STEM OPT Project Engineer Jobs
Project Engineer roles in construction, manufacturing, and systems integration are strong fits for STEM OPT students with engineering or applied science degrees. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, but your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan before your extension start date.
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Get Access To All JobsRequisition ID # 174484
Job Category: Engineering / Science
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Business Unit: Energy Delivery
Work Type: Hybrid
Job Location: Fresno
Department Overview
The hardworking coworkers of Electric Engineering ensure all manners of electric engineering—including electric standards and process safety, electric design engineering, instrumentation testing and controls, undergrounding, electric regulatory compliance and electric investment planning—are in place to safely enable a strategic and stable workplan for our Electric Operations partners. Our organization is accountable for program planning, financial budgeting, and project execution and delivery of all electric engineering projects. Electric Engineering is comprised of approximately 2,000 coworkers.
Position Summary
This job is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) subject to collective bargaining.
This is a journey-level engineer position that requires mastery of the Associate level engineer skills and duties and is responsible for leading the engineering and design of more complex projects. The Journey engineer uses independent judgment in applying engineering principles and works with minimal supervision. This person works closely with engineers, project managers, construction personnel, and other business partners in assessing project needs. Responsibilities beyond those of the Associate project engineer include, but are not limited to, the following: Developing technical studies and reports, and providing guidance to contractors and outside vendors. Travel to/from various project-related function is required approximately 20% of the time.
This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. The assigned work location is Fresno, CA.
PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.
The annual salary range is:
CA Minimum, $120,888
CA Maximum, $183,840
Job Responsibilities
Resolves problems of moderate scope. Assignments typically require standard solutions. Under general direction, independently plans work to meet assigned objectives; progress is reviewed periodically for technical accuracy and adequacy in process and upon completion.
May perform functions of Associate level Engineer and in addition:
- Provides technical expertise and performs engineering analyses, studies, and develops conceptual designs.
- Presents findings to internal organizations, contractors and outside vendors.
- Conducts walkdowns and design review meetings.
- Prepares written technical documents such as design criteria, scope documents, specifications, and reports.
- Develops, evaluates, and recommends alternative project proposals.
- Solicits, prepares, and evaluates contracts and proposals from engineering consultants.
- Reviews consultant contracts for technical compliance.
- Interprets and applies applicable codes and regulations.
- Participates in the development of effective restoration plans. Assists in root cause analysis.
- Approves reports, new drawings, and revisions to existing drawings for projects.
- In emergencies, promptly responds to facility failures.
- Represents PG&E to government bodies as required for assigned projects.
Qualifications
Minimum:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited curriculum in the US or the equivalent from outside the US
3 years of cumulative experience in engineering and design
Desired:
EIT certificate or current California PE license
Strong familiarity with G.O. 95, NESC, and PG&E transmission and distribution line standards and construction practices
Strong familiarity with Transmission Line Engineering tools, i.e. PLS-CADD, PLS-POLE, etc.
Experience in project management
Requisition ID # 174484
Job Category: Engineering / Science
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Business Unit: Energy Delivery
Work Type: Hybrid
Job Location: Fresno
Department Overview
The hardworking coworkers of Electric Engineering ensure all manners of electric engineering—including electric standards and process safety, electric design engineering, instrumentation testing and controls, undergrounding, electric regulatory compliance and electric investment planning—are in place to safely enable a strategic and stable workplan for our Electric Operations partners. Our organization is accountable for program planning, financial budgeting, and project execution and delivery of all electric engineering projects. Electric Engineering is comprised of approximately 2,000 coworkers.
Position Summary
This job is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) subject to collective bargaining.
This is a journey-level engineer position that requires mastery of the Associate level engineer skills and duties and is responsible for leading the engineering and design of more complex projects. The Journey engineer uses independent judgment in applying engineering principles and works with minimal supervision. This person works closely with engineers, project managers, construction personnel, and other business partners in assessing project needs. Responsibilities beyond those of the Associate project engineer include, but are not limited to, the following: Developing technical studies and reports, and providing guidance to contractors and outside vendors. Travel to/from various project-related function is required approximately 20% of the time.
This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. The assigned work location is Fresno, CA.
PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.
The annual salary range is:
CA Minimum, $120,888
CA Maximum, $183,840
Job Responsibilities
Resolves problems of moderate scope. Assignments typically require standard solutions. Under general direction, independently plans work to meet assigned objectives; progress is reviewed periodically for technical accuracy and adequacy in process and upon completion.
May perform functions of Associate level Engineer and in addition:
- Provides technical expertise and performs engineering analyses, studies, and develops conceptual designs.
- Presents findings to internal organizations, contractors and outside vendors.
- Conducts walkdowns and design review meetings.
- Prepares written technical documents such as design criteria, scope documents, specifications, and reports.
- Develops, evaluates, and recommends alternative project proposals.
- Solicits, prepares, and evaluates contracts and proposals from engineering consultants.
- Reviews consultant contracts for technical compliance.
- Interprets and applies applicable codes and regulations.
- Participates in the development of effective restoration plans. Assists in root cause analysis.
- Approves reports, new drawings, and revisions to existing drawings for projects.
- In emergencies, promptly responds to facility failures.
- Represents PG&E to government bodies as required for assigned projects.
Qualifications
Minimum:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited curriculum in the US or the equivalent from outside the US
3 years of cumulative experience in engineering and design
Desired:
EIT certificate or current California PE license
Strong familiarity with G.O. 95, NESC, and PG&E transmission and distribution line standards and construction practices
Strong familiarity with Transmission Line Engineering tools, i.e. PLS-CADD, PLS-POLE, etc.
Experience in project management
See all 997+ STEM OPT Project Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Project Engineer
Verify your degree's CIP code eligibility
Not every engineering degree automatically qualifies for STEM OPT. Cross-reference your degree program against USCIS's official STEM Designated Degree Program List using your CIP code before applying, so you're not caught off guard after accepting an offer.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Project Engineer roles span construction firms, manufacturers, and consultancies with uneven compliance records. Ask HR directly whether the company is currently enrolled in E-Verify, since enrollment lapses are common and your STEM OPT extension is invalid without it.
Target employers with active DOL LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter Project Engineer openings by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and Labor Condition Application history, so you're only applying to companies already set up to extend your work authorization.
Build your I-983 training plan around engineering deliverables
Your I-983 must tie specific learning objectives to your day-to-day Project Engineer tasks, like cost estimation, schedule management, or technical drawing review. Generic training plans draw scrutiny from DSOs, so draft it with your supervisor before your extension start date.
Check prevailing wage requirements before negotiating salary
Your employer's LCA must certify your wage meets the prevailing rate for Project Engineer roles in your metro area. Run the OFLC Wage Search before your offer negotiation so you know the floor and can flag any underpayment risk early.
Use your OPT cap-gap window strategically if transitioning to H-1B
If you're in your STEM OPT extension when an H-1B visa petition is filed on your behalf, cap-gap rules automatically extend your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. Plan project handoffs and contract renewals around that timeline to avoid gaps in employment continuity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Project Engineer positions typically qualify if your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field such as civil, mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering, and your CIP code appears on USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List. The role itself must provide practical training directly related to that degree. Your DSO confirms eligibility when approving your I-20 endorsement for the extension.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Project Engineer employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the time your STEM OPT extension begins. Enrollment must cover the specific site where you'll work, not just the company's headquarters. If your employer acquired the company or changed legal entities recently, ask HR to confirm the E-Verify company ID is current, since those changes can disrupt enrollment status.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Project Engineer role?
Your I-983 must identify specific learning objectives tied to Project Engineer tasks, such as project scheduling, budget tracking, technical specification review, or contractor coordination, and connect each objective to your STEM degree field. Both you and your supervisor sign it before your extension start date. USCIS allows amendments if your responsibilities change materially, but your DSO must receive an updated form within five business days.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm on STEM OPT and get H-1B selected?
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition while your STEM OPT extension is valid, cap-gap automatically continues your work authorization through September 30 of the fiscal year the H-1B takes effect. You can keep working as a Project Engineer during that gap without any additional filing. Your EAD card may expire during this period, but your I-20 with a cap-gap notation serves as proof of continued authorization.
Where can I find Project Engineer jobs at companies that support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Project Engineer openings filtered for employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active DOL filing history, so you're not spending applications on companies that can't legally extend your status. You can search by industry, location, and engineering discipline to find roles where the employer already understands the STEM OPT training plan requirement and has completed it before.