Data Engineer Intern Jobs for OPT Students
Data Engineer Intern roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in tech, with employers regularly filing H-1B sponsorship for strong interns. Most positions require Python, SQL, and familiarity with cloud platforms. STEM OPT extension eligibility makes this role a strong fit for a 3-year authorization window.
See All Data Engineer Intern JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 212+ Data Engineer Intern jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 212+ Data Engineer Intern jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Data Engineer Intern roles.
Get Access To All JobsHi, We're Centerfield!
Supercharged customer acquisition. Centerfield delivers outcome-based digital marketing solutions and personalized omnichannel experiences for the world’s leading brands. Powered by our proprietary Dugout platform, Centerfield acquires customers at scale for leading residential service, insurance, e-commerce, and B2B brands. Centerfield’s digital experiences and digital brands, such as Business.com and BroadbandNow.com, reach more than 150 million in-market shoppers annually. Centerfield is headquartered in Silicon Beach and is proud to be recognized by Built in LA as a Best Place to Work in Los Angeles.
The Opportunity…
As a Data Engineer Intern at Centerfield, you’ll work closely with our Data Engineering team to support the development, testing, and maintenance of data pipelines and infrastructure that power our business. You'll gain hands-on experience writing and testing code, learning how data drives performance, and how we create scalable solutions in a fast-paced environment. This is a unique opportunity to learn the core of data engineering while collaborating with a team that’s building real-time, intelligent technology solutions.
We provide our interns with meaningful work that drives real impact. You’ll contribute to important projects and grow under the guidance of experienced mentors here at Centerfield!
Our summer internship applications are open until April 1, 2026, then we will close the posting. Thanks for your interest!
How You'll Contribute…
- Write and test clean, efficient, and scalable code
- Support and complete low-level tickets related to data ingestion, ETL pipelines, and tooling
- Participate in Level of Effort (LOE) estimations and planning
- Learn and contribute to internal data engineering processes and tools
- Analyze, manipulate, and query data to support projects
- Collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders to understand and support data needs
- Learn the business and how data plays a central role in our success
- Complete a capstone project with real business impact, and present your work to Centerfield leadership at the end of your internship
What We're Looking For…
- Eagerness to learn and a growth mindset!
- Rising seniors or recent grads (Spring 2025) in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field
- Familiarity with SQL, Python, and data pipeline frameworks
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to write and test code effectively
- Basic understanding of programming languages and tools
- Interest in working with large data sets and solving real-world data challenges
- Local to our Playa Vista HQ and able to work in-office 3 days per week
Bonus Points!
- Understanding of ETL processes and data modeling
- Interest in digital marketing, analytics, or advertising
- Curiosity around cloud-based technologies (AWS, Azure) or data platforms
Intern Life at Centerfield…
- Weekly pay!
- Interactive, onsite new-hire orientation for your first week to meet your peers!
- End-of-summer internship commencement with presentations and fun interactive events!
- Be assigned a personal mentor for daily support and guidance
- Career-focused workshop presentations from Centerfield’s key stakeholders
- Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning!
- Unlimited free snacks and drinks around the office!
- Monthly happy hours, catered Thursday lunches
- Award-winning culture & unprecedented team spirit (featured in LA Business Journal & Built In LA Best places to work)
- Monthly team outings (ball games, casino night, hikes, etc.)
- Career growth – we enjoy promoting from within!
This is a 6 month paid internship starting in June 2026 and ending in December 2026. The internship program will be 24 hours per week where you will come into the office Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays.
LI-Onsite
LI-AA1
Interviews will take place after resumes have been screened for minimum requirements. Please note that this position is not restricted solely to the responsibilities listed above and that the job scope and responsibilities are subject to change.
For more information about our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information in connection with our evaluating your candidacy, please visit our Privacy Policy at https://www.centerfield.com/privacy-policy/.
Centerfield Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law.
Hi, We're Centerfield!
Supercharged customer acquisition. Centerfield delivers outcome-based digital marketing solutions and personalized omnichannel experiences for the world’s leading brands. Powered by our proprietary Dugout platform, Centerfield acquires customers at scale for leading residential service, insurance, e-commerce, and B2B brands. Centerfield’s digital experiences and digital brands, such as Business.com and BroadbandNow.com, reach more than 150 million in-market shoppers annually. Centerfield is headquartered in Silicon Beach and is proud to be recognized by Built in LA as a Best Place to Work in Los Angeles.
The Opportunity…
As a Data Engineer Intern at Centerfield, you’ll work closely with our Data Engineering team to support the development, testing, and maintenance of data pipelines and infrastructure that power our business. You'll gain hands-on experience writing and testing code, learning how data drives performance, and how we create scalable solutions in a fast-paced environment. This is a unique opportunity to learn the core of data engineering while collaborating with a team that’s building real-time, intelligent technology solutions.
We provide our interns with meaningful work that drives real impact. You’ll contribute to important projects and grow under the guidance of experienced mentors here at Centerfield!
Our summer internship applications are open until April 1, 2026, then we will close the posting. Thanks for your interest!
How You'll Contribute…
- Write and test clean, efficient, and scalable code
- Support and complete low-level tickets related to data ingestion, ETL pipelines, and tooling
- Participate in Level of Effort (LOE) estimations and planning
- Learn and contribute to internal data engineering processes and tools
- Analyze, manipulate, and query data to support projects
- Collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders to understand and support data needs
- Learn the business and how data plays a central role in our success
- Complete a capstone project with real business impact, and present your work to Centerfield leadership at the end of your internship
What We're Looking For…
- Eagerness to learn and a growth mindset!
- Rising seniors or recent grads (Spring 2025) in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field
- Familiarity with SQL, Python, and data pipeline frameworks
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to write and test code effectively
- Basic understanding of programming languages and tools
- Interest in working with large data sets and solving real-world data challenges
- Local to our Playa Vista HQ and able to work in-office 3 days per week
Bonus Points!
- Understanding of ETL processes and data modeling
- Interest in digital marketing, analytics, or advertising
- Curiosity around cloud-based technologies (AWS, Azure) or data platforms
Intern Life at Centerfield…
- Weekly pay!
- Interactive, onsite new-hire orientation for your first week to meet your peers!
- End-of-summer internship commencement with presentations and fun interactive events!
- Be assigned a personal mentor for daily support and guidance
- Career-focused workshop presentations from Centerfield’s key stakeholders
- Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning!
- Unlimited free snacks and drinks around the office!
- Monthly happy hours, catered Thursday lunches
- Award-winning culture & unprecedented team spirit (featured in LA Business Journal & Built In LA Best places to work)
- Monthly team outings (ball games, casino night, hikes, etc.)
- Career growth – we enjoy promoting from within!
This is a 6 month paid internship starting in June 2026 and ending in December 2026. The internship program will be 24 hours per week where you will come into the office Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays.
LI-Onsite
LI-AA1
Interviews will take place after resumes have been screened for minimum requirements. Please note that this position is not restricted solely to the responsibilities listed above and that the job scope and responsibilities are subject to change.
For more information about our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information in connection with our evaluating your candidacy, please visit our Privacy Policy at https://www.centerfield.com/privacy-policy/.
Centerfield Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Data Engineer Intern
Target companies with active H-1B filing histories
Employers who regularly sponsor H-1B visas are far more likely to support OPT students through the full authorization period. Look for mid-size to large tech companies and consulting firms with established immigration infrastructure and dedicated HR teams.
Confirm STEM OPT eligibility before applying
Data Engineering typically qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of work authorization. Verify your degree CIP code is on the STEM designated degree program list before starting your job search.
Lead with your technical stack in applications
Employers screening OPT candidates want to see immediate technical contribution. Highlight proficiency in Python, SQL, Spark, and cloud platforms like AWS or GCP upfront. Concrete project experience with data pipelines reduces friction around work authorization conversations.
Start your OPT application at least 90 days early
USCIS allows you to apply up to 90 days before your program end date. Processing takes three to five months, so early filing protects your start date. Delays can push back internship offers, especially for structured summer programs with fixed timelines.
Ask about sponsorship intent during the offer stage
For internships with conversion potential, confirm whether the company sponsors H-1B visas before accepting. Asking late in the process wastes time for both sides. Frame it professionally: ask about their immigration support process for full-time conversion candidates.
Prioritize internships with full-time conversion pipelines
Internships that convert to full-time roles give you the best path through OPT and into H-1B sponsorship. Structured intern programs at established companies are more likely to have the legal and HR processes in place to support long-term work authorization.
Data Engineer Intern jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Data Engineer Intern JobsSee all 212+ Data Engineer Intern jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Data Engineer Intern roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Data Engineer Intern on OPT?
Yes. If your degree is in computer science, information systems, data science, or a related STEM field, Data Engineer Intern roles qualify for OPT work authorization. The position must be directly related to your major area of study. Most data engineering internships at tech and analytics companies meet this requirement, but confirm with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Does a Data Engineer Intern role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It can, provided two conditions are met: your degree program is on the STEM designated degree program list, and the employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Data engineering internships at most mid-size and large companies qualify. If approved, the extension adds 24 months to your initial 12-month OPT authorization, giving you up to three years total.
What happens if my Data Engineer Internship ends before my OPT period does?
OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment during the standard 12-month period, and up to 150 days during the STEM extension. If your internship ends early, you have that window to find a new qualifying position. Use Migrate Mate to browse OPT-friendly data engineering roles and avoid burning through your unemployment days without an active search strategy.
Do Data Engineer Intern roles typically lead to H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, but it depends entirely on the employer. Large tech companies, consulting firms, and financial institutions with established immigration programs regularly convert strong interns to full-time sponsored employees. Smaller startups are less predictable. If long-term sponsorship is a priority, target employers with a track record of H-1B filings and ask about conversion pathways before accepting an offer.
How many hours per week can I work as a Data Engineer Intern on OPT?
During post-completion OPT, you must work at least 20 hours per week for the position to count as qualifying employment. Most full-time internships run 40 hours per week, which comfortably satisfies this requirement. Part-time arrangements are permitted, but hours below 20 per week do not count toward your OPT employment record and accumulate as unemployment days.
See which Data Engineer Intern employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Data Engineer Intern Jobs