STEM OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs
Chemical Engineer roles in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, process design, and materials science qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension if your degree carries an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign your I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Burns & McDonnell is searching for a Staff Chemical Engineer to join our growing Oil, Gas & Chemical global practice in Houston, TX. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your technical design experience and leadership skills at a 100% employee-owned firm voted as a Best Place to Work in cities across the United States.
The Oil, Gas & Chemical global practice executes complex projects across the industry, from midstream and logistics facilities and refining assets, to chemical production plants and renewables and emerging market opportunities. This position will allow you the opportunity to bring an innovative perspective to define and develop engineering, procurement, and construction projects, and the opportunity for direct client interaction while engaging your technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Staff Chemical Engineer will work on an integrated design team within our Oil, Gas & Chemical division to perform the following duties:
- Perform process design calculations and develop deliverables such as hydraulic calculations, equipment sizing, process simulations, Heat and Material Balances (H&MB), Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).
- Perform chemical engineering design activities on projects from the conceptual phase through design completion.
- Plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate work requiring judgment in the independent evaluation, selection, adaptation and modification of standard engineering techniques, procedures and criteria.
- Perform work that involves conventional engineering practices but may involve a variety of complex features.
- May coordinate departmental and divisional project studies and report preparation assignments.
- All other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering or related degree from an ABET-accredited program.
- Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering may be substituted for one year of experience.
- 3 years of chemical engineering experience, consulting preferred.
- Successful completion of FE exam preferred.
- Strong knowledge of standard engineering techniques and procedures.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Must be proficient in the use of basic computer software (i.e., Microsoft Office Suite).
- Experience in process simulation software (i.e. HYSYS and/or Aspen Plus, HTRI) is preferred.
- Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Must be capable of devising new approaches to problems encountered.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Chemical Engineering
Primary Location US-TX-Houston
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time
Req ID: 262414
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-JJ #OGC
Description
Burns & McDonnell is searching for a Staff Chemical Engineer to join our growing Oil, Gas & Chemical global practice in Houston, TX. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your technical design experience and leadership skills at a 100% employee-owned firm voted as a Best Place to Work in cities across the United States.
The Oil, Gas & Chemical global practice executes complex projects across the industry, from midstream and logistics facilities and refining assets, to chemical production plants and renewables and emerging market opportunities. This position will allow you the opportunity to bring an innovative perspective to define and develop engineering, procurement, and construction projects, and the opportunity for direct client interaction while engaging your technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Staff Chemical Engineer will work on an integrated design team within our Oil, Gas & Chemical division to perform the following duties:
- Perform process design calculations and develop deliverables such as hydraulic calculations, equipment sizing, process simulations, Heat and Material Balances (H&MB), Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).
- Perform chemical engineering design activities on projects from the conceptual phase through design completion.
- Plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate work requiring judgment in the independent evaluation, selection, adaptation and modification of standard engineering techniques, procedures and criteria.
- Perform work that involves conventional engineering practices but may involve a variety of complex features.
- May coordinate departmental and divisional project studies and report preparation assignments.
- All other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering or related degree from an ABET-accredited program.
- Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering may be substituted for one year of experience.
- 3 years of chemical engineering experience, consulting preferred.
- Successful completion of FE exam preferred.
- Strong knowledge of standard engineering techniques and procedures.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Must be proficient in the use of basic computer software (i.e., Microsoft Office Suite).
- Experience in process simulation software (i.e. HYSYS and/or Aspen Plus, HTRI) is preferred.
- Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Must be capable of devising new approaches to problems encountered.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Chemical Engineering
Primary Location US-TX-Houston
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time
Req ID: 262414
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-JJ #OGC
See all 314+ STEM OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Chemical Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your official transcript and confirm your degree's CIP code maps to an eligible STEM field. Chemical Engineering (CIP 14.0701) qualifies, but related degrees like Materials Science or Environmental Engineering have separate codes that each require individual verification through USCIS.
Check E-Verify status before accepting offers
Before signing any offer, search the E-Verify employer search tool to confirm the company is actively enrolled. Petrochemical plants and contract engineering firms sometimes use staffing intermediaries whose enrollment status differs from the end client's.
Target employers with active LCA filings in your discipline
Use Migrate Mate to filter Chemical Engineer roles by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications, giving you a verifiable record of sponsorship activity rather than relying on unconfirmed recruiter claims about a company's immigration history.
Frame your training plan around process engineering deliverables
Your I-983 must tie supervised work to your STEM degree's learning objectives. For Chemical Engineers, map your training goals to specific process simulations, reaction engineering projects, or scale-up studies your employer can directly supervise and evaluate.
File your STEM OPT extension request 90 days early
Submit your extension application to USCIS at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. If your application is pending at expiration and you have an H-1B visa petition filed for the next fiscal year, cap-gap protection may extend your authorization through September 30.
Use O*NET to build a degree-to-role match argument
Hiring managers in chemical manufacturing sometimes question whether a process chemistry degree directly supports a polymer engineering role. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for Chemical Engineers to document the knowledge and skills overlap and share it with your DSO when completing your I-983.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Chemical Engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Chemical Engineering degrees coded under CIP 14.0701 are on the STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, making graduates eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Related degrees like Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering may carry different CIP codes, so confirm your specific code with your DSO before filing.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Chemical Engineer employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify to hire you on STEM OPT. Enrollment must be in place before your extension begins, not just at the time of your offer. If the company operates across multiple sites, the specific location where you work must be covered. Verify enrollment status directly through the E-Verify employer search before committing to any position.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Chemical Engineer role?
Your I-983 must describe how your day-to-day work relates to your STEM degree. For Chemical Engineers, this means documenting projects involving process design, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, or materials characterization, along with your supervisor's qualifications and how they'll evaluate your progress. Both you and your employer sign the plan, and your DSO must approve it before USCIS processes your extension.
How does cap-gap protection work if my H-1B is filed while I'm on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. Your EAD card may expire before then, but your authorization continues by operation of law. Carry your expired EAD and your employer's I-797 receipt notice together as proof.
Where can I find Chemical Engineer jobs where the employer already sponsors STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Chemical Engineer roles filtered for employers with active E-Verify enrollment and a documented history of immigration filings, so you're not guessing about sponsorship willingness. Search by industry sector on Migrate Mate to narrow results to petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, or specialty materials depending on where your degree focus applies strongest.