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.
Find OPT Traffic Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 85+ Traffic Engineer jobs
See all 85+ Traffic Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Traffic Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At RK&K we are seeking a highly motivated Traffic Engineer with zero (0) to four (4) years of experience ready to take on new challenges. The position is located in our Richmond, VA office.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTION
Under the direction of a Professional Engineer with a team of engineers you will be responsible for the following:
- Traffic engineering studies such as safety studies, signal timing, TSM&O and traffic analysis
- Projects ranging from small-scale studies and/or designs for rural or isolated intersections to the development of complex solutions for urban arterial networks and major freeway systems
- Collaboration with a talented and professional team
- Demonstration of your hands-on traffic engineering experience
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or related
- Zero (0) - Four (4) years of traffic engineering experience
- Understanding of traffic engineering and operations
- Possess excellent technical writing skills
- Experience with or a willingness to learn VISSIM, HCS, Synchro/SimTraffic, TransModeler, CUBE Voyager, VISUM and SIDRA
- Licensed Engineering Intern (E.I.) or ability to obtain within 6 months
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Master's Degree in Civil Engineering
OTHER DUTIES
This job description indicates the general nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other essential functions (as covered under ADA). It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities and duties required by the employee. Other duties are assigned as required.
WHAT WE OFFER
RK&K offers excellent potential for career advancement and professional growth. We also offer attractive compensation packages commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Paid time off
- Matching 401(k) plan
- Student Loan Retirement Match Program
- Paid Holidays
- Tuition reimbursement
- Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances
- Paid parental leave
- Wellness programs and employee resource groups
- Career Development
- Much, much more!
WHY RK& K?
As a full-service engineering and construction management firm, RK&K gives you the opportunity to directly impact the communities in which we live and work. What sets RK&K apart is an award-winning culture that has fostered a spirit of collaboration and trust for over 100 years. To its clients, the firm delivers concepts, processes, and outcomes that are designed for success. RK&K has earned its reputation as a trusted partner, responsive employer, and community steward.
Design your career at RK&K, Apply Today!
Hourly Rate: $36-$42.50
INTRODUCTION
At RK&K we are seeking a highly motivated Traffic Engineer with zero (0) to four (4) years of experience ready to take on new challenges. The position is located in our Richmond, VA office.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTION
Under the direction of a Professional Engineer with a team of engineers you will be responsible for the following:
- Traffic engineering studies such as safety studies, signal timing, TSM&O and traffic analysis
- Projects ranging from small-scale studies and/or designs for rural or isolated intersections to the development of complex solutions for urban arterial networks and major freeway systems
- Collaboration with a talented and professional team
- Demonstration of your hands-on traffic engineering experience
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or related
- Zero (0) - Four (4) years of traffic engineering experience
- Understanding of traffic engineering and operations
- Possess excellent technical writing skills
- Experience with or a willingness to learn VISSIM, HCS, Synchro/SimTraffic, TransModeler, CUBE Voyager, VISUM and SIDRA
- Licensed Engineering Intern (E.I.) or ability to obtain within 6 months
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Master's Degree in Civil Engineering
OTHER DUTIES
This job description indicates the general nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other essential functions (as covered under ADA). It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities and duties required by the employee. Other duties are assigned as required.
WHAT WE OFFER
RK&K offers excellent potential for career advancement and professional growth. We also offer attractive compensation packages commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Paid time off
- Matching 401(k) plan
- Student Loan Retirement Match Program
- Paid Holidays
- Tuition reimbursement
- Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances
- Paid parental leave
- Wellness programs and employee resource groups
- Career Development
- Much, much more!
WHY RK& K?
As a full-service engineering and construction management firm, RK&K gives you the opportunity to directly impact the communities in which we live and work. What sets RK&K apart is an award-winning culture that has fostered a spirit of collaboration and trust for over 100 years. To its clients, the firm delivers concepts, processes, and outcomes that are designed for success. RK&K has earned its reputation as a trusted partner, responsive employer, and community steward.
Design your career at RK&K, Apply Today!
Hourly Rate: $36-$42.50
See all 85+ OPT Traffic Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Traffic Engineer Jobs.
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.