Highway Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Highway Engineer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in civil or transportation engineering. Most roles qualify as STEM-designated positions, making you eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of your initial 12 months of work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Urban Engineers, Inc. is seeking a Highway Engineer with a minimum of 3 years experience to join our growing Highway Department in our Mount Laurel, NJ office. In this role, you will work as part of an experienced design team supporting our highway design practice in NJ and beyond.
Responsibilities
- Provide highway design services for highway, bridge, traffic, planning and safety projects.
- Perform engineering design tasks for transportation projects from concept development to preliminary and final design, including horizontal and vertical alignment, roadway cross sections, maintenance and protection of traffic, SE&SC, drainage design, stormwater management, etc.
- Prepare construction plans, specifications, utility plans and cost estimates.
- Perform field inspections of existing or on-going construction project sites.
- Prepare and check design calculations.
- Work with project teams to perform quality work within established budgets and schedule requirements.
REQUIREMENTS
- B.S. in Civil Engineering
- Software Skills: MS Office, MicroStation / InRoads / OpenRoads, AutoCAD
- Good communication and organizational skills
- Experience with NJDOT, NJ Turnpike, NJ Counties and / or MPO’s a plus.
- EIT or PE preferred.
BENEFITS OF WORKING AT URBAN
- Medical/Prescription
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance
- Short/Long Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401K and company match
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
- Vacation, Holiday, and Personal Days
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Professional Development
- Certification Bonuses
LOCATION: Mount Laurel, NJ, Hybrid
ABOUT URBAN:
Our culture is built around our people. Voted a top workplace by our employees, we are committed to advancing careers and providing a foundation for professional growth. Urban offers a wide range of health, welfare, and financial benefits to our employees, as well as career development through our own Urban Training Institute, tuition assistance program, and certification incentives. Founded in 1960, Urban provides services for buildings, ports, transit, railroads, airports, bridges, and highways. We specialize in engineering design, environmental, planning, construction services, and program management. By providing innovation, technical excellence, and on-time performance, we create value for a proud Urban family.
Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status
INTRODUCTION
Urban Engineers, Inc. is seeking a Highway Engineer with a minimum of 3 years experience to join our growing Highway Department in our Mount Laurel, NJ office. In this role, you will work as part of an experienced design team supporting our highway design practice in NJ and beyond.
Responsibilities
- Provide highway design services for highway, bridge, traffic, planning and safety projects.
- Perform engineering design tasks for transportation projects from concept development to preliminary and final design, including horizontal and vertical alignment, roadway cross sections, maintenance and protection of traffic, SE&SC, drainage design, stormwater management, etc.
- Prepare construction plans, specifications, utility plans and cost estimates.
- Perform field inspections of existing or on-going construction project sites.
- Prepare and check design calculations.
- Work with project teams to perform quality work within established budgets and schedule requirements.
REQUIREMENTS
- B.S. in Civil Engineering
- Software Skills: MS Office, MicroStation / InRoads / OpenRoads, AutoCAD
- Good communication and organizational skills
- Experience with NJDOT, NJ Turnpike, NJ Counties and / or MPO’s a plus.
- EIT or PE preferred.
BENEFITS OF WORKING AT URBAN
- Medical/Prescription
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance
- Short/Long Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401K and company match
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
- Vacation, Holiday, and Personal Days
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Professional Development
- Certification Bonuses
LOCATION: Mount Laurel, NJ, Hybrid
ABOUT URBAN:
Our culture is built around our people. Voted a top workplace by our employees, we are committed to advancing careers and providing a foundation for professional growth. Urban offers a wide range of health, welfare, and financial benefits to our employees, as well as career development through our own Urban Training Institute, tuition assistance program, and certification incentives. Founded in 1960, Urban provides services for buildings, ports, transit, railroads, airports, bridges, and highways. We specialize in engineering design, environmental, planning, construction services, and program management. By providing innovation, technical excellence, and on-time performance, we create value for a proud Urban family.
Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Highway Engineer
Target public-sector employers first
State and local departments of transportation hire highway engineers regularly and are experienced with OPT work authorization. Government agencies often have established HR processes for international students, which reduces friction during onboarding and work authorization verification.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Highway engineer roles typically fall under STEM-designated CIP codes in civil or transportation engineering. Confirm your specific degree program is on the STEM OPT extension list with your DSO before applying, so you can accurately communicate your full authorization period to employers.
Apply to large infrastructure contractors early
Firms like AECOM, WSP, and Jacobs file OPT I-983 training plans routinely and understand federal reporting requirements. Prioritizing established contractors reduces the risk of an employer being unfamiliar with OPT obligations once you receive an offer.
Be upfront about your OPT end date
Highway engineering projects run on multi-year timelines, so employers want staffing continuity. Tell hiring managers your current OPT expiration date and STEM extension eligibility early, so they can assess the timeline and plan any H-1B sponsorship before authorization gaps occur.
Highlight licensure progress on your resume
Passing the FE exam while on OPT signals long-term commitment to the profession and the U.S. market. Engineers who are actively working toward PE licensure are significantly more attractive to firms that invest in visa sponsorship for multi-year employee retention.
Frame federal project experience strategically
Many highway projects involve federal funding and require E-Verify compliance from contractors. Mention relevant federal-aid project coursework or internship exposure in your applications, as it signals familiarity with the compliance environment these employers already operate in.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do highway engineer jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most highway engineer positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because they fall under civil or transportation engineering CIP codes, which are on the STEM designated degree program list. To use the extension, your employer must be E-Verify enrolled, and you must file the extension with your DSO before your initial OPT expires. Confirm your specific program's CIP code with your international student office.
Where can I find highway engineer jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and lists highway engineer roles from employers familiar with OPT and STEM extension requirements. Searching there narrows your results to opportunities where work authorization for international students is already part of the employer's hiring process, saving time compared to filtering general job boards manually.
Do highway engineer employers need to file anything for my OPT?
For standard OPT, your employer does not need to file anything with USCIS. Your work authorization is based on your EAD card. However, if you use the STEM OPT extension, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and co-sign your Form I-983 training plan, which outlines your learning objectives and supervision structure for the extension period.
Can I work on federally funded highway projects while on OPT?
Yes, OPT status does not disqualify you from working on federally funded highway projects. The key requirement is that your employer, or the prime contractor, complies with E-Verify if your position is covered under federal contracting rules. Some security-sensitive projects may have additional requirements, so confirm access restrictions with your employer before accepting an offer.
What happens to my OPT if my highway engineer employer loses a contract and I am laid off?
If you lose your job on OPT, you enter a 60-day grace period during which you must find new employment, change status, or depart the U.S. Unemployment during OPT cannot exceed 90 cumulative days for standard OPT or 150 days across both standard and STEM OPT combined. Report any employment changes to your DSO promptly to keep your SEVIS record accurate and avoid status violations.
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