CPT Software Architect Jobs
Software Architect roles qualify for CPT when the work is directly tied to your degree program in computer science, software engineering, or a related field, and your DSO approves the authorization before you start. These positions involve systems design and technical leadership, so your curriculum alignment letter needs to reflect that scope.
Find CPT Software Architect JobsOverview
Showing 4 of 7+ Software Architect jobs








See all Software Architect Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Software Architect roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
INTRODUCTION
Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.
Applications accepted until further notice.
Meet the Team
The Cisco Product Organization is the engine behind the platforms, technologies, and solutions defining the next generation of connectivity. Spanning AI Software & Platforms, Core Product Engineering, Collaboration, Security, Networking, Silicon, and Observability, we build the critical infrastructure that powers the digital world. Millions of people rely on our platforms every day, and our teams work together to build, refine, and scale products that drive meaningful impact. We are a team of passionate innovators, united by our curiosity, collaboration, and dedication to helping one another do our best work. Ready to help us build what's next?
The Cisco Product Internship Program offers a 12-week summer experience designed to welcome early-career talent into this mission. We embed interns within high-impact teams, where they collaborate directly on the products, platforms, and architectures shaping Cisco's future and powering the AI era. Throughout the program, interns have the opportunity to participate in targeted learning sessions, multi-functional networking, and direct engagement with leaders across the organization. By immersing interns in real-world challenges, we help them build the technical skills, confidence, and collaborative approach needed to envision a long-term, impactful career at Cisco.
Your Impact
You’ll build data pipelines and machine learning workflows together, using Python to power real-world products. You’ll develop, train, and deploy models using frameworks like PyTorch or scikit-learn, and orchestrate large-scale data solutions using tools like Spark and Kubernetes. By building and scaling the intelligent data pipelines and distributed systems that power our models, you ensure our platforms remain performant and reliable as we process data at scale to drive the insights that fuel our AI-driven products.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (Associate's or Bachelor's).
- Qualifying education should be in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
- Expected to continue enrollment in degree program following completion of the internship.
- Proficient in Python and core data structures, demonstrated through at least one academic, personal, or professional project.
- Exposure to at least one ML framework: TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
- Working knowledge of at least one big data/distributed processing tool: Spark, Hadoop (MapReduce), or Flink.
- Hands-on experience with at least one deployment/orchestration tool: Docker or Kubernetes.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience deploying or productionizing a trained ML model, beyond coursework-level training and evaluation.
- Exposure to at least one cloud platform: AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
- Understanding of at least two of: scalability, reliability, fault tolerance, or data consistency.
- Working knowledge of at least two of: load balancing, consensus algorithms, or inter-service communication.
Why Cisco?
At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.
Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.
We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:
Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
- 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
- 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco.
- Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees.
- Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations).
- 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next.
- Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members.
- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer.
For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:
- .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
- 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
- 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
- Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.
The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:
New York City Metro Area:
$44,000.00 - $185,000.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$44,000.00 - $185,000.00
- For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.
See all CPT Software Architect Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new CPT Software Architect Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsSoftware Architect CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Software Architect role qualify for CPT authorization?
Yes, if the work is an integral part of your enrolled degree program. Roles involving systems design, technical architecture, or distributed infrastructure map well to graduate programs in computer science or software engineering. Your DSO will evaluate whether the specific job duties align with your current coursework, so request a detailed job description from the employer before submitting your CPT application.
Can I do CPT as a Software Architect at a startup without a formal HR department?
Yes, but you take on more responsibility for documentation. Smaller employers may not know what your DSO requires. You'll need a signed offer letter on company letterhead specifying your title, start date, hours, and supervisor name. Confirm the employer understands they must complete your I-9 on or before day one, and that CPT is employer-specific, so switching companies mid-semester requires a new DSO authorization.
How do I find Software Architect CPT roles where employers already understand F-1 work authorization?
Search Migrate Mate for Software Architect listings filtered by employers with Labor Condition Application filing history. Companies that have previously filed LCAs for H-1B visa or other visa categories are already familiar with DOL wage compliance and work-authorization paperwork, which translates to a smoother CPT onboarding process and a higher likelihood they'll consider sponsoring you for OPT or H-1B after graduation.
Does full-time CPT as a Software Architect affect my OPT eligibility?
It can. Twelve months or more of full-time CPT, defined as 20 or more hours per week, eliminates your OPT eligibility entirely. Part-time CPT, under 20 hours per week, doesn't affect OPT regardless of duration. If you're considering a full-year Software Architect internship or co-op, talk to your DSO about structuring it as part-time to preserve your post-graduation work authorization options.
What documentation does my employer need to provide for my CPT authorization?
Your DSO typically requires a formal offer letter stating your legal employer name, job title, work location, start and end dates, weekly hours, and supervisor contact. For a Software Architect role, the letter should also describe your core duties so your DSO can confirm the work ties directly to your program. Some schools also require an internship agreement or training plan signed by both parties.