OPT Graphic Design Specialist Jobs
Graphic Design Specialist roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field. Your OPT work authorization lets you work full-time for any employer willing to hire you, and STEM OPT extension may apply if your program qualifies.
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Are you creative, resourceful, talented, and ready to get to work in Birmingham, Alabama (AL)? Do you like a fast-paced environment that rewards success? Join Kimley-Horn’s growing graphic design team. This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities:
- Design covers, templates, layouts, and supporting graphics for proposals and reports
- Create presentations and multimedia graphics
- Develop before-and-after photo simulations and aerial map exhibits
- Create unique brochures, print and digital brochures, and trade show graphics
- Eblast campaigns and social media graphics
- Large format printing and production
- Thrive as part of a large, creative, and specialized marketing team
- Interact with engineers, project managers, and technical staff
- Work within corporate and client branding guidelines
QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of corporate and/or agency experience
- Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design or similar
- Proficient in Adobe CC (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat) and Microsoft Office Suite (Kimley-Horn is a PC-based company)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Professional demeanor with a positive, solution-seeking attitude and a high sense of personal responsibility
- Flexibility to periodically work outside normal working hours and travel, as required for business needs
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and handle simultaneous, varied assignments while providing consistent quality and accuracy
- InDesign software for layout of complex documents
- Video filming/editing and/or motion graphics
- Experience with Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, 3DS Max, or Sketchup
- Web design experience – WordPress preferred with HTML / CSS knowledge
Required: Please submit a link to your online portfolio
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
Overview:
Are you creative, resourceful, talented, and ready to get to work in Birmingham, Alabama (AL)? Do you like a fast-paced environment that rewards success? Join Kimley-Horn’s growing graphic design team. This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities:
- Design covers, templates, layouts, and supporting graphics for proposals and reports
- Create presentations and multimedia graphics
- Develop before-and-after photo simulations and aerial map exhibits
- Create unique brochures, print and digital brochures, and trade show graphics
- Eblast campaigns and social media graphics
- Large format printing and production
- Thrive as part of a large, creative, and specialized marketing team
- Interact with engineers, project managers, and technical staff
- Work within corporate and client branding guidelines
QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of corporate and/or agency experience
- Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design or similar
- Proficient in Adobe CC (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat) and Microsoft Office Suite (Kimley-Horn is a PC-based company)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Professional demeanor with a positive, solution-seeking attitude and a high sense of personal responsibility
- Flexibility to periodically work outside normal working hours and travel, as required for business needs
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and handle simultaneous, varied assignments while providing consistent quality and accuracy
- InDesign software for layout of complex documents
- Video filming/editing and/or motion graphics
- Experience with Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, 3DS Max, or Sketchup
- Web design experience – WordPress preferred with HTML / CSS knowledge
Required: Please submit a link to your online portfolio
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
See all 104+ OPT Graphic Design Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Graphic Design Specialist
Lead with your portfolio, not your resume
Hiring managers for design roles evaluate work before credentials. A strong portfolio that demonstrates brand identity, typography, and layout skills will open more doors than a polished resume alone. Make it the first thing you send.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Let employers know your OPT start date, end date, and whether you're eligible for a STEM extension. Designers are often hired on project timelines, so knowing your authorized work window helps employers plan around your availability.
Target employers with a history of design hires
Agencies, in-house creative teams at mid-size companies, and tech firms regularly hire Graphic Design Specialists. These employers are more familiar with OPT authorization than small studios hiring their first designer.
Highlight software proficiency clearly
Employers screening design candidates often filter by tool expertise. List Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and any other platforms you use prominently on your resume and portfolio. Specific software skills reduce hiring friction for OPT candidates significantly.
Address OPT proactively in cover letters
Don't leave employers guessing about your work authorization. A single sentence confirming you have OPT authorization and the dates you're eligible removes a common reason employers pass on international candidates before reviewing design work.
Browse Migrate Mate for OPT-friendly design roles
Many design employers that have sponsored international workers before are open to OPT students. Migrate Mate filters for employers with a sponsorship track record, so you spend less time on applications that were never going to move forward.
Graphic Design Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Graphic Design Specialist on F-1 OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in graphic design, visual communication, fine arts, or a closely related field. OPT requires that your job be directly related to your major area of study. A role focused on brand identity, layout, or digital design for a company typically satisfies that requirement. If you're unsure whether a specific role qualifies, check with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Do Graphic Design Specialist roles qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
Most graphic design programs are not classified under STEM-designated CIP codes, which means a standard STEM OPT extension is generally not available for design majors. However, if your degree is in a field like human-computer interaction, information science, or a design-engineering hybrid that appears on the STEM OPT designated list, you may qualify. Verify your program's CIP code with your international student office.
How do I explain my OPT status to a design employer who has never hired an international student?
Keep it simple and reassuring. Explain that OPT is a federal work authorization program for F-1 students that allows you to work full-time in your field without any action required from the employer upfront. There is no petition, no lottery, and no legal cost to the employer during the OPT period. Most employers become comfortable once they understand there is no immediate sponsorship obligation.
What types of employers hire Graphic Design Specialists on OPT?
Advertising agencies, in-house creative departments at tech and consumer brands, publishing companies, and marketing firms are among the most active employers of Graphic Design Specialists. These organizations tend to hire on project cycles and are often open to OPT candidates because design skills are in consistent demand. Browse Migrate Mate to find employers with a track record of hiring international students for design roles.
Does freelance or contract design work count toward my OPT requirement?
Yes, USCIS allows self-employment and contract work during OPT, provided the work is directly related to your degree. As a Graphic Design Specialist, freelance brand projects, contract agency work, or short-term client engagements all count, as long as you can document the connection to your field of study. Keep records of your projects and clients in case your DSO needs to verify your employment.