STEM OPT Staff Engineer Jobs
Staff Engineer roles in software, systems, and hardware engineering qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months of F-1 work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must fall under an eligible STEM CIP code. Most Staff Engineer positions at tech and engineering firms meet both requirements.
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Get Access To All JobsWho We Are:
Bennett & Pless is a growing Structural Engineering Consulting firm with a 60-year track record of being one of the leading firms in the Southeast in the niche markets we practice. We have been nominated 8 consecutive years in a row as a best firm to work for and have offices in Atlanta, Sarasota, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, Orlando, Loudoun and Raleigh. Our projects range in scope from simple site inspections to the design of a new facility, and we work at each stage – feasibility studies, conceptual design, detailed design, and construction administration. Together, our 9 offices have created an energized engineering powerhouse offering enhanced capabilities to our ever-growing client base.
What You Will Do:
We are looking for a full-time, entry-level Structural Staff Engineer to join our growing team out of our Orlando or Sarasota offices. This position will design structures, structural elements, or structural systems for a variety of project types, including manufacturing, distribution, data centers, commercial, historical, public sector, adaptive reuse, and renovations.
Responsibilities:
- Performs analysis of existing structures.
- Develops drawings and specifications for use during construction and confirms compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
- Interacts with higher level engineers and design technicians.
- Attends client, architect, and contractor meetings.
- Learns to engage with potential clients to expand business relationships.
- Performs calculations per design specifications and industry standards.
- Utilizes Structural Design Software, such as TEKLA Structural Designer, RAM Structural Systems, ETABS, SAFE, SAP, RAM Elements, and RISA.
- Creates and reviews drawings, submittals, and structural documents.
- Shares information across all disciplines to confirm deliverables are compliant with client expectations and established quality standards.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering with 0-2 years of related experience or Master’s in Civil Engineering.
- BIM training or experience a plus.
- EIT preferred.
Skills and Competencies:
- Strong communication skills are required.
- Must be a self-starter with the ability to work with minimal supervision. A willingness to take on additional responsibilities presented.
- Effective in an entrepreneurial culture, working independently and as part of a team.
What We Offer:
At Bennett & Pless, our vision is to be a place where employees thrive. We’re a growing firm committed to empowering employees without sacrificing work/life balance. Our culture is the center of making us who we are and it’s our priority to make employees feel accepted and valued.
As a firm, we are highly supportive of the development of our employees. Every year, we kick off Career Development Planning where employees create tailored development goals. Goals are regularly assessed throughout the year to allow employees to advance towards their career growth objectives. We also have monthly Bennett and Pless learning sessions where our senior Engineers and Specialists share their knowledge on a broad variety of subjects.
We have an employee-focused benefits package that includes:
- Company-paid medical, dental and vision coverage for the employee
- Health savings and flex spending accounts
- Group short-term & long-term disability; life and a&d insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Tuition reimbursement program
- 401(k) matching
- Monthly wellness allowance
- Paid time off & paid holidays
- Flexible schedules, including summer hours
- Company retreat
If you are interested in a place where you can thrive and make a career at Bennett & Pless, come join our unique culture!
Bennett & Pless is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment and we prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Who We Are:
Bennett & Pless is a growing Structural Engineering Consulting firm with a 60-year track record of being one of the leading firms in the Southeast in the niche markets we practice. We have been nominated 8 consecutive years in a row as a best firm to work for and have offices in Atlanta, Sarasota, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, Orlando, Loudoun and Raleigh. Our projects range in scope from simple site inspections to the design of a new facility, and we work at each stage – feasibility studies, conceptual design, detailed design, and construction administration. Together, our 9 offices have created an energized engineering powerhouse offering enhanced capabilities to our ever-growing client base.
What You Will Do:
We are looking for a full-time, entry-level Structural Staff Engineer to join our growing team out of our Orlando or Sarasota offices. This position will design structures, structural elements, or structural systems for a variety of project types, including manufacturing, distribution, data centers, commercial, historical, public sector, adaptive reuse, and renovations.
Responsibilities:
- Performs analysis of existing structures.
- Develops drawings and specifications for use during construction and confirms compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
- Interacts with higher level engineers and design technicians.
- Attends client, architect, and contractor meetings.
- Learns to engage with potential clients to expand business relationships.
- Performs calculations per design specifications and industry standards.
- Utilizes Structural Design Software, such as TEKLA Structural Designer, RAM Structural Systems, ETABS, SAFE, SAP, RAM Elements, and RISA.
- Creates and reviews drawings, submittals, and structural documents.
- Shares information across all disciplines to confirm deliverables are compliant with client expectations and established quality standards.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering with 0-2 years of related experience or Master’s in Civil Engineering.
- BIM training or experience a plus.
- EIT preferred.
Skills and Competencies:
- Strong communication skills are required.
- Must be a self-starter with the ability to work with minimal supervision. A willingness to take on additional responsibilities presented.
- Effective in an entrepreneurial culture, working independently and as part of a team.
What We Offer:
At Bennett & Pless, our vision is to be a place where employees thrive. We’re a growing firm committed to empowering employees without sacrificing work/life balance. Our culture is the center of making us who we are and it’s our priority to make employees feel accepted and valued.
As a firm, we are highly supportive of the development of our employees. Every year, we kick off Career Development Planning where employees create tailored development goals. Goals are regularly assessed throughout the year to allow employees to advance towards their career growth objectives. We also have monthly Bennett and Pless learning sessions where our senior Engineers and Specialists share their knowledge on a broad variety of subjects.
We have an employee-focused benefits package that includes:
- Company-paid medical, dental and vision coverage for the employee
- Health savings and flex spending accounts
- Group short-term & long-term disability; life and a&d insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Tuition reimbursement program
- 401(k) matching
- Monthly wellness allowance
- Paid time off & paid holidays
- Flexible schedules, including summer hours
- Company retreat
If you are interested in a place where you can thrive and make a career at Bennett & Pless, come join our unique culture!
Bennett & Pless is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment and we prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
See all 607+ Staff Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Staff Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Staff Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull up your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code and cross-check it against the DHS STEM OPT designated degree list before you apply. Degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, and systems engineering typically qualify, but interdisciplinary programs sometimes don't.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Staff Engineer hiring managers at mid-size companies often don't know their firm's E-Verify status offhand. Search the E-Verify employer database directly and confirm enrollment before your first interview to avoid offers that can't legally proceed.
Target companies with active LCA filings for engineering roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter Staff Engineer openings by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for engineering positions, showing they've already navigated the DOL process and are equipped to support your STEM OPT training plan.
Draft your I-983 training plan before receiving an offer
Prepare a working draft of your I-983 that maps Staff Engineer responsibilities to your STEM degree's learning objectives. Arriving at the offer stage with a draft ready shortens the DSO review cycle and signals professionalism to the hiring team.
Benchmark your offer against the OFLC Wage Search
STEM OPT regulations require that your compensation not adversely affect similarly situated U.S. workers. Run your job title and location through the OFLC Wage Search to confirm your offered compensation meets the prevailing wage level before you sign.
Understand cap-gap coverage if your employer files for H-1B
If your employer files an H-1B petition before your STEM OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. Talk to your DSO as soon as your employer confirms intent to file so your I-20 reflects the extension.
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Find Staff Engineer JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Staff Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
Yes, if two conditions are met: your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree falls under a DHS-designated STEM CIP code. Staff Engineer positions in software, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering consistently qualify because they require a directly related STEM degree. Confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before applying, since interdisciplinary or professionally focused degrees occasionally fall outside the eligible list.
What does the I-983 training plan require for a Staff Engineer position?
The I-983 must describe how your Staff Engineer duties directly relate to your STEM degree's goals, identify a supervising employee who will oversee your training, and confirm that your compensation is commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers. Both you and your employer sign it, and your DSO must authorize it before your STEM OPT extension begins. USCIS expects updates if your role or employer changes materially during the extension period.
How do I confirm that a Staff Engineer employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Search the E-Verify employer database by company name or FEIN to confirm active enrollment before you reach the offer stage. Some large companies enroll only certain subsidiaries or locations, so verify the specific legal entity that will appear on your employment contract. An employer who is not enrolled cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT, and retroactive enrollment after the fact doesn't resolve the compliance gap.
How do I find Staff Engineer jobs that support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate filters Staff Engineer openings by employers with documented LCA filing histories, so you can focus on companies that have already engaged with DOL's labor certification process and are structured to support F-1 work authorization. That's a more reliable signal than asking recruiters cold whether the company is E-Verify enrolled.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my employer initiates an H-1B petition before my extension expires?
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition on your behalf and you are selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your F-1 status and employment authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. If the petition is denied or withdrawn, your authorization ends and you enter the standard 60-day grace period. Notify your DSO as soon as your employer confirms they'll file so your I-20 end date is updated before any gap appears.
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