TN Visa Project Designer Jobs
Project Designer roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under the USMCA's Engineer category when the position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, or a related technical discipline. Canadian citizens can apply at the border or a U.S. consulate without a lottery. Mexican citizens require a consular appointment.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
GFT is seeking a Bridge Project Designer to support a variety of projects in the South Carolina Region.
Working on the Transportation team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all. Explore some of our signature Transportation projects here.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
GFT’s South Carolina office seeks a highly motivated Bridge Project Designer with greater than 6 years of experience in structures/bridge design and analysis to join our established transportation practice. This position includes structural design, rehabilitation design, NBIS inspections, load rating and preparation of construction documents, specifications, and estimates. In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Designing and analyzing structural components of bridges and related structures.
- Review project design for general compliance with engineering principles, company standards, client contract requirements, and related specifications.
- Developing details of bridge components for contract drawings.
- Assisting with CAD drawing development and production.
- Calculating quantities and developing construction cost estimates.
- Reviewing shop drawings.
- Performing NBIS inspection and load ratings.
- Responsible for accuracy of engineering design, reports, load ratings, and plans, quality presentation, thoroughness and follow-through, and efficient conformance to budgets, schedules, and company standards.
- Inform Project Managers of workload and any changes in project schedule or scope or additional services.
- Receive technical guidance on unusual or complex problems and supervisory approval on proposed plans for projects.
- Show understanding of team management, develop project scope of work, estimate manpower needs, prepare CPM schedules and track project progress.
- Assist or participate in preparation of business proposals.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in civil and/or structural engineering with an emphasis in structures from an ABET-accredited university or college.
- Minimum of 6 years of related structures/bridge design experience.
- Structural engineering background, knowledge of Microstation (required), and experience with structural engineering design drawings, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Strong knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, etc.), MathCAD and experience with structural analysis engineering software such as AASHTOWare BrR, Staad.Pro, MDX, LEAP Bridge and/or other structural analysis software systems.
- Familiarity with bridge design process using: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. Familiarity with SCDOT’s Bridge Design Manual is desirable.
- SCDOT bridge design experience required.
- Team oriented engineer with strong communication skills.
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
- Actively engages multiple perspectives when solving problems, seeks to learn from peers, and encourages reciprocal learning among team members.
- Actively advocates for full inclusion in the workplace, fostering an environment that welcomes diversity and values equity for all employees, partners, clients, and the communities that GFT serves.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Design-Build experience
- Previous SCDOT Project Management experience
COMPENSATION
- The salary range for this role is $85,000-$110,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
FEATURED BENEFITS
- Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
- Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
- Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
- Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
- Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
LOCATION
Location: Charleston, SC
CORE BUSINESS HOURS
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Full-Time
SALARY RANGE
$95,000-$143,000. Salary dependent upon experience and geographic location.
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.
Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property of GFT.
INTRODUCTION
GFT is seeking a Bridge Project Designer to support a variety of projects in the South Carolina Region.
Working on the Transportation team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges or traffic engineering, our team excels in resilient, sustainable design and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all. Explore some of our signature Transportation projects here.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
GFT’s South Carolina office seeks a highly motivated Bridge Project Designer with greater than 6 years of experience in structures/bridge design and analysis to join our established transportation practice. This position includes structural design, rehabilitation design, NBIS inspections, load rating and preparation of construction documents, specifications, and estimates. In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Designing and analyzing structural components of bridges and related structures.
- Review project design for general compliance with engineering principles, company standards, client contract requirements, and related specifications.
- Developing details of bridge components for contract drawings.
- Assisting with CAD drawing development and production.
- Calculating quantities and developing construction cost estimates.
- Reviewing shop drawings.
- Performing NBIS inspection and load ratings.
- Responsible for accuracy of engineering design, reports, load ratings, and plans, quality presentation, thoroughness and follow-through, and efficient conformance to budgets, schedules, and company standards.
- Inform Project Managers of workload and any changes in project schedule or scope or additional services.
- Receive technical guidance on unusual or complex problems and supervisory approval on proposed plans for projects.
- Show understanding of team management, develop project scope of work, estimate manpower needs, prepare CPM schedules and track project progress.
- Assist or participate in preparation of business proposals.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in civil and/or structural engineering with an emphasis in structures from an ABET-accredited university or college.
- Minimum of 6 years of related structures/bridge design experience.
- Structural engineering background, knowledge of Microstation (required), and experience with structural engineering design drawings, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Strong knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, etc.), MathCAD and experience with structural analysis engineering software such as AASHTOWare BrR, Staad.Pro, MDX, LEAP Bridge and/or other structural analysis software systems.
- Familiarity with bridge design process using: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. Familiarity with SCDOT’s Bridge Design Manual is desirable.
- SCDOT bridge design experience required.
- Team oriented engineer with strong communication skills.
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
- Actively engages multiple perspectives when solving problems, seeks to learn from peers, and encourages reciprocal learning among team members.
- Actively advocates for full inclusion in the workplace, fostering an environment that welcomes diversity and values equity for all employees, partners, clients, and the communities that GFT serves.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Design-Build experience
- Previous SCDOT Project Management experience
COMPENSATION
- The salary range for this role is $85,000-$110,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.
FEATURED BENEFITS
- Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
- Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
- Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
- Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
- Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
LOCATION
Location: Charleston, SC
CORE BUSINESS HOURS
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Full-Time
SALARY RANGE
$95,000-$143,000. Salary dependent upon experience and geographic location.
GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.
GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.
Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property of GFT.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship as a Project Designer
Align your credentials to Engineer category
TN visa eligibility for Project Designers depends on classifying under the Engineer category. Your degree must be in engineering, architecture, or industrial design, a general arts or business degree won't support the petition, even with years of design experience.
Target firms with recent visa sponsorship experience
Employers with recent visa filings are already familiar with sponsorship workflows. Prioritize architecture, engineering, and construction firms over generalist staffing agencies, which often lack internal immigration process knowledge for supporting TN visa candidates at ports of entry or consulates.
Request a support letter before your border crossing
Canadian citizens applying at a port of entry need a detailed employer support letter describing the Project Designer role, its technical requirements, and your qualifying degree. CBP officers adjudicate on the spot, so ambiguous job descriptions are a common rejection trigger.
Clarify scope boundaries in your offer letter
Project Designer is not a standalone TN category. Your offer letter must frame the role using Engineer or Architect language that matches USMCA definitions. Titles like 'Creative Designer' or 'Design Consultant' without technical scope language will raise questions at adjudication.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring employers
Searching broadly for design roles wastes time on employers unfamiliar with TN sponsorship. Migrate Mate filters for Project Designer positions at employers who actively sponsor TN visas, so you spend your effort on realistic opportunities rather than cold outreach.
Understand Mexican nationals face a capped allocation
Unlike Canadian citizens, Mexican professionals are subject to a 5,500 annual TN cap. If you're Mexican and your application is late in the fiscal year, confirm current allocation availability with your employer's immigration contact before accepting a start date.
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Find Project Designer JobsProject Designer TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Designer role actually qualify for TN visa status?
Not automatically. TN visa eligibility depends on classifying the role under a recognized USMCA category, most commonly Engineer or Architect. The position must require a bachelor's degree in a relevant technical discipline like engineering, architecture, or industrial design. Roles framed around creativity or aesthetics without a hard degree requirement often fail to qualify.
How does TN visa sponsorship compare to H-1B for Project Designers?
TN sponsorship is significantly more practical for Project Designers. There's no annual lottery, no cap for Canadian citizens, and approvals can happen at the border the same day for Canadians. H-1B requires filing months in advance with no guaranteed selection. For qualified Canadian and Mexican professionals, TN is the faster and more predictable path to U.S. employment.
What documents should I gather before applying for TN-sponsored Project Designer jobs?
You'll need your original degree certificates and transcripts confirming a technical field, a current resume framing your experience in engineering or design terms, any professional licenses if your state requires them, and a detailed employer support letter. If your degree is from outside Canada, Mexico, or the U.S., get a credential evaluation completed before you start interviewing.
Where can I find Project Designer jobs that offer TN visa sponsorship?
Most general job platforms don't filter by visa type, which means significant time spent on roles where sponsorship isn't available. Migrate Mate is built specifically for this: it surfaces Project Designer roles at employers who actively sponsor TN visas for Canadian and Mexican professionals, so your search is scoped to realistic opportunities from the start.
Can a Project Designer switch employers while on TN status?
Yes, but TN status is employer-specific. You can't simply transfer it. Your new employer must support a fresh TN application, which for Canadian citizens can be done at the border or a U.S. consulate. Plan your transition carefully since working for the new employer before TN approval is a status violation, and gaps between roles must be managed with your employer's immigration contact.
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