OPT Data Engineer Jobs
Data Engineer roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in tech, with strong employer demand for F-1 students skilled in Python, SQL, and cloud platforms like AWS or Azure. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to three years of authorized work without H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Northmarq, you can be part of something special. Northmarq is a unique capital markets resource for commercial real estate investors, providing our clients access to experts in debt, equity, investment sales, loan servicing, and fund management. We offer you a career path with best-in-class training, and we foster inclusive teams committed to collaboration, mentoring, and growth. At Northmarq, we will help you unlock your potential – whether you are an industry veteran or you're just getting started. Your new career is waiting. Start something special today. Northmarq was voted by Real Estate Forum as one of The Best Places to Work in Commercial Real Estate!
Northmarq is seeking an experienced Data Engineer to join its Bloomington, MN headquarters office. At Northmarq, we are a leading commercial real estate company dedicated to leveraging advanced technologies to drive data-driven decision-making across debt & equity, investment sales, loan servicing, and fund management. In this role on the Data Intelligence team, you will use your passion for data engineering to design, build, and maintain scalable data solutions that optimize workflows, enhance decision-making, and streamline operations company-wide. We are building upon platforms of success and need creative-minded individuals who thrive on driving quick and innovative changes. You will collaborate with other engineers, business analysts, product managers, and cross-functional teams to solve complex problems, enhance our data processes, adhere to industry standards, and stay ahead of emerging technologies.
- This role supports a flexible schedule that prioritizes in-office teamwork, with flexibility for remote work when appropriate.
Position Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, and maintain robust, scalable data pipelines using Snowpark, including ETL/ELT processes for ingesting, transforming, and loading data from diverse sources.
- Build serverless data processing functions using Azure Functions for event-driven workflows, data validation, and lightweight ETL tasks.
- Leverage Snowflake Cortex AI/ML capabilities for advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and intelligent data enrichment.
- Lead integration efforts with third-party data providers and APIs for seamless data exchange using various synchronization methods.
- Architect and implement data solutions that meet business requirements, including scalable data models and database architectures in Snowflake.
- Partner with business analysts and stakeholders to define reporting requirements and deliver high-quality BI solutions, supporting Power BI development through data modeling and pipeline optimization.
- Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines for data workflows, including automated testing and deployment.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver data initiatives on time and within scope.
- Stay current with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in data engineering.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or equivalent education and experience.
- 3-5 years of experience in data engineering or a similar role.
- Proficiency in Python for data processing, pipeline development, and automation.
- Experience with Snowflake including Snowpark (or similar Python-based data pipeline frameworks).
- Familiarity with Snowflake Cortex AI features for analytics and data enrichment.
- Hands-on experience with Azure, AWS, or other cloud data services.
- Experience with APIs and API-based integrations for data exchange with external systems.
- Experience with Salesforce data extraction and integration.
- Proficiency in SQL and data warehousing concepts.
- Experience with DevOps methodologies, infrastructure as code, and git.
- Familiarity with Power BI or similar tool for analytics visualization.
- Understanding of Agile methodologies and work item tracking systems such as Jira or Azure DevOps.
- A curious drive with strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
- Disciplined, dynamic, and flexible approach to work.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks, assignments, and prioritize to meet deadlines.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Excellent interpersonal and customer management skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated work ethic and willingness to work extended hours as required.
Northmarq offers a highly competitive benefits package including: medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401K match and an annual discretionary contribution based on business performance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance, education assistance, volunteer paid time off, charitable contribution match and so much more!
Northmarq carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate's education, training, and experience. The salary range for the Data Engineer position is $105,000.00 to $135,000.00 annually. This range is a good faith estimate and the actual compensation that is offered to a successful candidate will depend on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.
#LI-Onsite #LI-LA1
At Northmarq, you can be part of something special. Northmarq is a unique capital markets resource for commercial real estate investors, providing our clients access to experts in debt, equity, investment sales, loan servicing, and fund management. We offer you a career path with best-in-class training, and we foster inclusive teams committed to collaboration, mentoring, and growth. At Northmarq, we will help you unlock your potential – whether you are an industry veteran or you're just getting started. Your new career is waiting. Start something special today. Northmarq was voted by Real Estate Forum as one of The Best Places to Work in Commercial Real Estate!
Northmarq is seeking an experienced Data Engineer to join its Bloomington, MN headquarters office. At Northmarq, we are a leading commercial real estate company dedicated to leveraging advanced technologies to drive data-driven decision-making across debt & equity, investment sales, loan servicing, and fund management. In this role on the Data Intelligence team, you will use your passion for data engineering to design, build, and maintain scalable data solutions that optimize workflows, enhance decision-making, and streamline operations company-wide. We are building upon platforms of success and need creative-minded individuals who thrive on driving quick and innovative changes. You will collaborate with other engineers, business analysts, product managers, and cross-functional teams to solve complex problems, enhance our data processes, adhere to industry standards, and stay ahead of emerging technologies.
- This role supports a flexible schedule that prioritizes in-office teamwork, with flexibility for remote work when appropriate.
Position Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, and maintain robust, scalable data pipelines using Snowpark, including ETL/ELT processes for ingesting, transforming, and loading data from diverse sources.
- Build serverless data processing functions using Azure Functions for event-driven workflows, data validation, and lightweight ETL tasks.
- Leverage Snowflake Cortex AI/ML capabilities for advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and intelligent data enrichment.
- Lead integration efforts with third-party data providers and APIs for seamless data exchange using various synchronization methods.
- Architect and implement data solutions that meet business requirements, including scalable data models and database architectures in Snowflake.
- Partner with business analysts and stakeholders to define reporting requirements and deliver high-quality BI solutions, supporting Power BI development through data modeling and pipeline optimization.
- Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines for data workflows, including automated testing and deployment.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver data initiatives on time and within scope.
- Stay current with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in data engineering.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or equivalent education and experience.
- 3-5 years of experience in data engineering or a similar role.
- Proficiency in Python for data processing, pipeline development, and automation.
- Experience with Snowflake including Snowpark (or similar Python-based data pipeline frameworks).
- Familiarity with Snowflake Cortex AI features for analytics and data enrichment.
- Hands-on experience with Azure, AWS, or other cloud data services.
- Experience with APIs and API-based integrations for data exchange with external systems.
- Experience with Salesforce data extraction and integration.
- Proficiency in SQL and data warehousing concepts.
- Experience with DevOps methodologies, infrastructure as code, and git.
- Familiarity with Power BI or similar tool for analytics visualization.
- Understanding of Agile methodologies and work item tracking systems such as Jira or Azure DevOps.
- A curious drive with strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
- Disciplined, dynamic, and flexible approach to work.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks, assignments, and prioritize to meet deadlines.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Excellent interpersonal and customer management skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated work ethic and willingness to work extended hours as required.
Northmarq offers a highly competitive benefits package including: medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401K match and an annual discretionary contribution based on business performance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance, education assistance, volunteer paid time off, charitable contribution match and so much more!
Northmarq carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate's education, training, and experience. The salary range for the Data Engineer position is $105,000.00 to $135,000.00 annually. This range is a good faith estimate and the actual compensation that is offered to a successful candidate will depend on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.
#LI-Onsite #LI-LA1
See all 4,350+ OPT Data Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Data Engineer
Lead with your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
Data Engineering is a STEM-designated field, which means you qualify for a 24-month OPT extension beyond your initial 12 months. Mention this in your cover letter so employers know they have three years before needing to sponsor an H-1B visa.
Build a portfolio around real data pipelines
Employers hiring data engineers want proof you can build and maintain production-grade pipelines. Publish GitHub projects showing ETL workflows, data modeling, or orchestration with tools like Airflow or dbt to demonstrate hands-on capability beyond coursework.
Target companies with active H-1B filing histories
Companies that regularly file H-1B petitions for data roles are far more likely to sponsor you after OPT. DOL disclosure data shows which employers have historically sponsored data engineering positions, so prioritize applications there.
Emphasize cloud certifications to stand out
AWS Certified Data Engineer, Google Professional Data Engineer, or Azure Data Engineer certifications signal to hiring managers that you can contribute immediately. Certifications often offset concerns about sponsorship timelines by demonstrating high technical readiness.
Address OPT timing proactively with recruiters
Recruiters often assume OPT authorization is more complicated than it is. Prepare a one-sentence explanation of your current OPT status, remaining duration, and STEM extension eligibility so hiring conversations move forward without confusion or hesitation.
Apply to mid-size tech and data-driven companies
Startups and mid-size companies in fintech, healthtech, and SaaS often have urgent data engineering needs and more flexible hiring processes. They're frequently more willing to sponsor OPT workers than large enterprises with rigid HR policies.
Data Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Data Engineering falls under CIP codes recognized as STEM-eligible, which means most F-1 students graduating from a qualifying program in computer science, information systems, or a related field can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your role must be directly related to your degree field, and your employer must enroll in E-Verify to support the extension.
How do I find Data Engineer jobs that explicitly support OPT work authorization?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for OPT-eligible candidates, so you can browse Data Engineer roles from employers already open to F-1 work authorization without screening out irrelevant listings. This saves significant time compared to parsing general job postings that rarely specify sponsorship willingness upfront.
Can I work as a Data Engineer contractor or on a project basis during OPT?
OPT requires that your employment be directly related to your degree field, but it does not require a full-time permanent position. Contract and project-based data engineering roles can qualify, provided each engagement is substantive and field-related. Self-employment is permitted under OPT if you can demonstrate you are actively engaged in work related to your degree.
What happens to my OPT if my Data Engineer job ends before my authorization period expires?
F-1 OPT students are allowed up to 90 days of unemployment during the initial OPT period, and up to 150 days during the STEM OPT extension. If your data engineering role ends, you must actively pursue new employment in your field. Exceeding the unemployment limit puts your status at risk, so tracking your dates carefully from the day employment ends is critical.
Do Data Engineer employers need to do anything special to hire me on OPT?
For standard OPT, employers do not need to file any immigration petition or take formal action. You simply present your EAD card as proof of work authorization. For the STEM OPT extension, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and complete a formal training plan with your designated school official. Most established tech companies already meet this requirement.