STEM OPT Geophysicist Jobs
Geophysicist roles in oil and gas, environmental consulting, and federal agencies regularly hire F-1 graduates with STEM degrees in geoscience, geophysics, or earth science. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies to qualifying roles, and your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to sign your I-983 training plan.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
ARA is seeking a staff geophysicist specializing in data analysis to join our ground penetrating radar (GPR) group on-site in Austin, TX, supporting transportation and infrastructure projects. This role focuses exclusively on processing, interpretation, and reporting of GPR datasets, with minimal field data collection responsibilities.
This position requires demonstrated experience in interpreting GPR signals, translating raw data into defensible engineering insights, and producing consistent, high-quality deliverables. To be successful in this position, you must have:
- Ability to interpret large datasets with consistency
- Strong analytical reasoning and pattern recognition
- High standards for QA/QC and reproducibility
- Clear, concise technical communication
- Ability to translate data into defensible conclusions
You will work closely with industry expert geophysicists and will receive structured, hands-on training to further develop your skills and expand your understanding of signal behavior in advanced GPR applications on highway and airport projects across the US and around the world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What you will do as a staff geophysicist:
- Process 2D and 3D GPR data using industry-standard and/or proprietary software
- Interpret pavement structures for:
- Layer thickness and structural changes
- Defects such as delamination, voids, and moisture-related issues
- Correlate GPR results with available ground truth information (cores, borings, plans) and other datasets (e.g., Falling Weight Deflectometer/Traffic-Speed Deflection Devices)
- Perform review and quality control on analyzed datasets
- Assist in preparation of technical reports, figures, and deliverables
- Ensure QA/QC of processed data and final outputs
- Maintain standardized formatting and documentation practices
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Staff geophysicist requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Geophysics or related discipline, with emphasis on near surface geophysical methods
- 2+ years of relevant experience or advanced degree focusing on GPR data processing and interpretation
- Experience with GSSI GPR systems and 2D GPR data analysis
- Demonstrated experience working with large-scale GPR datasets
- Strong understanding of:
- Electromagnetic wave behavior in near-surface materials
- Ground properties and their impact on signal response
- Time-to-depth conversion and velocity estimation
- Experience with GIS platforms (ArcGIS)
- Proficiency in Microsoft Windows and Office products
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree in Geophysics or a related discipline
- Field experience working with 3D GPR systems and step-frequency arrays
- Background in transportation infrastructure (DOT or airport projects)
- Proficiency in Radan and Examiner for data processing and automation
- Experience developing and maintaining Python-based workflows for processing and analyzing geospatial or geophysical datasets
ABOUT ARA
ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs more than 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in civil technologies, computer software and simulation, defense technologies, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for pavement analysis, environmental site characterization, and robotics.
At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
INTRODUCTION
ARA is seeking a staff geophysicist specializing in data analysis to join our ground penetrating radar (GPR) group on-site in Austin, TX, supporting transportation and infrastructure projects. This role focuses exclusively on processing, interpretation, and reporting of GPR datasets, with minimal field data collection responsibilities.
This position requires demonstrated experience in interpreting GPR signals, translating raw data into defensible engineering insights, and producing consistent, high-quality deliverables. To be successful in this position, you must have:
- Ability to interpret large datasets with consistency
- Strong analytical reasoning and pattern recognition
- High standards for QA/QC and reproducibility
- Clear, concise technical communication
- Ability to translate data into defensible conclusions
You will work closely with industry expert geophysicists and will receive structured, hands-on training to further develop your skills and expand your understanding of signal behavior in advanced GPR applications on highway and airport projects across the US and around the world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What you will do as a staff geophysicist:
- Process 2D and 3D GPR data using industry-standard and/or proprietary software
- Interpret pavement structures for:
- Layer thickness and structural changes
- Defects such as delamination, voids, and moisture-related issues
- Correlate GPR results with available ground truth information (cores, borings, plans) and other datasets (e.g., Falling Weight Deflectometer/Traffic-Speed Deflection Devices)
- Perform review and quality control on analyzed datasets
- Assist in preparation of technical reports, figures, and deliverables
- Ensure QA/QC of processed data and final outputs
- Maintain standardized formatting and documentation practices
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Staff geophysicist requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Geophysics or related discipline, with emphasis on near surface geophysical methods
- 2+ years of relevant experience or advanced degree focusing on GPR data processing and interpretation
- Experience with GSSI GPR systems and 2D GPR data analysis
- Demonstrated experience working with large-scale GPR datasets
- Strong understanding of:
- Electromagnetic wave behavior in near-surface materials
- Ground properties and their impact on signal response
- Time-to-depth conversion and velocity estimation
- Experience with GIS platforms (ArcGIS)
- Proficiency in Microsoft Windows and Office products
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree in Geophysics or a related discipline
- Field experience working with 3D GPR systems and step-frequency arrays
- Background in transportation infrastructure (DOT or airport projects)
- Proficiency in Radan and Examiner for data processing and automation
- Experience developing and maintaining Python-based workflows for processing and analyzing geospatial or geophysical datasets
ABOUT ARA
ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs more than 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in civil technologies, computer software and simulation, defense technologies, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for pavement analysis, environmental site characterization, and robotics.
At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Geophysicist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code determines STEM OPT eligibility. Geophysics and earth science programs typically fall under CIP 40.06, but confirm with your DSO that your specific program is on the STEM-designated degree list before targeting employers.
Check E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Only employers enrolled in E-Verify can legally employ STEM OPT students. Search the E-Verify employer search tool directly to confirm enrollment status before you invest time in an application process or accept any offer.
Target employers with active federal contracts
Federal contractors are required by law to use E-Verify, making agencies like USGS, NOAA, and DOE contractors structurally compliant. Geophysicist roles with these employers remove one common STEM OPT obstacle from the equation.
Benchmark your offer against prevailing wages
Your I-983 training plan requires that your compensation meets the prevailing wage for geophysicists in your work location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV wage bands for SOC code 19-2042 before finalizing your offer.
Find STEM OPT geophysicist roles on Migrate Mate
Filter by STEM OPT eligibility and geoscience roles on Migrate Mate to surface employers who have already hired on work authorization. This cuts prospecting time and focuses your applications on companies with a demonstrated track record of supporting OPT students.
Geophysicist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Geophysicist JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a geophysics or earth science degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, provided your program appears on the STEM-designated degree list maintained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Geophysics degrees typically fall under CIP code 40.06, and related programs in geological and earth sciences often qualify as well. Confirm the exact CIP code on your diploma with your DSO before your STEM OPT extension application, since the classification on file determines eligibility.
What E-Verify requirement applies to employers hiring me as a geophysicist on STEM OPT?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify for the specific worksite location where you'll be employed. This is a federal requirement for all STEM OPT placements, not just a best practice. Before signing an offer letter, verify enrollment through the E-Verify employer search. Federal agencies and most large energy and environmental consulting firms are already enrolled, but smaller regional firms may not be.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a geophysicist role?
The I-983 must document specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, the practical skills you'll develop, how your supervisor will evaluate your progress, and how the role relates to your geoscience or geophysics coursework. Generic job descriptions don't satisfy this requirement. Your employer needs to articulate measurable outcomes, such as proficiency in seismic interpretation software, fieldwork methodology, or subsurface modeling techniques relevant to your program of study.
How does cap-gap protection apply if my employer files an H-1B petition during my STEM OPT?
If your employer submits a timely H-1B petition before your STEM OPT authorization expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a geophysicist during this period without interruption. USCIS confirms cap-gap coverage through an updated I-20 issued by your DSO, not through a separate filing.
How do I find geophysicist jobs where employers are already familiar with STEM OPT?
Search Migrate Mate to find geophysicist roles filtered for STEM OPT eligibility, where employers have a history of hiring international students on work authorization. This matters because geophysicist hiring often involves fieldwork logistics, security clearance questions, and project-based contracts that can complicate STEM OPT placements at employers who haven't navigated the process before.
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