STEM OPT Graduate Jobs
Graduate roles in research, engineering, and analytics are among the most accessible entry points for F-1 students on STEM OPT. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies as long as your degree falls under an eligible CIP code and 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 JobsStructural Graduate Engineer
Westwood Professional Services, Inc has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our clients. A Structural Graduate Engineer is expected to work on a team providing support to a licensed Structural Engineer while learning the company’s standard practices and local agency codes. In pursuit of a Professional Engineering license, the applicant needs to be organized, self-motivated, and possess the ability to collaboratively solve complex issues on time and within budget.
Requirements
- Complete assigned design tasks in support of Project Engineers and Lead Engineers on various projects
- Increase understanding of engineering fundamentals
- Conduct basic design tasks to prepare sections of plans, specifications, and other project documents
- Coordinate with other design team members to produce a well-coordinated and constructable design
- Maintain awareness and comply with firm quality standards
Required Skills:
- Outgoing, friendly, approachable (team player)
- Strong communication skills with team members and clients, demonstrates active listening techniques
- Competent technical skills required to complete engineering tasks
- Able to proactively pursue design solutions
- Ability to be open to other's ideas and willing to compromise
- Detail-oriented but also flexible enough to be big picture/conceptual
- Able to compromise and accept other’s ideas
- Good reputation amongst peers, clients, and agencies
- Able to follow general directions and guidelines for the firm’s policies, practices, and procedures
- A supportive team member with the ability to work both independently and within a collaborative environment
Required Experience:
- Bachelor's Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
- 1-4 years of Structural Engineering experience
- Engineer-in-Training Certificate, or the ability to obtain within 6-12 months
- Basic knowledge of AutoCAD and Revit software
About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)
At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.
Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.
We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.
We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.
We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.
Join us in creating a better world.
In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.
Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Structural Graduate Engineer
Westwood Professional Services, Inc has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our clients. A Structural Graduate Engineer is expected to work on a team providing support to a licensed Structural Engineer while learning the company’s standard practices and local agency codes. In pursuit of a Professional Engineering license, the applicant needs to be organized, self-motivated, and possess the ability to collaboratively solve complex issues on time and within budget.
Requirements
- Complete assigned design tasks in support of Project Engineers and Lead Engineers on various projects
- Increase understanding of engineering fundamentals
- Conduct basic design tasks to prepare sections of plans, specifications, and other project documents
- Coordinate with other design team members to produce a well-coordinated and constructable design
- Maintain awareness and comply with firm quality standards
Required Skills:
- Outgoing, friendly, approachable (team player)
- Strong communication skills with team members and clients, demonstrates active listening techniques
- Competent technical skills required to complete engineering tasks
- Able to proactively pursue design solutions
- Ability to be open to other's ideas and willing to compromise
- Detail-oriented but also flexible enough to be big picture/conceptual
- Able to compromise and accept other’s ideas
- Good reputation amongst peers, clients, and agencies
- Able to follow general directions and guidelines for the firm’s policies, practices, and procedures
- A supportive team member with the ability to work both independently and within a collaborative environment
Required Experience:
- Bachelor's Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
- 1-4 years of Structural Engineering experience
- Engineer-in-Training Certificate, or the ability to obtain within 6-12 months
- Basic knowledge of AutoCAD and Revit software
About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)
At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.
Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.
We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.
We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.
We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.
Join us in creating a better world.
In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.
Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Graduate
Confirm your CIP code before applying
Your STEM OPT eligibility depends on your degree's CIP code appearing on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list. Pull your transcript and cross-check the code with your DSO before targeting Graduate roles, not after receiving an offer.
Verify E-Verify enrollment before every application
Any employer who hires you on STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify. Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name before you apply, so you're not chasing an offer from a non-enrolled employer who can't legally onboard you.
Use O*NET to match your degree to Graduate job duties
Graduate roles vary widely in how they're classified. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for your target job title to confirm the degree field requirement aligns with your major, which strengthens both your I-983 training plan and your pitch to hiring managers.
Build your I-983 training plan around measurable outcomes
Don't wait until you have an offer to draft your I-983. Outline learning objectives tied to Graduate-level tasks like data analysis, research methods, or systems testing. Employers unfamiliar with STEM OPT respond better to a ready-made framework than a blank form.
Target employers through Migrate Mate's E-Verify filter
Searching broadly wastes time on employers who can't sponsor STEM OPT. Migrate Mate filters Graduate job listings to show only E-Verify-enrolled employers, so every application you send goes to a company that's already cleared the baseline requirement.
Flag cap-gap status when your OPT end date overlaps October 1
If your initial OPT expires between April and September and your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf, cap-gap extends your work authorization through September 30. Tell HR and your DSO immediately so your I-20 and EAD records stay current with USCIS.
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Find Graduate JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do all Graduate employers need to be enrolled in E-Verify for STEM OPT?
Yes, without exception. Any employer who hires you under the 24-month STEM OPT extension must be enrolled in E-Verify at the time you start work. This applies to full-time, part-time, and contract Graduate roles alike. You can confirm enrollment through the E-Verify employer search before you accept an offer. Working for a non-enrolled employer during STEM OPT violates your status.
Which STEM degrees qualify for the 24-month OPT extension in Graduate roles?
Eligibility is determined by your degree's CIP code, not your job title. Your degree must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list. Common qualifying fields for Graduate roles include computer science, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, data science, and biology. Your DSO can confirm your CIP code from your transcript. Degrees in non-STEM fields do not qualify, even if the Graduate role itself is technical.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Graduate position?
The I-983 is a formal training agreement between you and your employer that outlines how the Graduate role provides practical training in your degree field. It must include learning objectives tied to specific job duties, supervision details, performance evaluation criteria, and confirmation that your compensation meets prevailing wage standards. Both you and an authorized employer representative sign it. Your DSO submits the updated I-20 to SEVP after approval.
How do I find Graduate jobs where the employer already understands STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Graduate roles filtered to E-Verify-enrolled employers, which removes the first and most common barrier. Beyond eligibility, look for employers who have previously hired F-1 students or who list STEM OPT explicitly in their job postings, since those hiring managers are already familiar with the I-983 process and won't treat your work authorization as a liability.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my employer loses E-Verify enrollment after I start?
If your employer's E-Verify participation is terminated after your STEM OPT begins, you're required to find a new E-Verify-enrolled employer within a reasonable period to maintain valid status. Your DSO and USCIS must be notified of employer changes through an updated I-983 and I-20. Continuing to work for a non-enrolled employer after termination puts your F-1 status at risk, so monitor your employer's enrollment status throughout your authorization period.
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