Project Lead Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Project Lead roles attract H-1B visa, L-1, and O-1 visa sponsorship from employers in tech, construction, consulting, and healthcare. Most positions require a bachelor's degree in a related field, and employers regularly file LCAs to sponsor qualified foreign nationals for this title. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Company Description
At KPFF Consulting Engineers, we are more than just an engineering design firm. For over 60 years, we have dedicated ourselves to innovative, sustainable engineering that shapes the built environment and tackles complex infrastructure challenges. Our team culture emphasizes balance, growth, and well-being, supporting each member’s professional journey with flexibility, generous benefits, and a collaborative approach to work-life integration.
With over 1,400 professionals across 27 offices nationwide, KPFF’s decentralized structure allows each office the flexibility to pursue projects aligned with their regional strengths.
Job Description
We are seeking a Structural Project Manager to join our team and contribute to a wide range of projects, including civic and institutional buildings, healthcare facilities, residential construction, and research laboratory structures. The Structural Project Manager will not only perform technical tasks such as performing structural analysis and seismic design, developing construction documents, and supporting projects through all phases from planning and permitting to construction; but also supervise others throughout the process. The role involves both technical design and collaboration across disciplines, with opportunities for leadership and mentorship.
What You Will Be Doing:
- Designing gravity, lateral, and foundation systems (shallow and deep foundations) for new buildings and retrofit projects in high seismic hazard zones.
- Performing structural analysis and seismic design using finite element analysis (FEA) software such as ETABS, RISA, SAFE, and RAM Steel.
- Designing main building systems—including columns, beams, footings, diaphragms—and secondary systems such as anchorage, bracing, partitions, and retaining walls.
- Analyzing and designing structural members in concrete, steel, and masonry using hand calculations and software (Enercalc, spCol) in compliance with ACI 318, AISC 360, and TMS 402/602 standards.
- Designing new concrete, steel, and masonry structures in accordance with ASCE 7 and the California Building Code (CBC), and developing retrofit schemes for existing buildings in accordance with ASCE 41 and the California Existing Building Code (CEBC).
- Producing comprehensive calculation packages, structural drawings, and details for permit and construction.
- Supporting Construction Administration activities, including submittal review, RFI coordination, and drawing development.
- Collaborating with the BIM department to maintain organizational standards for drawing production.
- Coordinating with project managers, architects, and other engineering disciplines to ensure integrated project delivery.
- Providing technical guidance and oversight to junior engineers to ensure conformance with project design requirements.
- Supervising project engineers and design engineers in construction administration tasks and ensuring quality control of construction documents.
Salary
Pay Range $120,000-$150,000 salary depending on education, licensure, and applicable experience.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Seven years of full-time work experience as an engineer in a structural consulting organization.
- BS in Civil Engineering (with an emphasis in Structures)
- At least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in Undergraduate coursework
- Transcripts showing completed courses in:
- Structural Analysis
- Mechanics of Materials
- Concrete
- Steel or Wood Design
- Professional Engineer (PE) license
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Seven years of full-time work experience as an engineer in a structural consulting organization.
- Five years of experience training and supervising junior engineers.
- Two years of experience as a Structural Project Manager in a structural consulting organization.
- Master’s degree in Structural Engineering or in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structures.
- At least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in Graduate coursework
- Transcripts showing completed graduate level courses in:
- Structural Design
- Steel or Wood Design
- Concrete
- Seismic
- Professional Engineer (PE) license in California
- Structural Engineer (SE) License in California.
- Proficiency in FEA and structural design software, including ETABS, RISA, SAFE, RAM Steel, Enercalc, and spCol.
- Strong knowledge of relevant codes and standards, including ACI 318, AISC 360, TMS 402/602, ASCE 7, ASCE 41, CBC, and CEBC.
- Ability to design multiple structural materials (concrete, steel, CMU, wood).
- Experience with managing HCAI/OSHPD projects and/or DSA projects.
- Experience developing retrofit schemes for existing structures.
- Experience designing healthcare, laboratory, or other highly regulated facilities.
- Solid understanding of seismic design principles and experience working in high seismic hazard zones.
- Skilled in preparing and overseeing the preparation of technical documents, structural drawings, and calculation packages.
- This person oversees, coordination, and communication for cross-team collaboration, and also actively performs these actions.
- Experience in managing successful profitable project budgets.
- Ability to supervise and mentor engineers and provide quality control oversight.
- Strong organizational and time-management abilities to balance multiple projects.
APPLICATION PROCESS
If you are interested in this position, please apply on our careers page. Resumes sent elsewhere will not be considered.
Please provide transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate courses as well as a cover letter. In your cover letter (PDF) please respond to the following prompts:
- Describe a time when you were assigned a project or task that turned out to be really difficult. How did you work through it, and what was the outcome?
- Who has most influenced you and why?
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Duties are performed in a normal office environment while sitting at a desk or computer table.
- Duties require the ability to actively engage with a computer for several hours per day.
- May occasionally need to lift items up to 15 lbs.
- Duties require in-person attendance, Monday through Friday, during our business hours of 8 AM to 5 PM at our office in Irvine for the training period.
- Following a satisfactory training period a hybrid schedule of 2 days per week in the office may be accommodated.
Our Offices
Our Greater Los Angeles Structural office has two locations at the Bloc in Downtown Los Angeles and at the Irvine Towers in Irvine. A warm and friendly environment, we are dedicated to growing with our employees and allowing people to pursue their passions.
KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Our Employees
Are valued and empowered, collaborative and team oriented, innovative in their approach and passionate about their work. They are reliable, trustworthy, and open with a high level of integrity. They value diversity, are inclusive and are committed to critically thinking through problems and finding solutions.
KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
KPFF Consulting Engineers is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, sex/gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected basis.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Project Lead Jobs
Target industries with high LCA filing volumes
Tech, engineering, consulting, and healthcare firms file the most Labor Condition Applications for Project Lead roles. Focusing your search on these sectors significantly improves your odds of finding an employer willing to sponsor your visa.
Clarify the degree requirement early
H-1B eligibility depends on the role qualifying as a specialty occupation. Confirm the job posting requires a specific bachelor's degree field, not just any degree, before investing time in the application process.
Highlight cross-functional leadership in your resume
Sponsoring employers want evidence you can manage timelines, budgets, and stakeholders. Quantify your impact with metrics like project delivery rates, team sizes, and cost outcomes to strengthen the specialty occupation case.
Ask about sponsorship timeline during the offer stage
H-1B cap-subject petitions can only be filed in April for an October start. Understanding where you are in the hiring cycle helps you plan your current visa status and any required bridging authorization.
Consider L-1A if you're transferring within a multinational
Project Leads moving from an overseas office to a U.S. branch may qualify for an L-1A as a manager. This route bypasses the H-1B lottery entirely and can be a faster path to U.S. work authorization.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring employers
Not every job posting discloses sponsorship willingness upfront. Migrate Mate filters listings specifically for roles where employers have a demonstrated history of visa sponsorship, saving you time on applications that lead nowhere.
Project Lead jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Project Lead JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can a Project Lead role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, but the role must meet the specialty occupation standard, meaning it requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as engineering, computer science, business administration, or a related discipline. Generic management positions where any degree suffices are harder to sponsor. Employers in tech and engineering typically have the strongest H-1B cases for Project Lead titles.
What visa types do employers most commonly use to sponsor Project Leads?
H-1B is the most common, covering the majority of sponsored Project Lead hires in corporate environments. L-1A applies when the role involves managerial responsibility within a multinational company transfer. O-1A is available for candidates with exceptional achievement in their field. TN is an option for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying professional categories.
Does my degree field matter for H-1B sponsorship as a Project Lead?
It matters significantly. USCIS evaluates whether your specific degree directly relates to the job duties. A civil engineering degree supporting a construction Project Lead role is straightforward. A general business degree for a software project management role may face more scrutiny. Employers often strengthen the petition by tying specific technical duties to your degree field.
How do I find Project Lead jobs where employers are open to sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this, listing Project Lead roles from employers with a verified history of filing visa petitions. Sponsorship-willing employers are not always obvious from standard job postings, so filtering by sponsorship track record early in your search saves significant time and avoids wasted applications.
Are Project Lead roles subject to the H-1B lottery?
Most are, unless the hiring employer is a cap-exempt organization such as a university, nonprofit research institution, or government research entity. For-profit companies in tech, consulting, and construction are cap-subject, meaning your petition enters the annual lottery with roughly a 20 to 25 percent selection rate per registration. Filing early and working with an experienced immigration attorney improves petition quality once selected.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Project Lead 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.
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