STEM OPT Environmental Scientist Jobs
Environmental Scientist roles in environmental consulting, remediation, and regulatory compliance regularly qualify for STEM OPT. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to hire you, and your STEM degree unlocks a 24-month OPT extension beyond your initial 12 months, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization to build a career in this field.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
As a Geologist/Environmental Scientist for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) at our Pittsburgh, PA office, you’ll be directly involved with environmental compliance, monitoring and assessment projects. Your primary responsibility will be completing field activities, including: assisting with and leading field sampling activities for groundwater, surface water, sediment, air and soil; monitoring soil boring and bedrock coring activities; screening various media for evidence of environmental impacts; assisting with pumping/aquifer testing; and documenting groundwater monitoring well and piezometer installation activities. You will also assist with reporting activities, including managing and interpreting environmental data, developing potentiometric surface maps and geologic cross sections, and preparing field reports. The individual’s degree of involvement will be based upon his/her exposure and experience with respect to the assigned work.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Collect, analyze, and document field data for presentation in engineering/scientific project reports, plans, specifications, permits, cost estimates, and other project documents
- Participate in field work as necessary/required to accomplish tasks assigned by the project team leadership
- Help to coordinate assigned tasks with other project team members to successfully complete discreet tasks as assigned on projects and report progress to team leadership
- Maintain and utilize working knowledge of accepted engineering design, scientific principles, regulatory programs, and field standards and practices in the execution of work as directed by your supervisor and in conformance with industry standards
- Provide input and assistance in investigating new techniques and methods that may increase the Company’s efficiency and incorporate cutting edge applications to arrive at the desired result on projects
Endless perks are available to employees at CEC! Throughout the year, employees enjoy the annual summer picnic, themed happy hours, fun team building activities and an annual holiday party! We also understand the importance of reaching beyond the office and giving back to the community—CEC employees volunteer for trail workdays to enhance local parks, maintain a CEC-designed pollinator garden for our office campus, and organize an annual charity golf tournament. At CEC Pittsburgh, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture of connection, collaboration, and growth within the office and in our community. Our comprehensive benefits package includes bonus recognition, based on performance, as well as participation in our employee stock ownership program. Additionally, we conduct mid-year and end-of-year performance reviews and provide goal-setting opportunities.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Previous internship experience or 1+ years of professional experience preferred
- Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Geology, or Environmental Engineering (or equivalent)
- Valid driver’s license
- Strong quantitative/math and analytical skills
- The ability to participate in field work
- Willingness to take training courses/secure certifications in various specialized areas such as hazardous materials inspection, sample collection techniques, environmental site assessments, groundwater modelling, etc.
About us
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
INTRODUCTION
As a Geologist/Environmental Scientist for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) at our Pittsburgh, PA office, you’ll be directly involved with environmental compliance, monitoring and assessment projects. Your primary responsibility will be completing field activities, including: assisting with and leading field sampling activities for groundwater, surface water, sediment, air and soil; monitoring soil boring and bedrock coring activities; screening various media for evidence of environmental impacts; assisting with pumping/aquifer testing; and documenting groundwater monitoring well and piezometer installation activities. You will also assist with reporting activities, including managing and interpreting environmental data, developing potentiometric surface maps and geologic cross sections, and preparing field reports. The individual’s degree of involvement will be based upon his/her exposure and experience with respect to the assigned work.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Collect, analyze, and document field data for presentation in engineering/scientific project reports, plans, specifications, permits, cost estimates, and other project documents
- Participate in field work as necessary/required to accomplish tasks assigned by the project team leadership
- Help to coordinate assigned tasks with other project team members to successfully complete discreet tasks as assigned on projects and report progress to team leadership
- Maintain and utilize working knowledge of accepted engineering design, scientific principles, regulatory programs, and field standards and practices in the execution of work as directed by your supervisor and in conformance with industry standards
- Provide input and assistance in investigating new techniques and methods that may increase the Company’s efficiency and incorporate cutting edge applications to arrive at the desired result on projects
Endless perks are available to employees at CEC! Throughout the year, employees enjoy the annual summer picnic, themed happy hours, fun team building activities and an annual holiday party! We also understand the importance of reaching beyond the office and giving back to the community—CEC employees volunteer for trail workdays to enhance local parks, maintain a CEC-designed pollinator garden for our office campus, and organize an annual charity golf tournament. At CEC Pittsburgh, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture of connection, collaboration, and growth within the office and in our community. Our comprehensive benefits package includes bonus recognition, based on performance, as well as participation in our employee stock ownership program. Additionally, we conduct mid-year and end-of-year performance reviews and provide goal-setting opportunities.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Previous internship experience or 1+ years of professional experience preferred
- Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Geology, or Environmental Engineering (or equivalent)
- Valid driver’s license
- Strong quantitative/math and analytical skills
- The ability to participate in field work
- Willingness to take training courses/secure certifications in various specialized areas such as hazardous materials inspection, sample collection techniques, environmental site assessments, groundwater modelling, etc.
About us
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
See all 301+ STEM OPT Environmental Scientist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an Environmental Scientist
Verify your degree's CIP code eligibility
Environmental Science (CIP 03.0104) and related programs like Environmental Studies and Environmental Engineering qualify for STEM OPT. Confirm your degree's exact CIP code with your DSO before targeting roles, since employers will ask your school to verify it on the I-983.
Check E-Verify enrollment before applying
Federal contractors and many state-licensed environmental consulting firms are already E-Verify enrolled, but smaller remediation companies often aren't. Search the E-Verify employer database directly to confirm enrollment status before investing time in an application.
Target federal and state agency contractors first
EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, and state environmental agency contractors are required by regulation to use E-Verify, which removes one of the biggest obstacles for STEM OPT candidates. Environmental consulting firms with federal contracts follow the same requirement.
Build your I-983 training plan around job duties
Your I-983 must connect specific job tasks to your degree's STEM coursework. For Environmental Scientist roles, map fieldwork, data analysis, and regulatory reporting duties directly to courses in your program before your start date, not after.
Use Migrate Mate to filter E-Verify employers
Search Environmental Scientist roles on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment so you aren't discovering eligibility gaps after an offer. Filter by role and location to build a targeted list of employers who can legally hire you.
Address the 60-day grace period in offer negotiations
If your OPT EAD expires while your STEM OPT extension application is pending, you're covered by the 60-day cap-gap period only if your employer filed your extension on time. Confirm your employer's HR team understands this timeline before you accept an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Environmental Science degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree's CIP code falls under qualifying STEM categories such as Environmental Science (03.0104), Environmental Engineering (14.1401), or closely related programs. Your DSO confirms the CIP code and authorizes the extension by updating your I-20. Check the official STEM Designated Degree Program List published by USCIS to verify your program before filing.
Does my Environmental Scientist employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT employment. Your employer must be enrolled before your extension is approved, not just before your start date. Federal contractors and most state agency consultants already meet this requirement by law. For private-sector employers, verify enrollment in the E-Verify employer database before accepting an offer.
What goes into an I-983 training plan for an Environmental Scientist role?
Your I-983 must describe how the role provides practical training related to your STEM degree. For Environmental Scientist positions, that means documenting specific duties like site assessment, environmental data analysis, regulatory compliance reporting, or remediation project work, and connecting each to coursework from your degree program. Your employer signs the form, and your DSO must authorize it before your extension begins.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm applying for H-1B while on STEM OPT?
If your H-1B visa petition is filed before your STEM OPT EAD expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue working as an Environmental Scientist during this period without interruption. USCIS confirms cap-gap status through your updated I-20 from your DSO.
Where can I find Environmental Scientist jobs with E-Verify employers?
Migrate Mate lists Environmental Scientist roles filtered by employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment, which is the primary eligibility requirement for STEM OPT candidates. This saves you from applying to roles where the employer isn't set up to hire you legally. You can filter by location, industry sector, and role type to match your degree and OPT authorization window.