Structural Project Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Illinois structural project engineer roles are concentrated in Chicago, where firms like Thornton Tomasetti, WSP, and AECOM regularly hire for complex commercial, transit, and infrastructure projects. The state's dense urban core, ongoing transit expansion, and university pipeline from Illinois Tech and UIUC drive consistent demand, making it one of the stronger markets for visa sponsorship in structural engineering.
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Provides structural engineering expertise for structural projects. Typical projects include the design and installation of structural steel platforms, conveyor support structures, elevated walkways, industrial steel storage rack and shelving, and custom designed products for large distribution centers. Offers a unique opportunity for professional growth and advancement.
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for functional areas of small, medium, or large projects, or lead engineer on small projects
- Design function
- Review awarded project scope, specifications, and available budgets
- Develop conceptual 3D structural layouts using Revit
- Coordinate with Senior Structural Engineers and other disciplines to optimize structure layouts and features to seamlessly integrate structures with mechanical equipment and the building
- Perform preliminary analysis on structural frame to establish steel profiles; incorporate into preliminary 3D structural layouts
- Present preliminary layouts to Client for review, further design iterations and conceptual approval; ensure structure designs are optimized to support Client operational needs
- Develop and document final structure drawings for formal approval using Revit and AutoCAD
- Coordinate with designated Engineer-of-Record to finalize structure frame design for permitting and construction
- Execution function
- Project schedule
- Work with Project Management and/or lead Structural Engineer to establish and track key milestones
- Ensure material procurement and detailing activities are timed to meet onsite date requirements
- Project budget
- Monitor engineering progress and material purchasing commitments to maintain project budgets
- Raise awareness to change order conditions as scope evolves over project life cycle
- Steel detailing coordination
- Conduct and document project handoff to detailing team
- Monitor detailing progress to ensure timely releases to structural fabrication
- Check fabrication details for fitment, completeness and adherence to project specifications
- Travel to jobsites occasionally
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Structural Engineering
- Previous engineering or construction experience a plus
- Previous material handling or steel detailing experience a plus
- Proficient in AutoCAD; working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Ability to handle multiple project assignments and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced results-oriented environment
- Ability to learn the material handling business and assist across teams and divisions
- Ability to interface effectively with in-house and external customers, vendors, consulting engineers, architects, and installers
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Team-oriented and collaborative
- Self-motivated and detail-oriented
- Ability to learn new technologies
EOE Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans
Federal Contractor
Overview:
Provides structural engineering expertise for structural projects. Typical projects include the design and installation of structural steel platforms, conveyor support structures, elevated walkways, industrial steel storage rack and shelving, and custom designed products for large distribution centers. Offers a unique opportunity for professional growth and advancement.
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for functional areas of small, medium, or large projects, or lead engineer on small projects
- Design function
- Review awarded project scope, specifications, and available budgets
- Develop conceptual 3D structural layouts using Revit
- Coordinate with Senior Structural Engineers and other disciplines to optimize structure layouts and features to seamlessly integrate structures with mechanical equipment and the building
- Perform preliminary analysis on structural frame to establish steel profiles; incorporate into preliminary 3D structural layouts
- Present preliminary layouts to Client for review, further design iterations and conceptual approval; ensure structure designs are optimized to support Client operational needs
- Develop and document final structure drawings for formal approval using Revit and AutoCAD
- Coordinate with designated Engineer-of-Record to finalize structure frame design for permitting and construction
- Execution function
- Project schedule
- Work with Project Management and/or lead Structural Engineer to establish and track key milestones
- Ensure material procurement and detailing activities are timed to meet onsite date requirements
- Project budget
- Monitor engineering progress and material purchasing commitments to maintain project budgets
- Raise awareness to change order conditions as scope evolves over project life cycle
- Steel detailing coordination
- Conduct and document project handoff to detailing team
- Monitor detailing progress to ensure timely releases to structural fabrication
- Check fabrication details for fitment, completeness and adherence to project specifications
- Travel to jobsites occasionally
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Structural Engineering
- Previous engineering or construction experience a plus
- Previous material handling or steel detailing experience a plus
- Proficient in AutoCAD; working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Ability to handle multiple project assignments and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced results-oriented environment
- Ability to learn the material handling business and assist across teams and divisions
- Ability to interface effectively with in-house and external customers, vendors, consulting engineers, architects, and installers
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Team-oriented and collaborative
- Self-motivated and detail-oriented
- Ability to learn new technologies
EOE Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans
Federal Contractor
Structural Project Engineer Job Roles in Illinois
See all 182+ Structural Project Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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Search Structural Project Engineer Jobs in IllinoisStructural Project Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for structural project engineers in Illinois?
Chicago-headquartered and regional firms with established immigration programs are the most consistent sponsors. Thornton Tomasetti, WSP USA, AECOM, Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM), and Smith Group have all filed H-1B visa Labor Condition Applications for structural engineering roles in Illinois. Larger multidisciplinary engineering and architecture firms tend to have in-house HR processes for sponsorship, making them more reliable options than smaller specialty practices.
Which visa types are most common for structural project engineer roles in Illinois?
The H-1B is the most common visa for structural project engineers in Illinois, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering. Candidates from Australia may pursue the E-3 visa instead. Those with Canadian or Mexican citizenship may qualify under the TN visa category, which lists engineers among eligible professions and does not require an annual lottery.
Which cities in Illinois have the most structural project engineer sponsorship jobs?
Chicago accounts for the large majority of structural project engineer sponsorship activity in Illinois. The city's high-rise construction market, CTA and Metra infrastructure projects, and concentration of national engineering firms all drive demand. Evanston and Champaign see some activity tied to Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign respectively, but Chicago is by far the primary hiring center for sponsored structural engineering roles in the state.
How to find structural project engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for roles that include visa sponsorship, so you can search for structural project engineer positions in Illinois without manually screening out companies that don't sponsor. The platform is designed for international candidates, making it more efficient than general job searches for this purpose. Filtering by Illinois and the structural engineering category surfaces active openings from firms with documented sponsorship histories in the state.
Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for structural project engineers seeking visa sponsorship?
Illinois requires structural engineers who stamp drawings to hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. For visa candidates early in their careers, most sponsored roles are at the project engineer level and do not require licensure immediately. However, employers in Illinois often value or require an EIT (Engineer in Training) credential, and candidates from ABET-accredited programs, including UIUC and Illinois Tech, tend to meet H-1B specialty occupation criteria more cleanly.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored structural project engineer 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.