STEM OPT Senior Staff Engineer Jobs
Senior Staff Engineer roles in software, hardware, and systems engineering qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of F-1 work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a Form I-983 training plan. A STEM-designated degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field is required.
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Join American Structurepoint and become part of a team that goes the extra mile for our clients and communities. We live by our values - respect, staff development, results and family. Our team is encouraged to explore new ideas and turn our clients' dreams into reality. With exceptional benefits, training, and mentorship, we pave the way for a rewarding career. Ready for more than just a job? Explore opportunities with us and help improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.
Group: Civil/Site
Position: Senior Staff Engineer
Location: Indianapolis, IN (on site)
The Senior Staff Engineer – Civil Group is responsible for performing advanced civil engineering design tasks and supporting project development across a variety of site and infrastructure projects. This role requires proficiency in all Staff Engineer duties, strong technical design capabilities, and the ability to work independently while providing mentorship to junior engineers and technicians. The Senior Staff Engineer helps identify design challenges, develops solutions, coordinates with project leadership, and ensures deliverables meet quality and technical standards.
Responsibilities
- Perform and oversee complex civil design tasks including grading, stormwater design, roadway geometry, utility layout, and earthwork analysis.
- Demonstrate proficiency in all design responsibilities associated with the Staff Engineer role.
- Prepare and review engineering drawings, calculations, reports, and technical documents.
- Use AutoCAD Civil 3D to produce detailed design plans, profiles, sections, and modeling.
- Identify design issues early in the development process and propose effective technical solutions.
- Collaborate with Project Engineers and Project Managers to refine design concepts and resolve engineering challenges.
- Mentor, train, and delegate tasks to Staff Engineers, Engineering Technicians, and interns.
- Conduct quality checks on design work produced by junior team members for accuracy and adherence to standards.
- Support coordination with utilities, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as needed.
- Assist in preparing quantities, cost estimates, and technical components of proposals or submittals.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
- Minimum 2+ years of civil engineering design experience (civil/site, land development).
- Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam; active EIT certification required.
- High proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, including surfaces, alignments, corridors, grading, and utility modeling.
- Strong understanding of stormwater, roadway, and utility design principles.
- Ability to perform and review engineering calculations with minimal oversight.
- Familiarity with applicable design standards, codes, and permitting processes.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
- Prolonged sitting at a computer workstation.
- Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
- Close vision for computer and document review.
- Occasional walking, standing, or reaching as necessary.
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.
- Consistent, reliable attendance and punctuality.
Overview
Join American Structurepoint and become part of a team that goes the extra mile for our clients and communities. We live by our values - respect, staff development, results and family. Our team is encouraged to explore new ideas and turn our clients' dreams into reality. With exceptional benefits, training, and mentorship, we pave the way for a rewarding career. Ready for more than just a job? Explore opportunities with us and help improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.
Group: Civil/Site
Position: Senior Staff Engineer
Location: Indianapolis, IN (on site)
The Senior Staff Engineer – Civil Group is responsible for performing advanced civil engineering design tasks and supporting project development across a variety of site and infrastructure projects. This role requires proficiency in all Staff Engineer duties, strong technical design capabilities, and the ability to work independently while providing mentorship to junior engineers and technicians. The Senior Staff Engineer helps identify design challenges, develops solutions, coordinates with project leadership, and ensures deliverables meet quality and technical standards.
Responsibilities
- Perform and oversee complex civil design tasks including grading, stormwater design, roadway geometry, utility layout, and earthwork analysis.
- Demonstrate proficiency in all design responsibilities associated with the Staff Engineer role.
- Prepare and review engineering drawings, calculations, reports, and technical documents.
- Use AutoCAD Civil 3D to produce detailed design plans, profiles, sections, and modeling.
- Identify design issues early in the development process and propose effective technical solutions.
- Collaborate with Project Engineers and Project Managers to refine design concepts and resolve engineering challenges.
- Mentor, train, and delegate tasks to Staff Engineers, Engineering Technicians, and interns.
- Conduct quality checks on design work produced by junior team members for accuracy and adherence to standards.
- Support coordination with utilities, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders as needed.
- Assist in preparing quantities, cost estimates, and technical components of proposals or submittals.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
- Minimum 2+ years of civil engineering design experience (civil/site, land development).
- Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam; active EIT certification required.
- High proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, including surfaces, alignments, corridors, grading, and utility modeling.
- Strong understanding of stormwater, roadway, and utility design principles.
- Ability to perform and review engineering calculations with minimal oversight.
- Familiarity with applicable design standards, codes, and permitting processes.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
- Prolonged sitting at a computer workstation.
- Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
- Close vision for computer and document review.
- Occasional walking, standing, or reaching as necessary.
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.
- Consistent, reliable attendance and punctuality.
See all 83+ Senior Staff Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Senior Staff Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Staff Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to a STEM-designated field recognized by DHS. Your DSO can confirm this using the official STEM CIP code list, which determines whether your program qualifies for the 24-month extension.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
STEM OPT requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify before you start. Search the E-Verify employer search tool to confirm enrollment before accepting an offer. Companies that aren't enrolled can't legally employ STEM OPT students, regardless of their hiring intent.
Target engineering teams with established OPT pipelines
Senior Staff Engineer roles at companies that regularly recruit from university research programs tend to have HR teams familiar with I-983 training plan requirements. Look for engineering organizations with dedicated university relations or early-career programs as a signal of OPT familiarity.
Negotiate your I-983 training plan before day one
Your Form I-983 must specify learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, not just your job description. Discuss the training plan structure with your hiring manager or HR during the offer stage so reporting obligations and mentor assignments are agreed on before you file with your DSO.
Use Migrate Mate to find Senior Staff Engineer roles at E-Verify employers
Migrate Mate filters Senior Staff Engineer listings by employers enrolled in E-Verify, so you're not wasting applications on companies that can't support STEM OPT. Search by engineering discipline to surface roles where your STEM degree is a direct hiring requirement.
Check prevailing wage alignment before signing an offer
Senior Staff Engineer salaries vary significantly by metro area and specialization. Use the OFLC Wage Search to verify that your offered compensation meets the prevailing wage for your SOC code and location, which protects your standing if USCIS reviews your training plan filing.
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Find Senior Staff Engineer JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Staff Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your STEM degree maps to a DHS-approved CIP code and your job duties are directly related to that field. Senior Staff Engineer roles in software, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering typically qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility by cross-referencing your degree's CIP code against the official STEM designated degree program list before filing the extension with USCIS.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my STEM OPT employer?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension begins. This isn't optional. If a company isn't enrolled at the time you start, your employment doesn't qualify under the extension rules, even if you've already filed Form I-983. Confirm enrollment through the E-Verify employer search before signing any offer. Migrate Mate surfaces only E-Verify-enrolled employers in its Senior Staff Engineer listings.
What goes into the Form I-983 training plan for a Senior Staff Engineer?
Form I-983 must document specific learning objectives that connect your day-to-day engineering work to your STEM degree field. Generic job descriptions don't satisfy the requirement. You'll need a named supervisor or mentor, defined goals tied to engineering competencies, and a reporting schedule. Your employer co-signs the form, and your DSO submits it to update your SEVIS record before your extension start date.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm selected in the H-1B lottery as a Senior Staff Engineer?
If your STEM OPT is active when you're selected in the H-1B lottery with an October 1 start date, cap-gap automatically extends your F-1 work authorization through September 30. You can continue working as a Senior Staff Engineer during this period without any gap in authorization. Your employer doesn't need to take additional steps, but your I-20 should reflect the cap-gap extension from your DSO.
How do I find Senior Staff Engineer jobs where the employer already understands STEM OPT?
Search Migrate Mate for Senior Staff Engineer roles filtered by E-Verify enrollment. Beyond the enrollment check, look for engineering teams at companies that participate in university research partnerships or that consistently appear in DOL Labor Condition Application disclosure data for STEM roles. These signals suggest HR and legal teams already have STEM OPT onboarding processes in place, which reduces delays in getting your I-983 signed.
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