OPT Project Engineer Jobs
Project Engineer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in civil, mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure regularly sponsor international engineers for H-1B visas.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Path Construction is seeking qualified candidates to join our organization in the Charlotte, NC area. We are a rapidly growing general contractor headquartered in Arlington Heights, IL, with additional offices in Scottsdale, AZ; Knoxville, TN; Tampa, FL; and Dallas, TX, and projects throughout the United States.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Typical duties of a Project Engineer include managing day-to-day activities of subcontractors and suppliers, contract administration, procurement, estimating, pay requests, change orders, requests for information, cost control, scheduling, tracking submittals, maintaining and delivering a high level of quality. The right candidate will have construction management internship experience on large and/or small projects and varying asset classes including, but not limited to, Higher Education, Retail, Multi-family, Hospitality, Healthcare, Restaurant, Transportation, Water and Waste Treatment, Self-Storage, Senior Living, Convention Centers, Laboratories, Correctional, etc. Path is looking for people with great technical skills, good communication skills, and strong attention to detail.
Duties for a Project Engineer include:
- General Contract and Subcontract administration
- Monitor and document jobsite safety and accident prevention
- Construction Scheduling
- Material & Equipment - procurement and expediting
- Process RFI's + Receive + Review + Submit + Log
- Shop drawing and submittal review and coordination
- Project cost review, reporting, updating and accounting
- Review of subcontractor applications for payment
- Participation in and documentation of project coordination meetings
- Supervision and coordination of subcontractors' field installations
- Review and negotiate change proposal pricing from subcontractors
- Prepare change proposals
- Change order documentation and associated cost reporting and maintenance
- Research and suggest options on construction means, methods and equipment
- Quality control
- Project Closeout
- Implement all applicable Safety Programs and EEO/Affirmative Action Programs on the Project
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- A 4 year degree in Building Construction, Engineering, or a related field
- Building and construction management internship experience
- OSHA Site Safety Experience
- Up-to-date with modern technology and display excellent communication skills
- General knowledge of construction principles/practices required
- Strong work ethic and desire to work in a team environment and grow the company
- Must have a valid driver's license and ability to travel may be required
- Working knowledge of project management process and software (Microsoft Office and SAGE 300 CRE)
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Public work experience is a plus
- Estimating experience is a plus
- Self Perform experience is a plus
- OSHA 30 Hour Training
- LEED Project Experience
BENEFITS
- Competitive Compensation
- Certification Training
- 401(k)
- Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Long-Term and Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Company cellphone and computer
- Financial and Mental Health Support through a third party
- Travel and Entertainment Discount Program
INTRODUCTION
Path Construction is seeking qualified candidates to join our organization in the Charlotte, NC area. We are a rapidly growing general contractor headquartered in Arlington Heights, IL, with additional offices in Scottsdale, AZ; Knoxville, TN; Tampa, FL; and Dallas, TX, and projects throughout the United States.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Typical duties of a Project Engineer include managing day-to-day activities of subcontractors and suppliers, contract administration, procurement, estimating, pay requests, change orders, requests for information, cost control, scheduling, tracking submittals, maintaining and delivering a high level of quality. The right candidate will have construction management internship experience on large and/or small projects and varying asset classes including, but not limited to, Higher Education, Retail, Multi-family, Hospitality, Healthcare, Restaurant, Transportation, Water and Waste Treatment, Self-Storage, Senior Living, Convention Centers, Laboratories, Correctional, etc. Path is looking for people with great technical skills, good communication skills, and strong attention to detail.
Duties for a Project Engineer include:
- General Contract and Subcontract administration
- Monitor and document jobsite safety and accident prevention
- Construction Scheduling
- Material & Equipment - procurement and expediting
- Process RFI's + Receive + Review + Submit + Log
- Shop drawing and submittal review and coordination
- Project cost review, reporting, updating and accounting
- Review of subcontractor applications for payment
- Participation in and documentation of project coordination meetings
- Supervision and coordination of subcontractors' field installations
- Review and negotiate change proposal pricing from subcontractors
- Prepare change proposals
- Change order documentation and associated cost reporting and maintenance
- Research and suggest options on construction means, methods and equipment
- Quality control
- Project Closeout
- Implement all applicable Safety Programs and EEO/Affirmative Action Programs on the Project
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- A 4 year degree in Building Construction, Engineering, or a related field
- Building and construction management internship experience
- OSHA Site Safety Experience
- Up-to-date with modern technology and display excellent communication skills
- General knowledge of construction principles/practices required
- Strong work ethic and desire to work in a team environment and grow the company
- Must have a valid driver's license and ability to travel may be required
- Working knowledge of project management process and software (Microsoft Office and SAGE 300 CRE)
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Public work experience is a plus
- Estimating experience is a plus
- Self Perform experience is a plus
- OSHA 30 Hour Training
- LEED Project Experience
BENEFITS
- Competitive Compensation
- Certification Training
- 401(k)
- Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Long-Term and Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Company cellphone and computer
- Financial and Mental Health Support through a third party
- Travel and Entertainment Discount Program
See all 1,332+ OPT Project Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Project Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Project Engineer
Target engineering firms with active H-1B histories
Large construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing companies file H-1B petitions regularly for engineers. Focusing your search on firms with established sponsorship pipelines significantly improves your odds of converting OPT to long-term work authorization.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Project Engineer roles typically fall under STEM-designated CIP codes in civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering. Verify your specific program is on the STEM OPT list before accepting an offer, since your extension eligibility depends on it.
Apply early relative to your OPT end date
Many engineering firms have hiring cycles tied to project pipelines. Starting your search at least four to six months before your OPT expires gives employers time to initiate H-1B sponsorship without feeling rushed by your timeline.
Frame your EIT or PE progress clearly on your resume
Engineer-in-Training certification or progress toward a Professional Engineer license signals long-term commitment to U.S. employers. Mentioning it directly addresses a common hesitation around sponsoring early-career engineers on OPT.
Prepare a concise explanation of your OPT timeline
Hiring managers in engineering often have limited immigration knowledge. A clear, one-paragraph summary of your current status, STEM extension eligibility, and H-1B timeline helps move conversations forward without making sponsorship feel complicated or uncertain.
Prioritize roles tied to long-term projects
Multi-year infrastructure, construction, or manufacturing projects give employers a strong business reason to sponsor you. Roles on projects with defined timelines beyond 18 months make the cost of H-1B sponsorship easier for hiring managers to justify internally.
Project Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Project Engineer jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Project Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as civil, mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering. The extension requires your employer to enroll in E-Verify and submit a formal training plan with your DSO. Confirm your specific CIP code is on the official STEM OPT list before relying on extension eligibility.
How do I find Project Engineer employers willing to sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters Project Engineer jobs by OPT and visa sponsorship eligibility, so you can focus on employers who are already open to international candidates. Large engineering, construction, and infrastructure firms tend to have the most established sponsorship processes, but mid-size firms with active federal or state contracts also sponsor engineers regularly.
Can I start a Project Engineer job while my OPT application is still pending?
No. You must have your EAD card in hand before starting work. USCIS recommends filing your OPT application 90 days before your program end date, and processing takes up to 90 days. Coordinate your offer acceptance and start date carefully to avoid a gap between your I-20 program end date and EAD receipt.
What happens to my OPT status if a Project Engineer contract ends early?
F-1 OPT students are allowed an unemployment period of up to 90 cumulative days on standard OPT, reduced to 60 days during the STEM extension. If a contract ends unexpectedly, you need to find new qualifying employment within that window or your OPT status falls out of compliance. Report any employment changes to your DSO promptly.
Is a Project Engineer role considered qualifying employment for OPT purposes?
Yes, as long as the work is directly related to your degree field. A civil engineering graduate working on construction project management clearly qualifies. A mechanical engineering graduate in a manufacturing coordination role also qualifies. The key is that your job duties must connect to your major field of study, which most Project Engineer roles do by definition.