Construction STEM OPT Jobs in Illinois
Construction F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois are concentrated in Chicago and its suburbs, where firms like Skanska, Turner Construction, and AECOM regularly hire civil, structural, and environmental engineers. Illinois's $45 billion infrastructure pipeline and ongoing transit expansion create consistent demand for STEM-qualified international graduates across project management, geotechnical, and construction technology roles.
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INTRODUCTION
Building a career at Granite may be the most valuable thing you could do. Find your dream job today, and be part of something great. Our most powerful partnership is the one we have with our employees. Our people are our most valued asset and the foundation of Granite’s century-old success. We’re building more than infrastructure; we are building your future.
General Summary
This position is responsible for providing technical engineering and cost information to ensure construction work complies with all engineering standards.
Essential Job Accountabilities
- Assist with job controls to ensure compliance with contract, budget, schedule, forecasting and job costing.
- Interpret design/drawings for craft workers installing material to ensure specifications are followed.
- Research and recommend resolutions to drawing interpretation problems, conflicts, interference, and errors, to verify that all completed work complies with applicable codes, drawing and specifications.
- Prepare and disseminate all required documentation records such as status reports, punch lists describing work items to be done, sketches of work already completed, material requirement calculations, to supervisor to provide accuracy.
- Provide technical support and direction regarding project material controls including delivery dates, construction schedules and design requirements to ensure additional costs are minimized.
- Prepare drawings and sketches to support construction work, change orders, and estimates to meet changing job requirements.
- Provide necessary building control lines and elevations for accurate measurement and correct installation of materials to ensure a quality job.
- Develop job essential data including quantity take-offs, material price lists, labor costs per man hour, and equipment to ensure accurate estimates and bids.
- Research historical data and productivity analysis reports in order to compile summary reports to develop guidelines and precedence for future estimates.
- Maintain files of working documents for back-up to estimating figures to support accuracy of bid submission.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred, or equivalent combinations of technical training and related experience.
Work Experience
0 - 2 years construction estimating support, engineering, field support, or similar experience.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities
- Proficiency with all MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), Scheduling and AGTEK Take-off software.
- Working knowledge of construction equipment and techniques, drawing and specifications, building materials and required standards applicable to discipline.
- Ability to perform trigonometric calculation either manually or with a calculator.
- Ability to assume responsibility, interface and communicate effectively with others.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to operate a computer keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Subject to outside working conditions. At times will be working around large construction equipment, must be safety conscience.
Additional Requirements/Skills
- Comply, understand, and support corporate safety initiatives to ensure a safe work environment.
- Team player
- Ability and willingness to abide by Granite’s Code of Conduct on a daily basis
- Valid driver’s license and ability to drive
Our Benefits at a Glance:
Building tomorrow starts with you, and Granite knows that you can excel only if we support you in and out of the workplace. That is why we offer a broad benefits package that includes paid holidays, sick leave, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, flexible spending plans, as well as special programs for musculoskeletal health, mental wellness, and more.
Salaried employees may choose from two PPO medical plans through Anthem BlueCross, including our most popular plan, for which 100% of the premium is paid by Granite for eligible employees and dependents. Employees can also opt into a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
As part of our investment in your future outside of the workplace, Granite provides a 100% match on the first 6% of eligible compensation that salaried employees defer into their 401(k) plans, which vests immediately.
Benefits may vary for positions located outside of the continental United States.
Base Salary Range:
$69,557.00 - $104,334.00Pay may vary based upon relevant experience, skills, location, and education among other factors.
About Granite Construction Incorporated
Granite Construction Incorporated is a member of the S&P 400 Index and is the parent company of Granite Construction Company, one of the nation's largest heavy civil contractors and construction materials producers. Granite is a Drug-Free Workplace and Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws.
For additional information on applicant/employee rights please click here.
Notice to Staffing Agencies
Granite Construction, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Granite") will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Granite, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Granite mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Granite employees, or to Granite's resume database will be considered Granite property. Granite will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Granite will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Granite's recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully-executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Granite will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such agreement in place. Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Granite's Human Resources Representative or his/ her designee. No other Granite employee is authorized to bind Granite to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Agencies.
STEM OPT Construction Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Construction Jobs in IllinoisConstruction STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which construction companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Illinois?
Large engineering and construction firms with established Illinois presences, including Turner Construction, Skanska, AECOM, Jacobs Engineering, and Walsh Group, have documented histories of hiring STEM OPT candidates in technical roles. These companies typically have HR infrastructure to manage OPT authorization and STEM extension paperwork. Mid-size specialty contractors and infrastructure consultancies in the Chicago metropolitan area also hire for STEM-eligible positions, particularly in civil and environmental engineering.
Which cities in Illinois have the most construction F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Chicago accounts for the largest share of construction STEM OPT opportunities in Illinois, driven by its concentration of major contractors, transit infrastructure projects, and engineering consultancies. The suburbs of Schaumburg, Rosemont, and Oak Brook host regional offices for national firms that recruit STEM OPT graduates. Peoria and Champaign-Urbana also see demand, particularly for roles tied to industrial construction and university-adjacent infrastructure development.
What types of construction roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles qualifying for STEM OPT in construction are those mapped to STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs codes. In practice, this includes civil engineering, structural engineering, environmental engineering, construction management with an engineering degree, geotechnical analysis, and building information modeling. Project manager and site superintendent roles generally do not qualify unless the underlying degree is in a STEM field and the job duties are technical in nature, which employers must document.
How do I find construction F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate lets you filter construction job listings in Illinois specifically for F-1 STEM OPT eligibility, showing employers with verified sponsorship histories rather than relying on job descriptions that may not accurately reflect a company's authorization to hire OPT workers. For construction roles, filtering by civil, structural, or environmental engineering job titles in the Chicago and greater Illinois area surfaces the most relevant opportunities. Cross-referencing with DOL Labor Condition Application records can further confirm which employers have sponsored similar roles.
Are there state-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Illinois construction?
Illinois does not impose additional state-level visa sponsorship requirements beyond federal USCIS and DOL rules, but construction employers in Illinois must comply with the state's prevailing wage law on public projects, which can affect how employers structure compensation for OPT workers on public contracts. Illinois also has active E-Verify participation requirements for public works contractors, which is relevant since STEM OPT employers must be E-Verify enrolled. Candidates should confirm employer E-Verify status before accepting an offer.