sites, but individual contracts may impose citizenship or security clearance requirements that restrict international candidates. Always ask the employer whether the specific project requires a clearance before accepting an offer, since this varies by agency and contract classification level.
What happens to my OPT status if a construction project gets delayed or cancelled?
If your employment ends before your OPT expires, you enter a 60-day grace period. You must secure a new qualifying job offer within that window or leave the United States. Notify your DSO immediately when employment changes, since unauthorized gaps in employment can jeopardize your F-1 status and any pending STEM extension application.
Does OPT allow me to work for multiple data center construction contractors at once?
Yes, OPT permits concurrent employment with multiple employers as long as each position is directly related to your degree field and you are working at least 20 hours per week in total across all roles. Your DSO does not need to approve each employer individually, but you should keep documentation showing how each role connects to your field of study.