Engineering Designer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Engineering Designer roles qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa, making them strong candidates for visa sponsorship. Employers in manufacturing, aerospace, and product development regularly file Labor Condition Applications for these positions. Your degree field and design discipline directly shape which visa pathway fits your background.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
ESP is looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong desire to grow and a demonstrated ability to work in a team environment to join our team in our brand-new, modern urban office space located in San Antonio.
The position focuses on civil engineering design in land development and permitting for roads, storm drainage systems, storm water management facilities, water and sanitary sewer utilities, sediment and erosion control facilities, and traffic control systems associated with residential, commercial, and institutional projects.
This is a great opportunity to continue to grow your career in land development with a well-established and dynamic Engineering, Surveying and Planning firm!
We’re proud to offer more than a place to build your career; we offer a team you can be part of. Our multidisciplinary environment brings together professionals across engineering, surveying, planning, environmental, geosciences, SUE, and CEI, with plenty of opportunities to connect beyond the workday. From team outings and volunteer events to company-wide step challenges, summer celebrations, and friendly competitions, there’s always an opportunity to get involved, get to know your coworkers, and have a little fun along the way!
Responsibilities:
- Perform work with a small team through civil site/land development design, permitting, and construction observation on a variety of residential, commercial, and institutional projects.
- Perform design of land development projects within Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D software utilizing pipe networks, pressure networks, feature lines, grading groups, alignments, profiles, corridors, and cross sections.
- Perform and prepare technical design calculations associated with land development projects (i.e., storm drainage hydraulic sizing, water distribution modeling, best management practices (BMP) design, sanitary sewer collection system design, erosion control measures, etc.).
- Create comprehensive site grading and drainage plans including lot grading, roadway profiles, retaining walls, storm drainage coordination, swales, and earthwork optimization.
- Prepare roadway improvement plans for projects involving TXDOT maintained roads.
- Design road widening, turn lanes, deceleration lanes, intersection improvements, roadway tie-ins, and entrance improvements, as applicable.
- Perform preliminary engineering evaluations, including quantity take-offs and opinions of probable construction cost.
- Perform site visits and prepare associated field reports.
- Observe and provide general coordination for various field testing (i.e., water pressure testing, gravity sewer low pressure testing, manhole vacuum testing, etc.).
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BSCE) or Engineering Technology (BSCET).
- Texas EI/EIT certification required. Texas PE preferred.
- 3+ years of qualifying civil engineering design.
- Advanced working proficiency in AutoCAD Civil3D required.
- Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Possess a strong desire to continue learning, advance professionally, and demonstrate ability to work in a fast-paced, design team environment.
- Candidate must be able to pass a drug screen, background check, and have a satisfactory driving record in accordance with the company’s driving (MVR) policy.
COMPANY INFORMATION & BENEFITS:
ESP is a multi-discipline engineering design and consulting firm providing our clients with civil engineering, surveying, planning/landscape architecture, geosciences, environmental, subsurface utility engineering, and construction engineering inspection.
Through years of dedicated service to our clients, ESP has received a designation of 186 on the 2026 ENR Top 500 Design Firm rankings. For the firm's primary territory, the ENR Texas & Southeast Top Design Firms, ESP received a 2026 ranking of 53.
ESP offers an excellent employee benefits package including:
- Competitive compensation with yearly performance reviews and discretionary annual bonuses
- 401(k) (Traditional & Roth plans) with a guaranteed employer match of 100% up to the first 3% and 50% on the next 2% (eligibility after 60 days)
- PTO (Paid Time Off) & 10 Paid Holidays
- VTO (Volunteer Time Off) of 4 hours each year (prorated during first year based on hire date)
- Tiered Health, Vision & Dental Insurance Options (eligibility after 30 days)
- Behavioral Medicine through Teladoc
- Short-Term Disability Insurance (Employer paid)
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Education Reimbursement Opportunities
- Flexible and Dependent Benefits Plan
- Referral Bonuses
INTRODUCTION
ESP is looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong desire to grow and a demonstrated ability to work in a team environment to join our team in our brand-new, modern urban office space located in San Antonio.
The position focuses on civil engineering design in land development and permitting for roads, storm drainage systems, storm water management facilities, water and sanitary sewer utilities, sediment and erosion control facilities, and traffic control systems associated with residential, commercial, and institutional projects.
This is a great opportunity to continue to grow your career in land development with a well-established and dynamic Engineering, Surveying and Planning firm!
We’re proud to offer more than a place to build your career; we offer a team you can be part of. Our multidisciplinary environment brings together professionals across engineering, surveying, planning, environmental, geosciences, SUE, and CEI, with plenty of opportunities to connect beyond the workday. From team outings and volunteer events to company-wide step challenges, summer celebrations, and friendly competitions, there’s always an opportunity to get involved, get to know your coworkers, and have a little fun along the way!
Responsibilities:
- Perform work with a small team through civil site/land development design, permitting, and construction observation on a variety of residential, commercial, and institutional projects.
- Perform design of land development projects within Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D software utilizing pipe networks, pressure networks, feature lines, grading groups, alignments, profiles, corridors, and cross sections.
- Perform and prepare technical design calculations associated with land development projects (i.e., storm drainage hydraulic sizing, water distribution modeling, best management practices (BMP) design, sanitary sewer collection system design, erosion control measures, etc.).
- Create comprehensive site grading and drainage plans including lot grading, roadway profiles, retaining walls, storm drainage coordination, swales, and earthwork optimization.
- Prepare roadway improvement plans for projects involving TXDOT maintained roads.
- Design road widening, turn lanes, deceleration lanes, intersection improvements, roadway tie-ins, and entrance improvements, as applicable.
- Perform preliminary engineering evaluations, including quantity take-offs and opinions of probable construction cost.
- Perform site visits and prepare associated field reports.
- Observe and provide general coordination for various field testing (i.e., water pressure testing, gravity sewer low pressure testing, manhole vacuum testing, etc.).
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BSCE) or Engineering Technology (BSCET).
- Texas EI/EIT certification required. Texas PE preferred.
- 3+ years of qualifying civil engineering design.
- Advanced working proficiency in AutoCAD Civil3D required.
- Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Possess a strong desire to continue learning, advance professionally, and demonstrate ability to work in a fast-paced, design team environment.
- Candidate must be able to pass a drug screen, background check, and have a satisfactory driving record in accordance with the company’s driving (MVR) policy.
COMPANY INFORMATION & BENEFITS:
ESP is a multi-discipline engineering design and consulting firm providing our clients with civil engineering, surveying, planning/landscape architecture, geosciences, environmental, subsurface utility engineering, and construction engineering inspection.
Through years of dedicated service to our clients, ESP has received a designation of 186 on the 2026 ENR Top 500 Design Firm rankings. For the firm's primary territory, the ENR Texas & Southeast Top Design Firms, ESP received a 2026 ranking of 53.
ESP offers an excellent employee benefits package including:
- Competitive compensation with yearly performance reviews and discretionary annual bonuses
- 401(k) (Traditional & Roth plans) with a guaranteed employer match of 100% up to the first 3% and 50% on the next 2% (eligibility after 60 days)
- PTO (Paid Time Off) & 10 Paid Holidays
- VTO (Volunteer Time Off) of 4 hours each year (prorated during first year based on hire date)
- Tiered Health, Vision & Dental Insurance Options (eligibility after 30 days)
- Behavioral Medicine through Teladoc
- Short-Term Disability Insurance (Employer paid)
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Education Reimbursement Opportunities
- Flexible and Dependent Benefits Plan
- Referral Bonuses
See all 55+ Engineering Designer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Engineering Designer
Align your degree to design specialization
H-1B specialty occupation requires a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. A mechanical or industrial engineering degree maps cleanly, but a general design degree may draw an RFE. Document how your coursework connects to the specific engineering design discipline the role demands.
Use OFLC Wage Search before accepting offers
Your employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the Engineering Designer role in that metro area. Pull the OFLC Wage Search figures yourself before negotiations so you know whether the offered salary meets DOL's Level I through Level IV thresholds for your location.
Target manufacturers with active LCA filing history
Aerospace, automotive, and industrial equipment manufacturers file LCAs for Engineering Designer roles far more consistently than small design studios. Use Migrate Mate to identify employers with verified sponsorship history for this specific occupation before you apply, not after you get an offer.
Clarify CAD and licensure expectations early
Some Engineering Designer postings embed a Professional Engineer licensure requirement that effectively disqualifies most international candidates mid-process. Ask during the first interview whether PE licensure is required now or will be expected within two years to avoid late-stage sponsorship complications.
Get your portfolio reviewed for specialty occupation evidence
USCIS adjudicators sometimes challenge whether Engineering Designer roles genuinely require a bachelor's degree. A portfolio showing complex tolerance analysis, FEA outputs, or systems-level design work strengthens the specialty occupation argument your employer will make in the I-129 petition.
Confirm PERM labor certification timing for green card
If your employer plans to sponsor a green card, the PERM labor certification process requires a formal recruitment test before filing. Engineering Designer roles in niche disciplines can clear PERM faster because the recruitment test may show limited qualified U.S. applicants, so raise this conversation within your first year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Engineering Designer role qualify as a specialty occupation for the H-1B?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates whether the position normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Engineering Designer roles grounded in mechanical, industrial, or systems engineering typically satisfy this test. Roles that accept any bachelor's degree regardless of field, or that rely primarily on drafting software skills alone, face a higher risk of an RFE challenging specialty occupation status.
Which visa types realistically cover Engineering Designer sponsorship?
H-1B is the most common path for full-time Engineering Designer roles. Canadian and Mexican nationals can explore the TN visa under the Engineer category, provided the role and degree align with that USMCA profession. Australian nationals may qualify for the E-3 visa. F-1 students can work in the role during OPT or STEM OPT if the position directly relates to their engineering degree, with their employer enrolled in E-Verify for STEM OPT.
How do I find Engineering Designer roles where employers are willing to sponsor visas?
Browse Migrate Mate to find Engineering Designer positions at employers with verified sponsorship history. The platform shows companies that have actively filed Labor Condition Applications for this occupation, which is a stronger signal of real sponsorship intent than a job posting that simply says 'sponsorship available.'
Does my engineering degree need to match the Engineering Designer job description exactly?
USCIS looks for a direct relationship between your degree field and the duties of the role. A mechanical engineering or industrial engineering degree maps well to most Engineering Designer positions. A degree in graphic design or architecture may not, unless the role explicitly involves those disciplines. If your degree title differs from what the job requires, your employer should document the connection through a detailed job duties analysis in the LCA and I-129 petition.
Can an employer sponsor an Engineering Designer for a green card, and how long does it take?
Yes. Most Engineering Designer roles qualify under the EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based categories, with PERM labor certification required first. DOL's PERM process tests whether qualified U.S. workers are available before certifying the application. Processing timelines vary significantly depending on DOL audit rates and your country of birth, as per-country limits create backlogs for applicants born in India or China. Discussing green card sponsorship intent early in your employment helps align timelines with your employer.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Engineering Designer 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.