Lead Project Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Ohio
Lead project engineer roles in Ohio draw strong sponsorship interest from manufacturers, defense contractors, and infrastructure firms across Columbus, Cleveland, and Dayton. Companies like Honda Manufacturing, Boeing, and Battelle regularly hire engineers at this level. Ohio's deep industrial base and engineering university pipeline make it one of the more active Midwest states for visa sponsorship in this specialty.
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INTRODUCTION
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) is seeking a Transportation Engineering Project Manager to join our growing transportation practice in Toledo, Ohio. This is an opportunity for an experienced engineer to combine technical expertise, project leadership, and client relationship management while supporting a diverse portfolio of transportation improvement projects throughout Ohio and the surrounding region.
Our Toledo office brings together engineers, scientists, surveyors, and technical professionals who support transportation, infrastructure, environmental, and site development projects across the region. In this role, you'll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams while leading roadway and transportation projects for municipal agencies, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), and private-sector clients.
As a 100% employee-owned firm, CEC offers a unique opportunity to build long-term wealth while helping shape transportation infrastructure that supports local communities and economic growth.
Responsibilities
- Lead design and plan production for transportation improvement projects, including municipal, DOT, and private development work
- Manage transportation projects from planning through final design, overseeing scope, schedule, budget, quality, and project deliverables
- Develop transportation geometry, grading, drainage, and construction plans from preliminary through final design
- Prepare engineering calculations, quantities, cost estimates, and technical reports
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including civil, survey, geotechnical, and environmental professionals to deliver integrated project solutions
- Support project scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and proposal development efforts
- Serve as a key point of contact for clients, agencies, and project stakeholders while helping strengthen long-term client relationships
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and designers
- Contribute to the growth and continued success of CEC's transportation practice throughout Ohio and the surrounding region
WHAT WE OFFER
- Sign-on bonus available for eligible candidates
- 100% employee-owned firm with access to ownership opportunities beginning within your first year
- Competitive compensation with multiple income streams, including performance bonuses and employee ownership
- 55% of company profits distributed back to employees through bonuses
- Opportunity to help grow and shape a leading transportation practice in Northwest Ohio
- Diverse portfolio of municipal, transportation, infrastructure, and private development projects
- Flexible and hybrid work schedule options
- Comprehensive benefits beginning on day one, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) with company match beginning the first of the month following your start date
- Collaborative environment that supports mentorship, leadership development, innovation, and continued professional growth
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering
- 10+ years of experience providing roadway design services
- Advanced knowledge of MicroStation/InRoads or similar transportation engineering design software
- Experience with roadway geometric design, pavement design, construction document preparation, and Right-of-Way Plan preparation according to Ohio regulations
- Experience with ODOT Plan Preparation and the ODOT Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) process, including Agreements of Release, Right-of-Way acquisition, and ePermitting
- Experience in site grading and drainage, hydrology and hydraulics, stormwater management, erosion and sediment pollution control, and utilities
- Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Ohio required; registration in additional states is a plus
- Strong business development, project management, staff development, and project execution skills
About us
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
Lead Project Engineer Job Roles in Ohio
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Search Lead Project Engineer Jobs in OhioLead Project Engineer Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for lead project engineers in Ohio?
Ohio manufacturers and defense contractors are among the most active sponsors for lead project engineer roles. Companies such as Honda Manufacturing in Marysville, Boeing in Columbus, Battelle Memorial Institute, Procter and Gamble, and Parker Hannifin have documented histories of sponsoring engineers through H-1B visa and other work visa programs. Large infrastructure and energy firms operating across the state also file regularly for engineering positions at the lead level.
What visa types realistically fit lead project engineer roles in Ohio?
Lead project engineering is a specialty occupation requiring a directly related bachelor's degree, so H-1B is the most common path. H-1B1 visa applies to Chilean and Singaporean nationals, and E-3 visa applies to Australian nationals, both also requiring specialty occupation status and an employer-filed Labor Condition Application. Canadian and Mexican nationals with an engineering degree may qualify under the TN visa category, which covers engineers under the USMCA profession list. EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based green cards are available for longer-term permanent residence.
Which cities in Ohio have the most lead project engineer sponsorship jobs?
Columbus leads Ohio for lead project engineer sponsorship activity, driven by defense, tech, and manufacturing employers headquartered or operating there. Cleveland supports significant demand through its aerospace, healthcare technology, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Dayton has a strong presence tied to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and its surrounding defense contractor ecosystem. Cincinnati rounds out the top tier, with engineering roles concentrated in consumer goods, chemical, and energy companies operating in the region.
How to find lead project engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Ohio?
Migrate Mate lists lead project engineer roles with verified visa sponsorship history in Ohio, letting you focus on employers who have already filed for engineering positions rather than guessing at sponsorship willingness. You can search by city across Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, and Cincinnati to target the markets most active for this role. Filtering by employer filing history is especially useful at the lead engineer level, where sponsorship is tied to specific project needs and headcount planning cycles.
Are there state-specific factors that affect visa sponsorship for lead project engineers in Ohio?
Ohio's concentration of defense contractors near Dayton and Columbus means many lead project engineer roles carry security clearance requirements, which can limit sponsorship eligibility for candidates not yet authorized to work in the U.S. The state's strong engineering university pipeline through Ohio State, Case Western Reserve, and University of Cincinnati also means competition is high at entry and mid levels, but lead-level roles with management scope are more consistently open to experienced international candidates through H-1B and TN visa pathways.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored lead project engineer jobs in Ohio?
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.