STEM OPT Geotechnical Engineer Jobs
Geotechnical Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT because they fall under civil and geotechnical engineering CIP codes recognized by ICE. Your F-1 status gives you up to 36 months of work authorization, but every employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a Form I-983 training plan before your first day.
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Get Access To All JobsAs a company, we aim to build a world where communities go beyond resilience, embracing change as an opportunity to enhance safety, well-being, and quality of life. Join us to accelerate this vision and your professional development.
We are looking to add new talent to our growing team! We are currently seeking a Staff Technician, Civil/Geotechnical Engineer or Geologist 2 to perform all tasks consisting primarily of field related technical duties with minimum supervision. This position requires travel to job sites and working outside of the office setting 95% of the time. Hence, the position will entail field sampling, lifting and transporting up to 50lbs of field equipment unassisted, bending, walking on uneven ground, working on large construction/industrial sites, working in the elements (following our Health & Safety guidelines), such as snow, rain, heat, etc., and use of personal-protective equipment (PPE). This is a full-time position located in our Boston, MA office.
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
In this position, you will:
- Monitor geotechnical and environmental drilling and test pits.
- Produce boring logs that have soil classifications, rock core classifications, and include site geology conditions.
- Collect geotechnical and environmental soil samples.
- Use of various geotechnical and environmental instrumentation and equipment.
- Conduct site reconnaissance.
- Ability to work independently on job sites, prepare detailed notes, and take photographs to document procedures used and observations made during field explorations programs and/or construction monitoring for use by supervisory or project personnel.
- Prepare daily/weekly field reports, including written reports with figures, photographs, and summary tables as required.
- Ability to travel out of state to project sites periodically for several weeks at a time.
- Ability to work on sites with asbestos present and wear “Level C” Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including Tyvek suits and respirators.
- Perform low flow groundwater sampling.
- Perform field tests on soil and rock.
- Adhere to Site Specific Health and Safety Plans prepared for each project site, including participation in site safety briefings and audits by both contractors and Haley & Aldrich.
- Coordinate scheduling with contractors and subcontractors.
- Monitor the execution of field & lab testing activities completed by subcontractors.
- Participate in team meetings.
- Coordinate with internal Haley & Aldrich project team members on a daily basis.
SKILLS/EXPERIENCE
Minimum Skills and Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Geology, or related field.
- 1-3 years of related work experience.
- Must have strong written, verbal and telephone communication skills, particularly the ability to produce accurate and concise field notes.
- Basic Microsoft Excel and Word capabilities.
- Must possess a valid driver's license.
- Must have a reliable form of transportation to travel to job sites and the office.
- Familiarity with set up and use of GPS devices a plus.
- Experience directing subcontractors a plus.
- OSHA 40-hr. HAZWOPER training preferred but not required.
The salary range for this position in Boston, MA is $31.00 - $35.00 hourly. Actual compensation will be based upon a variety of factors such as education, related work experience, certificates, skills, and current market conditions. Haley & Aldrich reviews salary ranges each quarter to assess competitiveness with the market.
As a company, we aim to build a world where communities go beyond resilience, embracing change as an opportunity to enhance safety, well-being, and quality of life. Join us to accelerate this vision and your professional development.
We are looking to add new talent to our growing team! We are currently seeking a Staff Technician, Civil/Geotechnical Engineer or Geologist 2 to perform all tasks consisting primarily of field related technical duties with minimum supervision. This position requires travel to job sites and working outside of the office setting 95% of the time. Hence, the position will entail field sampling, lifting and transporting up to 50lbs of field equipment unassisted, bending, walking on uneven ground, working on large construction/industrial sites, working in the elements (following our Health & Safety guidelines), such as snow, rain, heat, etc., and use of personal-protective equipment (PPE). This is a full-time position located in our Boston, MA office.
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
In this position, you will:
- Monitor geotechnical and environmental drilling and test pits.
- Produce boring logs that have soil classifications, rock core classifications, and include site geology conditions.
- Collect geotechnical and environmental soil samples.
- Use of various geotechnical and environmental instrumentation and equipment.
- Conduct site reconnaissance.
- Ability to work independently on job sites, prepare detailed notes, and take photographs to document procedures used and observations made during field explorations programs and/or construction monitoring for use by supervisory or project personnel.
- Prepare daily/weekly field reports, including written reports with figures, photographs, and summary tables as required.
- Ability to travel out of state to project sites periodically for several weeks at a time.
- Ability to work on sites with asbestos present and wear “Level C” Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including Tyvek suits and respirators.
- Perform low flow groundwater sampling.
- Perform field tests on soil and rock.
- Adhere to Site Specific Health and Safety Plans prepared for each project site, including participation in site safety briefings and audits by both contractors and Haley & Aldrich.
- Coordinate scheduling with contractors and subcontractors.
- Monitor the execution of field & lab testing activities completed by subcontractors.
- Participate in team meetings.
- Coordinate with internal Haley & Aldrich project team members on a daily basis.
SKILLS/EXPERIENCE
Minimum Skills and Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Geology, or related field.
- 1-3 years of related work experience.
- Must have strong written, verbal and telephone communication skills, particularly the ability to produce accurate and concise field notes.
- Basic Microsoft Excel and Word capabilities.
- Must possess a valid driver's license.
- Must have a reliable form of transportation to travel to job sites and the office.
- Familiarity with set up and use of GPS devices a plus.
- Experience directing subcontractors a plus.
- OSHA 40-hr. HAZWOPER training preferred but not required.
The salary range for this position in Boston, MA is $31.00 - $35.00 hourly. Actual compensation will be based upon a variety of factors such as education, related work experience, certificates, skills, and current market conditions. Haley & Aldrich reviews salary ranges each quarter to assess competitiveness with the market.
See all 265+ STEM OPT Geotechnical Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Geotechnical Engineer
Verify your CIP code covers geotechnical work
Your degree's CIP code must appear on the STEM OPT designated degree list. Civil Engineering (14.0801) and Geological and Earth Sciences (40.0601) both qualify, but confirm with your DSO before applying so you don't lose time chasing roles under the wrong authorization.
Check E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
An employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify, not just registered. Ask the hiring manager or HR to confirm their E-Verify company ID number. USCIS requires enrollment before your STEM OPT extension start date, and a lapsed account disqualifies an otherwise valid job offer.
Target firms with active geotechnical LCA filings
Use the OFLC Wage Search to find employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for geotechnical or civil engineering roles. Past LCA filings signal that a firm already understands DOL prevailing-wage requirements and has processed international employees in technical site-assessment or soil-investigation roles.
Find STEM OPT geotechnical roles on Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate to filter geotechnical engineer positions by employers verified to hire STEM OPT students. The platform surfaces DOL filing history by occupation, so you can prioritize companies with a documented record of hiring in your specific engineering discipline.
Draft your I-983 training plan around site-specific duties
Your Form I-983 must connect your engineering degree to your day-to-day tasks. For geotechnical roles, document specific learning objectives like soil classification, slope stability analysis, or foundation design. Generic descriptions of 'engineering tasks' get flagged by DSOs and delay your STEM OPT approval.
Time your STEM OPT extension filing to field project cycles
USCIS recommends filing your STEM OPT extension 90 days before your initial OPT expires. Geotechnical firms often ramp hiring around spring and summer field seasons, so submit your extension paperwork in winter to avoid authorization gaps that could delay your start on active site-investigation projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a civil or geotechnical engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree's CIP code appears on the ICE STEM designated degree list. Civil Engineering (14.0801), Geological and Earth Sciences (40.0601), and Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (14.0802) all qualify. Confirm the exact CIP code on your transcript with your DSO before applying, since the listed code on your diploma determines eligibility, not your job title.
What does the Form I-983 training plan require for a geotechnical engineer role?
The I-983 must document how your day-to-day responsibilities connect to your STEM degree. For geotechnical roles, that means listing specific learning goals tied to tasks like subsurface investigation, slope stability analysis, or soil classification. Your employer signs the plan, and your DSO approves it before USCIS processes your extension. The plan must be updated if your duties or employer change materially.
How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify before accepting a geotechnical job offer?
Ask HR for the company's E-Verify employer ID number and verify active enrollment status directly through E-Verify. Enrollment must be current, not expired, on the date your STEM OPT extension begins. This applies to every employer including subcontractors and joint-venture firms on public infrastructure or environmental remediation projects where your geotechnical work is based.
How do cap-gap rules affect geotechnical engineers waiting on an H-1B petition?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your OPT expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue geotechnical fieldwork and project reporting without interruption. Your I-20 must reflect the cap-gap extension, and your DSO issues an updated document once USCIS confirms your petition was accepted.
Where can I find geotechnical engineer jobs that hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters geotechnical engineer roles by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and DOL Labor Condition Application filing history in civil and geotechnical engineering occupations. You can also cross-reference O*NET for the occupation profile under SOC code 17-3051, which covers geotechnical and materials testing roles commonly staffed by STEM OPT candidates at environmental and infrastructure firms.