STEM OPT Bridge Engineer Jobs
Bridge Engineer roles in structural and civil engineering qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of F-1 work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must align with an approved STEM CIP code in civil or structural engineering.
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Get Access To All JobsRail Bridge Engineer
- (193043)
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
We invite you to build your transportation career at HDR. Our global team is looking for a success-oriented Rail Bridge Engineer that will be a key player in HDR’s freight rail program.
The freight rail network is a vital link in our national and global supply chain markets. Your work at HDR results in critical infrastructure for the sustainable movement of goods and people. Whether it is a traditional railroad structure across a major river, or an engineering marvel that redefines freight mobility at historic bottlenecks, you will have created something that matters.
HDR Rail Engineers thrive in entrepreneurial environments where team members are encouraged to shape their work roles to their strengths and interests. Our proven workshare approach provides opportunities to work across our transportation program and participate with clients and projects around the globe. Our culture of innovation and collaboration places strong emphasis on team-spirit, diversity thoughtfulness, growth and learning, discipline expertise, and personal accountability offering you a rewarding career in our dynamic, high-performance environment. If that sounds good to you, please apply!
Primary Responsibilities
As an employee-owner in this mid-level Rail Bridge Engineer role, we’ll count on you to:
- Serve in a technical role on rail bridges and structures engineering/design projects to support HDR’s Freight Rail Market Sector and other market sectors as needed.
- Perform structures engineering/design calculations and develop design details using specialized software, writing specifications, developing cost estimates, reviewing construction submittals.
- Support Project Managers or Task Leads in the development of proposal, project scope, budget, and schedule elements.
- Work across team-driven environments, across regions, and with a variety of clients that include rail, industrial, terminal, utility, agency, DOT, port, transit, and other industry clients.
- Be involved in project activities ranging from feasibility analysis to final design and through to construction phase activities.
- Support Project Managers by participating in client and stakeholder visits, site visits, field assessments, and construction inspections as needed.
- Review or check design calculations, estimates and specifications produced by other staff.
- Assist in the delivery of multi-disciplinary projects, including the planning and environmental clearance process of a project.
- Mentor less-experienced staff.
Preferred Qualifications
- Interest in the freight railroad industry.
- Master of Science in Structural Engineering.
- 2+ years of experience within railroad engineering industry and familiarity with railroad design guidelines, specifications, and design criteria.
- Ability to become licensed as a P.E. or P. Eng. in additional jurisdictions through the NCEES or similar.
- Experience with railroad, industrial or transit clients.
- Construction inspection or construction management experience is a plus.
- Familiarity with engineering software packages such as: LARSA, LEAP Bridge Enterprise, FB-MultiPier, LPile, SAP2000, CSiBridge, ADINA, spColumn, and/or LUSAS.
- Ability to travel periodically for client visits, site visits, field assessments, and construction inspections. An attitude and commitment to be an active participant of our employee-owned culture.
- Must be able to pass a background check.
- Must have a valid Driver’s License.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree.
- Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
- Hands-on experience with Microstation, OpenRail Designer, AutoCAD and Civil3D.
- Must be able to work both independently and in a team setting.
- MS Office software experience.
- Excellent oral and written communication and project management skills.
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must.
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.)
Location: Blue Ash: $79,170 - $130,065.
Primary Location: United States-Ohio-Cincinnati
Industry: Freight Rail
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Regular
Business Class: Railway Design
Job Posting: May 11, 2026
Rail Bridge Engineer
- (193043)
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
We invite you to build your transportation career at HDR. Our global team is looking for a success-oriented Rail Bridge Engineer that will be a key player in HDR’s freight rail program.
The freight rail network is a vital link in our national and global supply chain markets. Your work at HDR results in critical infrastructure for the sustainable movement of goods and people. Whether it is a traditional railroad structure across a major river, or an engineering marvel that redefines freight mobility at historic bottlenecks, you will have created something that matters.
HDR Rail Engineers thrive in entrepreneurial environments where team members are encouraged to shape their work roles to their strengths and interests. Our proven workshare approach provides opportunities to work across our transportation program and participate with clients and projects around the globe. Our culture of innovation and collaboration places strong emphasis on team-spirit, diversity thoughtfulness, growth and learning, discipline expertise, and personal accountability offering you a rewarding career in our dynamic, high-performance environment. If that sounds good to you, please apply!
Primary Responsibilities
As an employee-owner in this mid-level Rail Bridge Engineer role, we’ll count on you to:
- Serve in a technical role on rail bridges and structures engineering/design projects to support HDR’s Freight Rail Market Sector and other market sectors as needed.
- Perform structures engineering/design calculations and develop design details using specialized software, writing specifications, developing cost estimates, reviewing construction submittals.
- Support Project Managers or Task Leads in the development of proposal, project scope, budget, and schedule elements.
- Work across team-driven environments, across regions, and with a variety of clients that include rail, industrial, terminal, utility, agency, DOT, port, transit, and other industry clients.
- Be involved in project activities ranging from feasibility analysis to final design and through to construction phase activities.
- Support Project Managers by participating in client and stakeholder visits, site visits, field assessments, and construction inspections as needed.
- Review or check design calculations, estimates and specifications produced by other staff.
- Assist in the delivery of multi-disciplinary projects, including the planning and environmental clearance process of a project.
- Mentor less-experienced staff.
Preferred Qualifications
- Interest in the freight railroad industry.
- Master of Science in Structural Engineering.
- 2+ years of experience within railroad engineering industry and familiarity with railroad design guidelines, specifications, and design criteria.
- Ability to become licensed as a P.E. or P. Eng. in additional jurisdictions through the NCEES or similar.
- Experience with railroad, industrial or transit clients.
- Construction inspection or construction management experience is a plus.
- Familiarity with engineering software packages such as: LARSA, LEAP Bridge Enterprise, FB-MultiPier, LPile, SAP2000, CSiBridge, ADINA, spColumn, and/or LUSAS.
- Ability to travel periodically for client visits, site visits, field assessments, and construction inspections. An attitude and commitment to be an active participant of our employee-owned culture.
- Must be able to pass a background check.
- Must have a valid Driver’s License.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree.
- Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
- Hands-on experience with Microstation, OpenRail Designer, AutoCAD and Civil3D.
- Must be able to work both independently and in a team setting.
- MS Office software experience.
- Excellent oral and written communication and project management skills.
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must.
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.)
Location: Blue Ash: $79,170 - $130,065.
Primary Location: United States-Ohio-Cincinnati
Industry: Freight Rail
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Regular
Business Class: Railway Design
Job Posting: May 11, 2026
See all 157+ STEM OPT Bridge Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Bridge Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Bridge Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Civil engineering (14.0801) and structural engineering (14.0803) both qualify, but dual-degree or interdisciplinary programs sometimes carry a non-STEM CIP code that disqualifies the extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter to confirm E-Verify employer ID or search the E-Verify employer search portal directly. Engineering firms with federal contracts are usually enrolled, but smaller regional bridge consultancies often are not, which would block your STEM OPT extension.
Target firms with active federal infrastructure contracts
Firms holding FHWA or Army Corps of Engineers contracts must comply with federal contractor E-Verify requirements, making them structurally more likely to be enrolled and experienced with OPT students than state-only or private-sector firms.
Build your I-983 training plan around PE licensure milestones
Your I-983 must list specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. Frame objectives around structural analysis software proficiency, load rating methodologies, and AASHTO standards, which directly map to bridge engineering job duties and strengthen DSO approval.
Use Migrate Mate to filter by E-Verify enrollment
Search Bridge Engineer roles on Migrate Mate, which filters listings by verified E-Verify employer status using DOL LCA data, so you're not spending time on firms that can't legally support your STEM OPT extension.
Understand cap-gap timing relative to PE exam schedules
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your OPT expires, cap-gap protection extends your work authorization through September 30. Align your EIT exam and PE exam prep timeline with this window so a status gap doesn't interrupt licensure requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a civil engineering or structural engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, both civil engineering and structural engineering degrees are on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List and qualify for the 24-month extension. Confirm your exact CIP code with your DSO before applying to roles, since interdisciplinary programs sometimes carry a non-qualifying code even when the coursework is technical.
Is the E-Verify requirement a real barrier for bridge engineering firms?
It can be. Large engineering consultancies and firms holding federal or state transportation contracts are typically enrolled in E-Verify as a condition of those contracts. Smaller regional firms or niche specialty contractors may not be. Always confirm enrollment directly with HR before investing time in an application process, since your STEM OPT extension is blocked without it.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Bridge Engineer role?
Your I-983 must connect your daily job duties to your STEM degree's learning objectives. For bridge engineering, that means listing specific technical skills you'll develop: structural load analysis, finite element modeling, inspection methodology, or bridge rating software. Generic job descriptions are often rejected. Work with your DSO and employer supervisor to draft objectives that reference actual project types and engineering standards you'll apply on the job.
How do I find Bridge Engineer employers who are already enrolled in E-Verify?
Migrate Mate filters Bridge Engineer job listings by verified E-Verify enrollment using DOL LCA disclosure data, so you can focus only on employers who can legally support your STEM OPT extension. For additional verification, the E-Verify employer search tool lets you look up any firm by name or employer ID before you apply.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my employer files an H-1B petition before my OPT expires?
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition and it's selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year, or until USCIS makes a decision if the petition is still pending. You can continue working for the same employer without interruption. Your DSO must issue a new I-20 reflecting the cap-gap extension for your records.