Project Controls Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Project Controls Engineer jobs are well-suited for F-1 OPT students with degrees in engineering, construction management, or related fields. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT positions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in construction, energy, and infrastructure regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this role.
See All Project Controls Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 888+ Project Controls Engineer jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 888+ Project Controls Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Project Controls Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Procon Consulting is a leading construction management consulting firm with over 25 years of delivering innovative solutions for large-scale projects across the United States and globally. Proudly recognized as an ENR Top 100 firm, we specialize in program management, project controls, commissioning, and technology solutions. At Procon, we foster a culture of growth and development, providing our employees with the opportunity to make impactful contributions to the built environment. We are currently seeking a Project Controls Engineer specifically for our federal sector projects. This position involves supporting the planning, scheduling, and cost control activities essential for the successful execution of complex federal projects. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in project controls and will be adept at collaborating with government clients and contractors to ensure compliance with federal project requirements.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum 1 year of construction project administration, project engineering, or project controls experience.
- Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related AEC field (may be waived with 10+ years construction administration experience).
- USACE Construction Quality Management (CQM) Certification (or ability to obtain immediately after hire).
- OSHA 30 Certification required (or ability to obtain immediately after hire).
- Experience working with PMIS platforms (e.g., E-Builder) and managing construction documentation.
- Familiarity with construction drawings, specifications, schedules, and contract documentation.
- Strong organization, communication, documentation management, and attention to detail.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and tracking/reporting tools.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
- Manage and maintain all contract-related documentation and correspondence within the E-Builder PMIS platform.
- Review and process RFIs, submittals, change orders, punch lists, permits, and contractor reports, ensuring submissions are complete and compliant before routing for review.
- Maintain accurate project tracking logs including RFIs, submittals, change orders, inspections/testing, safety, long-lead items, critical issues, punch lists, badging, and deliverables.
- Organize and maintain a comprehensive project filing system including drawings, specifications, meeting minutes, schedules, pay applications, contract modifications, and project correspondence.
- Track document quality issues and return incomplete submissions to the contractor for correction.
- Prepare meeting agendas, minutes, and tracking reports for project meetings and coordinate communication between the contractor, design team, and client stakeholders.
- Review contractor daily reports, safety reports, and QC documentation to ensure timely submission and accuracy.
- Support the Project Manager with schedule review, pay application review, risk tracking, and project reporting.
- Review contractor baseline schedules and monthly schedule updates, identifying potential delays, risks, or long-lead procurement concerns.
- Participate in site visits, inspections, testing activities, and critical construction meetings to verify progress and compliance.
- Maintain project dashboards, metrics, and risk registers, including tracking safety performance and incident trends.
- Act as the Owner's representative counterpart to the contractor's Project Engineer, identifying gaps in coordination, documentation, and compliance.
BENEFITS
Salary commensurate with experience. Interested and qualified candidates please submit a cover letter and a resume. Procon offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, including full medical/dental insurance and 401(K) plan. Procon is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.
INTRODUCTION
Procon Consulting is a leading construction management consulting firm with over 25 years of delivering innovative solutions for large-scale projects across the United States and globally. Proudly recognized as an ENR Top 100 firm, we specialize in program management, project controls, commissioning, and technology solutions. At Procon, we foster a culture of growth and development, providing our employees with the opportunity to make impactful contributions to the built environment. We are currently seeking a Project Controls Engineer specifically for our federal sector projects. This position involves supporting the planning, scheduling, and cost control activities essential for the successful execution of complex federal projects. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in project controls and will be adept at collaborating with government clients and contractors to ensure compliance with federal project requirements.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum 1 year of construction project administration, project engineering, or project controls experience.
- Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related AEC field (may be waived with 10+ years construction administration experience).
- USACE Construction Quality Management (CQM) Certification (or ability to obtain immediately after hire).
- OSHA 30 Certification required (or ability to obtain immediately after hire).
- Experience working with PMIS platforms (e.g., E-Builder) and managing construction documentation.
- Familiarity with construction drawings, specifications, schedules, and contract documentation.
- Strong organization, communication, documentation management, and attention to detail.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and tracking/reporting tools.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
- Manage and maintain all contract-related documentation and correspondence within the E-Builder PMIS platform.
- Review and process RFIs, submittals, change orders, punch lists, permits, and contractor reports, ensuring submissions are complete and compliant before routing for review.
- Maintain accurate project tracking logs including RFIs, submittals, change orders, inspections/testing, safety, long-lead items, critical issues, punch lists, badging, and deliverables.
- Organize and maintain a comprehensive project filing system including drawings, specifications, meeting minutes, schedules, pay applications, contract modifications, and project correspondence.
- Track document quality issues and return incomplete submissions to the contractor for correction.
- Prepare meeting agendas, minutes, and tracking reports for project meetings and coordinate communication between the contractor, design team, and client stakeholders.
- Review contractor daily reports, safety reports, and QC documentation to ensure timely submission and accuracy.
- Support the Project Manager with schedule review, pay application review, risk tracking, and project reporting.
- Review contractor baseline schedules and monthly schedule updates, identifying potential delays, risks, or long-lead procurement concerns.
- Participate in site visits, inspections, testing activities, and critical construction meetings to verify progress and compliance.
- Maintain project dashboards, metrics, and risk registers, including tracking safety performance and incident trends.
- Act as the Owner's representative counterpart to the contractor's Project Engineer, identifying gaps in coordination, documentation, and compliance.
BENEFITS
Salary commensurate with experience. Interested and qualified candidates please submit a cover letter and a resume. Procon offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, including full medical/dental insurance and 401(K) plan. Procon is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Project Controls Engineer
Target industries with consistent H-1B sponsorship history
Oil and gas, utilities, and large-scale infrastructure firms sponsor Project Controls Engineers at higher rates than most industries. Filtering your search by these sectors improves your chances of finding OPT-friendly employers before your authorization window closes.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Project Controls roles typically qualify under CIP codes for civil, mechanical, or industrial engineering. Verify your specific degree's CIP code with your DSO before accepting an offer so you can plan your full 36-month OPT timeline accurately.
Highlight scheduling and cost control tools on your resume
Proficiency in Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or earned value management signals immediate value to employers. Quantify your impact where possible. Demonstrating technical depth reduces perceived onboarding risk and makes sponsorship conversations easier to initiate.
Raise the H-1B conversation after demonstrating fit
Bring up visa sponsorship after an employer expresses genuine interest, not in the first message. Frame it as a straightforward process for engineering roles, which it typically is. Employers unfamiliar with OPT are often open once they understand the timeline and low administrative burden.
Pursue roles on large capital projects
Major construction and energy projects run for years, creating genuine long-term need for project controls staff. Employers investing in multi-year projects have clear incentive to sponsor strong hires, making these engagements more likely to support you through OPT and into H-1B status.
Apply to EPC firms and project management consultancies first
Engineering, procurement, and construction firms and PM consultancies hire project controls professionals across multiple clients and sectors. Their familiarity with visa processes and high hiring volume makes them more receptive to OPT candidates than single-project or smaller regional employers.
Project Controls Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Project Controls Engineer JobsSee all 888+ Project Controls Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Project Controls Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Controls Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Project Controls Engineer positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, bringing your total work authorization to 36 months. Eligibility depends on your degree's CIP code, not just your job title. Degrees in civil, mechanical, industrial, or systems engineering typically qualify. Confirm with your DSO before accepting an offer, since your degree program determines eligibility, not the employer's job description.
Which industries hire the most Project Controls Engineers who sponsor visas?
Oil and gas, utilities, defense, and heavy infrastructure are the strongest sectors for visa sponsorship in this role. Large EPC firms, construction management companies, and government contractors employ project controls professionals at scale and have established processes for H-1B sponsorship. These employers operate long-duration capital projects, which creates a structural incentive to retain and sponsor strong candidates beyond the OPT period.
How can I find Project Controls Engineer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the best starting point. The platform is built specifically for F-1 OPT and international students and surfaces Project Controls Engineer roles from employers with documented sponsorship history. Browsing there saves time compared to filtering through general job boards where OPT eligibility is rarely disclosed upfront. Focus on firms with active capital projects and established international hiring patterns.
What software skills make OPT candidates more competitive for Project Controls roles?
Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project are the most widely required scheduling tools. Earned value management, cost forecasting, and risk analysis experience add significant weight to your application. Familiarity with Procore, SAP, or Oracle Unifier is valued in large infrastructure and EPC environments. Candidates who can demonstrate these skills through coursework, internships, or project work reduce the employer's perceived risk of sponsoring a visa.
When should I tell a potential employer I need OPT work authorization?
Disclose your OPT status before any formal offer is made, ideally once the employer has expressed clear interest. Many Project Controls employers, particularly in engineering and construction, have sponsored international hires before and treat it as routine. Be prepared to explain that OPT authorization is immediate, that STEM extension adds 24 more months, and that H-1B sponsorship can begin well before your OPT expires.
See which Project Controls Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Project Controls Engineer Jobs