STEM OPT Drafting Technician Jobs
Drafting Technician roles in CAD, civil, mechanical, and electrical design qualify for STEM OPT because they sit under accredited engineering technology CIP codes. Your STEM degree gives you up to 36 months of work authorization, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and you file a valid I-983 training plan with your DSO.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Thrasher Group, Inc. is a full-service engineering, and field services consulting firm with a rich resume of project success all throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Our team of skilled experts delivers a vast array of professional services to clients across five major markets: architecture, land development, water resources, transportation, and energy.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are looking for a Survey CADD Technician to join our Bridgeport, WV team. If you are a highly motivated team player that thrives in a fast-paced work environment, then check out the job duties below. In this role, you will be asked to:
- Process field crew survey data
- Maintain project point database files
- Prepare base survey mapping
- Conduct field trips, when necessary, to clarify/verify survey data
- Produce drawings using computer assisted design/drafting equipment & software
- Revise and/or modify drawings as necessary
- Plot, organize and assemble project related documents
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications may include:
- Associates degree in drafting/design and/or equivalent combination of education and experience
- A minimum of two (2) years of applicable experience is preferred but is not required
- Proficient in AutoCAD or Civil 3D
- Possess the ability to work independently or collaboratively
- Strong communication and time management skills
BENEFITS
The Thrasher Group, Inc. provides an excellent benefit package which includes health, dental and vision insurance, paid parental leave, health savings account, company paid short- and long-term disability, 401K matching, paid-time off, tuition assistance and much more.
An emphasis is placed on professional development which includes structured goal setting and specialized training opportunities. Professional development is monitored and recognized through bonuses and annual salary reviews.
In promoting a family-oriented culture, we recognize the importance of work life balance and schedule flexibility.
The Thrasher Group, Inc. conducts pre-employment drug screens and background checks on all applicants who accept offers of employment. Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition of employment.
EEO/AA/E-Verify
INTRODUCTION
The Thrasher Group, Inc. is a full-service engineering, and field services consulting firm with a rich resume of project success all throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Our team of skilled experts delivers a vast array of professional services to clients across five major markets: architecture, land development, water resources, transportation, and energy.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are looking for a Survey CADD Technician to join our Bridgeport, WV team. If you are a highly motivated team player that thrives in a fast-paced work environment, then check out the job duties below. In this role, you will be asked to:
- Process field crew survey data
- Maintain project point database files
- Prepare base survey mapping
- Conduct field trips, when necessary, to clarify/verify survey data
- Produce drawings using computer assisted design/drafting equipment & software
- Revise and/or modify drawings as necessary
- Plot, organize and assemble project related documents
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications may include:
- Associates degree in drafting/design and/or equivalent combination of education and experience
- A minimum of two (2) years of applicable experience is preferred but is not required
- Proficient in AutoCAD or Civil 3D
- Possess the ability to work independently or collaboratively
- Strong communication and time management skills
BENEFITS
The Thrasher Group, Inc. provides an excellent benefit package which includes health, dental and vision insurance, paid parental leave, health savings account, company paid short- and long-term disability, 401K matching, paid-time off, tuition assistance and much more.
An emphasis is placed on professional development which includes structured goal setting and specialized training opportunities. Professional development is monitored and recognized through bonuses and annual salary reviews.
In promoting a family-oriented culture, we recognize the importance of work life balance and schedule flexibility.
The Thrasher Group, Inc. conducts pre-employment drug screens and background checks on all applicants who accept offers of employment. Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition of employment.
EEO/AA/E-Verify
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Drafting Technician
Verify your CIP code qualifies
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program List published by ICE. Engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, and computer-aided design programs typically qualify, but check your specific code before applying.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Any employer hiring you on STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask the recruiter or HR contact directly, and cross-check the employer's status through the official E-Verify employer search before you sign anything.
Target firms with active LCA drafting filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by LCA filing history for drafting and engineering technician roles. Firms that have filed LCAs for these roles have already navigated STEM OPT paperwork and are far less likely to withdraw an offer over authorization concerns.
Tailor your I-983 to your specific drafting duties
Your training plan must map STEM OPT learning objectives to real tasks like AutoCAD modeling, tolerancing, or drawing revision workflows. A generic training plan that could describe any technical role invites DSO rejection and delays your extension.
Apply before your 90-day OPT gap window closes
USCIS allows up to 90 days of unemployment during initial OPT and an additional 60 days during STEM OPT. Track your unemployed days carefully because a gap caused by a delayed offer or slow onboarding counts against that limit.
Research prevailing wages for your drafting specialty
Look up the wage level for your specific drafting SOC code using OFLC Wage Search before negotiating your offer. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the prevailing wage, so knowing that floor strengthens your position and flags underpaying employers early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Drafting Technician role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your underlying degree carries an eligible CIP code. Drafting Technician positions typically sit under engineering technology or mechanical engineering technology programs, which appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. Your degree must be from a SEVP-accredited institution and the job duties must align with that STEM field for USCIS to approve the extension.
What does my employer need to do to hire me on STEM OPT?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and must co-sign your I-983 training plan before your DSO can recommend the STEM OPT extension. They also need to report any material changes to your training plan and conduct a formal evaluation at the midpoint and end of each 24-month period. Employers unfamiliar with these obligations sometimes withdraw offers, so confirm all of this upfront.
How do I find Drafting Technician employers enrolled in E-Verify?
Migrate Mate filters employer listings by E-Verify enrollment status and LCA filing history, so you can focus only on firms already set up to hire STEM OPT students. You can also verify any specific employer directly through the E-Verify employer search tool before committing to an application or interview process.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a Drafting Technician position?
Your I-983 must describe how the role develops STEM skills tied to your degree field. For a Drafting Technician, that means documenting specific learning goals around CAD software proficiency, technical drawing standards, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, or design review processes. Vague descriptions like 'gaining work experience' are insufficient. Your DSO can reject a plan that doesn't clearly connect daily tasks to your STEM degree program.
Does cap-gap protection apply if my employer files an H-1B petition while I'm on STEM OPT?
Yes. If your STEM OPT is still valid when your employer files a timely H-1B visa cap-subject petition for the following fiscal year, cap-gap extends your work authorization automatically through September 30 of that year if your petition is selected. You don't need to take any separate action, but your employer must maintain E-Verify enrollment and your I-983 remains in effect throughout the cap-gap period.