OPT Structural Designer Jobs
Structural Designer jobs on OPT typically fall under civil or mechanical engineering roles, which are STEM-designated and qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Most employers require proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, or STAAD.Pro, and many will sponsor H-1B visa after your OPT period.
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At KPFF Consulting Engineers, we are more than just an engineering design firm. For over 60 years, we have dedicated ourselves to innovative, sustainable engineering that shapes the built environment and tackles complex infrastructure challenges. Our team culture emphasizes balance, growth, and well-being, supporting each member’s professional journey with flexibility, generous benefits, and a collaborative approach to work-life integration.
With over 1,400 professionals across 27 offices nationwide, KPFF’s decentralized structure allows each office the flexibility to pursue projects aligned with their regional strengths.
Job Description
KPFF is looking for full-time structural engineering professionals for our Greater Los Angeles Structural office. We are seeking a highly motivated person with a passion for engineering excellence and eager to develop design and project management skills. This position will provide the opportunity to work for a variety of public and private clients on all types of projects through planning, design, permitting and construction. Our work focuses on structural design on infrastructure projects, including bridges, waterfront infrastructure, and other horizontal construction projects on the West Coast region.
Our engineers work in a team structure that allows frequent collaboration and connection to all layers of our organization, from interns to Principals. We foster a culture where our engineers collaborate outside of the project work through social events, educational programs and technical training. We provide numerous opportunities for professional growth, learning, and teaching. Individual accomplishments and successful projects determine your future at KPFF, and your dedication and talent will drive your career here.
This is an Exempt employment position, all overtime hours are paid at an hourly rate.
Benefits
KPFF is proud to provide our employees with benefits options that fit their unique lives, including:
- 7 paid holidays, and 2 floating holidays for you to use each year
- 2 weeks vacation annually, with competitive seniority based accruals
- 2 weeks of personal and sick time to care for yourself and your family members
- KPFF will contribute 3% of your base salary to your 401 (k) regardless of your contribution
- KPFF Paid Family Leave: Provides 60% of your base salary while on an approved leave for up to 6 weeks in a rolling 12-month period
- 40-hour work schedule, Monday through Friday
- Flexible scheduling - core hours of collaboration are 9:30-3:30 PM
- Those who receive their PE or SE at KPFF will receive a bonus in addition to testing fee reimbursement
- Monthly Cell Phone Stipend
- Monthly Way We Work stipend for remote work and transit expenses
- Semi-annual Bonuses
- Opportunities for educational events, relationship building, and fun!
Salary
Pay Range is $77,000-$87,000 salary depending on education and experience.
Qualifications
Qualifications Include:
- B.S. in Civil Engineering (with a structural emphasis)
- M.S in Civil Engineering preferred (with a structural emphasis)
- EIT is required
- Concrete, steel, and timber coursework and/or design experience
- Pre-stressed concrete and seismic coursework and/or design experience
- Familiarity with non-linear analysis
- Ability to work dynamically with clients and project team members
Application Process
If you are interested in this position, please apply on our careers page. Resumes sent elsewhere will not be considered.
Transcripts must be provided prior to an interview. Cover letter is preferable and should address the following:
- Describe a time when you were assigned a project or task that turned out to be really difficult. How did you work through it, and what was the outcome?
- Who has most influenced you and why?
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Duties are performed in a normal office environment while sitting at a desk or computer table.
- Duties require the ability to actively engage with a computer for several hours per day.
- May occasionally need to lift items up to 15 lbs.
- Duties require in-person attendance, Monday through Friday, during our business hours of 8 AM to 5 PM at our office in Downtown Los Angeles for the training period.
- Following a satisfactory training period a hybrid schedule of 2 days per week in the office may be accommodated.
Our Employees
Our employees are valued and empowered, collaborative and team oriented, innovative in their approach and passionate about their work. They are reliable, trustworthy and open with a high level of integrity. They value diversity, are inclusive and are committed to critically thinking through problems and finding solutions.
Our Offices
Our Greater Los Angeles Structural office has two locations at the Bloc in Downtown Los Angeles and at the Irvine Towers in Irvine. A warm and friendly environment, we are dedicated to growing with our employees and allowing people to pursue their passions.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
KPFF Consulting Engineers is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, sex/gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected basis.
Company Description
At KPFF Consulting Engineers, we are more than just an engineering design firm. For over 60 years, we have dedicated ourselves to innovative, sustainable engineering that shapes the built environment and tackles complex infrastructure challenges. Our team culture emphasizes balance, growth, and well-being, supporting each member’s professional journey with flexibility, generous benefits, and a collaborative approach to work-life integration.
With over 1,400 professionals across 27 offices nationwide, KPFF’s decentralized structure allows each office the flexibility to pursue projects aligned with their regional strengths.
Job Description
KPFF is looking for full-time structural engineering professionals for our Greater Los Angeles Structural office. We are seeking a highly motivated person with a passion for engineering excellence and eager to develop design and project management skills. This position will provide the opportunity to work for a variety of public and private clients on all types of projects through planning, design, permitting and construction. Our work focuses on structural design on infrastructure projects, including bridges, waterfront infrastructure, and other horizontal construction projects on the West Coast region.
Our engineers work in a team structure that allows frequent collaboration and connection to all layers of our organization, from interns to Principals. We foster a culture where our engineers collaborate outside of the project work through social events, educational programs and technical training. We provide numerous opportunities for professional growth, learning, and teaching. Individual accomplishments and successful projects determine your future at KPFF, and your dedication and talent will drive your career here.
This is an Exempt employment position, all overtime hours are paid at an hourly rate.
Benefits
KPFF is proud to provide our employees with benefits options that fit their unique lives, including:
- 7 paid holidays, and 2 floating holidays for you to use each year
- 2 weeks vacation annually, with competitive seniority based accruals
- 2 weeks of personal and sick time to care for yourself and your family members
- KPFF will contribute 3% of your base salary to your 401 (k) regardless of your contribution
- KPFF Paid Family Leave: Provides 60% of your base salary while on an approved leave for up to 6 weeks in a rolling 12-month period
- 40-hour work schedule, Monday through Friday
- Flexible scheduling - core hours of collaboration are 9:30-3:30 PM
- Those who receive their PE or SE at KPFF will receive a bonus in addition to testing fee reimbursement
- Monthly Cell Phone Stipend
- Monthly Way We Work stipend for remote work and transit expenses
- Semi-annual Bonuses
- Opportunities for educational events, relationship building, and fun!
Salary
Pay Range is $77,000-$87,000 salary depending on education and experience.
Qualifications
Qualifications Include:
- B.S. in Civil Engineering (with a structural emphasis)
- M.S in Civil Engineering preferred (with a structural emphasis)
- EIT is required
- Concrete, steel, and timber coursework and/or design experience
- Pre-stressed concrete and seismic coursework and/or design experience
- Familiarity with non-linear analysis
- Ability to work dynamically with clients and project team members
Application Process
If you are interested in this position, please apply on our careers page. Resumes sent elsewhere will not be considered.
Transcripts must be provided prior to an interview. Cover letter is preferable and should address the following:
- Describe a time when you were assigned a project or task that turned out to be really difficult. How did you work through it, and what was the outcome?
- Who has most influenced you and why?
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Duties are performed in a normal office environment while sitting at a desk or computer table.
- Duties require the ability to actively engage with a computer for several hours per day.
- May occasionally need to lift items up to 15 lbs.
- Duties require in-person attendance, Monday through Friday, during our business hours of 8 AM to 5 PM at our office in Downtown Los Angeles for the training period.
- Following a satisfactory training period a hybrid schedule of 2 days per week in the office may be accommodated.
Our Employees
Our employees are valued and empowered, collaborative and team oriented, innovative in their approach and passionate about their work. They are reliable, trustworthy and open with a high level of integrity. They value diversity, are inclusive and are committed to critically thinking through problems and finding solutions.
Our Offices
Our Greater Los Angeles Structural office has two locations at the Bloc in Downtown Los Angeles and at the Irvine Towers in Irvine. A warm and friendly environment, we are dedicated to growing with our employees and allowing people to pursue their passions.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
KPFF Consulting Engineers is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, sex/gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected basis.
See all OPT Structural Designer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Structural Designer
Highlight Your STEM OPT Eligibility Upfront
Structural design roles typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension under CIP codes for civil or mechanical engineering. Mentioning your STEM eligibility in your resume and cover letter reduces employer hesitation about your work authorization timeline.
Lead With Software Proficiency
Employers sponsoring OPT structural designers prioritize technical skills. List AutoCAD, Revit, STAAD.Pro, SAP2000, and any BIM experience prominently. These tools are hiring signals that justify sponsorship investment for engineering and architecture firms.
Target Engineering Consulting and Infrastructure Firms
Large civil and structural engineering firms sponsor OPT students with more consistency than boutique practices. Focus your search on companies with active federal or infrastructure contracts, which tend to have established visa sponsorship processes and dedicated HR teams.
Frame Your OPT Period as Low-Risk for Employers
With STEM OPT, you can work legally for up to three years before H-1B visa is needed. Communicating this timeline clearly in interviews removes the urgency employers fear and positions sponsorship as a future step, not an immediate burden.
Get Licensed or Start the Process Early
The EIT or Engineer-in-Training credential signals commitment to a U.S. engineering career. Employers sponsoring structural designers want long-term hires, and starting your PE licensure path during OPT demonstrates exactly that kind of investment in your professional trajectory.
Negotiate the E-Verify Requirement Before Accepting Offers
OPT STEM extension requires your employer to be E-Verify enrolled. Confirm this before your final interview round, not after receiving an offer. Most large engineering firms already participate, but smaller firms or subcontractors may need time to enroll.
Structural Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Structural Designer roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Structural Designer positions typically fall under civil or mechanical engineering degree programs, both of which carry STEM-designated CIP codes. That qualifies you for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of total OPT work authorization. Your degree must be from a U.S. accredited institution and listed as STEM by your DSO.
Do employers in structural design commonly sponsor OPT students?
Large civil and structural engineering firms, particularly those working on public infrastructure or government contracts, sponsor OPT students with reasonable frequency. Smaller residential or boutique firms are less consistent. Migrate Mate filters job listings by sponsorship willingness, so you can focus your search on employers who have actively hired OPT and visa-sponsored candidates.
What is the E-Verify requirement for STEM OPT in a structural design role?
To extend your OPT from 12 to 36 months under the STEM extension, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. This is a federal employment eligibility verification system. Most engineering firms with federal contracts are already enrolled, but you should confirm enrollment before accepting an offer. Your DSO also needs to approve the STEM extension before your initial OPT expires.
Can I work on a structural design project basis during OPT, or does it need to be full-time employment?
OPT requires that your work authorization is used for employment directly related to your degree. Full-time employment is standard and easiest to document. Project-based or contract work can qualify, but you must be able to demonstrate at least 20 hours per week of work related to your field. Independent contracting arrangements require careful documentation and DSO guidance to avoid jeopardizing your status.
What happens to my OPT status if my structural design employer is acquired or restructured?
If your employer is acquired, merged, or significantly restructured, you need to report the change to your DSO within 10 days. Your OPT authorization is tied to your job being in a field related to your degree, not to a specific employer, but your employer of record must still be E-Verify enrolled for STEM OPT. Confirm the acquiring company's E-Verify status and update your SEVP portal accordingly.