STEM OPT Engineering Jobs
Engineering roles in software, electrical, mechanical, and civil disciplines qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree's CIP code maps to an approved STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary:
The Project Manager - Engineering is responsible for managing and executing engineering projects from conception through completion, ensuring designs meet technical, safety, and regulatory standards. This role collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget, while providing technical expertise and support throughout the project lifecycle.
JOB FUNCTIONS AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage feasibility studies, Front End Loading (FEL) cost estimates, AFE generation, detailed engineering and design; scope, bid, and manage construction and commissioning contractors; as-built drawings; and participate in factory acceptance tests (FAT's) and pre-startup safety reviews (PSSR's).
- Develop scope of work/for-bid packages for engineering, construction, and commissioning activities.
- Track/forecast costs and milestone schedules and regularly communicate progress to project stakeholders.
- Possess working knowledge of hazardous liquid and gas pipeline systems, including gathering, transmission, pump stations, compressor stations, pigging facilities, and mainline appurtenances.
- Ensure construction activities comply with project specifications, company standards, and applicable regulations and codes.
- Support right-of-way acquisition, permitting, land agreements, and environmental coordination in partnership with Land/ROW, Regulatory, and Environmental teams.
- Provide technical support to operations, including troubleshooting, integrity-driven projects, maintenance activities, debottlenecking and optimization, maintenance projects, Process Safety Management (PSM) compliance, PHA participation and action item resolution, and DOT compliance.
- Possess fundamental knowledge of midstream gas processing operations, including pig liquids handling, compression, glycol and desiccant dehydration, amine treating, hydrocarbon recovery, acid gas injection, nitrogen removal, and condensate stabilization.
- Size and specify mechanical equipment, including separators, filters, tanks, heat exchangers, air coolers, pumps, compressors, treaters, and dehydrators.
- Select appropriate piping materials, diameters, and thicknesses to meet design requirements.
- Size and specify relief devices, control valves, and regulators.
- Possess knowledge of midstream process controls and instrumentation, including controls narratives and cause & effect matrices.
- Interpret and design Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), Plot Plans, Piping Plans, and Piping Isometrics.
- Interpret electrical drawings, one-lines, schematics, and installation details.
- Continuously review assets to enhance safety, mechanical reliability, operational flexibility, and capacity.
- Possess knowledge of codes, standards, regulations, and best practices applicable to the midstream industry (including API, ASME B31.3/4/8 and VIII, DOT 192/5, NFPA, etc.).
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- BS degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, or Petroleum Engineering from a 4-year accredited university.
- Ability and willingness to travel at least 25% of the time.
- Regular and reliable attendance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in natural gas gathering, compression, treating, dehydration, processing, fractionation, construction, and/or operations.
- Experience in developing process simulations using ProMax software.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Project.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Ability to work in changing climate conditions and a plant environment.
- Ability to work in close quarters: i.e., work while kneeling, squatting, sitting, climbing, and standing.
- Follow and adhere to all applicable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines (ex: eye protection, footwear, Nomex).
- The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
Targa Resources provides equal employment opportunities based on merit, experience, and other work-related criteria and without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. We also strive to provide reasonable accommodation to employees’ beliefs and practices that do not conflict with Targa’s policies and applicable law. We value the unique contributions that every employee brings to their role with Targa.
Position Summary:
The Project Manager - Engineering is responsible for managing and executing engineering projects from conception through completion, ensuring designs meet technical, safety, and regulatory standards. This role collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget, while providing technical expertise and support throughout the project lifecycle.
JOB FUNCTIONS AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage feasibility studies, Front End Loading (FEL) cost estimates, AFE generation, detailed engineering and design; scope, bid, and manage construction and commissioning contractors; as-built drawings; and participate in factory acceptance tests (FAT's) and pre-startup safety reviews (PSSR's).
- Develop scope of work/for-bid packages for engineering, construction, and commissioning activities.
- Track/forecast costs and milestone schedules and regularly communicate progress to project stakeholders.
- Possess working knowledge of hazardous liquid and gas pipeline systems, including gathering, transmission, pump stations, compressor stations, pigging facilities, and mainline appurtenances.
- Ensure construction activities comply with project specifications, company standards, and applicable regulations and codes.
- Support right-of-way acquisition, permitting, land agreements, and environmental coordination in partnership with Land/ROW, Regulatory, and Environmental teams.
- Provide technical support to operations, including troubleshooting, integrity-driven projects, maintenance activities, debottlenecking and optimization, maintenance projects, Process Safety Management (PSM) compliance, PHA participation and action item resolution, and DOT compliance.
- Possess fundamental knowledge of midstream gas processing operations, including pig liquids handling, compression, glycol and desiccant dehydration, amine treating, hydrocarbon recovery, acid gas injection, nitrogen removal, and condensate stabilization.
- Size and specify mechanical equipment, including separators, filters, tanks, heat exchangers, air coolers, pumps, compressors, treaters, and dehydrators.
- Select appropriate piping materials, diameters, and thicknesses to meet design requirements.
- Size and specify relief devices, control valves, and regulators.
- Possess knowledge of midstream process controls and instrumentation, including controls narratives and cause & effect matrices.
- Interpret and design Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), Plot Plans, Piping Plans, and Piping Isometrics.
- Interpret electrical drawings, one-lines, schematics, and installation details.
- Continuously review assets to enhance safety, mechanical reliability, operational flexibility, and capacity.
- Possess knowledge of codes, standards, regulations, and best practices applicable to the midstream industry (including API, ASME B31.3/4/8 and VIII, DOT 192/5, NFPA, etc.).
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- BS degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, or Petroleum Engineering from a 4-year accredited university.
- Ability and willingness to travel at least 25% of the time.
- Regular and reliable attendance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in natural gas gathering, compression, treating, dehydration, processing, fractionation, construction, and/or operations.
- Experience in developing process simulations using ProMax software.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Project.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Ability to work in changing climate conditions and a plant environment.
- Ability to work in close quarters: i.e., work while kneeling, squatting, sitting, climbing, and standing.
- Follow and adhere to all applicable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines (ex: eye protection, footwear, Nomex).
- The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
Targa Resources provides equal employment opportunities based on merit, experience, and other work-related criteria and without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. We also strive to provide reasonable accommodation to employees’ beliefs and practices that do not conflict with Targa’s policies and applicable law. We value the unique contributions that every employee brings to their role with Targa.
See all 893+ STEM OPT Engineering Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Engineering Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Engineering
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's CIP code from your DSO and cross-reference it against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Some engineering subfields, like engineering technology or applied engineering, have codes that don't appear on the list, which disqualifies the extension.
Filter job postings by E-Verify status
Ask recruiters directly whether their company is enrolled in E-Verify before your first interview. Many engineering employers, especially smaller firms and startups, aren't enrolled and can't legally employ STEM OPT workers, even if they're willing to hire you.
Negotiate your I-983 training plan early
Bring a draft I-983 outline to your offer negotiation. Engineering hiring managers rarely know what the form requires. Defining your learning objectives, supervision structure, and performance evaluation cycle before you sign prevents delays after your start date.
Check prevailing wage before evaluating offers
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for your engineering role by SOC code and location. STEM OPT itself has no wage floor, but offers significantly below prevailing wage can complicate a future H-1B visa petition with the same employer.
Search Migrate Mate for E-Verify engineering employers
Migrate Mate surfaces engineering roles at employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active sponsorship history. You can filter by engineering discipline and location to focus your applications on companies that have already hired STEM OPT workers.
Start your cap-gap timeline before lottery results
If your OPT end date falls before October 1 and you're selected in the H-1B lottery, USCIS cap-gap rules automatically extend your work authorization. File your H-1B petition with your employer before your OPT expires so cap-gap coverage activates without a gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which engineering degrees qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Your degree qualifies if its CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Most accredited engineering degrees do, including computer, electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, and biomedical engineering. Engineering technology and engineering management degrees sometimes use CIP codes that are not on the list, so confirm with your DSO before assuming eligibility. Your DSO updates your I-20 to reflect STEM designation once confirmed.
Does my engineering employer have to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a strict STEM OPT requirement with no exceptions. Your employer must be actively enrolled, not just registered, before your extension can be authorized. E-Verify participation is searchable through the E-Verify employer search tool. If your employer isn't enrolled, they cannot hire you on STEM OPT, and enrolling typically takes one to three weeks, so raise this during the offer stage, not after you've accepted.
What does the I-983 training plan require for engineering roles?
The I-983 documents how your engineering role provides practical training directly related to your degree field. It must name a specific supervisor, describe your learning objectives in terms tied to engineering competencies, and outline how your employer will evaluate your progress at least every six months. Both you and your employer sign it before your DSO can update your I-20 and authorize the extension. Your employer must also report any material changes in your role or supervision to your DSO within five business days.
How does cap-gap work for STEM OPT engineers in the H-1B lottery?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your OPT EAD expires and USCIS selects you in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. Your F-1 status and employment authorization continue uninterrupted. If you're not selected and your OPT has already expired, you must stop working immediately. USCIS issues cap-gap notices on your I-20 through your DSO once a timely petition is on file.
How do I find engineering employers who hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters engineering job listings by employers with active E-Verify enrollment and documented sponsorship history, which removes the guesswork of cold-applying to companies that can't legally employ STEM OPT workers. You can also use O*NET to identify the SOC code for your engineering specialty and cross-reference it with DOL Labor Condition Application disclosure data to see which employers have filed for similar roles in recent years.