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.
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Ready to take your career to become an industry leader? Join Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC), in our Naperville, IL office and step into a high-impact role where you're not just managing projects—you're shaping the future of our practice.
As a Survey CAD Technician for Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. (CEC), you'll work with project managers to produce civil site, water resources, stream restoration, and solid waste construction documents using AutoCAD Civil 3D to include site plans, grading & drainage plans, utility plans, erosion control plans, storm and sewer profiles. You'll also assist in the design of stream restoration designs to include plan, profile, and channel cross-sections, calculate quantities, and develop stormwater pollution prevention plans. You'll calculate quantities to be used in construction estimates, determine earthwork volumes (cuts and fills) based on existing and proposed topography, identify appropriate construction control systems on plans (i.e., baselines, stationing, control points, etc.) and prepare the same. You'll provide value-oriented design suggestions, review drawings and documents to assure compliance with company design and production standards. Potential sign-on and relocation bonus, if applicable.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Associates or Bachelor's Degree in Computer Aided Drafting
- 4+ years of Civil 3D experience
- Civil 3D experience
- Must be detail oriented
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
About us:
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
The posting range for this position is between $47,693 - $87,210 based on experience and location (in addition, CEC offers overtime pay and other great benefits).
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
Overview:
Ready to take your career to become an industry leader? Join Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC), in our Naperville, IL office and step into a high-impact role where you're not just managing projects—you're shaping the future of our practice.
As a Survey CAD Technician for Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. (CEC), you'll work with project managers to produce civil site, water resources, stream restoration, and solid waste construction documents using AutoCAD Civil 3D to include site plans, grading & drainage plans, utility plans, erosion control plans, storm and sewer profiles. You'll also assist in the design of stream restoration designs to include plan, profile, and channel cross-sections, calculate quantities, and develop stormwater pollution prevention plans. You'll calculate quantities to be used in construction estimates, determine earthwork volumes (cuts and fills) based on existing and proposed topography, identify appropriate construction control systems on plans (i.e., baselines, stationing, control points, etc.) and prepare the same. You'll provide value-oriented design suggestions, review drawings and documents to assure compliance with company design and production standards. Potential sign-on and relocation bonus, if applicable.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Associates or Bachelor's Degree in Computer Aided Drafting
- 4+ years of Civil 3D experience
- Civil 3D experience
- Must be detail oriented
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
About us:
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
The posting range for this position is between $47,693 - $87,210 based on experience and location (in addition, CEC offers overtime pay and other great benefits).
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
See all 63+ STEM OPT CAD Technician Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a CAD Technician
Verify your CIP code qualifies first
Not every engineering-adjacent degree automatically qualifies for STEM OPT extension. Cross-reference your degree's CIP code against the official STEM Designated Degree Program List that USCIS maintains to confirm eligibility before targeting employers.
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 visa 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.
Frequently 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.