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 JobsGENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct environmental site investigations, assessments and surveys to sample, measure and analyze air, water, material, and soil.
- Identify, evaluate and recommend risk and remediation strategies/designs to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
- Prepare applicable permit applications, risk assessments and technical documents including proposals, reports and regulatory agency correspondence.
- Design systems and environmental protection plans.
- Projects may include Phase I/II environmental site assessments, ecological and natural resource field surveys, tank closure assessments, asbestos abatement, storm water management, and site planning and permitting.
ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre-task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Demonstrate quality practices and acumen.
- Provide consistent quality standards on proposal and project delivery.
- Proficient scientific professional responsible for conducting site testing and making recommendations for systems design on smaller projects of minimal complexity.
- May assist more senior scientists/engineers on large, more complex projects.
- Performs site visits, field observations and field data collection or assignments.
- Implements technical requirements to complete client projects by directing and supervising field staff to sample, test and collect data and/or document site activities.
- Responsible for developing written proposals to clients for approval by senior level professionals.
- Evaluates moderately complex laboratory and field data and assembles in written reports.
- May serve as team member and participate in meetings and communications with client pertaining to specific projects/tasks.
- May oversee work performed by lower level scientists/engineers and Technicians.
- Works under the supervision of a Terracon Authorized Project Reviewer.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or related science field and a minimum of 3 years’ related experience. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 7 years’ related experience.
- Master’s degree preferred.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
REQUIRED CERTIFICATION:
- Certification in field of expertise required.
EEO Statement Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct environmental site investigations, assessments and surveys to sample, measure and analyze air, water, material, and soil.
- Identify, evaluate and recommend risk and remediation strategies/designs to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
- Prepare applicable permit applications, risk assessments and technical documents including proposals, reports and regulatory agency correspondence.
- Design systems and environmental protection plans.
- Projects may include Phase I/II environmental site assessments, ecological and natural resource field surveys, tank closure assessments, asbestos abatement, storm water management, and site planning and permitting.
ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre-task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Demonstrate quality practices and acumen.
- Provide consistent quality standards on proposal and project delivery.
- Proficient scientific professional responsible for conducting site testing and making recommendations for systems design on smaller projects of minimal complexity.
- May assist more senior scientists/engineers on large, more complex projects.
- Performs site visits, field observations and field data collection or assignments.
- Implements technical requirements to complete client projects by directing and supervising field staff to sample, test and collect data and/or document site activities.
- Responsible for developing written proposals to clients for approval by senior level professionals.
- Evaluates moderately complex laboratory and field data and assembles in written reports.
- May serve as team member and participate in meetings and communications with client pertaining to specific projects/tasks.
- May oversee work performed by lower level scientists/engineers and Technicians.
- Works under the supervision of a Terracon Authorized Project Reviewer.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or related science field and a minimum of 3 years’ related experience. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 7 years’ related experience.
- Master’s degree preferred.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
REQUIRED CERTIFICATION:
- Certification in field of expertise required.
EEO Statement Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
See all 51+ STEM OPT Environmental Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Environmental Scientist Jobs.
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.