STEM OPT Civil Drafter Jobs
Civil Drafter roles in infrastructure, utilities, and land development are strong fits for F-1 students with STEM degrees in civil engineering technology, drafting, or a related field. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify.
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Get Access To All JobsJOB SUMMARY:
Metro Engineering Solutions, LLC (“MES”) is looking for a Civil Drafter to join our team! We are looking for an experienced drafter with a background in civil or utility design using AutoCAD Civil 3D. MES is a multifaceted utility design and engineering firm serving clients throughout the Midwest. The Civil CAD Drafter is responsible for supporting our clients and co-workers in preparing plan and profile road and utility projects. The CAD Designer must also support our core principles – understand our customers and satisfy their needs, do what we say we are going to do and have fun.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage the setup and preparation of detailed project drawings during planning and design.
- Work closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, and other Technicians to provide drawings on schedule.
- Prepare permit drawing sets including plans, elevations, sections, details, and notes.
- Understand AutoCAD requirements needed for different clients as well as our firm.
- Perform QA/QC on drawing files.
- Coordinate project deadlines with Project Managers, Engineers, and Designers.
- Other duties as assigned by Project Manager.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Interpret sketches, drawings, building program and other similar material.
- Primarily work in an office setting.
- Ability to travel and/or work in the field as needed.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
- Compensation commensurate with experience.
- Medical benefits package that includes medical & prescription coverage, dental, and vision plans for employees and their qualifying family members (eligible after 90 days employment), which is 100% covered by the employer.
- Retirement benefits including a 401(k) plan with up to 4% employer match (eligible after 6 months of employment), which is 100% fully vested on day one.
- Group term life insurance and long-term disability offered to eligible employees.
- Additional voluntary benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, Short-Term Disability, HFSA and DCA, Life and AD&D) offered to eligible employees.
- Holiday pay as well as PTO available after 90 days of employment. Additional PTO vesting over time.
- Employee Assistance Program including counseling, coaching and financial resources.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Associates degree in AutoCAD drafting or equivalent work experience.
- 1-5 years of AutoCAD experience.
- Civil 3D experience is preferred.
- MDOT and MicroStation experience a plus.
- Excellent technical, written, and oral communication skills and familiarity of industry practices and regulations.
- Proficient in Adobe, Microsoft Office and Outlook.
JOB SUMMARY:
Metro Engineering Solutions, LLC (“MES”) is looking for a Civil Drafter to join our team! We are looking for an experienced drafter with a background in civil or utility design using AutoCAD Civil 3D. MES is a multifaceted utility design and engineering firm serving clients throughout the Midwest. The Civil CAD Drafter is responsible for supporting our clients and co-workers in preparing plan and profile road and utility projects. The CAD Designer must also support our core principles – understand our customers and satisfy their needs, do what we say we are going to do and have fun.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage the setup and preparation of detailed project drawings during planning and design.
- Work closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, and other Technicians to provide drawings on schedule.
- Prepare permit drawing sets including plans, elevations, sections, details, and notes.
- Understand AutoCAD requirements needed for different clients as well as our firm.
- Perform QA/QC on drawing files.
- Coordinate project deadlines with Project Managers, Engineers, and Designers.
- Other duties as assigned by Project Manager.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Interpret sketches, drawings, building program and other similar material.
- Primarily work in an office setting.
- Ability to travel and/or work in the field as needed.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
- Compensation commensurate with experience.
- Medical benefits package that includes medical & prescription coverage, dental, and vision plans for employees and their qualifying family members (eligible after 90 days employment), which is 100% covered by the employer.
- Retirement benefits including a 401(k) plan with up to 4% employer match (eligible after 6 months of employment), which is 100% fully vested on day one.
- Group term life insurance and long-term disability offered to eligible employees.
- Additional voluntary benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, Short-Term Disability, HFSA and DCA, Life and AD&D) offered to eligible employees.
- Holiday pay as well as PTO available after 90 days of employment. Additional PTO vesting over time.
- Employee Assistance Program including counseling, coaching and financial resources.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Associates degree in AutoCAD drafting or equivalent work experience.
- 1-5 years of AutoCAD experience.
- Civil 3D experience is preferred.
- MDOT and MicroStation experience a plus.
- Excellent technical, written, and oral communication skills and familiarity of industry practices and regulations.
- Proficient in Adobe, Microsoft Office and Outlook.
See all Civil Drafter jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Civil Drafter
Verify your CIP code matches STEM eligibility
Cross-check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM OPT designated degree program list before applying. Civil Engineering Technology and Drafting programs qualify, but similar-sounding programs sometimes fall outside the approved list.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before signing anything. A firm that uses subcontractors or operates across multiple legal entities may be enrolled at the parent level but not at the specific office hiring you.
Target civil engineering firms with active DOL LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by verified E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history for drafting and engineering roles. Firms that have filed LCAs for STEM workers are already familiar with OPT training plan requirements.
Build your I-983 training plan around AutoCAD competencies
Your training plan must tie learning objectives to specific technical skills your DSO and employer will both sign off on. Map each goal to measurable outcomes like AutoCAD Civil 3D proficiency, site plan production, or utility coordination, rather than vague project involvement.
Research prevailing wage tiers for drafting occupations
Look up the wage level for your SOC code using the OFLC Wage Search before evaluating any offer. Civil Drafter roles under SOC 17-3012 have published wage floors by metro area, and understanding your tier strengthens your negotiating position.
Civil Drafter jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Civil Drafter JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Civil Drafter role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as civil engineering technology, architectural engineering, or a related drafting or design discipline listed on the DHS STEM designated degree program list. The role itself doesn't need to be classified as an engineering position. What matters is that your degree's CIP code appears on the approved list and the work is directly related to that field of study.
What does the E-Verify requirement mean for Civil Drafter job searches?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify to hire you on STEM OPT, not just registered. Civil engineering firms and staffing agencies that place drafters on project sites may have multiple legal entities, so confirm E-Verify enrollment at the specific hiring entity, not just the parent company. Migrate Mate filters employers by verified E-Verify enrollment, which saves you from discovering the gap after an offer is made.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Civil Drafter position?
The I-983 must describe concrete learning goals tied to your STEM degree, not just your daily job tasks. For a Civil Drafter role, strong training objectives include developing proficiency in CAD software like Civil 3D, learning to read and produce construction documents to industry standards, and gaining exposure to site grading or utility design workflows. Both you and your employer supervisor sign the plan, and your DSO reviews it before endorsing your STEM OPT application.
How does cap-gap protection work if my OPT expires before my extension is approved?
If you file a timely STEM OPT extension before your current EAD expires, federal regulations automatically extend your work authorization for up to 180 days while USCIS adjudicates the application. You can continue working as a Civil Drafter during that window without interruption. Your employer is not required to take any additional action, but USCIS confirms this through your updated I-20, which your DSO issues after approving the extension request.
How do I find Civil Drafter employers who are already comfortable hiring STEM OPT students?
Focus on civil engineering firms, municipal engineering consultancies, and infrastructure contractors that have a documented history of sponsoring work-authorized employees. Reviewing DOL Labor Condition Application filings for drafting and engineering occupations shows which employers have navigated the paperwork before. Migrate Mate surfaces employers with active LCA filing history and confirmed E-Verify enrollment, so you can direct your applications toward firms already set up to hire STEM OPT students.
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