OPT Energy Jobs
Energy sector roles span utilities, renewables, oil and gas, and energy consulting, many of which qualify as STEM OPT extensions giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in this field regularly sponsor H-1B visas, making it one of the stronger long-term paths for F-1 students.
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This role is responsible for overseeing the development, administration, and monitoring of federally funded programs and projects being implemented. The primary responsibility will be to ensure that programs are eligible under local, state and federal regulations, adhere to the outlined program guidelines and procedures, and maintain proper documentation to support all eligible expenses incurred by the client/agency. The Deputy Program Manager is expected to provide high-level expertise across a broad range of subject matter areas including project management, compliance and monitoring, federal reporting, procurement, construction and eligibility standards applicable for each project.
Job Duties:
- Manages and tracks agency spends and project progress
- Interfaces with client agency, as well as senior program staff
- Ensures the delivery of timely, effective, and high-quality results to support the goals of the client/agency
- Ensures provision of high-quality service to all clients, taking action as necessary to maintain the firm's high reputation for superior client services
- Other duties as required
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Leads Team Leads and Case Managers
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree, required
Experience:
- Three or more years’ experience with state and local governments, and the types of initiatives necessary to help them build their economy and culture, required
Software:
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Project Management Software), required
Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to internally monitor all program and project activities to ensure quality control and quality assurance and be prepared for Federal audits of program activities
- Demonstrated success managing complex cross-functional teams to achieve high levels of production, meet tight deadlines, and deliver compliant, quality work products
- Demonstrated success in program execution, client relationships, and profitability
- Proven track record of leading a team and accomplishing successful business results
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.
California Range: $90,000 - $125,000
At BDO, how we show up matters. We build strong relationships by supporting one another, our clients, and our communities with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping one another grow and succeed. Here, you’ll find meaningful work, leaders invested in your success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters most to you.
Our purpose is to be the people our clients count on to grow with confidence and achieve what matters most. Our values guide how we bring that purpose to life each day. Together, they shape how we work with one another, serve our clients, and create meaningful impact.
BDO provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients across the U.S. and around the world. No matter your role, you’ll be part of a team helping clients navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.
We are proud to be an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm’s success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well-being. As a qualified retirement plan, the ESOP is a meaningful addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits offerings. It also reinforces an ownership mindset that strengthens our connection to one another, our clients, and the future we’re building together.
Learn more about our benefits: BDO Total Rewards encompass more than traditional benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets
Job Summary:
This role is responsible for overseeing the development, administration, and monitoring of federally funded programs and projects being implemented. The primary responsibility will be to ensure that programs are eligible under local, state and federal regulations, adhere to the outlined program guidelines and procedures, and maintain proper documentation to support all eligible expenses incurred by the client/agency. The Deputy Program Manager is expected to provide high-level expertise across a broad range of subject matter areas including project management, compliance and monitoring, federal reporting, procurement, construction and eligibility standards applicable for each project.
Job Duties:
- Manages and tracks agency spends and project progress
- Interfaces with client agency, as well as senior program staff
- Ensures the delivery of timely, effective, and high-quality results to support the goals of the client/agency
- Ensures provision of high-quality service to all clients, taking action as necessary to maintain the firm's high reputation for superior client services
- Other duties as required
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Leads Team Leads and Case Managers
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree, required
Experience:
- Three or more years’ experience with state and local governments, and the types of initiatives necessary to help them build their economy and culture, required
Software:
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Project Management Software), required
Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to internally monitor all program and project activities to ensure quality control and quality assurance and be prepared for Federal audits of program activities
- Demonstrated success managing complex cross-functional teams to achieve high levels of production, meet tight deadlines, and deliver compliant, quality work products
- Demonstrated success in program execution, client relationships, and profitability
- Proven track record of leading a team and accomplishing successful business results
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.
California Range: $90,000 - $125,000
At BDO, how we show up matters. We build strong relationships by supporting one another, our clients, and our communities with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping one another grow and succeed. Here, you’ll find meaningful work, leaders invested in your success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters most to you.
Our purpose is to be the people our clients count on to grow with confidence and achieve what matters most. Our values guide how we bring that purpose to life each day. Together, they shape how we work with one another, serve our clients, and create meaningful impact.
BDO provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients across the U.S. and around the world. No matter your role, you’ll be part of a team helping clients navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.
We are proud to be an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm’s success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well-being. As a qualified retirement plan, the ESOP is a meaningful addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits offerings. It also reinforces an ownership mindset that strengthens our connection to one another, our clients, and the future we’re building together.
Learn more about our benefits: BDO Total Rewards encompass more than traditional benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets
See all 109+ OPT Energy Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Energy
Target utilities and renewable energy companies directly
Large utilities and solar or wind developers have established immigration programs and sponsor H-1B visas regularly. Applying directly to these employers, rather than staffing agencies, puts you in front of sponsors with existing infrastructure for OPT hires.
Confirm your role qualifies as STEM for the 24-month extension
Many energy roles, including power systems engineering, energy data analysis, and environmental modeling, fall under STEM-eligible CIP codes. Verify your specific job title with your DSO before accepting an offer to protect your extension eligibility.
File your STEM OPT extension 90 days before your initial OPT expires
USCIS recommends filing at least 90 days early. Approval often takes longer than expected. Filing late can create gaps in your work authorization that may require you to stop working temporarily, which most energy employers cannot accommodate.
Ask employers about their H-1B sponsorship track record early
During interviews, ask directly whether the company has sponsored H-1B visas for employees in your role. Energy firms that already have immigration counsel on retainer are far more likely to sponsor you through the lottery successfully.
Look for roles that justify specialty occupation status clearly
Petroleum engineers, grid analysts, and energy policy researchers have well-documented specialty occupation standing with USCIS. Roles with vague titles like 'energy associate' are harder to sponsor. Choose titles where the degree requirement for the job is explicit.
Document your training plan carefully on your STEM OPT I-983
Your employer must complete a formal training plan on Form I-983. Energy employers unfamiliar with OPT often submit vague plans. A detailed, specific plan listing learning goals and supervisor responsibilities reduces the risk of an RFE or denial.
Energy OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do energy jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many energy roles qualify, but it depends on your degree's CIP code, not just the job title. Degrees in electrical engineering, environmental science, petroleum engineering, and data science commonly support STEM OPT extensions. Your DSO at your university must confirm eligibility before you file. Roles in energy policy or business development may not qualify if your degree is outside a STEM field.
How common is H-1B sponsorship in the energy sector?
Sponsorship is relatively common among large energy companies, particularly in engineering, data analytics, and environmental compliance roles. Utilities, oil and gas majors, and renewable energy developers tend to have established immigration programs. Smaller firms and regional contractors sponsor far less frequently. You can browse energy roles from sponsorship-friendly employers on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for OPT and visa-friendly positions.
Can I work for an energy staffing agency on OPT?
Working through a staffing agency on OPT is allowed, but it creates complications for your STEM OPT extension. USCIS requires that your employer of record, not the client site, sign your I-983 training plan and provide direct supervision. Many staffing arrangements make this difficult to document properly. If you pursue contract work, confirm the agency is willing to fulfill all DSO reporting and training plan requirements.
What energy job titles are easiest to get H-1B sponsored for?
Roles with clear degree requirements in a specific discipline are the most straightforward to sponsor. Electrical engineers, petroleum engineers, grid reliability analysts, and environmental engineers have well-established specialty occupation precedent with USCIS. Roles in project management or sales, even at energy companies, face more scrutiny because the degree requirement is harder to establish for those positions specifically.
How do I find energy employers that are open to hiring OPT students?
The challenge is that most general job listings do not disclose sponsorship willingness upfront, which wastes time in the application process. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-seeking candidates, so the energy roles listed there are from employers who have indicated openness to international candidates. Filtering by industry and work authorization type saves significant time compared to sorting through roles that require permanent authorization from day one.