OPT Water Treatment Technician Jobs
Water Treatment Technician roles qualify for OPT work authorization under environmental science, civil engineering, and chemical technology degrees. Many positions are with municipal utilities and infrastructure firms that regularly hire on OPT. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific degree classification, so confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying.
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Kimley-Horn's Sherman, TX office is seeking an Environmental or Civil Engineer with 4+ years of relevant experience to join their Water/Wastewater and Utilities team! This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities:
- Designing either water treatment or water reclamation facilities - Reverse osmosis, Nanofiltration, UV disinfection, Lime Softening, MBR, SBR, CAS, etc.
- Experience designing transmission and distribution systems, collection systems, pumping stations, conveyance systems, production and/or injection wells.
- Managing project tasks, project design and permitting, construction coordination, and providing regular communication and guidance with less experienced staff
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and external clients to contribute to the successful completion of assigned projects
- Maintain a high degree of quality sets of plans along with checking the work of others
- Create work plans and adhere to the budget set by the client and performing strong project management knowledge
- Attend meetings and communicate with clients, government entities, and various regulatory agencies to fulfill any regulations and requirements relating to projects
- Monitor project progress, budgets, and schedules
- This is an exciting opportunity to work with a team of engineers and designers on a variety of projects
- You will flourish on both building meaningful internal and external professional relationships
- You will work closely and collaboratively with other industry leading professionals, various jurisdictions, and contractors
QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years of relevant engineering design experience
- Professional Engineering (P.E.) License
- Relevant municipal engineering experience including designing treatment and conveyance systems.
- Preferred experience with Revit
- Experience performing hydraulic modeling preferred (using programs such as WaterGEMS, SewerGEMS, InfoWater, etc.)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Positive attitude, self-motivated; sense of urgency to produce high quality work
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Entrepreneurial spirit with the potential/desire to lead a practice and manage clients and a team
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
KEY BENEFITS AT KIMLEY-HORN:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
Overview:
Kimley-Horn's Sherman, TX office is seeking an Environmental or Civil Engineer with 4+ years of relevant experience to join their Water/Wastewater and Utilities team! This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities:
- Designing either water treatment or water reclamation facilities - Reverse osmosis, Nanofiltration, UV disinfection, Lime Softening, MBR, SBR, CAS, etc.
- Experience designing transmission and distribution systems, collection systems, pumping stations, conveyance systems, production and/or injection wells.
- Managing project tasks, project design and permitting, construction coordination, and providing regular communication and guidance with less experienced staff
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and external clients to contribute to the successful completion of assigned projects
- Maintain a high degree of quality sets of plans along with checking the work of others
- Create work plans and adhere to the budget set by the client and performing strong project management knowledge
- Attend meetings and communicate with clients, government entities, and various regulatory agencies to fulfill any regulations and requirements relating to projects
- Monitor project progress, budgets, and schedules
- This is an exciting opportunity to work with a team of engineers and designers on a variety of projects
- You will flourish on both building meaningful internal and external professional relationships
- You will work closely and collaboratively with other industry leading professionals, various jurisdictions, and contractors
QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years of relevant engineering design experience
- Professional Engineering (P.E.) License
- Relevant municipal engineering experience including designing treatment and conveyance systems.
- Preferred experience with Revit
- Experience performing hydraulic modeling preferred (using programs such as WaterGEMS, SewerGEMS, InfoWater, etc.)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Positive attitude, self-motivated; sense of urgency to produce high quality work
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Entrepreneurial spirit with the potential/desire to lead a practice and manage clients and a team
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
KEY BENEFITS AT KIMLEY-HORN:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Water Treatment Technician
Target municipal utilities and water districts
Public water authorities and municipal utilities hire technicians on a rolling basis and are often more familiar with OPT than private employers. Many have structured onboarding programs that accommodate work authorization timelines without requiring immediate H-1B visa sponsorship decisions.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility early
Environmental engineering technology, chemical engineering, and civil engineering degrees often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying, since the extension gives employers a longer runway and significantly improves your sponsorship prospects.
Highlight certifications relevant to water treatment
State drinking water operator certifications, OSHA safety training, and EPA compliance knowledge make you a stronger candidate. Employers hiring on OPT weigh technical readiness heavily, since they're investing in your authorization period. List every relevant certification prominently on your resume.
Emphasize regulatory and compliance coursework
Water treatment roles involve Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act compliance. Mentioning coursework or project experience in environmental regulations signals that you can contribute immediately, which matters to employers weighing the cost and timeline of supporting an OPT hire.
Apply to engineering and environmental consulting firms
Firms like environmental consultancies and infrastructure contractors frequently hire water treatment technicians and have in-house immigration support for OPT and H-1B transitions. These employers tend to have established sponsorship processes, reducing friction compared to smaller or less experienced hiring teams.
Address OPT timing proactively in interviews
If your OPT start date is upcoming or your authorization window is limited, mention it clearly and frame it as a planning detail, not a risk. Employers appreciate transparency, and leading with your timeline alongside STEM extension eligibility removes ambiguity that could otherwise stall an offer.
Water Treatment Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Water Treatment Technician on OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in a related field such as environmental engineering, civil engineering, chemical technology, or environmental science. Your OPT employment must be directly related to your major area of study. Roles involving water quality monitoring, chemical dosing, and regulatory compliance typically satisfy this requirement for engineering and environmental science graduates.
Do Water Treatment Technician jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
They can, but it depends on your degree, not the job title. If your degree falls under a STEM-designated CIP code, such as environmental engineering or chemical engineering technology, you may qualify for the 24-month extension. Confirm your eligibility with your DSO and verify that your employer is E-Verify enrolled, which is required for STEM OPT.
Where can I find Water Treatment Technician jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the best place to start. It lists water treatment and environmental technician roles specifically filtered for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsorship candidates, so you're not wasting time on postings that won't consider work authorization. Municipal utilities, environmental consulting firms, and infrastructure contractors are the most common employers on the platform for this role.
Do Water Treatment Technician employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Some do, particularly larger municipal utilities, environmental engineering firms, and infrastructure companies with established immigration programs. Smaller private operators are less likely to sponsor. If long-term sponsorship is a priority, target employers with a track record of filing H-1B petitions, and use your OPT period to demonstrate value and open that conversation before your authorization expires.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I switch Water Treatment Technician employers?
You can change employers on OPT without filing a new application, but your new job must still be directly related to your degree. You're required to report the change to your DSO within 10 days, and the update must be reflected in SEVIS. Keep documentation showing how the new role connects to your field of study in case of any compliance review.