STEM OPT Jobs in Vermont
Vermont's F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship market is smaller than coastal tech hubs but concentrated in high-value sectors: biotech and life sciences around Burlington, precision manufacturing in the Champlain Valley, and IBM-anchored technology in Essex Junction. E-Verify-enrolled employers with active LCA filings are your fastest path in.
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The Agency of Transportation's Traffic Design Unit is looking for a motivated civil engineer who's excited to design safer, more efficient roadways and grow their career in public service.
The Traffic Design Unit develops engineering designs for projects that improve user safety and increase roadway capacity of Vermont's transportation network. You'll collaborate with subject matter experts across the Agency and contribute at every stage of project development.
What you'll do:
- Design projects that make an impact like traffic signals, roundabouts, intersection realignments, and multimodal facilities.
- Advance projects through the full lifecycle from scoping through design and review to construction.
- Learn to prepare plan sets, specifications, and cost estimates under the guidance of experienced engineers.
- Analyze safety and operations and help shape practical, buildable solutions.
- Join occasional field visits and site reviews to connect design decisions with real-world conditions.
Why this role is great for new engineers:
- Learn by doing: Work on diverse projects with tangible community impact.
- Mentorship and collaboration: Partner with seasoned engineers and multidisciplinary experts.
- Professional growth: Build skills in traffic design, project development, and communication, with plenty of opportunities for advancement.
- Public service mission: Help make Vermont's roads safer and more accessible for everyone.
The official workstation is in Barre, and occasional field work is part of the role. This is an in-office position with some telework opportunities.
Flexible start dates are available, and college seniors can begin after graduation, with start dates as late as June 2027.
Ready to start your civil engineering career and see your designs come to life on Vermont's roads? We'd love to hear from you.
Who May Apply
This position, Civil Engineer I - Traffic Design Unit (Job Requisition #55761), is open to all State employees and external applicants.
If you would like more information about this position, please contact Benjamin.Tietze@vermont.gov.
Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered.
Environmental Factors
Duties are generally performed in both office and field settings for which private means of transportation must be available. Fieldwork may involve exposure to hazardous materials, traffic hazards, and construction sites during all weather conditions and may involve traversing rough terrain and bodies of water. Some work outside of regular working hours, including attendance at public meetings, may be required. Strong differences of opinion may be encountered on a regular basis.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, construction management, architectural engineering, or related technical field.
OR
Associates degree in civil engineering, construction management, architectural engineering, or related technical field AND two (2) years of experience in engineering OR licensure as an Engineer Intern.
OR
College senior in the final year of a bachelor’s degree program in civil engineering, construction management, architectural engineering, or related technical field.
Special Requirements
Candidate in final year of bachelor’s degree must successfully graduate prior to start date.
Total Compensation
As a State employee you are offered a great career opportunity, but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation, including:
- 80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
- Work/Life balance: 12 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
- State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
- Two ways to save for your retirement: A State defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
- Low cost group life insurance
- Incentive-based Wellness Program
- Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of Vermont celebrates diversity, and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and meaningful inclusion that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The State does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, membership in an employee organization, family medical history or genetic information, or family or parental status. The State’s employment decisions are merit-based. Retaliatory adverse employment actions by the State are forbidden.
Overview
The Agency of Transportation's Traffic Design Unit is looking for a motivated civil engineer who's excited to design safer, more efficient roadways and grow their career in public service.
The Traffic Design Unit develops engineering designs for projects that improve user safety and increase roadway capacity of Vermont's transportation network. You'll collaborate with subject matter experts across the Agency and contribute at every stage of project development.
What you'll do:
- Design projects that make an impact like traffic signals, roundabouts, intersection realignments, and multimodal facilities.
- Advance projects through the full lifecycle from scoping through design and review to construction.
- Learn to prepare plan sets, specifications, and cost estimates under the guidance of experienced engineers.
- Analyze safety and operations and help shape practical, buildable solutions.
- Join occasional field visits and site reviews to connect design decisions with real-world conditions.
Why this role is great for new engineers:
- Learn by doing: Work on diverse projects with tangible community impact.
- Mentorship and collaboration: Partner with seasoned engineers and multidisciplinary experts.
- Professional growth: Build skills in traffic design, project development, and communication, with plenty of opportunities for advancement.
- Public service mission: Help make Vermont's roads safer and more accessible for everyone.
The official workstation is in Barre, and occasional field work is part of the role. This is an in-office position with some telework opportunities.
Flexible start dates are available, and college seniors can begin after graduation, with start dates as late as June 2027.
Ready to start your civil engineering career and see your designs come to life on Vermont's roads? We'd love to hear from you.
Who May Apply
This position, Civil Engineer I - Traffic Design Unit (Job Requisition #55761), is open to all State employees and external applicants.
If you would like more information about this position, please contact Benjamin.Tietze@vermont.gov.
Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail. You must apply online to be considered.
Environmental Factors
Duties are generally performed in both office and field settings for which private means of transportation must be available. Fieldwork may involve exposure to hazardous materials, traffic hazards, and construction sites during all weather conditions and may involve traversing rough terrain and bodies of water. Some work outside of regular working hours, including attendance at public meetings, may be required. Strong differences of opinion may be encountered on a regular basis.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, construction management, architectural engineering, or related technical field.
OR
Associates degree in civil engineering, construction management, architectural engineering, or related technical field AND two (2) years of experience in engineering OR licensure as an Engineer Intern.
OR
College senior in the final year of a bachelor’s degree program in civil engineering, construction management, architectural engineering, or related technical field.
Special Requirements
Candidate in final year of bachelor’s degree must successfully graduate prior to start date.
Total Compensation
As a State employee you are offered a great career opportunity, but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation, including:
- 80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
- Work/Life balance: 12 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
- State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
- Two ways to save for your retirement: A State defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
- Low cost group life insurance
- Incentive-based Wellness Program
- Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of Vermont celebrates diversity, and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and meaningful inclusion that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The State does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, membership in an employee organization, family medical history or genetic information, or family or parental status. The State’s employment decisions are merit-based. Retaliatory adverse employment actions by the State are forbidden.
Search F-1 STEM OPT Jobs by Industry in Vermont
Tips for Finding STEM OPT Jobs in Vermont
Verify your role qualifies before applying
Cross-check your target job title against the official STEM Designated Degree Program List and run the occupation through O*NET to confirm it maps to a qualifying STEM degree classification. Many Vermont manufacturing and engineering roles qualify but aren't marketed as STEM OPT eligible.
Target E-Verify enrolled employers directly
STEM OPT requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify before your extension is approved. Filter Vermont employers by E-Verify participation at the DOL level before investing time in any application to avoid late-stage offer complications.
Search Vermont LCA filing records on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter Vermont employers by verified DOL Labor Condition Application history, so you're only applying to companies with a documented record of sponsoring F-1 STEM OPT workers rather than guessing from job postings alone.
Approach Burlington biotech firms proactively
Burlington-area life sciences and biotech employers, including contract research organizations and UVM-affiliated spin-offs, often hire STEM OPT candidates outside formal job postings. Reach hiring managers directly through professional associations before roles are publicly listed.
Negotiate your training plan start date carefully
Your Form I-983 training plan must be signed before USCIS processes your STEM OPT extension. Align your offer letter start date with your DSO's filing timeline, allowing at least 90 days before your current OPT authorization expires.
Document mentorship structures your employer provides
USCIS scrutinizes whether the I-983 training plan reflects genuine skill development, not routine job duties. Vermont's smaller employers often lack formal mentorship programs, so work with your hiring manager to document supervision, learning objectives, and evaluation cycles explicitly.
See all 42+ F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Vermont
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Vermont.
Get Access To All JobsF-1 STEM OPT Jobs in Vermont: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Vermont sponsor the most F-1 STEM OPT visas?
Technology and semiconductor manufacturing, led by IBM's Essex Junction facility, account for a significant share of Vermont's F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship activity. Life sciences and biotech firms clustered around Burlington and the University of Vermont ecosystem are also active sponsors. Precision manufacturing, environmental engineering, and software development round out the primary sponsoring sectors in the state.
Which cities in Vermont have the most F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Burlington and the greater Chittenden County area concentrate most of Vermont's F-1 STEM OPT opportunities, driven by the University of Vermont Medical Center, biotech employers, and the IBM campus in Essex Junction. South Burlington and Williston host additional tech and advanced manufacturing employers. Montpelier and Barre offer a smaller number of positions, mainly in government-adjacent technology roles.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Vermont?
Roles in software engineering, data analysis, electrical and mechanical engineering, biological research, and environmental science commonly qualify. The position must directly relate to your STEM degree field and map to a qualifying STEM degree classification on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. In Vermont, semiconductor process engineering, biomedical research, and precision manufacturing engineering roles frequently meet these requirements.
How do I find F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Vermont?
Migrate Mate lets you filter Vermont job listings by employers with verified DOL LCA filing history, so you can identify companies that have sponsored F-1 STEM OPT workers before rather than applying speculatively. You can also cross-reference the OFLC Wage Search to confirm prevailing wage levels for your target occupation and county, which helps you evaluate whether an offer is compliant before you accept.
Are there any Vermont-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Vermont's smaller employer base means fewer companies have in-house immigration counsel, so you may encounter hiring managers unfamiliar with the I-983 training plan requirement or E-Verify enrollment. Coming prepared with a draft training plan outline and USCIS guidance documentation can accelerate the process. Vermont's proximity to the Canadian border also means some employers operate across jurisdictions, which can create complications if any work is performed outside the U.S.