STEM OPT Power Distribution Engineer Jobs
Power Distribution Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in electrical, systems, or energy engineering. The 24-month extension gives you up to 36 months total to work for an E-Verify-enrolled employer while building toward long-term sponsorship in a field with sustained utility and grid modernization demand.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany Summary
MasTec Professional Services provides end-to-end engineering, design, and integrated services to the power, oil & gas pipeline, and gas distribution industries across the country. With a genesis in construction and a skilled team of multidiscipline engineers and project management professionals, the company delivers best-in-class infrastructure solutions, including design, asset integrity management, feasibility studies, surveys, constructability reviews, turnkey delivery services, and more. MasTec Professional Services creates collaborative partnerships with clients by building trust and consistently delivering the highest standards of performance.
MasTec Professional Services is a purpose-driven company. Our core values guide our strategy, performance, and culture. We believe in maintaining an environment where team members can make an impact, grow, and thrive. A place where they find meaning and purpose in doing the important work of ensuring communities have the vital energy, light, and communications to prosper. Our culture is inclusive and welcoming. Our teams are empowered with abundant training, tools, and opportunities to follow their curiosity and ambitions. Everyone has an equal chance to advance. Everyone is supported, respected, and challenged to be their best. We’re always looking for talented and dedicated people to join us and love where they work.
MasTec Professional Services is a proud subsidiary of MasTec (NYSE: MTZ), a Fortune 500 Company ranked by Energy News-Record as one of the leading contractors in the country. MPS is part of the MasTec Power Delivery segment. We are certified as a minority-controlled company by the National Minority Suppliers Development Council (NMSDC). Our rich diversity of people and ideas makes us a stronger, more innovative organization.
Job Summary
The Power Distribution Engineer will work on electric utility aerial and underground distribution design projects and be responsible for field surveying, traffic control, field notes and sketches. Project types will include design of aerial and underground electric network distribution lines. Will work under the supervision of a senior designer and/or engineer. The position would be fully remote, but field may be required; ideally be 2 hours or less from Richmond, Virginia.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with project managers, engineers, designers, and drafters to deliver the most cost effective and highest quality infrastructure solutions.
- Coordinate design/review of distribution projects for a utility, including preparation and review of bill of materials, clearance requests, permit applications, and equipment and labor units.
- Perform field inspections and evaluations of distribution electrical systems.
- Produce detailed design documentation including utility design system, line layout/routing, overhead and underground distribution, and identification of conflicting utilities.
- Contributes to and implements design modifications to improve quality of projects and process improvements.
- Apply design standards to underground and aerial pole line, including: Pole Replacement, Primary Service, and Reliability/Maintenance Design.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent related experience with the design of electrical distribution systems.
- 1-5 years of experience in the Power Distribution industry.
- Proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook required.
- Must have a current valid driver’s license with a clean driving record for up to the past 5 years.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with electrical standards including National Electric Code (NEC) and National Electric Safety Code (NESC) preferred.
- Experience with AUD, SpidaCalc, eWam, and Dominion Energy Design standards extremely preferred.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
This job operates in a field environment. This role routinely requires extended periods of bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, lifting, lifting in awkward positions, standing, and twisting. Also, working in inclement weather conditions, such as extreme heat, extreme cold, rain, ice, snow, and wind.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This position is physically active, with lifting required. Must be able to bend and lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more or 20 inches or less, with the ability to judge distance and space relationships. Precise hand-eye coordination. Ability to identify and distinguish colors. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. The Company reserves the right to revise or change the job duties as the need arises. Management reserves the right to change the description, duties, or work schedules to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Benefits available include Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance, a 401k plan and Employee Stock Purchase plan. MasTec is a publicly traded company MTZ (NYSE).
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The Company’s policy is not to unlawfully discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law and EEOC regulations. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.
Company Summary
MasTec Professional Services provides end-to-end engineering, design, and integrated services to the power, oil & gas pipeline, and gas distribution industries across the country. With a genesis in construction and a skilled team of multidiscipline engineers and project management professionals, the company delivers best-in-class infrastructure solutions, including design, asset integrity management, feasibility studies, surveys, constructability reviews, turnkey delivery services, and more. MasTec Professional Services creates collaborative partnerships with clients by building trust and consistently delivering the highest standards of performance.
MasTec Professional Services is a purpose-driven company. Our core values guide our strategy, performance, and culture. We believe in maintaining an environment where team members can make an impact, grow, and thrive. A place where they find meaning and purpose in doing the important work of ensuring communities have the vital energy, light, and communications to prosper. Our culture is inclusive and welcoming. Our teams are empowered with abundant training, tools, and opportunities to follow their curiosity and ambitions. Everyone has an equal chance to advance. Everyone is supported, respected, and challenged to be their best. We’re always looking for talented and dedicated people to join us and love where they work.
MasTec Professional Services is a proud subsidiary of MasTec (NYSE: MTZ), a Fortune 500 Company ranked by Energy News-Record as one of the leading contractors in the country. MPS is part of the MasTec Power Delivery segment. We are certified as a minority-controlled company by the National Minority Suppliers Development Council (NMSDC). Our rich diversity of people and ideas makes us a stronger, more innovative organization.
Job Summary
The Power Distribution Engineer will work on electric utility aerial and underground distribution design projects and be responsible for field surveying, traffic control, field notes and sketches. Project types will include design of aerial and underground electric network distribution lines. Will work under the supervision of a senior designer and/or engineer. The position would be fully remote, but field may be required; ideally be 2 hours or less from Richmond, Virginia.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with project managers, engineers, designers, and drafters to deliver the most cost effective and highest quality infrastructure solutions.
- Coordinate design/review of distribution projects for a utility, including preparation and review of bill of materials, clearance requests, permit applications, and equipment and labor units.
- Perform field inspections and evaluations of distribution electrical systems.
- Produce detailed design documentation including utility design system, line layout/routing, overhead and underground distribution, and identification of conflicting utilities.
- Contributes to and implements design modifications to improve quality of projects and process improvements.
- Apply design standards to underground and aerial pole line, including: Pole Replacement, Primary Service, and Reliability/Maintenance Design.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent related experience with the design of electrical distribution systems.
- 1-5 years of experience in the Power Distribution industry.
- Proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook required.
- Must have a current valid driver’s license with a clean driving record for up to the past 5 years.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with electrical standards including National Electric Code (NEC) and National Electric Safety Code (NESC) preferred.
- Experience with AUD, SpidaCalc, eWam, and Dominion Energy Design standards extremely preferred.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
This job operates in a field environment. This role routinely requires extended periods of bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, lifting, lifting in awkward positions, standing, and twisting. Also, working in inclement weather conditions, such as extreme heat, extreme cold, rain, ice, snow, and wind.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This position is physically active, with lifting required. Must be able to bend and lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more or 20 inches or less, with the ability to judge distance and space relationships. Precise hand-eye coordination. Ability to identify and distinguish colors. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. The Company reserves the right to revise or change the job duties as the need arises. Management reserves the right to change the description, duties, or work schedules to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Benefits available include Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance, a 401k plan and Employee Stock Purchase plan. MasTec is a publicly traded company MTZ (NYSE).
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The Company’s policy is not to unlawfully discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law and EEOC regulations. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Power Distribution Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Cross-reference your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM OPT designated degree list. Electrical Engineering (14.1001) and Systems Engineering (14.2701) both qualify, but Energy Systems Engineering may require your DSO to confirm the exact code on your I-20.
Check E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
A power distribution role at a regional utility or subcontractor means nothing for your STEM OPT extension if that employer isn't E-Verify enrolled. Search the E-Verify employer search tool directly to confirm enrollment status before you sign anything.
Target utilities with active grid modernization contracts
Investor-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and transmission system operators expanding NERC-compliant infrastructure file LCAs consistently and have structured HR processes for OPT students. Use the OFLC Wage Search to identify which employers have certified LCAs for Power Distribution Engineer roles in your target region.
Build your I-983 training plan around technical deliverables
Your I-983 must list specific learning objectives tied to distribution system design, load flow analysis, or protection coordination, not just a job description. Employers unfamiliar with OPT often draft vague plans that get flagged by your DSO, so prepare a draft yourself before onboarding.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with STEM OPT hiring history
Search Migrate Mate to filter Power Distribution Engineer postings by employers verified for STEM OPT. You can see which companies have filed LCAs for this role type, so you're targeting employers who already understand the authorization process rather than educating HR from scratch.
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Find Power Distribution Engineer JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Power Distribution Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in an eligible STEM field such as electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a closely related discipline listed on the DHS STEM designated degree list. Your DSO confirms eligibility by matching your degree's CIP code to that list before recommending the extension on your I-20. The role itself must also provide practical training directly related to your degree field, which power distribution engineering typically satisfies under O*NET's electrical engineering occupation cluster.
What E-Verify requirement applies to STEM OPT employers?
Any employer hiring you on a STEM OPT extension must be enrolled in E-Verify at the specific worksite where you'll work. This applies to utilities, engineering contractors, and staffing agencies alike. You can confirm enrollment through the E-Verify employer search before accepting an offer. If the employer is not enrolled, they cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT regardless of offer terms, and your DSO cannot approve the I-983 training plan for that employer.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Power Distribution Engineer?
The I-983 requires a structured training plan with specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, a supervision and evaluation schedule, and a description of how the role advances your practical skills in areas like distribution system design, protection relay coordination, or load forecasting. Generic job descriptions don't satisfy the requirement. USCIS and ICE can audit I-983 records, so both you and your employer must sign the form and retain copies for the duration of your OPT period plus three years after.
How does cap-gap work if my STEM OPT expires before October 1?
If your employer files a timely H-1B cap-subject petition before your STEM OPT EAD expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue working as a Power Distribution Engineer throughout the gap period. If the petition is denied or not selected, your authorization ends when the EAD expires, so coordinating your employer's H-1B filing timeline with your OPT end date is critical.
Where can I find Power Distribution Engineer jobs that accept STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Power Distribution Engineer roles filtered by employers verified for STEM OPT hiring, so you're not spending time on postings at companies that aren't E-Verify enrolled or haven't hired on OPT before. You can also use the OFLC Wage Search to review certified LCA filings by job title and employer location, which tells you which utilities and engineering firms have already navigated the DOL process for this role category.
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