Data Engineering Intern Jobs for OPT Students

Data Engineering Intern roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in tech: employers routinely file H-1B petitions for strong interns, and the work squarely qualifies as STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of authorized work. Most roles involve Python, SQL, and cloud pipelines, aligning directly with CS and data science degrees.

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Overview

Open Jobs952+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type77% On-site
Salary Range$15K – $22K
Top LocationSan Jose, CA
Most JobsByteDance

Showing 5 of 952+ Data Engineering Intern jobs

SEI Investments
Data Engineering Intern
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SEI Investments
New 16h ago
Data Engineering Intern
SEI Investments
Oaks, Pennsylvania
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Data Science
Cloud Engineering
Hybrid
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Strategic Education, Inc
Data Engineering Intern
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Strategic Education, Inc
Added 2d ago
Data Engineering Intern
Strategic Education, Inc
Remote
Data Engineering
Software Engineering
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Not listed
Remote (US)

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Brown and Caldwell
Data Engineering Intern
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Brown and Caldwell
Added 5d ago
Data Engineering Intern
Brown and Caldwell
Los Angeles, California
Data Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Software Engineering
$18/hr - $30/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Simmons Bank
Data Engineering Intern
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Simmons Bank
Added 5d ago
Data Engineering Intern
Simmons Bank
Dallas, Texas
Data Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Science
Data Analytics
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Capital Rx
Data Engineering Intern
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Capital Rx
Added 1w ago
Data Engineering Intern
Capital Rx
Denver, New York
Data Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Science
Data Analytics
$35/hr - $40/hr
Hybrid
Master's

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How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Data Engineering Intern

Lead with STEM OPT eligibility upfront

Mention your STEM OPT status in your resume summary or cover letter. Employers unfamiliar with OPT often assume sponsorship is expensive and complex. Clarifying that you're already authorized to work removes that friction before the first conversation.

Target companies with active H-1B filing history

Employers who have previously sponsored H-1B visas are far more likely to extend interns into full-time sponsored roles. Focusing your search on companies with that track record significantly improves your odds of long-term visa support after the internship ends.

Align your degree field to the job description explicitly

STEM OPT requires your employment to be directly related to your degree. In applications, name the connection clearly: a computer science degree supporting a role building data pipelines is obvious to you but worth spelling out for a hiring manager unfamiliar with OPT rules.

Treat your DSO relationship as a job search asset

Your Designated School Official can confirm your OPT authorization period and STEM extension eligibility in writing. Having that documentation ready before interviews signals to employers that you've handled the administrative side and won't create delays in onboarding.

Apply early relative to your OPT start date

Many employers won't hold an offer open for more than a few weeks. Start your internship search three to four months before your intended start date so your OPT authorization is active or imminent by the time an offer arrives, not still weeks away.

Negotiate a full-time conversion discussion before accepting

Internships that convert to full-time roles are where OPT students gain the most immigration leverage. Before accepting an offer, ask directly whether the company has a conversion process and whether it includes visa sponsorship support for international hires.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work as a Data Engineering Intern on OPT?

Yes, provided the internship is directly related to your degree field. A data engineering role requires skills in areas like database design, pipeline development, and distributed systems, which align closely with degrees in computer science, data science, and related engineering disciplines. Your DSO can confirm whether the specific role qualifies before you accept an offer.

Does a Data Engineering Internship qualify for the STEM OPT extension?

It does if your degree is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List and the employer meets E-Verify enrollment requirements. Most data engineering internships at technology companies, financial institutions, and large enterprises satisfy both conditions. The extension gives you an additional 24 months of work authorization beyond your initial 12-month OPT period, totaling 36 months.

How do I find Data Engineering Intern roles that are open to OPT students?

Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces data engineering internships at employers who are open to or actively supportive of international work authorization. Filtering by OPT-friendly employers saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a company won't work with international candidates.

Do employers need to do anything special to hire me as a Data Engineering Intern on OPT?

For standard OPT, no special filing is required from the employer. You present your EAD card and your employer verifies it through Form I-9 like any other employment authorization document. If you later apply for a STEM OPT extension, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan using Form I-983, which outlines your learning goals and supervision structure.

What happens to my OPT if my Data Engineering Internship ends early or the company rescinds the offer?

Your OPT authorization remains valid, but unemployment time counts against your 90-day limit for pre-completion OPT or 150-day limit for post-completion OPT. You must report any change in employer or employment status to your DSO within 10 days. If you're between roles, use that window actively to line up your next position before hitting the unemployment threshold.

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