Principal Structural Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Principal Structural Engineer roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations, making them strong candidates for visa sponsorship. Employers in infrastructure, AEC consulting, and government contracting regularly file Labor Condition Applications for this title. A U.S.-recognized professional engineering license significantly strengthens your application.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
RS&H is currently seeking a Principal Structural Bridge Engineer to join our team in Denver, Colorado!
As part of the infrastructure team, you'll serve an integral role in the firm by serving as a discipline leader, subject matter expert, and technical resource for discipline and related program activities, including active participation in discipline quality improvement and assurance activities. This position will define project elements and processes required to meet client needs, along with participating in and coordinating preparation of bids and promoting and maintaining client relationships; oversee performance to contracts through shared planning and monitoring of work orders and deliverables with engineering, construction, and various other disciplines; lead projects, including major projects with complex elements and a broad scope of responsibilities; coordinate with project management to execute project plans and directly supervise the teams' design and technical delivery; promote and maintain client relationships through all project phases, including presenting directly to the client on technical and design solutions and serving as a firm ambassador to win new work; recommend new practices or changes in emphasis for professional services; and lead the development and application of company-wide standard operating procedures and technical requirements for projects and discipline deliverables. This position may also manage a small team of direct reports.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
To be successful in this role, you must:
- Have a degree in engineering from an ABET accredited program and 15 years relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Be a professional engineer in good standing.
- Be knowledgeable of applicable federal, state and local codes, criteria, regulations, and ordinances.
- Be proficient in production software and construction document production.
- Have proven background and ability to make decisions that have significant impact to an organization, as well as recommend operational strategies and plans with direct impact on results.
- Be recognized as a thought leader in the industry and have experience leading the work of multiple disciplines and participating in and/or having decision-making on technical matters within discipline.
- Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to communicate with senior leadership on matters of strategic importance.
- Have the ability to effectively interact with and build strong relationships with clients, customers, contractors, team members, and other key stakeholders.
COMPENSATION
The typical salary range for this position in Denver is $165,500 to $203,500 with compensation commensurate with experience, qualifications, and geographic location.
If this sounds like the role for you and you're ready to join an amazing team, please apply.
An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here. Please note: no agency representation or submissions will be recognized for this vacancy. Candidates should apply directly to this role to be considered. It is the responsibility of all third-party recruiting and employment agencies to know and adhere to our recruiting policy.
THE TEAM
From managed toll lanes and long-range corridor plans, to complex segmental bridges, our teams are providing the highest quality infrastructure and facility solutions. Each day, we partner with transportation agencies and local governments across the country to keep our communities moving. By joining our team, you too can lead the evolution of transportation.
THE COMPANY
Employee-owned, RS&H is one of the nation’s leading architecture, engineering, and consulting firms, with associates who work hard every day to create tomorrow together. We offer an exceptional journey from start to future. Our integrated teams translate experience into insight, turn challenges into opportunities, and build relationships that are as strong as the buildings and infrastructure we deliver together. We attribute our success to our unwavering commitment to our core values: integrity, accountability, curiosity, and teamwork.
INTRODUCTION
RS&H is currently seeking a Principal Structural Bridge Engineer to join our team in Denver, Colorado!
As part of the infrastructure team, you'll serve an integral role in the firm by serving as a discipline leader, subject matter expert, and technical resource for discipline and related program activities, including active participation in discipline quality improvement and assurance activities. This position will define project elements and processes required to meet client needs, along with participating in and coordinating preparation of bids and promoting and maintaining client relationships; oversee performance to contracts through shared planning and monitoring of work orders and deliverables with engineering, construction, and various other disciplines; lead projects, including major projects with complex elements and a broad scope of responsibilities; coordinate with project management to execute project plans and directly supervise the teams' design and technical delivery; promote and maintain client relationships through all project phases, including presenting directly to the client on technical and design solutions and serving as a firm ambassador to win new work; recommend new practices or changes in emphasis for professional services; and lead the development and application of company-wide standard operating procedures and technical requirements for projects and discipline deliverables. This position may also manage a small team of direct reports.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
To be successful in this role, you must:
- Have a degree in engineering from an ABET accredited program and 15 years relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Be a professional engineer in good standing.
- Be knowledgeable of applicable federal, state and local codes, criteria, regulations, and ordinances.
- Be proficient in production software and construction document production.
- Have proven background and ability to make decisions that have significant impact to an organization, as well as recommend operational strategies and plans with direct impact on results.
- Be recognized as a thought leader in the industry and have experience leading the work of multiple disciplines and participating in and/or having decision-making on technical matters within discipline.
- Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to communicate with senior leadership on matters of strategic importance.
- Have the ability to effectively interact with and build strong relationships with clients, customers, contractors, team members, and other key stakeholders.
COMPENSATION
The typical salary range for this position in Denver is $165,500 to $203,500 with compensation commensurate with experience, qualifications, and geographic location.
If this sounds like the role for you and you're ready to join an amazing team, please apply.
An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here. Please note: no agency representation or submissions will be recognized for this vacancy. Candidates should apply directly to this role to be considered. It is the responsibility of all third-party recruiting and employment agencies to know and adhere to our recruiting policy.
THE TEAM
From managed toll lanes and long-range corridor plans, to complex segmental bridges, our teams are providing the highest quality infrastructure and facility solutions. Each day, we partner with transportation agencies and local governments across the country to keep our communities moving. By joining our team, you too can lead the evolution of transportation.
THE COMPANY
Employee-owned, RS&H is one of the nation’s leading architecture, engineering, and consulting firms, with associates who work hard every day to create tomorrow together. We offer an exceptional journey from start to future. Our integrated teams translate experience into insight, turn challenges into opportunities, and build relationships that are as strong as the buildings and infrastructure we deliver together. We attribute our success to our unwavering commitment to our core values: integrity, accountability, curiosity, and teamwork.
See all 236+ Principal Structural Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Principal Structural Engineer
Get your credentials evaluated before applying
If your engineering degree is from outside the U.S., have it evaluated by a NACES-member credential evaluation service. Many employers require this before filing an LCA, and gaps here can delay or sink an H-1B petition at the RFE stage.
Pursue PE licensure to widen your options
A U.S. Professional Engineer license removes a common sponsorship friction point. Some employers won't file for a Principal-level role without it, since USCIS may question whether the position meets specialty occupation standards without a licensed engineer credential.
Target AEC firms with established immigration programs
Large architecture, engineering, and construction firms such as AECOM, Jacobs, and WSP sponsor structural engineers at senior levels regularly. Focus your search on firms with active H-1B LCA disclosure history, which you can browse through Migrate Mate by role and employer.
Verify the prevailing wage tier before negotiating
Use OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for your specific work location and job zone. Principal Structural Engineer roles typically fall at Wage Level III or IV, and your offered salary must meet or exceed that figure for DOL to certify the LCA.
Ask about PERM green card eligibility at the offer stage
Many employers willing to sponsor H-1B status will also sponsor EB-2 or EB-3 PERM green cards for Principal Engineers. Raise this during offer negotiations, since PERM requires a separate labor certification process and the earlier it starts, the better for your long-term status.
Prepare a specialty occupation documentation package early
USCIS scrutinizes Principal Engineer petitions for specialty occupation. Gather job descriptions from prior roles, professional publications, project documentation, and your employer's internal org chart showing the degree requirement. Having this ready reduces the risk of an RFE delaying your start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Principal Structural Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Principal Structural Engineer roles require a bachelor's degree or higher in civil or structural engineering as a standard entry requirement, which meets the USCIS specialty occupation definition. Employers document this in the LCA and I-129 petition. Roles with vague degree requirements or where any engineering background is accepted can attract RFEs, so the job description language matters significantly.
Is a Professional Engineer license required to get H-1B sponsorship as a Principal Structural Engineer?
A PE license isn't a legal requirement for H-1B eligibility, but many employers treat it as a practical prerequisite at the Principal level. USCIS may issue an RFE if the petition doesn't clearly demonstrate why a degree in a specific discipline is required. A PE license provides strong supporting evidence for specialty occupation and reduces that risk.
Which visa types are available to foreign Principal Structural Engineers seeking U.S. jobs?
H-1B is the primary path, subject to an annual cap and selection process. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and renews every two years. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa status, as civil engineers appear on the USMCA profession list. Candidates with an advanced degree or exceptional standing may also qualify for EB-2 green card sponsorship.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor visas for Principal Structural Engineer roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for structural engineering roles, searchable by location and seniority level. This saves you from applying to firms that have never filed for this title, which is a common time drain for senior engineering candidates navigating the sponsorship process.
Can a foreign-trained structural engineer with a three-year degree qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, but it requires documentation. USCIS accepts foreign three-year bachelor's degrees if a credential evaluation confirms equivalency to a U.S. four-year degree in the relevant field. Relevant work experience can also supplement a shorter degree under the three-for-one rule, where three years of progressive experience substitutes for one year of formal education. Your employer's attorney typically coordinates this analysis during petition preparation.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Principal Structural 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.