Assistant Resident Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Assistant Resident Engineer jobs involve on-site construction oversight, quality control, and contract administration, roles that qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa and qualify for TN visa status for Canadian and Mexican engineers. Employers in transportation, infrastructure, and public works agencies regularly file Labor Condition Applications for this title.
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WSP is currently initiating a search for a Full-Time Principle Assistant Resident Engineer for our Irvine, California, or San Bernardino, California office. Be involved in projects with our Construction Management Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges. The position can be located within San Bernardino County, the Inland Empire area, Orange County and Los Angeles County.
The Principle Assistant Resident Engineer provides technical leadership for complex construction management projects or programs, serving as an assistant to the Resident Engineer supervising construction engineering and inspection activities. This person must be capable of applying diversified knowledge of construction engineering principles and practices and independently making decisions on significant construction engineering issues and problems. Elements to be inspected or monitored may include maintenance of traffic, earthwork, drainage, utility relocation, storm water pollution prevention implementation and compliance, construction of roadway sections, pedestrian and bike facilities, structure elements of work, traffic and lighting improvements, landscape work and other similar activities.
The Principle Assistant Resident Engineer includes being a consultant hired by a local agency who performs quality assurance over the contractor’s work that involves roadway and structures and who assists the Resident Engineer with the contract’s necessary administrative tasks.
WSP has offices in San Bernardino, Riverside, Irvine and Los Angeles. Projects may span multiple disciplines, such as roadway/highway and transit/rail construction.
Your Impact
- Full understanding of public construction contracts for the state highway system and local agencies
- Responding to and effectively resolving field construction issues
- Conducting meetings between contractor, owner, utilities and other project parties
- Inspecting, documenting, and coordinating field test of construction materials
- Analyzing construction costs of changed conditions, drafting change orders, and recommending claims dispositions
- Preparing constructability reviews and reports
- Assumes responsibility for field engineering, contract administration, inspection, testing, surveying, and quality control on one large or several small construction projects
- Supervises field inspection and field office personnel
- Represents projects (clients) at meetings and conferences
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- BSCE or related Degree
- Minimum of 7 years of experience
- Working knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and material
- Valid CA driver's license
- Solid written and verbal skills
- Experience working with railroads
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies
- Must successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening
Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
This position is subject to and contingent upon client approval of candidates put forth for consideration by WSP.
Compensation and Benefits
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
Expected Salary: $149,000 - $208,500
WSP USA is providing the compensation range and general description of other compensation and benefits that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, or federal law.
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
This Opportunity
WSP is currently initiating a search for a Full-Time Principle Assistant Resident Engineer for our Irvine, California, or San Bernardino, California office. Be involved in projects with our Construction Management Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges. The position can be located within San Bernardino County, the Inland Empire area, Orange County and Los Angeles County.
The Principle Assistant Resident Engineer provides technical leadership for complex construction management projects or programs, serving as an assistant to the Resident Engineer supervising construction engineering and inspection activities. This person must be capable of applying diversified knowledge of construction engineering principles and practices and independently making decisions on significant construction engineering issues and problems. Elements to be inspected or monitored may include maintenance of traffic, earthwork, drainage, utility relocation, storm water pollution prevention implementation and compliance, construction of roadway sections, pedestrian and bike facilities, structure elements of work, traffic and lighting improvements, landscape work and other similar activities.
The Principle Assistant Resident Engineer includes being a consultant hired by a local agency who performs quality assurance over the contractor’s work that involves roadway and structures and who assists the Resident Engineer with the contract’s necessary administrative tasks.
WSP has offices in San Bernardino, Riverside, Irvine and Los Angeles. Projects may span multiple disciplines, such as roadway/highway and transit/rail construction.
Your Impact
- Full understanding of public construction contracts for the state highway system and local agencies
- Responding to and effectively resolving field construction issues
- Conducting meetings between contractor, owner, utilities and other project parties
- Inspecting, documenting, and coordinating field test of construction materials
- Analyzing construction costs of changed conditions, drafting change orders, and recommending claims dispositions
- Preparing constructability reviews and reports
- Assumes responsibility for field engineering, contract administration, inspection, testing, surveying, and quality control on one large or several small construction projects
- Supervises field inspection and field office personnel
- Represents projects (clients) at meetings and conferences
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- BSCE or related Degree
- Minimum of 7 years of experience
- Working knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and material
- Valid CA driver's license
- Solid written and verbal skills
- Experience working with railroads
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies
- Must successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening
Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
This position is subject to and contingent upon client approval of candidates put forth for consideration by WSP.
Compensation and Benefits
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
Expected Salary: $149,000 - $208,500
WSP USA is providing the compensation range and general description of other compensation and benefits that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, or federal law.
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Assistant Resident Engineer
Align your degree to the role
H-1B specialty occupation requires a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. Civil or structural engineering degrees map cleanly, but construction management credentials vary by state and employer, so confirm your degree field matches the LCA job description before applying.
Target public infrastructure project employers
State DOTs, transit authorities, and their prime contractors file LCAs consistently for Assistant Resident Engineer roles tied to federally funded projects. These organizations face multi-year project timelines that make long-term sponsorship structurally practical for them.
Check prevailing wage before salary negotiations
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your location and role. Run the OFLC Wage Search using the civil engineer occupation category for your metro area before you enter compensation discussions, so you know the floor going in.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring employers
Filter for Assistant Resident Engineer roles on Migrate Mate, which lists U.S. employers with verified LCA sponsorship history. This surfaces contractors and agencies that have already committed to the filing process, cutting out employers who haven't sponsored before.
Canadian engineers should prepare TN documentation carefully
TN status covers engineers on the USMCA profession list. Bring your degree transcripts, a detailed employer offer letter specifying your engineering duties, and proof of Canadian citizenship. Border officers assess specialty on the spot, so vague job descriptions get rejected.
Push for PERM filing early if you want permanent residence
EB-2 and EB-3 green card paths require PERM labor certification, which takes substantial time before USCIS even sees the petition. Raise the green card conversation with your employer during offer negotiation, not after your first H-1B term is already running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Assistant Resident Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Yes, provided the employer's job description requires a bachelor's degree or higher in civil, structural, or transportation engineering. Roles that accept any degree, or treat the degree as preferred rather than required, can face Requests for Evidence from USCIS. The O*NET profile for civil engineering technologists and surveyors supports the specialty occupation classification when duties involve technical field oversight tied to an engineering discipline.
Which visa types realistically cover Assistant Resident Engineer positions?
H-1B is the most common path for non-USMCA nationals. Canadian and Mexican engineers can use TN status, which requires no USCIS petition and covers engineers explicitly. Australians may qualify for the E-3 visa, which also requires a specialty occupation and an employer-filed LCA. For candidates already in the U.S. on F-1 OPT or STEM OPT, the role qualifies if it relates directly to your engineering degree field.
Do state DOT contractors actually sponsor Assistant Resident Engineers?
Many do, particularly prime contractors on federally funded highway, bridge, and transit projects where staffing commitments span multiple years. These firms file LCAs regularly because project durations justify the sponsorship investment. Smaller subconsultants are less consistent. Searching for employers with verified LCA filing history on Migrate Mate is the most direct way to identify which contractors are actively sponsoring this title.
Is a three-year engineering degree from outside the U.S. accepted for H-1B specialty occupation?
USCIS evaluates foreign credentials on a case-by-case basis. A three-year degree is not automatically disqualifying if a credential evaluation agency confirms it is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Organizations such as credential evaluation services recognized by NACES provide those assessments. Pairing a three-year degree with relevant post-degree experience strengthens the equivalency argument, particularly for EB-3 petitions where experience substitution is explicitly allowed.
Can you transfer H-1B status mid-project if you change employers?
Yes. Under H-1B portability, you can start working for a new sponsoring employer once the new I-129 petition is filed, without waiting for USCIS approval. For Assistant Resident Engineers mid-project, this means you can move to a new contractor on a different project without a gap in work authorization. Your new employer must file a new petition and an LCA reflecting the new role's location and wage level.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Assistant Resident Engineer jobs?
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.