Planning Consultant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Planning consultant jobs in Illinois are concentrated in Chicago, where firms like AECOM, WSP, and Kimley-Horn staff large infrastructure and urban development projects. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and state agency contracts drive steady demand. Employers in this space have a track record of sponsoring skilled international professionals through H-1B visa and employment-based green card pathways.
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At 1898 & Co., we are helping shape the future of transmission systems across North America. Our Transmission Planning and Power Systems Analysis team works with a diverse mix of clients—investor-owned utilities, public power entities, developers, and ISOs/RTOs—to deliver smart, resilient, and future-ready electric grid solutions. As part of Burns & McDonnell, we bring together decades of experience, a deep bench of technical talent, and a spirit of innovation to solve some of the most critical infrastructure challenges of our time.
We are seeking a Transmission Planning Consultant who is passionate about electric grid reliability, renewable integration, and the technical challenges shaping our energy future. This role will contribute directly to project execution by performing advanced transmission system studies and supporting client decision-making with high-quality technical and economic analysis.
What You’ll Do
- Perform a broad range of studies and consulting services such as power flow, transient stability, transfer capability, short-circuit, voltage analysis, harmonics analysis, electromagnetic, reliability, and congestion management scenarios.
- Evaluate regulatory conditions and risks by applying NERC, FERC, and regional requirements, production costing, risk assessment, TPL compliance, and generator interconnection principles.
- Independently execute transmission system planning studies using industry-standard software such as PSS/E, PSLF, EMTP/ATP, PSCAD, SKM, ETAP, and Promod.
- Adapt and apply standard engineering techniques for electric transmission system planning procedures and criteria.
- Analyze engineering, financial, and economic data to develop actionable insights for client projects.
- Develop technical assumptions for life-cycle cost analysis including capital, O&M costs, performance estimates, and economic forecasts.
- Conduct risk assessments related to evolving regulatory policies and technical constraints.
- Perform detailed financial analysis using various analytical software tools.
- Develop technical reports and presentations summarizing findings and recommendations.
- Support project managers with client deliverables, proposal development, and business development efforts.
- Participate in client meetings, technical reviews, and planning sessions to support transmission planning engagements.
- Comply with all company policies and quality standards.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or related degree from an ABET-accredited program or related degree and 3 years of related experience required.
- Or master's degree in engineering or business, and 2 years of experience required.
- Or PhD in engineering and 1 year of experience required.
- Prior experience associated with electric utility operations, planning, or consulting.
- Experience with power system planning and operations; transient stability, short circuit, and voltage analysis; NERC, FERC, and Regional requirements, policies and procedures; production costing; risk assessment techniques; TPL compliance; generator interconnection; or harmonics analysis.
- Experience with electric transmission systems and transmission system planning processes.
- Strong computer skills using industry software such as PSS/E, PSLF, EMTP/ATP, PSCAD, SKM, ETAP, and Promod.
- Ability to execute various transmission system planning studies.
- Knowledge of numerous power regions of the country and independent system operators such as: PJM, MISO, NEISO, SPP, CAISO, WECC, SERC, ERCOT, NYISO.
- Knowledge of NERC and FERC standards.
- Ability to provide evaluation, selection, adaptation, and modification of standard engineering techniques for electric transmission system planning procedures and criteria.
- Knowledge in standard engineering, construction, and operation techniques, principles, and procedures associated with power transmission facilities.
- Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work methodically and analytically in a quantitative problem-solving environment.
- Demonstrated leadership skills.
- Proven ability to lead, educate, and train a team of consultants and analysts in regards to transmission planning studies.
- Ability to independently solve difficult problems that require adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated critical thinking skills.
- Ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines, and to be effective in on-site work environments.
- Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, including the identification of critical path items to ensure deliverable deadlines are met.
- Ability to focus on the big picture to effectively and efficiently provide services that meet client needs, while also having the ability to identify and analyze details that are critical to project outcomes.
- Willingness to learn new service offerings as client needs and the market require changes to the service offerings provided by our group.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PPT).
- Ability to travel.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
Compensation
$120,000.00-350,000.00 Yearly
The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in compliance with all local/state regulations. The expected compensation range for this position is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, prior work experience and work location. The total annual compensation package will consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate in our discretionary year-end incentive bonus program.
Benefits
Our extensive benefits package takes care of you so that you can focus on doing great work. From insurance and disability to time off and wellness programs, we provide the tools to meet your needs. As part of being 100% employee-owned, eligible employees participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in addition to our 401(k) retirement program. For more information, please visit the Benefits & Wellness page.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Engineering
Primary Location US-IL-Chicago
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 15 % of the Time
About 1898 & Co. 1898 & Co. is a business, technology and security solutions consultancy where experience and foresight come together to unlock lasting advancements. We innovate today to fuel our clients’ future growth, catalyzing insights that drive smarter decisions, improve performance and maximize value. As part of Burns & McDonnell, we draw on more than 120 years of deep and broad experience in complex industries as we envision and enable the future for our clients.
Req ID: 263830
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-EH #E98 N/A
Description
At 1898 & Co., we are helping shape the future of transmission systems across North America. Our Transmission Planning and Power Systems Analysis team works with a diverse mix of clients—investor-owned utilities, public power entities, developers, and ISOs/RTOs—to deliver smart, resilient, and future-ready electric grid solutions. As part of Burns & McDonnell, we bring together decades of experience, a deep bench of technical talent, and a spirit of innovation to solve some of the most critical infrastructure challenges of our time.
We are seeking a Transmission Planning Consultant who is passionate about electric grid reliability, renewable integration, and the technical challenges shaping our energy future. This role will contribute directly to project execution by performing advanced transmission system studies and supporting client decision-making with high-quality technical and economic analysis.
What You’ll Do
- Perform a broad range of studies and consulting services such as power flow, transient stability, transfer capability, short-circuit, voltage analysis, harmonics analysis, electromagnetic, reliability, and congestion management scenarios.
- Evaluate regulatory conditions and risks by applying NERC, FERC, and regional requirements, production costing, risk assessment, TPL compliance, and generator interconnection principles.
- Independently execute transmission system planning studies using industry-standard software such as PSS/E, PSLF, EMTP/ATP, PSCAD, SKM, ETAP, and Promod.
- Adapt and apply standard engineering techniques for electric transmission system planning procedures and criteria.
- Analyze engineering, financial, and economic data to develop actionable insights for client projects.
- Develop technical assumptions for life-cycle cost analysis including capital, O&M costs, performance estimates, and economic forecasts.
- Conduct risk assessments related to evolving regulatory policies and technical constraints.
- Perform detailed financial analysis using various analytical software tools.
- Develop technical reports and presentations summarizing findings and recommendations.
- Support project managers with client deliverables, proposal development, and business development efforts.
- Participate in client meetings, technical reviews, and planning sessions to support transmission planning engagements.
- Comply with all company policies and quality standards.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or related degree from an ABET-accredited program or related degree and 3 years of related experience required.
- Or master's degree in engineering or business, and 2 years of experience required.
- Or PhD in engineering and 1 year of experience required.
- Prior experience associated with electric utility operations, planning, or consulting.
- Experience with power system planning and operations; transient stability, short circuit, and voltage analysis; NERC, FERC, and Regional requirements, policies and procedures; production costing; risk assessment techniques; TPL compliance; generator interconnection; or harmonics analysis.
- Experience with electric transmission systems and transmission system planning processes.
- Strong computer skills using industry software such as PSS/E, PSLF, EMTP/ATP, PSCAD, SKM, ETAP, and Promod.
- Ability to execute various transmission system planning studies.
- Knowledge of numerous power regions of the country and independent system operators such as: PJM, MISO, NEISO, SPP, CAISO, WECC, SERC, ERCOT, NYISO.
- Knowledge of NERC and FERC standards.
- Ability to provide evaluation, selection, adaptation, and modification of standard engineering techniques for electric transmission system planning procedures and criteria.
- Knowledge in standard engineering, construction, and operation techniques, principles, and procedures associated with power transmission facilities.
- Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work methodically and analytically in a quantitative problem-solving environment.
- Demonstrated leadership skills.
- Proven ability to lead, educate, and train a team of consultants and analysts in regards to transmission planning studies.
- Ability to independently solve difficult problems that require adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated critical thinking skills.
- Ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines, and to be effective in on-site work environments.
- Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, including the identification of critical path items to ensure deliverable deadlines are met.
- Ability to focus on the big picture to effectively and efficiently provide services that meet client needs, while also having the ability to identify and analyze details that are critical to project outcomes.
- Willingness to learn new service offerings as client needs and the market require changes to the service offerings provided by our group.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PPT).
- Ability to travel.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
Compensation
$120,000.00-350,000.00 Yearly
The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in compliance with all local/state regulations. The expected compensation range for this position is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, prior work experience and work location. The total annual compensation package will consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate in our discretionary year-end incentive bonus program.
Benefits
Our extensive benefits package takes care of you so that you can focus on doing great work. From insurance and disability to time off and wellness programs, we provide the tools to meet your needs. As part of being 100% employee-owned, eligible employees participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in addition to our 401(k) retirement program. For more information, please visit the Benefits & Wellness page.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Engineering
Primary Location US-IL-Chicago
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 15 % of the Time
About 1898 & Co. 1898 & Co. is a business, technology and security solutions consultancy where experience and foresight come together to unlock lasting advancements. We innovate today to fuel our clients’ future growth, catalyzing insights that drive smarter decisions, improve performance and maximize value. As part of Burns & McDonnell, we draw on more than 120 years of deep and broad experience in complex industries as we envision and enable the future for our clients.
Req ID: 263830
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-EH #E98 N/A
Planning Consultant Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Planning Consultant Jobs in IllinoisPlanning Consultant Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which visa types realistically apply to planning consultant roles in Illinois?
Planning consultant roles in Illinois typically qualify as specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree in urban planning, civil engineering, or a closely related field. H-1B is the most common sponsorship path, granting up to three years initially and extendable to six. Employment-based green cards through the EB-2 or EB-3 category are also viable for longer-term positions. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT can bridge candidates from student status to full sponsorship. TN visa does not cover planning consultants.
Which companies sponsor visas for planning consultants in Illinois?
In Illinois, engineering and planning firms with active H-1B and PERM filing histories include AECOM, WSP USA, Kimley-Horn, Burns & McDonnell, and Jacobs Engineering. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Illinois Department of Transportation also engage consultants through project contracts. Large infrastructure and transit-focused firms are generally the most active sponsors for planning consultant roles in the state.
How to find planning consultant visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate lists planning consultant roles in Illinois filtered specifically to employers with verified visa sponsorship histories. Rather than searching broadly and filtering manually, you can browse positions already matched to companies that have filed H-1B or employment-based petitions for similar roles. This saves significant time when targeting Illinois specifically, where sponsorship activity is concentrated in Chicago-area infrastructure, transit, and urban development firms.
Which cities in Illinois have the most planning consultant sponsorship jobs?
Chicago accounts for the large majority of planning consultant sponsorship activity in Illinois, driven by its scale as a major transportation hub and its ongoing infrastructure investment needs. Suburban communities in the collar counties, including Naperville, Schaumburg, and Oak Brook, host regional planning consultancies that also sponsor. Springfield sees some activity tied to state agency contracts, though at lower volume than the Chicago metropolitan area.
Are there state-specific factors that affect visa sponsorship for planning consultants in Illinois?
Illinois benefits from a concentration of large-scale public infrastructure projects, including the ongoing Chicago Transit Authority capital program and state highway work, which sustains demand for planning consultants. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago both produce urban planning and civil engineering graduates, creating pipelines that some employers convert from OPT to H-1B sponsorship. Illinois employers are also familiar with the PERM labor certification process given the state's established professional services sector.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored planning consultant jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.