STEM OPT Jobs in Florida
Florida's technology corridor, life sciences sector, and aerospace industry make it one of the more active states for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship outside the coasts. Miami, Orlando, and Tampa concentrate the highest employer density, with engineering, software development, and biotech roles leading hiring.
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INTRODUCTION
We’re Here to Move the World Forward. Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better. Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward? Apply now.
A Brief Summary Of This Position
This is an individual contributor role. The primary responsibilities of the Design Engineer include the engineering, design, and drafting of prestressed concrete poles required to ensure project goals are met. You will oversee the structural analysis and design of concrete products fabricated by the site. You will provide customer support, coordination with sales to help provide the appropriate products, and assistance to operations to ensure the products are manufactured to specifications. You will use in-house consultation of colleagues and Principal Engineers to assure specifications are met and receive consultation from Manufacturing to ensure design efficiency and manufacturability. You must improve your knowledge of existing assemblies and keep up to date manufacturing capabilities.
Essential Functions
- You will report to the Group Engineering Manager, and you will not have any direct or indirect reports
- Analyze and design products by Finite Element Method and other structural design software taking into consideration both public safety and minimum cost (competitiveness and profitability)
- Interpret customer specifications, customer needs, and market/sales needs
- Understand the fabrication processes and quality assurance requirements and methods used by Valmont
- Communicate engineering data to the customer and others. The latter includes itemizing cost-related requirements of a quotation, including weights, reviewing engineering drawings and evaluating as-built products. Interrelationships and communications will promote a professional attitude towards work and the office environment
- Recommend changes in design criteria, analysis methods and drafting procedures, and developing new methods
- Recommend tests to confirm theoretical designs and coordinate the testing
- Communicate information about new ideas, product and system improvements to encourage increased morale and efficiency throughout the company and to enhance Valmont's image as a leader in our industry
- Follow standard design procedures, recommending updates to design procedures when needed
- Provide design direction and technical support to other associate product engineers and product designers
- Oversee modifications to existing designs and products to meet changes in manufacturing capabilities, support cost reduction activities, and address reliability and warranty issues
- Provide engineering solutions that aid in the resolution of field and manufacturing problems and in the maintenance and improvement of existing products
- Maintain good relationships with customers, field personnel and other Valmont departments to ensure the most efficient working environment
- Improve personal technical competence to participate in new design concepts using the latest technology
- Review and provide inputs to the product development procedure to ensure continuous improvement of processes
- Provide technical design inputs and technical direction for design reviews
- Provide technical support to other departments to meet the needs of our customers
Other Important Details About The Role
The Design Engineer is a project team associate working with partners to develop activities required to meet product requirements. The position is accountable to meeting milestone dates for those projects assigned. The Design Engineer attends technical design review meetings, provides technical design inputs, and direction when needed. As a Design Engineer, you must improve your knowledge of existing assemblies, keep up-to-date on manufacturing capabilities, and developing an awareness of the field usage of our products.
Required Qualifications of Every Candidate (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
- Proficiency with MS Office applications (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Project)
- Working knowledge of 3D Computer-Aided Design Software
- Travel up to 10% of the time. May include international travel.
Highly Qualified Candidates Will Also Possess These Qualifications
- Master's Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
- Professional Engineering License
- Knowledge of Finite Element Analysis
- Work experience in Prestressed Concrete design
- Experience with FEA setup and virtual testing for structural elements
Working Environment And Physical Efforts
Work is typically performed in an office setting. There may be limited exposure to a manufacturing environment or outside weather conditions. When visiting a manufacturing area, the incumbent will be required to wear all mandatory personal protective equipment. The incumbent is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time, as well as talk and listen on the phone and in personal conversations or meetings. Environment is fast paced and demanding most of the time. Domestic travel, including overnights, may be required up to 10%. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms while working in the office with various files and forms and while working on the computer. The employee is occasionally required to move about the office. Incumbent must utilize proper ergonomic safeguards such as monitor height and positions, keyboard location and height and proper wrists rests. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds in working with large files, binders, and computer equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
Benefits
Valmont offers employees and their families a comprehensive Total Wellbeing benefit package to ensure their individual and family’s overall wellness needs are met. Some offerings are dependent upon the role, work schedule, or location and can include the following:
- Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
- 401k retirement plan with company match
- Paid time off
- Employer paid life insurance
- Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
- Work Life Support
- Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
- Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more
Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you have a disability and require any assistance in filling out the application for employment email EEOCompliance@Valmont.com.
Search F-1 STEM OPT Jobs by Industry in Florida
Tips for Finding STEM OPT Jobs in Florida
Verify your role qualifies under STEM
Cross-reference your job title against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list using O*NET occupation codes. Many Florida employers list roles broadly, so confirming your specific position qualifies before you apply saves time late in the process.
Target E-Verify enrolled employers early
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before USCIS approves your STEM OPT extension. In Florida, confirm E-Verify enrollment during your first interview round, not after an offer, to avoid delays or rescinded offers.
Search employer LCA history on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter Florida employers by verified STEM OPT filing history. This surfaces companies in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando that have actively sponsored F-1 workers, so you're not guessing which employers will engage with the process.
File your I-983 training plan before your OPT end date
Your DSO needs a completed I-983 submitted to SEVIS before your initial OPT period ends. Florida employers in fast-moving sectors like SaaS and medtech sometimes delay paperwork, so build a two-week buffer into your internal deadline.
Focus on Orlando and Miami for aerospace and biotech
Orlando's aerospace cluster around Kennedy Space Center and Miami's growing biotech corridor generate consistent STEM OPT demand. Employers in these metro areas deal with F-1 workers regularly, which means less education required on your end during hiring.
Use OFLC Wage Search to negotiate from a baseline
Before accepting a Florida offer, look up the DOL prevailing wage for your occupation and county using the OFLC Wage Search. Employers are required to pay at least the prevailing wage, so this gives you a factual anchor for any compensation conversation.
See all 969+ F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Florida
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Get Access To All JobsF-1 STEM OPT Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Florida sponsor the most F-1 STEM OPT visas?
Technology, aerospace and defense, life sciences, and engineering services sponsor the highest volume of F-1 STEM OPT workers in Florida. Software development and IT consulting firms in Miami and Tampa account for a large share of filings. Biotech and medical device companies in the Tampa Bay and Miami corridors are also consistent STEM OPT sponsors, as are aerospace contractors near Orlando and the Space Coast.
Which cities in Florida have the most F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Miami leads the state for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship volume, driven by its tech startup ecosystem and proximity to Latin American operations for multinational firms. Orlando follows closely due to its aerospace, simulation, and hospitality technology sectors. Tampa and Jacksonville have growing concentrations of financial technology and cybersecurity employers that regularly hire STEM OPT candidates.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Florida?
Roles that qualify must fall within a DHS-designated STEM field and be directly related to your degree. In Florida, software engineers, data analysts, biomedical researchers, aerospace engineers, and cybersecurity analysts are among the most common qualifying positions. The job must also be paid and at least part-time. Use O*NET to verify your specific occupation code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list before applying.
How do I find F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Florida?
Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for Florida employers with verified STEM OPT filing history, so you're targeting companies that have already sponsored F-1 workers rather than those unfamiliar with the process. Focus your search on Miami, Orlando, and Tampa where employer density is highest. Confirming E-Verify enrollment and asking about the I-983 process during interviews helps you qualify leads before investing significant time.
Are there any Florida-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Florida has no state income tax, which affects your total compensation picture but not your STEM OPT eligibility. Florida does not have its own state-level work authorization process, so you follow federal USCIS rules entirely. One practical factor: Florida's strong seasonal hiring cycles in hospitality and retail technology mean STEM OPT positions can open and close quickly, particularly in Orlando, so timely applications matter more than in markets with steadier hiring rhythms.