STEM OPT Highway Engineer Jobs
Highway Engineer roles in transportation planning, structural design, and traffic systems qualify for STEM OPT when your degree is in civil engineering, transportation engineering, or a related STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to hire you, and the 24-month extension gives you up to 36 months total to build your U.S. career in infrastructure.
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Get Access To All JobsThe Edwardsville, IL office of Modjeski and Masters is seeking an Entry-Level Highway Design Engineer to join our growing transportation team. This position is ideal for recent graduates or early-career engineers who are looking to build their experience in highway and transportation design. Full-time opportunities are available.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university,
- Emphasis in Highway or Transportation Engineering preferred.
- 0 to 4 years of relevant experience in transportation or highway engineering.
- Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification preferred or the ability to obtain certification.
- Strong interest in the planning, design, and development of transportation infrastructure projects.
- Basic familiarity with MicroStation, AutoCAD, OpenRoads, and/or Civil 3D is a plus.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with proficiency in English.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
- Work closely with experienced engineers and technical staff on a variety of transportation engineering projects.
- Assist in the preparation of engineering plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Support highway design efforts, including roadway geometry, drainage, pavement design, intersections, ADA compliance, traffic control, and transportation management plans.
- Participate in the preparation of roadway, traffic control, signing and pavement marking, utility, erosion and sediment control, and cross-section plans.
- Coordinate with internal project teams and external subconsultants supporting surveying, geotechnical investigations, traffic studies, and environmental permitting efforts.
- Assist with field reviews, site visits, and data collection activities as needed.
- Contribute to the preparation of technical proposals and statements of qualifications.
- Perform other duties as assigned while developing technical and professional skills under the guidance of experienced engineers.
Why Join Us?
- Competitive salary
- Hybrid work environment
- Annual bonus program based on individual and company performance
- Nine paid holidays
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Starting at 17 days annually
- Increases with years of service
- Comprehensive cafeteria-style benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Coverage
- Short-Term Disability Coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Identity Protection Services
- Optional Dependent Life Insurance
- Additional voluntary benefits
Who We Are
Modjeski and Masters (M&M) is a nationally recognized transportation engineering firm with a strong bridge engineering heritage. For more than 130 years, we have delivered innovative engineering solutions and have played a key role in the design and maintenance of some of the nation's most iconic transportation structures.
Our highway engineers support a wide range of projects, from bridge approaches and interchanges to major roadway and corridor improvement programs. As an Entry-Level Highway Design Engineer, you will gain hands-on experience working on meaningful transportation projects while receiving mentorship from experienced professionals who are committed to your growth and development.
This position provides an excellent opportunity to build a strong technical foundation, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and develop a rewarding career in transportation engineering.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
Modjeski and Masters is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE/M/F/D/V). No third-party candidates, please.
Questions regarding open positions may be directed to: Recruiting Coordinator, Jamie Kibler, JLKibler@modjeski.com
Notice to Third-Party Recruiters
Modjeski and Masters, Inc. only compensates job placement recruiters that have a valid, approved written agreement in place for recruiting services. Modjeski and Masters, Inc. does not compensate third-party recruiters for unsolicited candidate submissions.
The Edwardsville, IL office of Modjeski and Masters is seeking an Entry-Level Highway Design Engineer to join our growing transportation team. This position is ideal for recent graduates or early-career engineers who are looking to build their experience in highway and transportation design. Full-time opportunities are available.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university,
- Emphasis in Highway or Transportation Engineering preferred.
- 0 to 4 years of relevant experience in transportation or highway engineering.
- Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification preferred or the ability to obtain certification.
- Strong interest in the planning, design, and development of transportation infrastructure projects.
- Basic familiarity with MicroStation, AutoCAD, OpenRoads, and/or Civil 3D is a plus.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with proficiency in English.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
- Work closely with experienced engineers and technical staff on a variety of transportation engineering projects.
- Assist in the preparation of engineering plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Support highway design efforts, including roadway geometry, drainage, pavement design, intersections, ADA compliance, traffic control, and transportation management plans.
- Participate in the preparation of roadway, traffic control, signing and pavement marking, utility, erosion and sediment control, and cross-section plans.
- Coordinate with internal project teams and external subconsultants supporting surveying, geotechnical investigations, traffic studies, and environmental permitting efforts.
- Assist with field reviews, site visits, and data collection activities as needed.
- Contribute to the preparation of technical proposals and statements of qualifications.
- Perform other duties as assigned while developing technical and professional skills under the guidance of experienced engineers.
Why Join Us?
- Competitive salary
- Hybrid work environment
- Annual bonus program based on individual and company performance
- Nine paid holidays
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Starting at 17 days annually
- Increases with years of service
- Comprehensive cafeteria-style benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Coverage
- Short-Term Disability Coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Identity Protection Services
- Optional Dependent Life Insurance
- Additional voluntary benefits
Who We Are
Modjeski and Masters (M&M) is a nationally recognized transportation engineering firm with a strong bridge engineering heritage. For more than 130 years, we have delivered innovative engineering solutions and have played a key role in the design and maintenance of some of the nation's most iconic transportation structures.
Our highway engineers support a wide range of projects, from bridge approaches and interchanges to major roadway and corridor improvement programs. As an Entry-Level Highway Design Engineer, you will gain hands-on experience working on meaningful transportation projects while receiving mentorship from experienced professionals who are committed to your growth and development.
This position provides an excellent opportunity to build a strong technical foundation, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and develop a rewarding career in transportation engineering.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
Modjeski and Masters is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE/M/F/D/V). No third-party candidates, please.
Questions regarding open positions may be directed to: Recruiting Coordinator, Jamie Kibler, JLKibler@modjeski.com
Notice to Third-Party Recruiters
Modjeski and Masters, Inc. only compensates job placement recruiters that have a valid, approved written agreement in place for recruiting services. Modjeski and Masters, Inc. does not compensate third-party recruiters for unsolicited candidate submissions.
See all STEM OPT Highway Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Highway Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Highway Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull up your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code and cross-check it against the STEM Designated Degree Program List that USCIS maintains. Civil Engineering (14.0801) and Transportation Engineering (14.0804) both qualify, but general engineering or construction management degrees sometimes do not.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Before submitting any application, confirm the employer is actively enrolled in E-Verify, not just registered. State DOTs and large federal contractors are almost always enrolled, but smaller regional engineering firms frequently are not, which disqualifies them for your STEM OPT extension.
Target DOT contractors with active federal work
Federal highway and infrastructure contractors are required to use E-Verify under executive order, making them structurally eligible to hire STEM OPT students. Focus your search on prime contractors holding Federal Highway Administration or Army Corps of Engineers contracts, where E-Verify compliance is built into contract terms.
Draft your I-983 training plan around PE licensure milestones
Your I-983 must connect your daily work to your STEM degree with measurable learning objectives. Highway engineers have a natural structure to use: map your plan around the experience hours required for your Professional Engineer licensure, which DOT employers already track and document.
Search for STEM OPT roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to find Highway Engineer positions filtered for E-Verify-enrolled employers. The platform surfaces DOL Labor Condition Application filing data by employer and role, so you can see which infrastructure firms have a demonstrated history of sponsoring work authorization before you apply.
Request the LCA before accepting an offer
Ask your prospective employer to share the Labor Condition Application job classification and prevailing wage level before you sign. For highway engineers, the relevant SOC code is 17-2051, and you can cross-check the offered wage against the OFLC Wage Search to confirm the role is filed at the correct wage level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a civil engineering or transportation engineering degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a field on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. Civil Engineering (CIP 14.0801) and Transportation and Highway Engineering (CIP 14.0804) both qualify. Environmental Engineering and systems-focused engineering degrees typically qualify too. Check your degree's exact CIP code with your Designated School Official before assuming eligibility, since general studies or construction management degrees often do not appear on the list.
Does my Highway Engineer employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for every employer hiring a STEM OPT student. This applies even if the employer has previously hired F-1 students on standard OPT. State departments of transportation and large federal infrastructure contractors are almost always enrolled, but smaller regional or municipal engineering firms may not be. Confirm enrollment directly with HR before accepting any offer.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Highway Engineer role?
Your I-983 must describe how your daily work connects to your STEM degree through specific, measurable learning objectives. For highway engineering, you can structure objectives around design tasks, transportation modeling software, environmental compliance processes, or the engineering experience hours required for Professional Engineer licensure. Your employer's designated supervisor signs the plan and must provide evaluations every six months throughout the extension period.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm applying for an H-1B while on STEM OPT?
If your STEM OPT is still valid on April 1 of the H-1B visa filing season and your employer files a timely H-1B petition on your behalf, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. If your petition is selected and approved, your H-1B status begins October 1. You can continue working as a highway engineer throughout this period without any gap in authorization.
Where can I find Highway Engineer jobs with E-Verify-enrolled employers?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for STEM OPT students and filters Highway Engineer roles by E-Verify enrollment status. It also surfaces DOL Labor Condition Application filing history by employer, so you can see which transportation and infrastructure firms have an established record of sponsoring work authorization rather than discovering enrollment issues after you've already applied.