OPT Summer Associate Jobs
Summer Associate roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in law, consulting, and finance, structured programs that run 10 to 12 weeks, well within your OPT authorization window. Most employers in these programs have existing visa pipelines, making them realistic targets for F-1 students who need sponsorship beyond OPT.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Join Terracon's Cedar Rapids, IA office for the summer and gain valuable engineering experience! We are looking for engineering students interested in summer work. Work from May - August and Co-ops are also available if you want to work to December.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In the role you will:
- Perform field and/or laboratory testing, observation, and inspection of construction materials (e.g. soils, aggregates, concrete, asphalt, and steel).
- Communicate with project manager, engineering technicians, client representative, contractor’s representative and others as applicable regarding the construction site, project requirements, and testing, observation, and inspection requirements and results.
- Transport material samples with associated identifying documentation to the laboratory for further testing and analysis.
- Tabulate, prepare, and submit data and observation in the form of written and digital reports as work is performed for daily transmittal to the Terracon Project Manager.
- Maintain and clean equipment, vehicles and work areas.
- May assist with scheduling and dispatch of Technicians to project sites.
- Adhere to strict safety standards.
Essential Roles and Responsibilities:
- Under close supervision of higher level technicians or staff professionals, assist on tasks and perform basic testing and observations duties.
- Provides clear documentation of findings and results.
- Communicates information to Project Manager and discusses accuracy of data in preparation for submittal.
- Submits documentation and communicates results as directed by the Project Manager.
- Will be placed in a progressively increased role of training and responsibility in work assignments.
- Maintains assigned equipment.
- Follow safety rules and practices and other safety requirements for all projects. Perform pre-task planning prior to executing work. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Be responsible for maintaining quality standards on all projects.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- High school diploma or equivalent and pursuing a BS or Master's degree in civil or construction engineering.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
About us
Terracon is a 100 percent employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 8,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 200 locations nationwide. Since 1965, Terracon has evolved into a successful multi-discipline firm specializing in environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services. Terracon’s growth is due to our talented employee-owners exceeding expectations in client service and growing their careers with new and exciting opportunities in the marketplace. Terracon was recognized as the #1 firm in Asbestos and Lead Abatement.
Terracon’s vision of “Together, we are best at people” is demonstrated through our excellent compensation and benefits package. Based on eligibility, role and job status, we offer many programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off and holidays, education reimbursement, and various bonus programs.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The chemistry that holds our materials team together is made of integrity, creativity, and care. We represent Terracon’s largest technician and inspection workforce and ensure the materials used to build the nation’s roads, bridges, airports, stadiums, and other structures are safe and sound. With our broad range of qualifications, specialized certifications, and building materials professionals, we are on-site, evaluating and testing materials in real-time to keep the pace of our clients’ project, collecting and reporting data digitally to deliver critical insights. With our nationwide footprint of offices and laboratories, bench strength, flexibility, and diverse capabilities we identify issues and expedite solutions whenever problems arise.
EEO Statement
Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
INTRODUCTION
Join Terracon's Cedar Rapids, IA office for the summer and gain valuable engineering experience! We are looking for engineering students interested in summer work. Work from May - August and Co-ops are also available if you want to work to December.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In the role you will:
- Perform field and/or laboratory testing, observation, and inspection of construction materials (e.g. soils, aggregates, concrete, asphalt, and steel).
- Communicate with project manager, engineering technicians, client representative, contractor’s representative and others as applicable regarding the construction site, project requirements, and testing, observation, and inspection requirements and results.
- Transport material samples with associated identifying documentation to the laboratory for further testing and analysis.
- Tabulate, prepare, and submit data and observation in the form of written and digital reports as work is performed for daily transmittal to the Terracon Project Manager.
- Maintain and clean equipment, vehicles and work areas.
- May assist with scheduling and dispatch of Technicians to project sites.
- Adhere to strict safety standards.
Essential Roles and Responsibilities:
- Under close supervision of higher level technicians or staff professionals, assist on tasks and perform basic testing and observations duties.
- Provides clear documentation of findings and results.
- Communicates information to Project Manager and discusses accuracy of data in preparation for submittal.
- Submits documentation and communicates results as directed by the Project Manager.
- Will be placed in a progressively increased role of training and responsibility in work assignments.
- Maintains assigned equipment.
- Follow safety rules and practices and other safety requirements for all projects. Perform pre-task planning prior to executing work. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Be responsible for maintaining quality standards on all projects.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- High school diploma or equivalent and pursuing a BS or Master's degree in civil or construction engineering.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
About us
Terracon is a 100 percent employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 8,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 200 locations nationwide. Since 1965, Terracon has evolved into a successful multi-discipline firm specializing in environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services. Terracon’s growth is due to our talented employee-owners exceeding expectations in client service and growing their careers with new and exciting opportunities in the marketplace. Terracon was recognized as the #1 firm in Asbestos and Lead Abatement.
Terracon’s vision of “Together, we are best at people” is demonstrated through our excellent compensation and benefits package. Based on eligibility, role and job status, we offer many programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off and holidays, education reimbursement, and various bonus programs.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The chemistry that holds our materials team together is made of integrity, creativity, and care. We represent Terracon’s largest technician and inspection workforce and ensure the materials used to build the nation’s roads, bridges, airports, stadiums, and other structures are safe and sound. With our broad range of qualifications, specialized certifications, and building materials professionals, we are on-site, evaluating and testing materials in real-time to keep the pace of our clients’ project, collecting and reporting data digitally to deliver critical insights. With our nationwide footprint of offices and laboratories, bench strength, flexibility, and diverse capabilities we identify issues and expedite solutions whenever problems arise.
EEO Statement
Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
See all 85+ OPT Summer Associate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Summer Associate Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Summer Associate
Apply before your OPT start date
Summer Associate programs recruit months in advance. Submit applications in the fall or early winter for summer positions. Starting your OPT authorization before the program begins gives employers confidence you'll be fully work-authorized on day one.
Prioritize firms with H-1B sponsorship track records
Law firms, Big Four accounting firms, and major consulting practices sponsor H-1B visas routinely for top performers from their summer programs. Ask recruiters directly whether the firm has sponsored past Summer Associates before accepting an offer.
Know your OPT end date before offers arrive
Summer programs typically run June through August. Confirm your OPT expiration covers the full program duration. If your OPT expires mid-summer, discuss a start date adjustment or STEM OPT extension eligibility with your international student advisor.
Treat the summer as a sponsorship audition
Many firms extend full-time offers to Summer Associates, and full-time offers often include H-1B sponsorship. Strong performance during the summer program is the most direct path to long-term work authorization at that employer.
Disclose your OPT status early and confidently
Bring up your OPT authorization in the first substantive recruiter conversation. Employers who sponsor know exactly what OPT means. Early disclosure filters out firms that won't sponsor and builds trust with those that will.
Confirm your EAD card arrives before your start date
USCIS processing for OPT EAD cards can take two to three months. Apply at least 90 days before your intended start date. Without a valid EAD in hand, you cannot legally begin working, even if the firm has approved your offer.
Summer Associate OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Summer Associate on OPT?
Yes. Summer Associate positions are standard W-2 employment, which is fully covered by OPT work authorization. Your role must be directly related to your degree field, a finance or economics degree supports a summer associate position at an investment bank or consulting firm, while a law degree supports a legal summer associate role. Keep documentation of that connection in case your DSO asks.
What happens to my OPT status if I don't receive a return offer?
Your OPT authorization continues until its expiration date regardless of whether you receive a return offer. The summer program counts as authorized employment, so those weeks satisfy your OPT work requirement. After the program ends, you can continue job searching on OPT. If you have a STEM-eligible degree, you may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension before your initial OPT expires.
Do Summer Associate programs typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Large law firms, consulting firms, and financial institutions with structured Summer Associate programs generally sponsor H-1B visas for candidates they convert to full-time roles. Sponsorship is rarely offered for the summer position itself, it typically comes with a full-time return offer. Research a firm's H-1B filing history through public DOL disclosure data before prioritizing their summer program.
Where can I find Summer Associate jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Summer Associate positions from employers with documented visa sponsorship histories, so you're not spending time applying to firms that won't support your work authorization. Filtering by OPT eligibility on Migrate Mate surfaces programs where international students have successfully converted to full-time sponsored roles, which is a meaningful signal when you're evaluating where to invest your application effort.
Does a Summer Associate position count toward my OPT unemployment limit?
No, any week you're actively employed as a Summer Associate counts as authorized work, not unemployment. OPT allows a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during the authorization period (150 days for STEM OPT). A 10 to 12 week summer program fully employed means zero days of unemployment accrued during that window, which is a meaningful buffer if your job search extends afterward.