OPT Application Development Lead Jobs
Application Development Lead jobs are open to F-1 OPT students with a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Most roles require both hands-on coding ability and team leadership experience. Your OPT period gives you up to 12 months of authorized work, with a 24-month STEM extension available for qualifying degrees.
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KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using our technologies. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world’s leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow’s electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.
Group/Division
With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. First to deliver the best imaging and classification data for every defect or point on any layer at any time. EBeam’s mission encapsulates its role as the “eyes” of KLA’s product line, providing timely information on defects and critical locations on the wafer at the highest spatial resolution possible. Customers use EBeam products alongside KLA patterned and bare wafer inspectors to quickly understand the nature of defects and other imperfections on product wafers and take action to correct the manufacturing process.
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
KLA has openings for Regional Development Applications Engineer roles in its product divisions, which designs and manufactures inspection & review equipment for semiconductor manufacturing industry. Based in Austin, Texas, the Regional Development Applications Engineer will be responsible for:
- Characterization of new systems and features. This includes designing and conducting experiments, collecting data, publishing results and recommendations in the form of applications notes, best known methods or characterization studies.
- Product penetration/adoption and process optimization at customer facilities in fabs. This includes gaining expertise on KLA equipment and customers semiconductor fabrication processes and applying them to solve mission critical production problems.
- Apps engineering roles also includes training customers and other apps engineers, handling/driving local Apps escalation process, investigating customer technical needs/problems and providing solutions, conducting final acceptance, demonstrating products, and understanding competitive situations, methodology, and performance group analysis.
- Report technology development and new applications to Marketing.
- Support pre-sale and post-sale activities.
Work experience in semiconductor processing or equipment industry preferred. These roles require to travel up to 50% on short notice. Trips could be 4-8 weeks long. Team work is critical, so having a good balance between technical skills and people skills is essential.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's Level Degree and 0 years related work experience; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 2 years
Base Pay Range
$83,100.00 - $141,300.00 Annually
Primary Location
USA-TX-Austin-KLA
KLA’s total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed.
Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at talent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.
Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.
Company Overview
KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using our technologies. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world’s leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow’s electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.
Group/Division
With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. First to deliver the best imaging and classification data for every defect or point on any layer at any time. EBeam’s mission encapsulates its role as the “eyes” of KLA’s product line, providing timely information on defects and critical locations on the wafer at the highest spatial resolution possible. Customers use EBeam products alongside KLA patterned and bare wafer inspectors to quickly understand the nature of defects and other imperfections on product wafers and take action to correct the manufacturing process.
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
KLA has openings for Regional Development Applications Engineer roles in its product divisions, which designs and manufactures inspection & review equipment for semiconductor manufacturing industry. Based in Austin, Texas, the Regional Development Applications Engineer will be responsible for:
- Characterization of new systems and features. This includes designing and conducting experiments, collecting data, publishing results and recommendations in the form of applications notes, best known methods or characterization studies.
- Product penetration/adoption and process optimization at customer facilities in fabs. This includes gaining expertise on KLA equipment and customers semiconductor fabrication processes and applying them to solve mission critical production problems.
- Apps engineering roles also includes training customers and other apps engineers, handling/driving local Apps escalation process, investigating customer technical needs/problems and providing solutions, conducting final acceptance, demonstrating products, and understanding competitive situations, methodology, and performance group analysis.
- Report technology development and new applications to Marketing.
- Support pre-sale and post-sale activities.
Work experience in semiconductor processing or equipment industry preferred. These roles require to travel up to 50% on short notice. Trips could be 4-8 weeks long. Team work is critical, so having a good balance between technical skills and people skills is essential.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's Level Degree and 0 years related work experience; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 2 years
Base Pay Range
$83,100.00 - $141,300.00 Annually
Primary Location
USA-TX-Austin-KLA
KLA’s total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed.
Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at talent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.
Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.
See all 30+ OPT Application Development Lead Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Application Development Lead Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Application Development Lead
Lead with technical depth, not just management
Application Development Lead roles at OPT-sponsoring companies expect you to write and review code, not just manage tickets. Highlight specific languages, frameworks, and architecture decisions you've owned. Employers sponsoring OPT want technical credibility before they invest in visa paperwork.
Target STEM-designated programs to extend your runway
If your degree is in computer science, software engineering, or a related STEM field, you're eligible for a 24-month OPT extension. Apply to roles at E-Verify employers early, since that requirement is mandatory for the STEM extension and eliminates a large portion of smaller companies.
Quantify the teams and projects you've led
Generic leadership claims don't move the needle. Name the team size, the project scope, and measurable outcomes you delivered. Sponsoring an Application Development Lead is a significant commitment, and hiring managers need concrete evidence you can handle the responsibility from day one.
Address your OPT timeline proactively in conversations
Don't wait for employers to raise the visa question. Early in the process, confirm they've sponsored H-1B visa or similar visas before. Companies with no sponsorship history are unlikely to start for a lead-level hire, no matter how strong your technical background is.
Emphasize cross-functional collaboration in your application
Application Development Leads regularly work with product, QA, and infrastructure teams. Show concrete examples of cross-functional projects you've driven. Employers sponsoring OPT want leads who reduce friction across teams, not just engineers who write clean code within a single team.
Apply early relative to your OPT end date
Lead-level hiring processes run longer than individual contributor roles, often eight to twelve weeks from first interview to offer. Factor in H-1B cap seasons and your OPT expiration date. Starting your search at least six months before your authorization expires gives you a realistic buffer.
Application Development Lead OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Application Development Leads?
Yes. An Application Development Lead role qualifies for OPT as long as it's directly related to your field of study, which is typically satisfied by a degree in computer science, software engineering, information systems, or a related technical discipline. Your employer doesn't need to file any petition to start employment, but they must report your hire through the SEVIS system within 10 days.
Do Application Development Lead employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Mid-size and large technology companies, financial institutions, and enterprise software firms regularly sponsor H-1B visas for Application Development Lead roles. Smaller startups and consulting firms are less consistent. Migrate Mate filters job listings by sponsorship history, so you can focus your search on employers who have a documented track record of sponsoring candidates at this level.
Does an Application Development Lead role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your degree appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, you can apply for the 24-month extension. Most Application Development Lead roles align well with qualifying STEM fields, but confirm your specific degree classification with your Designated School Official before assuming you're eligible.
What happens if my OPT expires before my H-1B is approved?
If you've filed a cap-subject H-1B petition before your OPT expires and your employer selected you in the lottery, you may be eligible for a 60-day cap-gap extension that bridges the gap from OPT expiration to October 1, when H-1B status begins. STEM OPT holders get an automatic extension through September 30 if the H-1B petition is filed and selected. Confirm the specifics with your DSO immediately after lottery results are announced.
How can I find Application Development Lead jobs that sponsor OPT and H-1B?
The most efficient approach is to search within a platform that has already filtered for sponsorship. Migrate Mate aggregates Application Development Lead roles from employers with confirmed sponsorship histories, so you're not manually screening hundreds of listings to find the ones relevant to your visa situation. Filter by role level and employment type to narrow to full-time positions most likely to support long-term sponsorship.