OPT Project Designer Jobs
Project Designer jobs on OPT require employers to support your work authorization, whether through CPT-to-OPT transition, STEM OPT extension, or eventual H-1B visa sponsorship. Most roles sit within architecture, engineering, or product design firms where degree-field alignment is straightforward to document.
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Sr. Project Designer - Remote or Hybrid
Job Description Summary
Project Designer will develop documents, drawings, and diagrams to meet the requirements and goals of the client.
Job Description
Responsibilities:
- Lead the interior design effort of special or more complex projects.
- Support Project Designers in quality review of design deliverables.
- Support on-boarding and training of new Project Designers.
- Contribute experience to the interior environment with knowledge and skills about space planning, interior building materials and finishes; casework, furniture, furnishings, and equipment; lighting; acoustics; wayfinding; ergonomics and anthropometrics; and human environmental behavior.
- Execute full design process, from initial sketch through start of construction.
- Work independently or with minor oversight to perform assignments including, conceptual design, schematic design, design development, space planning and construction documentation.
- Produce mood, material and design presentations independently or with minimal supervision.
- Participate in internal and consultant meetings.
- Provide extensive and rapid fire knowledge of FF&E vendors and resources to the team.
- Be wildly creative and push the boundaries!
Qualifications
- At least four (4) years of design experience within the commercial real estate market.
- Must have recent experience with Revit.
- Preferred Bachelor’s degree from a CIDA accredited institution in a related discipline or field of study (i.e. Architecture, Interior Design, Corporate Real Estate, Facilities, Project or Construction Management, etc.) required, OR Bachelor’s degree in Other Major than above plus Interior Design Certification, Degree or Diploma.
- Excellent time management, communication, collaboration, and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines, in addition to the ability to work independently.
- Excellent time management, communication, organizational, and collaboration skills.
- Skills coordinating Audio Visual and other specialty consultants.
- Must be able to lead a team effort, and delegate work to all team members to enable them to work independently.
- Project Goals. Understand, document, and confirm the client’s and stakeholders’ goals and objectives, including design outcomes, space needs, project budget, and needs for specific or measurable outcomes.
- Data Collection: Collect data from client and stakeholders by engaging in programming, surveys, focus groups, charrette exercises, and benchmarking to maximize design outcomes and occupant satisfaction.
Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.
The compensation for the position is: $63,750.00 - $75,000.00
Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.
Job Title
Sr. Project Designer - Remote or Hybrid
Job Description Summary
Project Designer will develop documents, drawings, and diagrams to meet the requirements and goals of the client.
Job Description
Responsibilities:
- Lead the interior design effort of special or more complex projects.
- Support Project Designers in quality review of design deliverables.
- Support on-boarding and training of new Project Designers.
- Contribute experience to the interior environment with knowledge and skills about space planning, interior building materials and finishes; casework, furniture, furnishings, and equipment; lighting; acoustics; wayfinding; ergonomics and anthropometrics; and human environmental behavior.
- Execute full design process, from initial sketch through start of construction.
- Work independently or with minor oversight to perform assignments including, conceptual design, schematic design, design development, space planning and construction documentation.
- Produce mood, material and design presentations independently or with minimal supervision.
- Participate in internal and consultant meetings.
- Provide extensive and rapid fire knowledge of FF&E vendors and resources to the team.
- Be wildly creative and push the boundaries!
Qualifications
- At least four (4) years of design experience within the commercial real estate market.
- Must have recent experience with Revit.
- Preferred Bachelor’s degree from a CIDA accredited institution in a related discipline or field of study (i.e. Architecture, Interior Design, Corporate Real Estate, Facilities, Project or Construction Management, etc.) required, OR Bachelor’s degree in Other Major than above plus Interior Design Certification, Degree or Diploma.
- Excellent time management, communication, collaboration, and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines, in addition to the ability to work independently.
- Excellent time management, communication, organizational, and collaboration skills.
- Skills coordinating Audio Visual and other specialty consultants.
- Must be able to lead a team effort, and delegate work to all team members to enable them to work independently.
- Project Goals. Understand, document, and confirm the client’s and stakeholders’ goals and objectives, including design outcomes, space needs, project budget, and needs for specific or measurable outcomes.
- Data Collection: Collect data from client and stakeholders by engaging in programming, surveys, focus groups, charrette exercises, and benchmarking to maximize design outcomes and occupant satisfaction.
Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.
The compensation for the position is: $63,750.00 - $75,000.00
Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.
See all OPT Project Designer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Project Designer
Lead with your degree-field alignment
Project Designer roles typically require a degree in architecture, industrial design, or engineering. Frame your application around that match explicitly. OPT requires your work to align with your field of study, and employers need to see that connection clearly documented.
Target firms with an H-1B filing history
Companies that have sponsored H-1B visas before understand the process and are far more likely to extend your OPT into long-term employment. Focus your search on design firms, engineering consultancies, and product companies with established international hiring pipelines.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility early
If your degree is in an accredited STEM program such as engineering, architecture, or computer-aided design, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Raising this early signals to employers that your authorization window is longer than standard 12-month OPT.
Quantify your design and project delivery impact
OPT employers want confidence that you'll contribute quickly. Highlight completed projects, client deliverables, or software proficiencies like Revit, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks. Concrete outcomes reduce perceived risk for employers who are new to sponsoring international candidates.
Disclose your OPT status transparently before interviews
Raising your work authorization status before the first interview prevents wasted time and builds trust. Briefly state your OPT validity period and whether you're STEM-eligible so employers can assess fit without surprises at the offer stage.
Apply to firms with multiple active projects
Larger project pipelines mean more staffing flexibility and a stronger business case for sponsoring your visa long-term. Firms running concurrent contracts across clients are more likely to retain and sponsor skilled designers rather than letting OPT authorizations lapse.
Project Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Project Designer on OPT?
Yes, as long as the role aligns with your field of study. Project Designer positions commonly satisfy OPT's degree-field requirement for graduates of architecture, industrial design, engineering, and related programs. Your EAD card is the only work authorization document your employer needs. If your role is unrelated to your degree field, it will not count toward valid OPT employment.
Do Project Designer employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Many do, particularly mid-size to large architecture firms, engineering consultancies, and product design companies with recurring project needs. Sponsorship is more common at firms that already employ international staff or operate global project teams. Migrate Mate's job board filters for OPT-friendly and H-1B-sponsoring employers, which makes identifying those companies straightforward without manually screening every listing.
Does a Project Designer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you hold a degree in a STEM-designated field such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or architecture and your employer agrees to a formal training plan, you may qualify for the 24-month extension. Your school's DSO determines eligibility based on your degree's CIP code. The job title itself is not the deciding factor.
What happens to my OPT if my Project Designer role is project-based or contract work?
OPT allows freelance and contract arrangements as long as the work is directly related to your degree field and averages at least 20 hours per week. Short-term project contracts can count toward your OPT employment requirement. Document each engagement carefully, including start dates, scope of work, and the connection to your field of study, in case USCIS or your DSO requests verification.
How much time do I need left on OPT when applying for Project Designer roles?
Most employers prefer candidates with at least six months remaining on OPT, which gives time to onboard and begin an H-1B petition if they choose to sponsor. If you are approaching the end of your OPT window, leading with your STEM extension eligibility can reset that calculation significantly. Apply early and communicate your timeline clearly so employers can plan accordingly.