STEM OPT CAD Technician Jobs
CAD Technician roles in engineering, architecture, and manufacturing are a strong fit for F-1 students with STEM degrees in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, or a related field. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, and your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to hire you under this authorization.
See All CAD Technician JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 115+ CAD Technician jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 115+ CAD Technician jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new CAD Technician roles.
Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
We are Olsson. We engineer and design solutions that improve the world around us. As a company, we promise to always be responsive, transparent, and focused on results – for our people, our clients, and our company.
We’re a people-centric firm, so it’s no surprise our greatest asset is our people. The impact this creates is an environment that encourages our people to grow and be creative with their talents. This approach builds a culture that is uniquely Olsson. It allows us to grow our people as we grow our business. This, in turn, creates a lasting impact on the world around us.
Job Description
As a Survey CAD Technician on our Survey team at Olsson, you will play a crucial role in supporting our survey projects. You will be responsible for creating detailed CAD drawings and designs using AutoCAD/Microstation Open Roads, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project requirements. Your contributions will help us deliver precise and reliable survey data that supports the development of high-quality solutions, enhancing project accuracy and improving infrastructure planning.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and modify CAD drawings for survey projects using CAD software
- Collaborate with surveyors, engineers, and project managers to understand project requirements and objectives
- Ensure all drawings comply with industry standards and project specifications
- Perform quality checks on drawings to ensure accuracy and completeness
- Assist in the preparation of survey documentation, reports, plats, legal descriptions, and exhibits
- Maintain organized survey project files and records
Qualifications
You are passionate about:
- Working collaboratively with others.
- Having ownership in the work you do.
- Using your talents to positively affect communities.
You bring to the team:
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to contribute and work well on a team
- 3 years of experience as a CAD Technician preferred but not required
- Proficiency in CAD software
- Basic understanding of land surveying principles preferred
- Associate’s degree in CAD Drafting or a related field preferred but not required
Additional Information
Olsson specializes in engineering and design, client advisory services, planning, field services, and environmental. Improving the world has been our mindset from the very beginning, back when Olsson first opened for business in 1956. And it will be our mindset for years to come.
As an Olsson employee, you will:
- Receive a competitive 401(k) match
- Be empowered to build your career with tailored development paths
- Have the possibility for flexible work arrangements
- Engage in work that has a positive impact on communities
- Participate in a wellness program promoting balanced lifestyles
In addition, full-time employees will receive our traditional benefits package (health care, vision, dental, paid time off, etc.) and the opportunity to participate in a bonus system that rewards performance.
Olsson is an Equal Opportunity 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, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, military status, or other protected status.
Olsson understands the importance of privacy and is committed to protecting job applicants’ personal information. Pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, the “CCPA”), this notice explains Olsson’s practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information for job applicants residing in California. Please read this Notice carefully to understand our privacy practices.
For more information about the types of information we collect and how we use it in connection with your general access and use of our website, please review our general California Privacy Notice here.
Company Description
We are Olsson. We engineer and design solutions that improve the world around us. As a company, we promise to always be responsive, transparent, and focused on results – for our people, our clients, and our company.
We’re a people-centric firm, so it’s no surprise our greatest asset is our people. The impact this creates is an environment that encourages our people to grow and be creative with their talents. This approach builds a culture that is uniquely Olsson. It allows us to grow our people as we grow our business. This, in turn, creates a lasting impact on the world around us.
Job Description
As a Survey CAD Technician on our Survey team at Olsson, you will play a crucial role in supporting our survey projects. You will be responsible for creating detailed CAD drawings and designs using AutoCAD/Microstation Open Roads, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project requirements. Your contributions will help us deliver precise and reliable survey data that supports the development of high-quality solutions, enhancing project accuracy and improving infrastructure planning.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and modify CAD drawings for survey projects using CAD software
- Collaborate with surveyors, engineers, and project managers to understand project requirements and objectives
- Ensure all drawings comply with industry standards and project specifications
- Perform quality checks on drawings to ensure accuracy and completeness
- Assist in the preparation of survey documentation, reports, plats, legal descriptions, and exhibits
- Maintain organized survey project files and records
Qualifications
You are passionate about:
- Working collaboratively with others.
- Having ownership in the work you do.
- Using your talents to positively affect communities.
You bring to the team:
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to contribute and work well on a team
- 3 years of experience as a CAD Technician preferred but not required
- Proficiency in CAD software
- Basic understanding of land surveying principles preferred
- Associate’s degree in CAD Drafting or a related field preferred but not required
Additional Information
Olsson specializes in engineering and design, client advisory services, planning, field services, and environmental. Improving the world has been our mindset from the very beginning, back when Olsson first opened for business in 1956. And it will be our mindset for years to come.
As an Olsson employee, you will:
- Receive a competitive 401(k) match
- Be empowered to build your career with tailored development paths
- Have the possibility for flexible work arrangements
- Engage in work that has a positive impact on communities
- Participate in a wellness program promoting balanced lifestyles
In addition, full-time employees will receive our traditional benefits package (health care, vision, dental, paid time off, etc.) and the opportunity to participate in a bonus system that rewards performance.
Olsson is an Equal Opportunity 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, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, military status, or other protected status.
Olsson understands the importance of privacy and is committed to protecting job applicants’ personal information. Pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, the “CCPA”), this notice explains Olsson’s practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information for job applicants residing in California. Please read this Notice carefully to understand our privacy practices.
For more information about the types of information we collect and how we use it in connection with your general access and use of our website, please review our general California Privacy Notice here.
See all 115+ CAD Technician jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new CAD Technician roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a CAD Technician
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before applying
CAD roles frequently appear at small engineering consultancies and architectural firms that aren't enrolled in E-Verify. Check the E-Verify employer search tool directly before investing time in applications at any firm you aren't certain is enrolled.
Align your portfolio to STEM OPT training goals
Your I-983 training plan must show a direct connection between your CAD work and your STEM degree. Build your portfolio around project types, like structural analysis or mechanical design, that map clearly to coursework in your degree program.
Target industries with consistent OPT hiring patterns
Use Migrate Mate to filter CAD Technician openings by employers with E-Verify enrollment and active OPT hiring history, so you're spending time on roles at firms that have already demonstrated they can support your authorization.
Ask about cap-gap coverage during offer negotiation
If your initial OPT expires while your H-1B petition is pending, cap-gap rules extend your work authorization automatically. Confirm your prospective employer understands this timeline before your start date so there's no gap in your employment record.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark offers before signing
CAD Technician prevailing wages vary significantly by state, metro area, and experience level. Run the OFLC Wage Search for SOC code 17-3013 in your target location to verify any offer meets the DOL wage floor for your role.
CAD Technician jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find CAD Technician JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does my STEM degree qualify me for the 24-month STEM OPT extension as a CAD Technician?
It depends on your specific degree, not your job title. Your degree's CIP code must appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program List published by USCIS. Degrees in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, computer-aided design technology, or related engineering disciplines typically qualify, but you should verify your exact CIP code with your DSO before applying for the extension.
Does every employer hiring CAD Technicians need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a firm requirement for any employer who wants to hire you under STEM OPT. Many smaller engineering firms, architectural practices, and drafting studios are not enrolled. You can check enrollment status using the E-Verify employer search before applying. Migrate Mate surfaces CAD Technician roles filtered for E-Verify-enrolled employers so you don't have to screen manually.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a CAD Technician role?
The I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, the practical skills you'll develop through the CAD work, how your employer will supervise and evaluate your progress, and the compensation structure. For CAD Technicians, strong training plans typically connect your drafting and modeling work to coursework in engineering design, materials science, or technical drawing. Both you and your employer sign the form, and your DSO certifies it.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my employer stops being E-Verify enrolled?
Your authorization is tied to working for an E-Verify-enrolled employer. If your employer loses enrollment or withdraws from E-Verify, you can no longer work for them under STEM OPT. You'd need to find a new E-Verify-enrolled employer and update your I-983 through your DSO. USCIS requires you to report material changes to your training plan within five business days.
Can I work as a CAD Technician at a firm that primarily does contract or project-based work?
Yes, but the employer of record on your I-983 training plan must be the entity that employs you directly, not a staffing agency placing you at client sites. If you're hired through a staffing or contracting firm, that firm must be enrolled in E-Verify and must serve as your actual employer for STEM OPT purposes. Working as an independent contractor or 1099 worker does not satisfy STEM OPT employment requirements.
See which CAD Technician employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search CAD Technician Jobs