STEM OPT Jobs in Louisiana
Louisiana's energy corridor, research universities, and growing tech sector make it a real market for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship. Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the Lake Charles industrial belt concentrate employers in engineering, environmental science, and data analytics who file LCAs regularly for STEM-designated roles.
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What You'll Be Doing
Job Scope: Generally responsible for performing complete design of less complex process engineering assignments. Assists in the design of larger and more complex chemical/process engineering assignments. This work will be performed under close supervision.
Primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Promoting the culture of working safely and applying safety related concepts into process design.
- Familiarity with and utilizing department standards, procedures, and guidelines.
- Familiarity with project scope, specifications and design criteria upon assignment to a project task team.
- Assisting in developing conceptual layouts and cost studies as necessary to determine the simplest, most efficient approach to solving engineering tasks at hand.
- Assisting in producing estimate level preliminary designs and material take-offs suitable for the level of the estimate being performed on a project.
- Assisting in producing detail design calculations and sketches for materials of construction associated with the project. Calculations produced will be neatly prepared and organized for efficient checking by others and efficient use by drafters/designers for preparing drawings and as a deliverable when required.
- Assisting in producing designs with efficient use of construction materials with an overall emphasis on ease of construction and completed product meeting the expectations of the client.
- Checking calculations made by other engineers to ensure accuracy, conformance to codes, specifications, design criteria and conformance to good engineering practice.
- Assisting the drafting group in resolving routine layout and detailing problems. Responsible for furnishing sufficient sketches and details necessary for completion of engineering drawings.
- Consulting with design leaders from other disciplines to ensure the smooth flow of vital information necessary for the scheduled completion of the project.
- Advising the Lead Engineer concerning design or scope changes.
- Assisting in checking vendor drawings and other discipline drawings for chemical/process input.
- Assisting in reviewing fabrication drawings and other construction submittals for conformance to engineering drawings and specifications.
- Performing fieldwork necessary to gather field data, check tie-ins and provide construction support.
- Knowledgeable of the discipline specific methods, practices and techniques required to engineer, design and construct process and manufacturing projects.
- Participating in professional society meetings to make new business contacts and keep current with new developments in the industry.
- Willing to travel as required for on-site work, project meetings, client presentations, or training opportunities.
Ideal Background
Education: Bachelor or Master of Science degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Biochemical, or Petroleum Engineering from an accredited university is required.
Registration: Engineer in Training (EIT) registration is strongly preferred. Professional Engineering registration or CPIP certification is preferred upon eligibility.
Experience: This position requires 1+ years of relevant industrial experience in chemical, petroleum, or biochemical process design engineering.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Basic knowledge of chemical/biochemical process engineering and chemical/biochemical process computer programs.
- Knowledgeable in some aspects of process safety and how to apply these requirements to process design.
- Basic knowledge in the use of process simulation software such as Aspen Plus, Aspen Plus Dynamics, PRO/II, DYNSIM, HYSYS, CHEMCAD, WinGEMS, ProMax, etc.
- Basic knowledge in the use of hydraulic simulation software such as AFT Fathom, AFT Arrow, PIPEPHASE, PIPE-FLO, and/or SiNet.
- Working knowledge of CAD software preferred, either AutoCAD and/or Microstation.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Virtual team skills and cross divisional relationships are developed and able to provide interoffice execution support with close supervision.
Hargrove Culture
We work to create an environment founded on trust, personal integrity, and a “team mentality” so that each person understands the value of their contributions both on a project and company-wide level. We know that each person on our team contributes to the success of our company by pairing expertise and passion to meet and exceed the needs of the clients we serve across the globe.
Our safety culture protects and promotes the well-being of every person who works with us and every person touched by our work.
As a 100% Teammate owned company, we proudly offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible Teammates.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Hargrove is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (including gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, sexual identity, marital or family status), disability, military service or obligations, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Hargrove is a drug-free workplace.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
Tips for Finding STEM OPT Jobs in Louisiana
Verify your role qualifies under STEM OPT
Cross-check your job title against O*NET to confirm it maps to a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. Roles like process engineer or environmental data analyst are common in Louisiana but can be mislabeled by employers unfamiliar with STEM OPT eligibility.
Target E-Verify enrolled employers early
STEM OPT authorization requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify before your extension is approved. Ask hiring managers directly during early interviews, not after an offer, since many Louisiana mid-size contractors and regional energy firms haven't enrolled yet.
Search LCA filings in Louisiana's industrial sectors
Use Migrate Mate to filter employer LCA filing history by occupation code across Louisiana metros. Petrochemical firms along the River Road corridor and engineering consultancies in Baton Rouge file LCAs consistently, signaling real STEM OPT sponsorship capacity rather than one-off hires.
Document your degree's STEM designation before graduating
Your DSO certifies STEM OPT eligibility based on your degree's CIP code on record with SEVIS. Confirm your program's CIP code maps to the STEM list before your initial OPT ends, because corrections after the fact delay your Form I-983 training plan submission to your employer.
Negotiate your training plan terms before signing
The Form I-983 training plan is a binding agreement between you and your employer covering learning objectives and supervision. In Louisiana's oil-and-gas sector, project rotations are common but must be explicitly structured in the I-983 to satisfy USCIS oversight requirements during site audits.
Time your extension filing around Louisiana academic calendars
If you're graduating from LSU, Tulane, or another Louisiana institution with a May or December end date, file your STEM OPT extension at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. USCIS processing windows mean late filings risk a gap in work authorization even when cap-gap protections don't apply.
See all 176+ F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Louisiana
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Get Access To All JobsF-1 STEM OPT Jobs in Louisiana: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Louisiana sponsor the most F-1 STEM OPT visas?
Energy and petrochemical engineering, environmental science, and civil and chemical engineering dominate F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Louisiana, concentrated along the Baton Rouge-to-New Orleans industrial corridor. Healthcare technology and data analytics roles at universities and regional health systems in New Orleans and Shreveport are also active areas, and the state's expanding logistics sector along the Port of New Orleans has increased demand for operations research and supply chain roles.
Which cities in Louisiana have the most F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Baton Rouge leads for engineering and environmental roles tied to the petrochemical industry and Louisiana State University research affiliates. New Orleans concentrates healthcare technology, data science, and architecture and engineering firms. Lake Charles and Sulphur have active demand in process engineering from LNG and refining projects. Shreveport sees smaller but consistent activity in information technology and biomedical roles tied to Willis-Knighton and other regional health systems.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Louisiana?
Roles that qualify must map to a STEM-designated CIP code confirmed by your DSO. In Louisiana, that regularly includes petroleum engineers, environmental engineers, chemical process engineers, data analysts, geoscientists, software developers, and civil engineers. Use O*NET to verify that your specific job title and duties match a qualifying occupational classification before accepting an offer, since job titles can vary across employers.
How do I find F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Louisiana?
Migrate Mate lets you filter job listings by visa type and review employer LCA filing history, so you can see which Louisiana companies have filed for STEM-designated roles before you apply. This is more reliable than asking recruiters cold, since many regional employers in Louisiana sponsor STEM OPT workers but don't advertise it prominently. Prioritize employers already enrolled in E-Verify, which is a hard requirement USCIS enforces for all STEM OPT extensions.
Are there any Louisiana-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Louisiana's heavy concentration of project-based work in energy and construction means some employers use contract or staffing arrangements that can complicate the E-Verify enrollment and I-983 training plan requirements. USCIS requires that your employer of record, not just your worksite, be E-Verify enrolled and sign your training plan. Clarify employment structure before accepting any offer where a third-party contractor or staffing agency is involved, since this is a common source of authorization problems in Louisiana's industrial sectors.