OPT Drafting Technician Jobs
Drafting Technician jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in engineering technology, architecture, or design. Most roles involve CAD software proficiency, which aligns directly with STEM-adjacent coursework. Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization, and STEM OPT extensions may apply depending on your degree classification.
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Working Title Adjunct Faculty - Computer Aided Drafting and Design
FLSA Exempt
Pay Band UG
Agency Virginia Peninsula Community College
Division Virginia Peninsula Community College (Div)
Work Location Hampton - 650
Hiring Range $808 - $1,351 per credit hour
Emergency/Essential Personnel No
EEO Category I - Faculty
Full Time or Part Time Part Time
Does this position have telework options? Telework options are subject to change based on business needs
Work Schedule
Varies based upon the needs of the student body.
Sensitive Position No
Job Description
Virginia Peninsula Community College is a two-year institution of higher education established as a part of a statewide system of community colleges. It primarily serves the residents of the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City and York.
Virginia Peninsula seeks faculty to teach up to 12 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and/or up to 8 credit hours during the summer semester. The teaching load is based on student enrollment and staffing needs. Applicants will be part of a standing pool which the College will draw on as scheduling needs dictate. The adjunct faculty appointment contains no guarantee of continued employment. Instruction may be during the day, evening, or weekend. The position will teach courses in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design.
Essential functions:
- Design and delivery of instruction for day and evening classes
- Responsible for student assessment and grading
- Maintains adequate on-campus presence
- Provides timely communication with students, staff, and administrators of the College
Special Assignments
May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
KSA's/Required Qualifications
- Associate’s Degree or higher in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design, Engineering Technology, Architectural Technology, Industrial Technology, Engineering, or similar from a regionally accredited institution with two years occupational or experience teaching AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Fusion 360, Revit, Creo, 3D Studio Max, Solid Edge, or Siemans NX.
- Have a passion for the discipline and a commitment to a student-centered philosophy in support of academic excellence for diverse groups of learners.
- Excellent interpersonal skills in communication with students, colleagues, staff and administrators as an individual or as a part of a team.
- Willingness to serve the needs of traditional and non-traditional students from a variety of backgrounds and age groups.
- Ability to modify when appropriate, instructional methods and strategies to meet diverse student needs.
- Plan and organize instruction in ways that maximize documented student learning.
- Adopt methods that fairly measure student progress toward student learning outcomes.
- Evaluate student performance fairly and consistently and return student work promptly to promote maximum learning.
- Maintain accurate records of student progress and submit final grade rosters to division administrator each semester according to established deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience and/or strong interest in teaching and inspiring adult learners to fulfill the College’s mission to change lives and empower students to succeed.
- Must be able to work at all campus locations
Additional Considerations
- Community college teaching experience.
- Teaching experience in online or hybrid, and traditional face to face classroom modalities.
- Demonstrated proficiency and experience in using instructional technologies and learning management systems (e.g. Canvas) with ability to use technology to enhance teaching and educational experience.
- Demonstrated ability to measure, assess and align student outcomes within courses or programs
Operation of a State Vehicle No
Supervises Employees No
Required Travel
Minimum
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number ADJ_3697P
Recruitment Type General Public - G
Number of Vacancies 1
Job Open Date 10/30/2026
Job Close Date 12/31/2026
Open Until Filled
Contact Name Human Resources
Email hr@vpcc.edu
Phone Number 757-825-2728
Special Instructions to Applicants
Additional Information
Background Check Statement Disclaimer
The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
EEO Statement
The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.
ADA Statement
The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.
E-Verify Statement
VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.
Posting Summary
Working Title Adjunct Faculty - Computer Aided Drafting and Design
FLSA Exempt
Pay Band UG
Agency Virginia Peninsula Community College
Division Virginia Peninsula Community College (Div)
Work Location Hampton - 650
Hiring Range $808 - $1,351 per credit hour
Emergency/Essential Personnel No
EEO Category I - Faculty
Full Time or Part Time Part Time
Does this position have telework options? Telework options are subject to change based on business needs
Work Schedule
Varies based upon the needs of the student body.
Sensitive Position No
Job Description
Virginia Peninsula Community College is a two-year institution of higher education established as a part of a statewide system of community colleges. It primarily serves the residents of the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City and York.
Virginia Peninsula seeks faculty to teach up to 12 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and/or up to 8 credit hours during the summer semester. The teaching load is based on student enrollment and staffing needs. Applicants will be part of a standing pool which the College will draw on as scheduling needs dictate. The adjunct faculty appointment contains no guarantee of continued employment. Instruction may be during the day, evening, or weekend. The position will teach courses in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design.
Essential functions:
- Design and delivery of instruction for day and evening classes
- Responsible for student assessment and grading
- Maintains adequate on-campus presence
- Provides timely communication with students, staff, and administrators of the College
Special Assignments
May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
KSA's/Required Qualifications
- Associate’s Degree or higher in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design, Engineering Technology, Architectural Technology, Industrial Technology, Engineering, or similar from a regionally accredited institution with two years occupational or experience teaching AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Fusion 360, Revit, Creo, 3D Studio Max, Solid Edge, or Siemans NX.
- Have a passion for the discipline and a commitment to a student-centered philosophy in support of academic excellence for diverse groups of learners.
- Excellent interpersonal skills in communication with students, colleagues, staff and administrators as an individual or as a part of a team.
- Willingness to serve the needs of traditional and non-traditional students from a variety of backgrounds and age groups.
- Ability to modify when appropriate, instructional methods and strategies to meet diverse student needs.
- Plan and organize instruction in ways that maximize documented student learning.
- Adopt methods that fairly measure student progress toward student learning outcomes.
- Evaluate student performance fairly and consistently and return student work promptly to promote maximum learning.
- Maintain accurate records of student progress and submit final grade rosters to division administrator each semester according to established deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience and/or strong interest in teaching and inspiring adult learners to fulfill the College’s mission to change lives and empower students to succeed.
- Must be able to work at all campus locations
Additional Considerations
- Community college teaching experience.
- Teaching experience in online or hybrid, and traditional face to face classroom modalities.
- Demonstrated proficiency and experience in using instructional technologies and learning management systems (e.g. Canvas) with ability to use technology to enhance teaching and educational experience.
- Demonstrated ability to measure, assess and align student outcomes within courses or programs
Operation of a State Vehicle No
Supervises Employees No
Required Travel
Minimum
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number ADJ_3697P
Recruitment Type General Public - G
Number of Vacancies 1
Job Open Date 10/30/2026
Job Close Date 12/31/2026
Open Until Filled
Contact Name Human Resources
Email hr@vpcc.edu
Phone Number 757-825-2728
Special Instructions to Applicants
Additional Information
Background Check Statement Disclaimer
The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
EEO Statement
The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.
ADA Statement
The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.
E-Verify Statement
VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.
See all OPT Drafting Technician Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Drafting Technician
Lead with your CAD software stack
List every CAD platform you know, AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, Civil 3D, in your resume header or skills section. Employers scan for these before reading anything else. Specific software proficiency reduces their hesitation about OPT timelines.
Target engineering and architecture firms directly
Mid-size civil, structural, and MEP engineering firms hire drafting technicians regularly and are more flexible with OPT than large corporations. Smaller teams mean faster hiring decisions and direct access to the person approving your offer.
Confirm your OPT start date aligns with project timelines
Drafting roles are often project-based. Employers want to know you can commit through a project cycle. Know your OPT authorization window exactly and frame your availability around realistic project start and completion dates.
Check if your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Degrees in engineering technology, civil engineering, or architecture often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before interviewing so you can tell employers you may have up to 36 months of work authorization.
Build a digital portfolio with real technical drawings
A portfolio showing actual plans, sections, and construction documents from coursework or internships matters more than your GPA for this role. Keep it concise, three to five strong projects, and host it somewhere you can share a direct link.
Address OPT proactively, not defensively
When employers ask about work authorization, explain your timeline clearly and mention the STEM extension possibility if applicable. Framing it as a straightforward process, not a complication, keeps the conversation moving toward your technical qualifications.
Drafting Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Drafting Technicians in the United States?
Yes. Drafting Technician roles are eligible for F-1 OPT work authorization as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. Degrees in engineering technology, architectural technology, civil engineering, or related design disciplines generally satisfy the relatedness requirement. Your DSO can confirm eligibility before you accept an offer.
Do Drafting Technician jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many do, depending on your degree. If your bachelor's or master's degree is in a STEM-designated field such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering technology, or computer-aided design, your CIP code may qualify you for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. That gives you up to 36 months of total work authorization. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO to confirm before interviewing.
How do I find Drafting Technician employers who are open to hiring OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for employers open to sponsoring or hiring international students on OPT, so you are not wasting applications on roles that will reject you at the work authorization question. Civil engineering firms, architecture studios, and construction management companies are among the most active employers in this category on the platform.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I lose my Drafting Technician job?
You have a 90-day unemployment buffer during your OPT period, total across all gaps, not per job. If you are on STEM OPT, that buffer drops to 150 days total but the same principle applies. Report any change in employment to your DSO promptly. Finding a new role quickly is critical since exceeding the unemployment limit terminates your OPT authorization.
Does a Drafting Technician role need to be full-time for OPT purposes?
USCIS requires OPT employment to average at least 20 hours per week to be considered valid work authorization. Most Drafting Technician positions are full-time and easily satisfy this threshold. Part-time roles can qualify, but you must track your hours and ensure the position remains directly related to your degree field throughout your authorization period.