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.
See All Highway Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 54+ Highway Engineer jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 54+ 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 JobsHighway Engineer
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
In the role of Highway Engineer, we'll count on you to:
- Serve in a technical role under the direction of a Project Manager on the engineering development of urban and rural highway/roadway projects
- Oversee the work of CAD Designers, and possibly other EITs
- Prepare detailed engineering designs for roadway and highway projects
- Participate in activities ranging from site feasibility analysis to final design and through the construction phase
- Assume some project management duties and interact with clients as needed
- Perform other duties as needed
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- Previous experience in all aspects of roadway engineering design
- Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
- Hands-on experience with Highways and Roads CAD engineering software such as Bentley ConceptStation and Open Roads Designer and/or Autodesk Infraworks and Civil3D
- MS Office knowledge
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Experience should include urban and rural highway interchanges, intersection design, traffic management, transportation planning, site planning, preparation of concept alignments, geometrical layout and CAD base alignment plans
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
Preferred Qualifications
- A minimum of 3 years experience in all aspects of roadway engineering design
Keywords: Highway Engineer, Roadway Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Civil Highway Engineer, Roadway Design Engineer, Highway Engineering, Roadway Engineering Design, Transportation Engineering, Geometric Design, Roadway Alignment, Concept Alignments, Bentley OpenRoads Designer, Bentley ConceptStation, Autodesk Civil 3D, Autodesk InfraWorks, Highway / Roadway CAD Design
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Ohio $79,800 - $114,000
LOCATION
Primary Location:
United States-Ohio-Cincinnati
Other Locations:
United States-Ohio-Cleveland
Industry:
Highway + Road
Schedule:
Full-time
Employee Status:
Regular
Business Class:
Highways
Job Posting:
Apr 21, 2026
Highway Engineer
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
In the role of Highway Engineer, we'll count on you to:
- Serve in a technical role under the direction of a Project Manager on the engineering development of urban and rural highway/roadway projects
- Oversee the work of CAD Designers, and possibly other EITs
- Prepare detailed engineering designs for roadway and highway projects
- Participate in activities ranging from site feasibility analysis to final design and through the construction phase
- Assume some project management duties and interact with clients as needed
- Perform other duties as needed
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- Previous experience in all aspects of roadway engineering design
- Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
- Hands-on experience with Highways and Roads CAD engineering software such as Bentley ConceptStation and Open Roads Designer and/or Autodesk Infraworks and Civil3D
- MS Office knowledge
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Experience should include urban and rural highway interchanges, intersection design, traffic management, transportation planning, site planning, preparation of concept alignments, geometrical layout and CAD base alignment plans
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
Preferred Qualifications
- A minimum of 3 years experience in all aspects of roadway engineering design
Keywords: Highway Engineer, Roadway Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Civil Highway Engineer, Roadway Design Engineer, Highway Engineering, Roadway Engineering Design, Transportation Engineering, Geometric Design, Roadway Alignment, Concept Alignments, Bentley OpenRoads Designer, Bentley ConceptStation, Autodesk Civil 3D, Autodesk InfraWorks, Highway / Roadway CAD Design
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) Ohio $79,800 - $114,000
LOCATION
Primary Location:
United States-Ohio-Cincinnati
Other Locations:
United States-Ohio-Cleveland
Industry:
Highway + Road
Schedule:
Full-time
Employee Status:
Regular
Business Class:
Highways
Job Posting:
Apr 21, 2026
See all 54+ 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 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.
Highway Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Highway Engineer JobsFrequently 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 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.
See which Highway Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Highway Engineer Jobs