OPT Traffic Engineer Jobs
Traffic Engineer jobs on OPT require a degree in civil engineering or transportation engineering, and most roles qualify as STEM-designated positions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers typically sponsor H-1B visa after OPT, making this field a viable long-term path in the U.S.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Organization: Transportation - District 03
Agency Contact Name and Information: Mindy Cavin 419-207-2837 or mindy.cavin@dot.ohio.gov
Work Location:
906 North Clark Avenue
Ashland, Ohio, 44805
United States
Compensation: $27.56
Schedule: Permanent - Full Time
Work Hours: 7:00am-3:30pm
Classified Indicator: Classified
Union: OCSEA
Primary Job Skill: Transportation
- You will act as lead worker (i.e., provide work direction & training).
- You will install, maintain, & fabricate & program complex traffic signals, highway lighting & electrical devices.
- You will troubleshoot & make adjustments &/or repairs to components of traffic signal, flashing beacons, etc.
- You will review, process & respond to Ohio Utilities Protection Services (OUPS) tickets.
Additional Information
This position is overtime eligible based on FLSA Standards.
All bargaining unit new hires must serve a one (1) year probationary period.
Position will be filled pursuant to the provision of the OCSEA/AFSCME Contract.
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.
All final applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment. This position is also subject to federal testing regulations pursuant to 49 CFR Part 40 (Federal Drug and Alcohol Regulations) and 49 CFR Part 382 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) which prohibits the use of marijuana, including medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is prohibited as a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test for final applicants in this position.
In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations 382.703, selected applicants for this position are required to register as a driver in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse at the following link: https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/register
Why Work for the State of Ohio:
At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:
- Medical Coverage
- Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
- Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
- Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
- Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
- Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.
QUALIFICATIONS
36 mos. trg. &/or exp. in troubleshooting/maintaining &/or repairing electrical circuits & traffic signal components valid Class B commercial driver's license without air brake restriction required.
-
Or associate core in electrical engineering or engineering & transportation technology; 18 mos. exp. troubleshooting/maintaining &/or repairing of electrical circuits & traffic signal components; valid Class B commercial driver's license without air brake restriction required.
-
Or undergraduate core in electrical engineering or engineering & transportation technology; 12 mos. exp. troubleshooting/ maintaining &/or repairing of electrical circuits & traffic signal components; valid Class B commercial driver's license without air brake restriction required.
-
Or 24 mos. exp. as a Traffic Signal Technician 1 valid Class B commercial driver's license without air brake restriction required.
-
Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED TO REMAIN IN THE CLASSIFICATION AFTER EMPLOYMENT: Must maintain Class B commercial driver’s license without air brake restriction regulated by Section 4506 of Ohio Revised Code.
Job Skills: Transportation
ADA Statement:
Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
Drug-Free Workplace:
The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.
INTRODUCTION
Organization: Transportation - District 03
Agency Contact Name and Information: Mindy Cavin 419-207-2837 or mindy.cavin@dot.ohio.gov
Work Location:
906 North Clark Avenue
Ashland, Ohio, 44805
United States
Compensation: $27.56
Schedule: Permanent - Full Time
Work Hours: 7:00am-3:30pm
Classified Indicator: Classified
Union: OCSEA
Primary Job Skill: Transportation
- You will act as lead worker (i.e., provide work direction & training).
- You will install, maintain, & fabricate & program complex traffic signals, highway lighting & electrical devices.
- You will troubleshoot & make adjustments &/or repairs to components of traffic signal, flashing beacons, etc.
- You will review, process & respond to Ohio Utilities Protection Services (OUPS) tickets.
Additional Information
This position is overtime eligible based on FLSA Standards.
All bargaining unit new hires must serve a one (1) year probationary period.
Position will be filled pursuant to the provision of the OCSEA/AFSCME Contract.
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.
All final applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment. This position is also subject to federal testing regulations pursuant to 49 CFR Part 40 (Federal Drug and Alcohol Regulations) and 49 CFR Part 382 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) which prohibits the use of marijuana, including medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is prohibited as a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test for final applicants in this position.
In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations 382.703, selected applicants for this position are required to register as a driver in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse at the following link: https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/register
Why Work for the State of Ohio:
At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:
- Medical Coverage
- Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
- Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
- Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
- Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
- Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.
QUALIFICATIONS
36 mos. trg. &/or exp. in troubleshooting/maintaining &/or repairing electrical circuits & traffic signal components valid Class B commercial driver's license without air brake restriction required.
-
Or associate core in electrical engineering or engineering & transportation technology; 18 mos. exp. troubleshooting/maintaining &/or repairing of electrical circuits & traffic signal components; valid Class B commercial driver's license without air brake restriction required.
-
Or undergraduate core in electrical engineering or engineering & transportation technology; 12 mos. exp. troubleshooting/ maintaining &/or repairing of electrical circuits & traffic signal components; valid Class B commercial driver's license without air brake restriction required.
-
Or 24 mos. exp. as a Traffic Signal Technician 1 valid Class B commercial driver's license without air brake restriction required.
-
Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED TO REMAIN IN THE CLASSIFICATION AFTER EMPLOYMENT: Must maintain Class B commercial driver’s license without air brake restriction regulated by Section 4506 of Ohio Revised Code.
Job Skills: Transportation
ADA Statement:
Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
Drug-Free Workplace:
The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Traffic Engineer
Target transportation agencies and infrastructure firms
State DOTs, metropolitan planning organizations, and civil engineering consultancies like AECOM and WSP regularly hire traffic engineers and have established visa sponsorship pipelines. These employers are accustomed to OPT timelines and H-1B visa processes.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Civil engineering and transportation engineering degrees are STEM-designated, giving you 24 additional months beyond standard OPT. Verify your specific CIP code with your DSO before applying so you can communicate your full authorization window to employers accurately.
Lead with your software skills in applications
Proficiency in Synchro, VISSIM, AutoCAD, or ArcGIS significantly improves your candidacy. These tools are specialty requirements that strengthen your visa petition by demonstrating the technical degree-level expertise required for traffic engineering roles.
Apply before your OPT start date approaches
Begin your job search at least four months before graduation. Traffic engineering hiring cycles at government agencies can run 8 to 12 weeks, and you need time to apply for OPT authorization through your DSO before your end date.
Highlight PE licensure progress or EIT certification
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and pursuing your Engineer-in-Training credential signals long-term commitment to U.S. employers. Many sponsoring firms explicitly prefer candidates already on the PE licensure path when evaluating H-1B sponsorship decisions.
Be explicit about your OPT status in early conversations
Tell recruiters your exact OPT end date and whether you qualify for the STEM extension. Employers need accurate timelines to plan H-1B sponsorship around the April lottery filing window and avoid gaps in your work authorization.
Traffic Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a traffic engineering role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most traffic engineering positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because the underlying degrees, typically civil engineering, transportation engineering, or systems engineering, carry STEM-designated CIP codes. Confirm your specific program code with your DSO before accepting an offer, since the designation applies to your degree, not the job title itself.
Do state DOTs and government transportation agencies sponsor OPT students?
Many state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations hire OPT students, though sponsorship policies vary by agency and state. Federal government positions generally require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Private transportation consultancies, such as Kimley-Horn, AECOM, and Stantec, tend to have more consistent OPT and H-1B sponsorship programs than public agencies.
Where can I find traffic engineer jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters traffic engineering roles by sponsorship willingness. Searching there saves significant time compared to manually screening postings that don't accept OPT candidates. Prioritize employers with existing H-1B filing histories in transportation engineering, which signals genuine sponsorship infrastructure rather than theoretical openness.
How does the H-1B lottery affect traffic engineering OPT students?
Traffic engineering roles at for-profit firms are subject to the annual H-1B cap and lottery, which opens in March for an October 1 start date. If you're on standard OPT, your 12 months may not cover the full gap between application and approval. The STEM extension is specifically valuable here because it gives you up to 36 total months to survive one or more lottery cycles.
What makes traffic engineering a strong field for long-term U.S. visa sponsorship?
Traffic engineering sits within civil engineering, a field with consistent domestic labor demand that supports strong H-1B approval rates. USCIS classifies it as a specialty occupation requiring at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field, which satisfies petition requirements cleanly. Infrastructure investment trends have also increased employer demand, making sponsoring a qualified candidate a practical hiring decision for many firms.