AI Software Developer Jobs for OPT Students
AI Software Developer jobs are among the most actively sponsored roles for F-1 OPT students, with employers across tech, healthcare, and finance regularly filing H-1B petitions for qualified candidates. Your 12-month OPT period, extendable to 36 months with a STEM extension, gives you time to land a role and pursue long-term sponsorship.
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Invent the future with us.
Ampere is a semiconductor design company for a new era, leading the future of computing with an innovative approach to CPU design focused on high-performance, energy efficient AI compute.
As a pioneer in the new frontier of energy efficient high-performance computing, Ampere is part of the Softbank Group of companies driving sustainable computing for AI, Cloud, and edge applications.
Join us at Ampere and work alongside a passionate and growing team - we’d love to have you apply!
What the Team wants you to know:
The Ampere Internship program focuses on you to build your networks, support your efforts in making an impact, and gives you exposure to what Ampere does and how Ampere operates across the company. We want you to leave with the feeling that what you've worked on made a difference, a new level of confidence in what you're capable of, technical expertise, and a new network of contacts.
About the role:
As an Intern in this role, you will design and implement core backend services and data pipelines that integrate seamlessly with various enterprise systems, including large language models (LLMs) and generative AI services. Your work will be critical in building scalable, high-performance AI agents that drive intelligent use-cases. Internship period is full-time for the Summer (May/June - August/September).
What you’ll achieve:
- Learn about Cloud Computing and the first Cloud Native processors in the world.
- Understand the fundamentals of performance analysis and benchmarking.
- Become familiar with the running and use of performance profiling tools with the goal of improving the performance of key applications.
- Design, develop, and maintain robust backend services and pipelines to support AI agent functionality.
- Optimize system performance to ensure low latency and high throughput using AI-driven workflows.
About you:
- Strong programming skills building backend API services using Python and/or Java
- Experience in Machine Learning with a particular emphasis on Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and Generative AI.
- Proven experience in building complex agentic systems using LLMs with a background in software architecture design and development.
- Familiarity with large language models (LLMs), generative AI frameworks, and related APIs.
- Familiarity with the Linux environment and bash scripting.
- Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and container orchestration (Kubernetes) is a plus.
Education:
Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field; however, candidates pursuing a Master’s degree will also be considered
What we’ll offer:
At Ampere we believe in taking care of our Interns and providing a competitive total rewards package that includes an hourly rate and comprehensive benefits. The pay range for this role is between $41 and $45, per hour except in the San Francisco Bay Area where the range is between $46 and $53, per hour.
Benefit highlights include:
- Premium medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance.
- Mentorship and on-the-job training from industry experts.
- A comfortable and ergo friendly desk set-up, designed to optimize your posture and enhance your work experience.
- Vibrant game rooms to unwind and bond with colleagues.
- A variety of healthy snacks, energizing espresso, and refreshing drinks to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day.
And there is much more than compensation and benefits. At Ampere, we foster an inclusive culture that empowers our interns to do more and grow more. We are excited to share more about our internship opportunities with you through the interview process.
Internships are open to all eligible students regardless of age including veterans who returned to school.
Ampere is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.
Description
Invent the future with us.
Ampere is a semiconductor design company for a new era, leading the future of computing with an innovative approach to CPU design focused on high-performance, energy efficient AI compute.
As a pioneer in the new frontier of energy efficient high-performance computing, Ampere is part of the Softbank Group of companies driving sustainable computing for AI, Cloud, and edge applications.
Join us at Ampere and work alongside a passionate and growing team - we’d love to have you apply!
What the Team wants you to know:
The Ampere Internship program focuses on you to build your networks, support your efforts in making an impact, and gives you exposure to what Ampere does and how Ampere operates across the company. We want you to leave with the feeling that what you've worked on made a difference, a new level of confidence in what you're capable of, technical expertise, and a new network of contacts.
About the role:
As an Intern in this role, you will design and implement core backend services and data pipelines that integrate seamlessly with various enterprise systems, including large language models (LLMs) and generative AI services. Your work will be critical in building scalable, high-performance AI agents that drive intelligent use-cases. Internship period is full-time for the Summer (May/June - August/September).
What you’ll achieve:
- Learn about Cloud Computing and the first Cloud Native processors in the world.
- Understand the fundamentals of performance analysis and benchmarking.
- Become familiar with the running and use of performance profiling tools with the goal of improving the performance of key applications.
- Design, develop, and maintain robust backend services and pipelines to support AI agent functionality.
- Optimize system performance to ensure low latency and high throughput using AI-driven workflows.
About you:
- Strong programming skills building backend API services using Python and/or Java
- Experience in Machine Learning with a particular emphasis on Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and Generative AI.
- Proven experience in building complex agentic systems using LLMs with a background in software architecture design and development.
- Familiarity with large language models (LLMs), generative AI frameworks, and related APIs.
- Familiarity with the Linux environment and bash scripting.
- Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and container orchestration (Kubernetes) is a plus.
Education:
Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field; however, candidates pursuing a Master’s degree will also be considered
What we’ll offer:
At Ampere we believe in taking care of our Interns and providing a competitive total rewards package that includes an hourly rate and comprehensive benefits. The pay range for this role is between $41 and $45, per hour except in the San Francisco Bay Area where the range is between $46 and $53, per hour.
Benefit highlights include:
- Premium medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance.
- Mentorship and on-the-job training from industry experts.
- A comfortable and ergo friendly desk set-up, designed to optimize your posture and enhance your work experience.
- Vibrant game rooms to unwind and bond with colleagues.
- A variety of healthy snacks, energizing espresso, and refreshing drinks to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day.
And there is much more than compensation and benefits. At Ampere, we foster an inclusive culture that empowers our interns to do more and grow more. We are excited to share more about our internship opportunities with you through the interview process.
Internships are open to all eligible students regardless of age including veterans who returned to school.
Ampere is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as an AI Software Developer
Filter for STEM OPT-eligible employers
Target companies with an active E-Verify enrollment, which is required for the 24-month STEM extension. Without E-Verify, you can only work for 12 months, cutting your runway to find a sponsored position significantly short.
Lead with your AI specialization
Hiring managers distinguish between general software engineers and AI specialists. Specify your focus area, whether it's LLMs, computer vision, or MLOps, in your resume headline and cover letter so recruiters can immediately assess fit.
Confirm the role qualifies under your degree
OPT employment must be directly related to your field of study. An AI Software Developer role is a strong match for CS, data science, or electrical engineering degrees. Document the connection clearly in case your DSO or employer asks.
Build a portfolio of deployed AI work
Employers sponsoring OPT candidates want evidence of production-ready skills. GitHub repositories with real datasets, model benchmarks, and API integrations carry more weight than coursework projects in technical screening rounds.
Time your STEM extension application carefully
File your STEM OPT extension request at least 90 days before your current EAD expires. Your employer must sign a formal training plan. Starting this process late puts your work authorization at risk during active job searches.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does an AI Software Developer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. If your degree is in computer science, data science, electrical engineering, or a related STEM field, and the role involves building or researching AI systems, it qualifies. The job must be directly related to your degree, and your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and co-sign a formal training plan with your DSO.
How do I find AI Software Developer jobs that sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate filters specifically for employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship, so you are not wasting applications on companies that will not sponsor. Standard job boards mix sponsored and non-sponsored roles with no way to filter. For international students on a tight OPT clock, that distinction matters more than anything else in your search.
Can I work on AI projects for a startup on OPT?
Yes, but the startup must pay you as a W-2 employee and meet the standard OPT employment requirements. The role must relate to your degree, and you cannot work as an independent contractor unless you qualify for self-employment OPT, which requires you to have a legitimate business. Most early-stage startups can satisfy these requirements as long as they are paying wages.
What if my AI Software Developer job involves both research and product work?
That is common in this field and generally not a problem for OPT purposes. What matters is that the overall role connects to your degree field, not that every task is purely technical. Document the research components in your offer letter or job description, as this strengthens your case for the STEM extension and helps your DSO confirm eligibility.
How soon should I start looking for AI Software Developer jobs on OPT?
Start at least three to four months before your program end date. USCIS can take up to 90 days to process an OPT EAD, and you cannot work until you receive it. For roles with lengthy technical interview processes, common in AI engineering, starting early gives you enough runway to complete multiple rounds before your authorization window opens.
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