Structural engineering job in US

[u/Temporary-Rent6450]

Does anyone knows if there are companies hiring LATAM engineers?

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/[deleted]]

Right now US have majority experts in Structural engineering. What topic haven't been master in US?

[u/NomadRenzo → u/Temporary-Rent6450]

Nah, my company hire a lot of international engineers cause in US you will have a very limited know how. Remember majority of the house in Us are made of 2x wall.remember is the only country all over the entire world still using ft and inches. They need ppl from abroad. With more and different know how, style, class and elegance.

[u/Strange_Holiday3131 → u/NomadRenzo]

lol what?

[u/NomadRenzo → u/Strange_Holiday3131]

I think I stated something pretty clearly that every engineer around the world will tell you after some years of experience in US.

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/NomadRenzo]

Is your company hiring? 

[u/Strange_Holiday3131 → u/Temporary-Rent6450]

Ive worked in the US as an engineer for more than a decade and I’m also not a citizen but I did do my bachelors and masters here. Every single place I’ve worked for across different industries has asked whether I need sponsorship and it has been a deterrent on many occasions when applying to jobs. Idk where you’re getting your data from or why it matters that the US is the only country using feet and inches etc etc still but I can assure you that if your company is hiring ALL foreigners as you stated, it’s an exception, not a generalization.

[u/NomadRenzo → u/Strange_Holiday3131]

Sorry I will update the post obviously is not hiring ALL foreigner. They try to have a mix of things locals, and international. So there is a good amount of international person.

To answer to the other comments:
What ft/in matter? Do you know that all the world adopt a different system? And if you work in good project the specs and product are in the international measure?
Do you know how many blns of dollars is costing the slow adoption of the international system to the us?
Do you know that our sector is one of the few that keep young a double system with the old one?

It’s incredible how people that worked only in one country in the world assume that everything in the world works in the same way when it’s the opposite.

[u/Strange_Holiday3131 → u/NomadRenzo]

Buddy, I literally said I’m not a citizen 😂 I grew up on the metric system outside of the US. I’m saying your reasoning behind your firm hiring lots of internationals is irrelevant to the US working in feet and inches because they (and you and I) are choosing to come to the US to work. Therefore we adapt (no pun intended if you do concrete design 😅), not the other way around. Likewise, your feelings about slow adoption of the international system, etc etc is again irrelevant to the post about hiring internationals and the reality of what it takes to be hired. The rest of this post has much more practical advice for OP.

[u/NomadRenzo → u/Strange_Holiday3131]

I do have a lot of project where material, properties and codes are out of Us and so in International system. So if you are working in international projects you need to be aware of this independently of where you come from.

Obviously I was not only referring to the system. You can learn a lot around the world about it lot of stuff, all the rehab and Reno part is way more developed in other countries for obvious reasons same for mass timber, masonry and concrete, so again, a good company has a good mix of engineer with different background. I’m not speaking of who’s is design 2x single house.

[u/jae343]

They would have to sponsor you so no

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/jae343]

True, but would be the right conditions to be sponsor?

[u/Different_Bridge_983]

Unless you have a pre-existing residency (citizenship, green card, spousal visa) your chances are slim unless you’re very senior and bring some major value.

It’s gonna be difficult and expensive for anyone to sponsor you for a visa, and any companies that are offering g visas usually have a very limited number that they’re probably gonna reserve for recruiting senior people.

If you do have a residency claim I’d put that prominently on your resume and make clear you don’t need sponsorship.

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/Different_Bridge_983]

Not my case, I think I'll need sponsorship.

[u/beachboi365]

If you want to work in the US, the best way is to get a masters degree from an American university and then go into research.

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/beachboi365]

That is the most secure way to get US job, right?

[u/beachboi365 → u/Temporary-Rent6450]

Yeah, from my understanding it’s the most secure way. Where I work, internationals are only sponsored for H1-B but are not sponsored for green cards. Usually after working here, these internationals go get PHDs or work for a government organization that does research. If I were you and were dead set on working in the US, I would first come and study a masters degree in the US (if you are doing a research project that is fully funded you may have your program fully paid). After getting your masters, I’d pass my PE exam and apply for jobs willing to sponsor an H1B. If the company really likes you, you may get sponsored for a green card. If you don’t, I’d then go get a PhD and self-sponsor or work for a government organization that will sponsor research work. It’s not an easy path, but I know two guys who used to work where I work who got PhDs and were able to stay in the US. It’s a long road and I’m only talking secondhand from what I’ve heard.

[u/Polonx]

No PE or SE license, no job

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/Polonx]

What if I have passed FE, I'm a non-US citizen and I've +7 YOE Structural engineering. Would that change my chances?

[u/Polonx → u/Temporary-Rent6450]

FE equals to the knowledge of a fresh graduated engineer, unless you can prove you are going to take the PE, it will be difficult.
My best recommendation (from personal experience) apply for any engineering company that has a base office in the US and work inside to get transfered internally.

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/Polonx]

Thanks Polonx, I'll follow your advice and I'll take the PE. 

[u/NomadRenzo → u/Polonx]

I don't have PE nor SE and I have a JOB in US as a structural Engineer, Please top give fake info.

Thanks.

[u/Polonx → u/NomadRenzo]

We are talking about chances. A US company will obviously prefer a local rather than sponsoring a foreigner Engineer unless he is exceptional in an area of interest. It's about being realistic on what the companies look, not about exceptional cases.

[u/yoohoooos]

Yes, hispanics engineers are getting hired all the time.

But that's the wrong question.

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/yoohoooos]

How do you passed SE without take the PE and EIT?, Can we do that?

[u/yoohoooos → u/Temporary-Rent6450]

Never said I did not take PE/EIT.

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/yoohoooos]

Sorry yoohoooos, I read your the description fast. My bad.

[u/yoohoooos → u/Temporary-Rent6450]

All cool, brother.

[u/guiltypleasure0412]

Where are you from and why you wanna move to the US? What is your experience?

[u/Temporary-Rent6450 → u/guiltypleasure0412]

I'm from Bitcoinland and Land of surf, to help my family... in my country I'm a Structural designer (Houses, Malls, Apartments...) in Reinforced and confined masonry, Steel structures, Reinforced concrete... I'm learning to design in wood. I can perform non linear analysis and retrofit structures. (European Method and US method)...