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.
Find STEM OPT Highway Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 30+ Highway Engineer jobs
See all 30+ Highway Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Highway Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This opportunity entails being responsible for the production and modification of design calculations, technical reports, engineering plans and specifications for assigned projects. This position works closely with the project manager to perform research, development, calculations, design and delivery. Applies engineering techniques, procedures and design criteria for projects ranging in size and complexity. Leverages technical knowledge, experience and client relationships to assist in the execution and evaluation of project designs. Develops conceptual and detailed designs and calculations to support the project execution using current drawing and technical tools, programs and software. May mentor, train and review work of junior engineer staff and provide constructive feedback. As a member of the team, you will contribute to the successful project delivery for a diverse range of projects for HNTB’s clients.
What You'll Do:
- Completes assigned work within the schedule and number of hours provided.
- Assist in the development of project specifications.
- Responsible for development of discipline specific engineering project elements/deliverables such as reports, designs, and plans.
- Aids in the coordination and productivity of project team members.
- Provides technical guidance to less experienced engineering project team members.
- Works closely with other disciplines and on multi-discipline projects.
- Performs quality control reviews of discipline-specific engineering project elements/deliverables.
- Assists with coordination and planning of schedules, hours, and distribution of work within discipline.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 4 years of relevant experience, or
- Master’s degree in Engineering and 3 years of relevant experience, or
- PhD in Engineering and 2 years of relevant experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Engineering
- Engineer in Training (EIT) certification
- Professional Engineer (PE) certification
- American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification (depending on discipline)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards
Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
LOCATION
Minneapolis, MN
The approximate pay range for Minnesota is $87,542.15 - $136,924.92. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.
The approximate nationwide pay range for this position is $83,373.48 - $163,005.83. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location.
NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES:
HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.
INTRODUCTION
At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This opportunity entails being responsible for the production and modification of design calculations, technical reports, engineering plans and specifications for assigned projects. This position works closely with the project manager to perform research, development, calculations, design and delivery. Applies engineering techniques, procedures and design criteria for projects ranging in size and complexity. Leverages technical knowledge, experience and client relationships to assist in the execution and evaluation of project designs. Develops conceptual and detailed designs and calculations to support the project execution using current drawing and technical tools, programs and software. May mentor, train and review work of junior engineer staff and provide constructive feedback. As a member of the team, you will contribute to the successful project delivery for a diverse range of projects for HNTB’s clients.
What You'll Do:
- Completes assigned work within the schedule and number of hours provided.
- Assist in the development of project specifications.
- Responsible for development of discipline specific engineering project elements/deliverables such as reports, designs, and plans.
- Aids in the coordination and productivity of project team members.
- Provides technical guidance to less experienced engineering project team members.
- Works closely with other disciplines and on multi-discipline projects.
- Performs quality control reviews of discipline-specific engineering project elements/deliverables.
- Assists with coordination and planning of schedules, hours, and distribution of work within discipline.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 4 years of relevant experience, or
- Master’s degree in Engineering and 3 years of relevant experience, or
- PhD in Engineering and 2 years of relevant experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Engineering
- Engineer in Training (EIT) certification
- Professional Engineer (PE) certification
- American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification (depending on discipline)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards
Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
LOCATION
Minneapolis, MN
The approximate pay range for Minnesota is $87,542.15 - $136,924.92. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state.
The approximate nationwide pay range for this position is $83,373.48 - $163,005.83. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location.
NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES:
HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.
See all 30+ 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.