OPT AI Specialist Jobs
AI Specialist roles are among the strongest fits for F-1 OPT students, with most positions qualifying under STEM OPT extension criteria. The field spans machine learning engineering, NLP, and computer vision, and many employers in tech and enterprise software have established OPT sponsorship workflows through prior STEM hires.
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Get Access To All JobsSUMMARY
We love movies and we love TV. When the storytelling is good, it can be emotional, transformational, thought-provoking or just a really good laugh. Apple's video services are laser focused on curation, discovery and personalization, and there is a team of people with a passion for video behind every feature we ship. We work with studios, networks, channels and streaming services to bring the best content to Apple TV customers, and we help each of them discover their next favorite movie or TV show every day.
DESCRIPTION
We're looking for an AI Tools & Automation Specialist to join our Platform & Personalization team on the Apple TV app. In this role you will design and build practical tools that support the judgment and craft of our editorial, programming and testing teams, and you will help colleagues learn how to get the most from AI. You will turn good ideas into working prototypes, pitch the strongest ones to engineering partners and work with them to bring those ideas to life, and share what you build so others can use it and make it better.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree or 2 years of equivalent practical experience.
- Hands-on experience building with AI tools, including prompt engineering and using AI coding assistants to produce working prototypes.
- Good judgment when reviewing AI output: able to spot errors, gaps and bias, and to design simple checks and human review steps.
- Working knowledge of a scripting or web language (for example Python, JavaScript or TypeScript) and comfort with APIs, structured data and spreadsheets.
- Clear communicator who documents their work and enjoys explaining technical ideas to non-technical colleagues.
- Interest in movies, TV and how people discover content.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with agentic workflows and with ways of connecting AI to data, such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
- Experience turning a repeatable process into a report, dashboard or workflow.
- Understanding of responsible AI use, including data privacy and confidentiality.
- Experience with version control, test automation or deploying a small web application.
- Curious, organized and comfortable iterating on feedback.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $119,700 and $180,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
We love movies and we love TV. When the storytelling is good, it can be emotional, transformational, thought-provoking or just a really good laugh. Apple's video services are laser focused on curation, discovery and personalization, and there is a team of people with a passion for video behind every feature we ship. We work with studios, networks, channels and streaming services to bring the best content to Apple TV customers, and we help each of them discover their next favorite movie or TV show every day.
DESCRIPTION
We're looking for an AI Tools & Automation Specialist to join our Platform & Personalization team on the Apple TV app. In this role you will design and build practical tools that support the judgment and craft of our editorial, programming and testing teams, and you will help colleagues learn how to get the most from AI. You will turn good ideas into working prototypes, pitch the strongest ones to engineering partners and work with them to bring those ideas to life, and share what you build so others can use it and make it better.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree or 2 years of equivalent practical experience.
- Hands-on experience building with AI tools, including prompt engineering and using AI coding assistants to produce working prototypes.
- Good judgment when reviewing AI output: able to spot errors, gaps and bias, and to design simple checks and human review steps.
- Working knowledge of a scripting or web language (for example Python, JavaScript or TypeScript) and comfort with APIs, structured data and spreadsheets.
- Clear communicator who documents their work and enjoys explaining technical ideas to non-technical colleagues.
- Interest in movies, TV and how people discover content.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with agentic workflows and with ways of connecting AI to data, such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
- Experience turning a repeatable process into a report, dashboard or workflow.
- Understanding of responsible AI use, including data privacy and confidentiality.
- Experience with version control, test automation or deploying a small web application.
- Curious, organized and comfortable iterating on feedback.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $119,700 and $180,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See all 268+ OPT AI Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT AI Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an AI Specialist
Lead with your STEM OPT timeline upfront
When reaching out to hiring managers, mention your three-year STEM OPT window early. Many employers conflate OPT with the standard 12-month limit, and clarifying your full authorization period removes the most common reason AI teams decline to interview international candidates.
Target employers with existing H-1B filings for AI roles
Companies that have previously sponsored H-1B visa petitions for machine learning engineers or data scientists are far more likely to extend OPT sponsorship. Search USCIS H-1B visa disclosure data to verify which employers already have infrastructure to support international hires in technical AI roles.
Frame your degree field explicitly in applications
STEM OPT eligibility depends on your degree classification. Computer science, electrical engineering, and statistics all qualify. State your degree field and STEM designation explicitly on your resume and in cover letters so hiring teams can confirm OPT viability without back-and-forth clarification.
Prioritize mid-size tech companies over large enterprise
Mid-size AI companies and growth-stage startups often move faster on OPT hiring decisions than large enterprises with rigid HR systems. They also tend to have lean legal relationships with immigration counsel, making the E-Verify and reporting steps quicker to execute for your employer.
Align your role title to your degree on the I-983
Your employer must complete Form I-983 for STEM OPT, which requires describing how the AI Specialist role directly relates to your degree. Work with your hiring manager before your start date to draft language connecting your specific duties, such as model training or deployment, to your academic field.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for OPT-verified AI roles
Many AI job listings never specify visa sponsorship willingness, which wastes application time. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from employers verified to hire on OPT, so you can focus your search on companies already prepared to support your work authorization status without requiring you to vet each listing manually.
AI Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do AI Specialist roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do, provided your underlying degree falls under an approved STEM field such as computer science, data science, electrical engineering, or applied mathematics. The role itself must also be directly related to that field of study. Job titles like AI Specialist, Machine Learning Engineer, and NLP Engineer consistently meet this standard, but your DSO makes the final determination based on your specific degree and job description.
How do I find AI employers who are willing to hire on OPT?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this. It aggregates AI Specialist roles from employers with a demonstrated history of hiring international students on OPT and H-1B, filtering out listings where sponsorship is explicitly excluded. This saves you from cold-applying to companies that will reject you at the offer stage once your work authorization comes up.
What does an employer actually have to do to hire me on OPT as an AI Specialist?
For standard OPT, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. That is the only hard requirement. For STEM OPT extension, they must also be enrolled in E-Verify at the time of your I-983 submission, provide a formal training plan describing how the AI role supports your degree, and submit a six-month and annual evaluation during your extension period.
Can I work as an AI Specialist contractor or through a staffing agency on OPT?
Yes, but with important constraints. For standard OPT, contract and staffing arrangements are generally permitted. For STEM OPT extension, USCIS requires that you have a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the sponsoring company. If you are placed at a client site through an agency, the end client must sign the I-983 and function as your actual supervisor and trainer, not the staffing agency.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my AI Specialist role changes significantly at the same employer?
A substantial change in job duties may require an updated I-983 training plan for STEM OPT students. If your role shifts from model development to a function unrelated to your degree, such as general product management, your STEM OPT eligibility could be at risk. Notify your DSO whenever your core responsibilities change materially, and document how the new duties still connect to your field of study.