STEM OPT Project Designer Jobs
Project Designer roles in engineering, architecture, and product development qualify for STEM OPT when your degree aligns with the position's technical requirements. The 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to gain U.S. work experience, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and you maintain a compliant I-983 training plan.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout the Company
Lessard Design Inc. (LDI) has been shaping the future of architecture for over 35 years. With a $25M Architecture division and a $20M Real Estate Development arm, the firm is renowned for its innovative designs and its commitment to creating vibrant, thriving communities. LDI’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning projects across the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions, ranging from high-rise towers to garden apartments. By blending creative ingenuity with real estate expertise, LDI is redefining what’s possible in the built environment.
Position Summary:
The Project Designer at Lessard Design is responsible for interior design efforts across projects, ensuring design excellence, technical precision, and alignment with project performance goals. This role contributes to both project success and firm growth.
Focus:
- Executes SD CD
- Solid technical + design capability
- Develops design concepts and presentations
- Coordinates with consultants
- Some client interaction and business development
Qualifications
Experience: 3–7 years of experience in interior design or architecture. Degree in Interior Design or Architecture required. Strong proficiency in Revit, Adobe Suite, and visualization tools. Extensive presentation and graphic communication with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated leadership and project delivery experience.
Compensation Range:
Commensurate with experience
About the Company
Lessard Design Inc. (LDI) has been shaping the future of architecture for over 35 years. With a $25M Architecture division and a $20M Real Estate Development arm, the firm is renowned for its innovative designs and its commitment to creating vibrant, thriving communities. LDI’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning projects across the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions, ranging from high-rise towers to garden apartments. By blending creative ingenuity with real estate expertise, LDI is redefining what’s possible in the built environment.
Position Summary:
The Project Designer at Lessard Design is responsible for interior design efforts across projects, ensuring design excellence, technical precision, and alignment with project performance goals. This role contributes to both project success and firm growth.
Focus:
- Executes SD CD
- Solid technical + design capability
- Develops design concepts and presentations
- Coordinates with consultants
- Some client interaction and business development
Qualifications
Experience: 3–7 years of experience in interior design or architecture. Degree in Interior Design or Architecture required. Strong proficiency in Revit, Adobe Suite, and visualization tools. Extensive presentation and graphic communication with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated leadership and project delivery experience.
Compensation Range:
Commensurate with experience
See all 66+ Project Designer jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Project Designer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Cross-check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Project Designer roles often require engineering, architecture, or applied sciences credentials, and a mismatched CIP code disqualifies the extension regardless of your job duties.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether their company is currently enrolled in E-Verify, not just registered in the past. An employer can lapse in participation, which makes your STEM OPT extension invalid. The E-Verify website lets you search participating employers by name.
Build a portfolio that documents STEM application
Project Designer hiring panels evaluate technical problem-solving alongside aesthetic output. Showcase projects where you applied engineering principles, CAD software, or data-driven design decisions. This evidence also strengthens your I-983 training plan by tying your daily tasks to your STEM degree field.
Draft your I-983 training plan with the job description
Work with your DSO and hiring manager to map specific Project Designer responsibilities to measurable learning objectives before your start date. USCIS scrutinizes whether the role genuinely advances your STEM training, so generic plans that don't reference design software, technical standards, or project scopes draw RFEs.
Target employers with STEM OPT hiring infrastructure
Use Migrate Mate to filter Project Designer openings by employers already set up to hire STEM OPT students, so you're not educating HR from scratch on E-Verify requirements or the I-983 co-signing process during your offer negotiation.
File your extension application 90 days early
Submit your STEM OPT extension to USCIS up to 90 days before your initial OPT EAD expires. Late filings create an authorization gap that halts your employment. Your DSO must recommend the extension in SEVIS before you can file Form I-765.
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Find Project Designer JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension as a Project Designer?
Your degree must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List by its CIP code. Project Designer roles most commonly align with degrees in civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering, architecture, or industrial design with a technical concentration. Check your official transcript for the exact CIP code and compare it against the DHS list before applying to roles or filing your extension.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for a Project Designer role?
The I-983 must describe how your specific Project Designer duties relate to your STEM degree field, list measurable learning objectives tied to technical skills like CAD, BIM software, or engineering standards, and identify a supervisor who will evaluate your progress. Both you and your employer sign it, and your DSO submits it in SEVIS. Vague plans that don't connect design tasks to STEM coursework are a common reason USCIS issues RFEs on extension applications.
Can I work for a Project Designer role while my STEM OPT extension is pending?
Yes, if you filed your STEM OPT extension application before your current EAD expired and while you were in a valid OPT period, you receive an automatic 180-day cap-gap that lets you keep working under the same employer and same authorized scope. You can't change employers or job duties during this gap without jeopardizing your authorization, so plan role transitions carefully and confirm timing with your DSO.
How do I confirm my prospective employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Ask the recruiter or HR contact directly and request written confirmation before you accept an offer. You can also search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name to verify active participation. Enrollment status can change, so confirm it is current at the time of your offer, not just at initial contact. An employer that is not enrolled in E-Verify cannot legally hire you on a STEM OPT extension.
Where can I find Project Designer jobs that are set up to hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Project Designer openings filtered for employers who are already familiar with STEM OPT requirements and E-Verify enrollment, which saves you from discovering mid-process that a company can't support your work authorization. Searching there narrows your list to roles where the hiring infrastructure for your status already exists, so your offer and onboarding timeline stay on track.
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