OPT Application Support Specialist Jobs
Application Support Specialist roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in computer science, information systems, or a related technical field. Most positions qualify as STEM OPT-eligible, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization and meaningful time to build a career in enterprise software and IT operations.
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Get Access To All JobsFORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (FVSU), a state and land-grant institution of the University System of Georgia, invites applications for the position of Application Support Specialist.
Fort Valley State University, the only 1890 land-grant university in Georgia, is a comprehensive institution that provides an education to over 2,800 students including graduate students. The university is located in the town of Fort Valley in Peach County, the original site of the state's peach industry. Its 1,365-acre (5.52 km²) campus is Georgia's second-largest public university in area.
Fort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status.
JOB SUMMARY
This position assists the university in data management of ERP systems. This position also provides escalated technical support for ERP issues. Acts as a liaison between FVSU Office of Information Technology (OIT) and University System of Georgia Information Technology Services (ITS).
MAJOR DUTIES
- Support users by providing consultation of the products and how best to incorporate/adjust business processes to align with system capabilities. Assist in configuring the systems to function as desired. Troubleshoot system issues/errors. Act as a liaison between users and the vendors to resolve issues. Recommend changes as needs are identified.
- Assist in researching/recommending/implementing development methodology standards and best practices to allow for prompt response to business requirements.
- Assist with University System of Georgia, Information Technology Services (ITS), projects.
- Directly support faculty/staff/students with services provided in the OIT service catalog.
- Assist the development team in the development and maintenance of standards around the SDLC to include requirements, testing and documentation.
- Assist in analyzing and testing applications to support educational and research activities of the FVSU.
- Assist in understanding, articulating, analyzing and implementing the practices, processes and policies by which offices we support conduct their business.
- Answer customer/colleague questions regarding programs, applications and databases. Work with development team to provide assessment and effort estimates / costs for requests to include the time from project initiation to production deployment and project closeout.
- Support users by troubleshooting system issues/errors identified by the Help Desk and proposing solutions to issues found. Answer customer/colleague questions regarding programs and applications.
- Work closely with internal and external technical support groups to ensure application issues or bugs are addressed in a timely fashion and in accordance with customer expectations.
- Provide support of the Oracle database and related tools for multiple clients.
- Review updates and patches for the Banner ERP and related 3rd party products.
- Conduct database tuning, security, backups, and optimization of the database for the Banner ERP.
- Provide troubleshooting assistance with issues related to user logins and single sign-on for Banner9.
- Provide senior technical leadership to assist clients with complex technical planning and task management for clients implementing all the Ellucian Banner products.
- Assist in Peoplesoft Financials and HCM security audits and permissions.
- Performs related or all other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION
- Ability to work collaboratively with departmental and university personnel and administration.
- Demonstrated ability to participate in public relations activities, to include television and radio interviews, and press conferences, as appropriate.
- Demonstrated ability to handle high levels of stress and anxiety.
- Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA and SIAC rules and regulations governing recruitment, eligibility and related functions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with departmental and university personnel and administration.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Position operates in a 24/7 IT environment and may require occasional evening, weekend, or after-hours support, both scheduled and unscheduled.
- This role requires regular on-site, in-person work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering or related fields required or a combination of education, specialized training, and experience equivalency will be considered as a substitute for one of the listed disciplines. Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, make decisions that enhance organizational team effectiveness, and participate in teams by positively influencing others to achieve desired results that are in the best interest of the organization.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in computer science, IT, or related field, with 2+ years of database administration and application support experience (preferably in higher education).
- Strong expertise in Ellucian Banner (Banner 9), Oracle databases, and PeopleSoft, including system architecture, security, and integrations.
- Experience supporting and integrating third-party applications (e.g., Touchnet, NelNet, Kronos) and tools such as Git, Jenkins, and Ellucian Ethos.
- Proficiency in SQL, Oracle SQL, and Python, with strong troubleshooting, data governance, and data security knowledge.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects, communicate technical concepts clearly, and collaborate effectively across teams.
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (FVSU), a state and land-grant institution of the University System of Georgia, invites applications for the position of Application Support Specialist.
Fort Valley State University, the only 1890 land-grant university in Georgia, is a comprehensive institution that provides an education to over 2,800 students including graduate students. The university is located in the town of Fort Valley in Peach County, the original site of the state's peach industry. Its 1,365-acre (5.52 km²) campus is Georgia's second-largest public university in area.
Fort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status.
JOB SUMMARY
This position assists the university in data management of ERP systems. This position also provides escalated technical support for ERP issues. Acts as a liaison between FVSU Office of Information Technology (OIT) and University System of Georgia Information Technology Services (ITS).
MAJOR DUTIES
- Support users by providing consultation of the products and how best to incorporate/adjust business processes to align with system capabilities. Assist in configuring the systems to function as desired. Troubleshoot system issues/errors. Act as a liaison between users and the vendors to resolve issues. Recommend changes as needs are identified.
- Assist in researching/recommending/implementing development methodology standards and best practices to allow for prompt response to business requirements.
- Assist with University System of Georgia, Information Technology Services (ITS), projects.
- Directly support faculty/staff/students with services provided in the OIT service catalog.
- Assist the development team in the development and maintenance of standards around the SDLC to include requirements, testing and documentation.
- Assist in analyzing and testing applications to support educational and research activities of the FVSU.
- Assist in understanding, articulating, analyzing and implementing the practices, processes and policies by which offices we support conduct their business.
- Answer customer/colleague questions regarding programs, applications and databases. Work with development team to provide assessment and effort estimates / costs for requests to include the time from project initiation to production deployment and project closeout.
- Support users by troubleshooting system issues/errors identified by the Help Desk and proposing solutions to issues found. Answer customer/colleague questions regarding programs and applications.
- Work closely with internal and external technical support groups to ensure application issues or bugs are addressed in a timely fashion and in accordance with customer expectations.
- Provide support of the Oracle database and related tools for multiple clients.
- Review updates and patches for the Banner ERP and related 3rd party products.
- Conduct database tuning, security, backups, and optimization of the database for the Banner ERP.
- Provide troubleshooting assistance with issues related to user logins and single sign-on for Banner9.
- Provide senior technical leadership to assist clients with complex technical planning and task management for clients implementing all the Ellucian Banner products.
- Assist in Peoplesoft Financials and HCM security audits and permissions.
- Performs related or all other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION
- Ability to work collaboratively with departmental and university personnel and administration.
- Demonstrated ability to participate in public relations activities, to include television and radio interviews, and press conferences, as appropriate.
- Demonstrated ability to handle high levels of stress and anxiety.
- Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA and SIAC rules and regulations governing recruitment, eligibility and related functions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with departmental and university personnel and administration.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Position operates in a 24/7 IT environment and may require occasional evening, weekend, or after-hours support, both scheduled and unscheduled.
- This role requires regular on-site, in-person work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering or related fields required or a combination of education, specialized training, and experience equivalency will be considered as a substitute for one of the listed disciplines. Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, make decisions that enhance organizational team effectiveness, and participate in teams by positively influencing others to achieve desired results that are in the best interest of the organization.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in computer science, IT, or related field, with 2+ years of database administration and application support experience (preferably in higher education).
- Strong expertise in Ellucian Banner (Banner 9), Oracle databases, and PeopleSoft, including system architecture, security, and integrations.
- Experience supporting and integrating third-party applications (e.g., Touchnet, NelNet, Kronos) and tools such as Git, Jenkins, and Ellucian Ethos.
- Proficiency in SQL, Oracle SQL, and Python, with strong troubleshooting, data governance, and data security knowledge.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects, communicate technical concepts clearly, and collaborate effectively across teams.
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Application Support Specialist
Lead with your technical troubleshooting experience
Hiring managers want proof you can diagnose and resolve software issues under pressure. Highlight specific tools you've supported, ticketing systems you've used, and measurable outcomes like resolution times or ticket volume handled during internships or academic projects.
Confirm STEM OPT eligibility before applying
Application Support Specialist roles typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in computer science, information systems, or engineering. Verify your CIP code with your DSO before targeting roles, so you can confidently communicate your full authorization window to employers.
Target companies with existing OPT hiring infrastructure
Mid-size technology firms and enterprise software companies regularly hire OPT students for support roles. Focus on employers who have filed E-Verify enrollment and have supported prior OPT or H-1B visa workers, as they understand the process and face fewer internal compliance hurdles.
Address your OPT timeline proactively in interviews
Employers worry about work authorization gaps. Come prepared to explain your OPT start date, when your EAD arrives, and your STEM extension eligibility. A clear, confident explanation reduces hesitation and signals you've done the paperwork groundwork on your end.
Showcase cross-functional communication skills
Application Support roles sit between technical teams and end users. Demonstrate in your resume and interviews that you can translate complex issues into plain language. Include examples of documentation you've written, training sessions you've led, or stakeholder updates you've delivered.
Get certified in platforms commonly used in support roles
Certifications in Salesforce, ServiceNow, or ITIL signal job readiness and reduce employer risk concerns around hiring an OPT student. Even entry-level credentials differentiate you from candidates with similar academic backgrounds and show initiative beyond coursework.
Application Support Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Application Support Specialist roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Application Support Specialist positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in computer science, information systems, information technology, or a related STEM field. The role must involve applying STEM knowledge directly, which application support work typically satisfies. Confirm your specific degree CIP code with your DSO to verify eligibility before accepting an offer.
How do I find Application Support Specialist jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers who are open to OPT work authorization, so you're not wasting time on postings from companies that won't consider your situation. Application Support roles appear across industries including healthcare IT, fintech, and enterprise software, and Migrate Mate surfaces relevant openings with sponsorship context included.
Can I work as an Application Support Specialist on post-completion OPT before my STEM extension is approved?
Yes. You can work for a single employer on your initial 12-month post-completion OPT while your STEM extension application is pending with USCIS, as long as you file before your current EAD expires and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Your work authorization automatically continues during the processing period, which is known as the cap-gap rule for STEM extension filers.
What do employers typically ask about OPT during interviews for Application Support roles?
Employers most commonly ask about your EAD start date, how long you're authorized to work, and whether your role qualifies for a STEM extension. For Application Support positions specifically, some hiring managers also ask whether your degree field is relevant enough to satisfy STEM OPT requirements. Having a clear, one-minute explanation ready that covers your authorization timeline and STEM eligibility removes most employer hesitation.
Does an Application Support Specialist role have to be full-time to satisfy OPT requirements?
Yes. USCIS requires that post-completion OPT employment be at least 20 hours per week and directly related to your degree field. Most Application Support Specialist positions are full-time, which easily satisfies this threshold. Part-time arrangements can qualify if they meet the 20-hour minimum, but you should document how the role connects to your field of study in case your DSO or USCIS requests verification.