STEM OPT Project Architect Jobs
Project Architect roles at E-Verify-enrolled firms qualify for STEM OPT, giving graduates with architecture, engineering, or related STEM degrees up to 36 months of work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you submit the I-983 training plan to your DSO to activate the 24-month extension.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world’s challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career.
YOUR ROLE
As a Project Director in our Restoration and Renewals Practice, you’ll take on a key technical and coordination role, owning complex rehabilitation challenges, guiding junior engineers, and shaping the delivery of thoughtful, high‑performance solutions for existing buildings. You’ll work across disciplines, contribute to project management, and step into meaningful client-facing opportunities. If you’re ready to elevate your impact and grow into future project leadership, this is the place to do it.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Lead and refine condition assessments, repair or rehabilitation design tasks, adapting technical skills and solving existing-building challenges with strong engineering judgment.
- Drive the quality of deliverables by organizing information clearly, reviewing junior staff’s work, and tailoring drawings, specifications, and reports to project scope, building conditions, and construction constraints.
- Coordinate proactively with architects, envelope consultants, contractors, and engineers, taking increased responsibility for day‑to‑day technical decisions.
- Support and mentor junior team members through effective delegation and feedback, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing team culture.
- Grow your leadership skills by assisting with project management activities, contributing to proposals, attending site visits and construction meetings, and engaging in client‑facing opportunities.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, or a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
- 4+ years of experience in building envelope restoration, preservation architecture, or forensic investigation, with demonstrated expertise in façade assessment, repair and rehabilitation design, and construction‑phase services for existing and historic buildings.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD and/or Revit, and experience developing drawings, specifications, and technical documentation to support restoration projects.
- Solve complex problems with confidence, balancing priorities, and adapting designs effectively.
- Strong communication and emerging leadership, with a commitment to mentor junior staff and build your professional presence.
COMPENSATION
The rate for this position generally is $96,000 - $120,000 annually. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New Jersey Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employee already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee’s pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.
BENEFITS
Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare
- Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Commuter Transit (where available)
- 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments
- Fitness Reimbursement
- And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Thornton Tomasetti Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Thornton Tomasetti are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.
To request a reasonable accommodation during the application process for this role, please contact talentconcierge@throntontomasetti.com
Beware Of Recruitment Fraud: Scammers may attempt to impersonate Thornton Tomasetti. Messages from our firm come only from the ThorntonTomasetti.com domain, Thornton Tomasetti does not use any third-party recruiters. When in doubt, please contact us through our web form here and see how you can protect yourself online here.
INTRODUCTION
Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world’s challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career.
YOUR ROLE
As a Project Director in our Restoration and Renewals Practice, you’ll take on a key technical and coordination role, owning complex rehabilitation challenges, guiding junior engineers, and shaping the delivery of thoughtful, high‑performance solutions for existing buildings. You’ll work across disciplines, contribute to project management, and step into meaningful client-facing opportunities. If you’re ready to elevate your impact and grow into future project leadership, this is the place to do it.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Lead and refine condition assessments, repair or rehabilitation design tasks, adapting technical skills and solving existing-building challenges with strong engineering judgment.
- Drive the quality of deliverables by organizing information clearly, reviewing junior staff’s work, and tailoring drawings, specifications, and reports to project scope, building conditions, and construction constraints.
- Coordinate proactively with architects, envelope consultants, contractors, and engineers, taking increased responsibility for day‑to‑day technical decisions.
- Support and mentor junior team members through effective delegation and feedback, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing team culture.
- Grow your leadership skills by assisting with project management activities, contributing to proposals, attending site visits and construction meetings, and engaging in client‑facing opportunities.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, or a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
- 4+ years of experience in building envelope restoration, preservation architecture, or forensic investigation, with demonstrated expertise in façade assessment, repair and rehabilitation design, and construction‑phase services for existing and historic buildings.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD and/or Revit, and experience developing drawings, specifications, and technical documentation to support restoration projects.
- Solve complex problems with confidence, balancing priorities, and adapting designs effectively.
- Strong communication and emerging leadership, with a commitment to mentor junior staff and build your professional presence.
COMPENSATION
The rate for this position generally is $96,000 - $120,000 annually. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New Jersey Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employee already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee’s pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.
BENEFITS
Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare
- Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Commuter Transit (where available)
- 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments
- Fitness Reimbursement
- And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Thornton Tomasetti Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Thornton Tomasetti are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.
To request a reasonable accommodation during the application process for this role, please contact talentconcierge@throntontomasetti.com
Beware Of Recruitment Fraud: Scammers may attempt to impersonate Thornton Tomasetti. Messages from our firm come only from the ThorntonTomasetti.com domain, Thornton Tomasetti does not use any third-party recruiters. When in doubt, please contact us through our web form here and see how you can protect yourself online here.
See all 61+ STEM OPT Project Architect Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Project Architect Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Project Architect
Verify your degree CIP code qualifies
Architecture programs typically fall under CIP code 04.0201, which is on the STEM OPT CIP code list. Confirm your specific degree program's code with your DSO before applying, since a mismatch delays or blocks your extension.
Check E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether the firm is enrolled in E-Verify before your offer stage. A firm can be licensed and reputable but still not E-Verify enrolled, which disqualifies them as your STEM OPT employer entirely.
Target firms with active federal contracts
Federal contractors are legally required to use E-Verify, so architecture firms pursuing federal or GSA projects are near-certain to be enrolled. Filter your search by firms holding government contracts to concentrate on guaranteed-eligible employers.
Build your I-983 training plan around project phases
Your I-983 must tie STEM learning goals to specific, measurable job tasks. Map objectives to concrete project architect responsibilities like design development, construction documents, and site observation so the plan satisfies USCIS scrutiny at reporting intervals.
Use Migrate Mate to find pre-verified employers
Search Project Architect roles on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment so you're not manually vetting each firm. This cuts the screening stage down to the firms that can actually sponsor your STEM OPT.
File your extension before your OPT EAD expires
Submit your STEM OPT extension application to USCIS at least 90 days before your initial OPT EAD end date. An auto cap-gap provision does not apply here, so a late filing leaves you without work authorization while the application is pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Architect role qualify for STEM OPT?
Yes, if your underlying degree is in a qualifying STEM field such as architecture, civil engineering, or a related discipline listed on the STEM OPT CIP code list. The role itself must also provide practical training directly related to that degree. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before relying on eligibility, since the degree program drives qualification, not the job title alone.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my STEM OPT employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify before you begin STEM OPT employment. Enrollment is not retroactive, so a firm that signs up after your start date cannot validate the extension. Ask the HR or legal team to share the E-Verify company ID or confirmation number before you sign an offer. You can browse firms already confirmed as E-Verify enrolled on Migrate Mate.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Project Architect?
The I-983 requires your employer to identify specific STEM learning objectives tied to your daily work. For a Project Architect role, acceptable objectives include applying structural analysis principles to design decisions, using BIM software to meet engineering tolerances, and coordinating with licensed engineers on code compliance. Both you and your supervisor must sign the plan, and you'll submit status reports at 12 and 24 months.
How does cap-gap affect Project Architects transitioning to H-1B?
If your employer files an H-1B visa 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 fiscal year. You can continue working as a Project Architect during this period without interruption. If your EAD expires before the lottery results are confirmed, your authorized stay extends but work authorization depends on the timely filing receipt.
Can I work for multiple architecture firms on STEM OPT?
Yes, but each employer must independently meet the E-Verify enrollment requirement, and each concurrent or subsequent employer must be added to an updated I-983 training plan filed with your DSO. You cannot begin work for a second firm until that firm's enrollment is confirmed and your DSO has processed the update. USCIS requires that all STEM OPT employment remain directly related to your qualifying STEM degree.