OPT Project Controls Specialist Jobs
Project Controls Specialist roles in cost management, schedule analysis, and earned value management qualify as specialty occupations under OPT work authorization. Most positions require a degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field, making them a strong fit for F-1 students with STEM OPT extensions.
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The Staff Project Controls Specialist will be responsible for leading the project controls processes with the internal project management team to execute project deliverables within budget and schedule.
- Ensure project set-up in the Enterprise Planning & Controls software.
- Analyze data, review logs, and run reports in the Enterprise Planning & Controls software or other tools.
- Create Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
- Develop, implement, and maintain effective scheduling reports, cost reports, cash flows and forecasts for multiple projects.
- Follow project execution plans.
- Responsible for engineering, procurement and construction planning, scheduling, logistics and cost control.
- Serves as a point of contact for technical questions from the project team.
- Approve Purchase Orders and/or Subcontracts for proper coding.
- Input and document changes to cost reports or forecasts.
- Interfaces with the Project Management Team and Accounting Department to review project costs and contingency costs and support external audits.
- Review upstream (prime contract) and downstream (purchase order & subcontract) change orders.
- Develop and present a cash flow report.
- Develop various levels of schedules.
- Apply and review the entry of logic ties within the schedules.
- Monitor resource loading of a schedule.
- Support Interactive Project Planning Meetings (IPPM).
- Create various schedule reports and determine appropriate reporting format.
- Develop, review, and analyze pre-programmed project scheduling reports and back-up documentation for accuracy.
- Consults with the project team on schedule progress.
- Analyzes and evaluates schedule management involving the critical path method of scheduling techniques, estimating, project cost management and forecasting.
- Perform schedule what-if scenarios.
- Develop and maintain an earned value management system.
- Input and validate progress measurement.
- Develop and maintain progress curves.
- Perform material takeoffs.
- Perform quality checks and inspections on project controls deliverables.
- Perform field audits to validate accuracy of reporting and processes.
- Capable of assisting with Project Forensic Analysis.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, business or related field and 3 years of direct project controls experience required or applicable experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.
- Experience with Oracle Primavera P6 preferred.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to obtain OSHA 10-hour safety certification.
Compensation
$110,000.00-155,000.00 Yearly
The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in compliance with all local/state regulations. The expected compensation range for this position is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, prior work experience and work location. The total annual compensation package will consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate in our discretionary year-end incentive bonus program.
Benefits
Our extensive benefits package takes care of you so that you can focus on doing great work. From insurance and disability to time off and wellness programs, we provide the tools to meet your needs. Burns & McDonnell’s PTO program includes the paid sick leave entitlements provided under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA). Additionally, as part of being 100% employee-owned, eligible employees participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in addition to our 401(k) retirement program. For more information, please visit the Benefits & Wellness page.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Project Controls
Primary Location US-CO-Denver
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 20 % of the Time
Req ID: 261856
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-DNP #CDB
Description
The Staff Project Controls Specialist will be responsible for leading the project controls processes with the internal project management team to execute project deliverables within budget and schedule.
- Ensure project set-up in the Enterprise Planning & Controls software.
- Analyze data, review logs, and run reports in the Enterprise Planning & Controls software or other tools.
- Create Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
- Develop, implement, and maintain effective scheduling reports, cost reports, cash flows and forecasts for multiple projects.
- Follow project execution plans.
- Responsible for engineering, procurement and construction planning, scheduling, logistics and cost control.
- Serves as a point of contact for technical questions from the project team.
- Approve Purchase Orders and/or Subcontracts for proper coding.
- Input and document changes to cost reports or forecasts.
- Interfaces with the Project Management Team and Accounting Department to review project costs and contingency costs and support external audits.
- Review upstream (prime contract) and downstream (purchase order & subcontract) change orders.
- Develop and present a cash flow report.
- Develop various levels of schedules.
- Apply and review the entry of logic ties within the schedules.
- Monitor resource loading of a schedule.
- Support Interactive Project Planning Meetings (IPPM).
- Create various schedule reports and determine appropriate reporting format.
- Develop, review, and analyze pre-programmed project scheduling reports and back-up documentation for accuracy.
- Consults with the project team on schedule progress.
- Analyzes and evaluates schedule management involving the critical path method of scheduling techniques, estimating, project cost management and forecasting.
- Perform schedule what-if scenarios.
- Develop and maintain an earned value management system.
- Input and validate progress measurement.
- Develop and maintain progress curves.
- Perform material takeoffs.
- Perform quality checks and inspections on project controls deliverables.
- Perform field audits to validate accuracy of reporting and processes.
- Capable of assisting with Project Forensic Analysis.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, business or related field and 3 years of direct project controls experience required or applicable experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.
- Experience with Oracle Primavera P6 preferred.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to obtain OSHA 10-hour safety certification.
Compensation
$110,000.00-155,000.00 Yearly
The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in compliance with all local/state regulations. The expected compensation range for this position is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, prior work experience and work location. The total annual compensation package will consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate in our discretionary year-end incentive bonus program.
Benefits
Our extensive benefits package takes care of you so that you can focus on doing great work. From insurance and disability to time off and wellness programs, we provide the tools to meet your needs. Burns & McDonnell’s PTO program includes the paid sick leave entitlements provided under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA). Additionally, as part of being 100% employee-owned, eligible employees participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in addition to our 401(k) retirement program. For more information, please visit the Benefits & Wellness page.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Project Controls
Primary Location US-CO-Denver
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 20 % of the Time
Req ID: 261856
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-DNP #CDB
See all 180+ OPT Project Controls Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Project Controls Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Project Controls Specialist
Target infrastructure and construction firms
Large engineering, procurement, and construction firms hire Project Controls Specialists regularly and have established visa sponsorship pipelines. Focus your applications on companies with active federal contracts, where project controls expertise is a compliance requirement, not a luxury.
Highlight earned value management experience
EVM proficiency is a hard requirement for many government-adjacent project controls roles. Demonstrating hands-on experience with cost performance index and schedule performance index calculations signals technical depth employers need when justifying specialty occupation status for OPT and H-1B visa.
Get certified early in your OPT window
Pursuing a PMI-SP or AACE certification during your OPT period strengthens your H-1B sponsorship case. Employers sponsoring your visa must demonstrate the role requires specialized knowledge, and industry credentials support that argument concretely.
Prioritize STEM OPT-eligible positions
Project Controls Specialist roles under construction management, industrial engineering, or systems engineering CIP codes typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before accepting an offer to ensure you maximize your authorized work period.
Lead with Primavera P6 and cost control software skills
Employers screening for project controls candidates filter heavily on scheduling and cost software proficiency. Listing Primavera P6, Oracle Unifier, or SAP PS on your resume above the fold increases your chances of passing initial recruiter screening before sponsorship discussions even begin.
Address your OPT timeline directly with hiring managers
Project controls hiring cycles can run two to three months. Proactively share your OPT expiration date and STEM extension eligibility early, so employers can align their H-1B sponsorship timeline with their project staffing needs without last-minute surprises.
Project Controls Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Controls Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT and H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. Project Controls Specialist positions typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering, construction management, or a closely related field, which meets the specialty occupation standard. Roles focused on cost engineering, schedule analysis, or earned value management have a strong track record of H-1B approval, but the specific job duties and degree match both matter.
Which degree fields qualify F-1 students for the STEM OPT extension in project controls roles?
Degrees in civil engineering, industrial engineering, systems engineering, construction management, and engineering management are the most common pathways to STEM OPT eligibility for project controls work. Degrees in business or general management without a STEM CIP code typically do not qualify. Confirm your specific degree's CIP code with your international student office before relying on the extension.
Where can I find Project Controls Specialist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists project controls roles from employers who are open to sponsoring international candidates. Filtering for OPT-friendly positions saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering sponsorship constraints late in the process. Most employers hiring for government contract or infrastructure projects are accustomed to working with candidates on work authorization.
How far in advance should I start applying for Project Controls Specialist roles given the H-1B lottery timeline?
Start applying at least six months before your OPT expires. H-1B registration opens in March for an October 1 start date, meaning your employer needs to be committed to sponsoring you by late February at the latest. For OPT holders expiring mid-year, missing one lottery cycle can mean a gap in work authorization, so early applications are critical.
Can I work as a Project Controls Specialist as an independent contractor on OPT?
Self-employment on OPT is permitted under USCIS rules, but it carries significant compliance risk. You must be actively engaged in work related to your degree field, and the arrangement must constitute genuine employment rather than passive income. Most project controls contractors work through staffing agencies or consulting firms, which simplifies the employment verification requirements under the OPT terms.