STEM OPT Environmental Jobs
Environmental roles in consulting, remediation, and compliance are strong fits for STEM OPT students with degrees in environmental science, engineering, or a related field. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies when your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, giving you up to 36 months total to build U.S. work experience.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Do you want to build an impactful career to change the world for the better?
Geosyntec has an exciting opportunity for an Early-Career Environmental Engineer to join our contaminated site assessment and remediation practice in Oakland, CA. The position will have the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to real-world situations while also learning the business skills needed for a successful consulting career.
Geosyntec is an innovative, international engineering and consulting firm serving private and public-sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Our engineers, scientists, technical and project employees serve our clients from offices across the world. Ranked by ENR as one of the top environmental engineering design firms, Geosyntec is internationally known for its technical leadership, broad experience, and exceptional client service.
We invest in our people. Each employee is unique, and your career at Geosyntec will be too. We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Fieldwork responsibilities such as soil, vapor/air, surface water, and groundwater sampling, drilling and subcontractor oversight, and remediation treatment system operation and maintenance;
- Additional field activities involve well installation, aquifer testing, and groundwater monitoring;
- Support chemical data and contaminant fate & transport evaluation;
- Support groundwater and soil remedy evaluations, cost estimation, design calculations, and implementation;
- Environmental due diligence, regulatory compliance services, and permitting;
- Data evaluation, including preparing maps, tables, and figures;
- Support preparation of technical reports, letters, memoranda, plans, specifications, and proposals; and
- Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company project or office sites, and other business locations, as needed.
EDUCATION AND LICENSURE:
- Bachelor's degree in geology or environmental, civil, or chemical engineering or relevant degree. (required)
- Advanced degree in the same. (preferred)
- Engineer in Training (EIT). (preferred)
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- Internship(s), co-op position, or prior work experience relevant to the position. (preferred)
- Prior research experience in contaminated media or remediation technology. (preferred)
- Experience with ArcView, Microsoft Access, Modflow, and/or EVS. (preferred)
- Regular field work and overnight travel. (required)
- Health and Safety, first aid, CPR, and other training, as well as medical monitoring, are provided and paid for by the firm. (required)
- Client-driven drug and background testing. (required)
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)
This opportunity will be posted for at least five days. Below are the potential compensation ranges that we in good faith believe are applicable for this role at the time of this posting and are only applicable for jobs to be performed in the specified location(s) below. The typical base salary range for this position is just one component of Geosyntec’s total compensation package for employees. Actual compensation will be determined based on education, experience, skill set and location.
COMPENSATION
- Minimum: $77,235/year / Maximum: $96,545/year (Oakland, CA)
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, vacation, sick, and personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible employees.
INTRODUCTION
Do you want to build an impactful career to change the world for the better?
Geosyntec has an exciting opportunity for an Early-Career Environmental Engineer to join our contaminated site assessment and remediation practice in Oakland, CA. The position will have the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to real-world situations while also learning the business skills needed for a successful consulting career.
Geosyntec is an innovative, international engineering and consulting firm serving private and public-sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Our engineers, scientists, technical and project employees serve our clients from offices across the world. Ranked by ENR as one of the top environmental engineering design firms, Geosyntec is internationally known for its technical leadership, broad experience, and exceptional client service.
We invest in our people. Each employee is unique, and your career at Geosyntec will be too. We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Fieldwork responsibilities such as soil, vapor/air, surface water, and groundwater sampling, drilling and subcontractor oversight, and remediation treatment system operation and maintenance;
- Additional field activities involve well installation, aquifer testing, and groundwater monitoring;
- Support chemical data and contaminant fate & transport evaluation;
- Support groundwater and soil remedy evaluations, cost estimation, design calculations, and implementation;
- Environmental due diligence, regulatory compliance services, and permitting;
- Data evaluation, including preparing maps, tables, and figures;
- Support preparation of technical reports, letters, memoranda, plans, specifications, and proposals; and
- Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company project or office sites, and other business locations, as needed.
EDUCATION AND LICENSURE:
- Bachelor's degree in geology or environmental, civil, or chemical engineering or relevant degree. (required)
- Advanced degree in the same. (preferred)
- Engineer in Training (EIT). (preferred)
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
- Internship(s), co-op position, or prior work experience relevant to the position. (preferred)
- Prior research experience in contaminated media or remediation technology. (preferred)
- Experience with ArcView, Microsoft Access, Modflow, and/or EVS. (preferred)
- Regular field work and overnight travel. (required)
- Health and Safety, first aid, CPR, and other training, as well as medical monitoring, are provided and paid for by the firm. (required)
- Client-driven drug and background testing. (required)
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)
This opportunity will be posted for at least five days. Below are the potential compensation ranges that we in good faith believe are applicable for this role at the time of this posting and are only applicable for jobs to be performed in the specified location(s) below. The typical base salary range for this position is just one component of Geosyntec’s total compensation package for employees. Actual compensation will be determined based on education, experience, skill set and location.
COMPENSATION
- Minimum: $77,235/year / Maximum: $96,545/year (Oakland, CA)
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, vacation, sick, and personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible employees.
See all 273+ STEM OPT Environmental Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Environmental Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Environmental
Verify your CIP code matches STEM eligibility
Check whether your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list published by ICE. Environmental science and environmental engineering codes qualify, but interdisciplinary programs sometimes don't, so confirm before applying.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Your STEM OPT extension is only valid with an E-Verify enrolled employer. Ask recruiters directly or look up the company in the E-Verify employer search tool before you sign anything. Many smaller environmental consulting firms aren't enrolled.
Target employers with active PERM or LCA filings
Environmental firms that have filed Labor Condition Applications or PERM applications have already navigated DOL compliance requirements. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with verified filing history in environmental and engineering occupation categories.
Align your I-983 training plan to O*NET tasks
Your I-983 must show a clear connection between your job duties and your STEM degree. Pull the occupation profile from O*NET for your specific role, such as Environmental Scientists and Specialists or Environmental Engineers, and use those defined tasks in your training plan.
Time your extension application 90 days before OPT ends
USCIS requires your STEM OPT extension application to be filed no more than 90 days before your initial OPT EAD expires. File early enough to maintain continuous work authorization, especially if your employer needs to verify their E-Verify status before signing your I-983.
Prioritize federal contractors and EPA-adjacent firms
Federal environmental contractors and firms working on EPA remediation projects are legally required to use E-Verify, making them automatically eligible to employ STEM OPT students. Target solicitation notices and agency subcontractor lists to identify these employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do environmental jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Environmental roles qualify when your degree's CIP code appears on the ICE STEM Designated Degree Program list and the job duties relate directly to that field. Degrees in environmental science, environmental engineering, civil engineering with an environmental focus, and related STEM disciplines typically qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility before recommending the extension in SEVIS.
What happens if my environmental employer isn't enrolled in E-Verify?
You can't work on a STEM OPT extension with an employer that isn't enrolled in E-Verify. If your employer isn't enrolled, they must complete enrollment before your extension becomes valid. Some smaller environmental consulting firms and nonprofits skip E-Verify enrollment, so verifying this before accepting an offer is essential to avoid a gap in work authorization.
How do I complete the I-983 training plan for an environmental role?
Your I-983 must describe how the position provides practical training directly related to your STEM degree. For environmental roles, that means documenting specific duties such as site assessment, regulatory compliance analysis, data modeling, or fieldwork tied to your coursework. Your employer signs the plan and must provide a formal evaluation every six months throughout your STEM OPT period.
Does the cap-gap rule protect me if I'm in an environmental job and my H-1B is selected?
Yes. If you're working in an environmental role on OPT and your employer files an H-1B visa petition for you before your OPT expires, the cap-gap rule automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue working in your environmental position without interruption while USCIS processes the petition.
Where can I find environmental employers that hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters environmental job listings to show employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and a history of sponsoring international candidates in engineering and science occupations. That removes the guesswork of cold-applying to firms that aren't set up to hire STEM OPT workers, letting you focus on companies already familiar with the extension requirements.