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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Kimley-Horn's Peachtree Corners, Georgia (GA) office is looking for Engineering graduates with 1+ years of experience to join their Roadway team. This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities:
-
Candidates will perform a variety of civil engineering tasks supporting various project managers as required. Job duties may include, but are not limited to:
-
Horizontal and vertical alignments
- Grading and Drainage design
- Streetscape and roadway improvements
- Multimodal design, including multi-use trails and complete streets
-
Signage, striping and signalization plans
-
As a critical member of the team, you will perform a variety of engineering tasks and will receive both on-the-job and formal training as well as mentorship and exposure to plan production, project finances, and client interactions.
Qualifications
- 1+ years experience with a civil engineering design firm
- Bachelors or Masters from an ABET accredited university in the field of Civil Engineering
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills
- Strong sense of urgency and self-initiative to meet client deadlines
- Detail-oriented with an ability to contribute to a positive work environment
- Ability to work independently and as a team
Why Kimley-Horn?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
Overview:
Kimley-Horn's Peachtree Corners, Georgia (GA) office is looking for Engineering graduates with 1+ years of experience to join their Roadway team. This is not a remote position.
Responsibilities:
-
Candidates will perform a variety of civil engineering tasks supporting various project managers as required. Job duties may include, but are not limited to:
-
Horizontal and vertical alignments
- Grading and Drainage design
- Streetscape and roadway improvements
- Multimodal design, including multi-use trails and complete streets
-
Signage, striping and signalization plans
-
As a critical member of the team, you will perform a variety of engineering tasks and will receive both on-the-job and formal training as well as mentorship and exposure to plan production, project finances, and client interactions.
Qualifications
- 1+ years experience with a civil engineering design firm
- Bachelors or Masters from an ABET accredited university in the field of Civil Engineering
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills
- Strong sense of urgency and self-initiative to meet client deadlines
- Detail-oriented with an ability to contribute to a positive work environment
- Ability to work independently and as a team
Why Kimley-Horn?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
See all 965+ 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.