OPT Data Governance Specialist Jobs
Data Governance Specialist roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in information management, data analytics, or computer science. Most positions qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in finance, healthcare, and tech actively hire for these roles year-round.
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Get Access To All JobsWe are a Firm where people truly believe in what they do and strive to achieve the highest standards of performance and success.
This position may be based at the Firm's Global Operations Center in Tampa, Florida, or at one of the Firm's offices in Dallas or Atlanta.
General Description:
We are seeking an AI and Data Governance Engineer to join our team. The AI and Data Governance (AIDG) Engineer is responsible for implementing, configuring, and maintaining the technology stack that powers the AI and data governance program. This includes the data catalog (Atlan), data quality & observability platform (Monte Carlo), and tools and initiatives such as master data management and AI governance solutions. This role works closely within the AIDG Team, as well as the broader Data Strategy and Knowledge & Innovation teams, to ensure that data is discoverable, trustworthy, and governed throughout its lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions:
Platform Ownership & Administration
- Serve as primary administrator for:
- Data catalog (Atlan): users, roles, workspaces, integrations, policies
- Data quality / observability tool (Monte Carlo): monitors, alerts, integrations
- Tools and initiatives like MDM and AI governance / model registry platforms
- Manage configuration, upgrades, and maintenance in partnership with vendors.
- Monitor system health, performance, and usage. Drive improvements and automation where possible.
- Coordinate closely with IT on system administration.
Integration & Automation
- Integrate governance tools with key data platforms (e.g., data warehouse/lake, BI tools, orchestration platforms, source systems).
- Develop and maintain pipelines to:
- Synchronize metadata into the data catalog.
- Push incident/alert data from observability tools into ticketing/incident systems.
- Synchronize ownership, classifications, and tags across systems.
- Automate repetitive tasks (user provisioning, role assignments, metadata sync jobs, etc.) where possible.
Metadata Management & Lineage
- Implement and maintain technical and business metadata in Atlan.
- Configure and validate data lineage across pipelines, data stores, and BI layers.
- Advise on metamodel design for business glossaries, domains, and classifications.
- Establish best practices for naming conventions, tagging, and documentation within the tools.
Data Quality & Observability
- Configure and optimize Monte Carlo for:
- Freshness, volume, and schema checks
- Custom rule-based and anomaly-based quality monitors
- Incident routing, severity, and escalation rules
- Partner with data engineering and AIDG analysts to embed data quality checks into critical pipelines.
- Track, report, and help reduce data incidents, broken pipelines, and recurring quality issues.
Reference Data and User Enablement
- Help define how golden records, reference data, and crosswalks are surfaced in the catalog and monitored in the DQ tool.
- Ensure consistent identifiers, hierarchies, and mappings across systems.
- Provide hands-on support to users of Atlan, Monte Carlo, and other governance tools.
- Create and maintain training materials, quick-start guides, and best-practice playbooks.
- Host training sessions, office hours, and demos to drive adoption and consistent usage.
Model Governance & Compliance Support
- Evaluate and support adoption and integration of any future AI governance tools (e.g., for model registry, lineage, risk controls, and policy enforcement).
- Integrate model metadata and lineage into the data catalog.
- Partner with Data Science / AI teams to ensure governed access, monitoring, and documentation of models and AI assets.
- Align tool configurations with overall data governance policies (access control, retention, sensitivity classifications, etc.).
- Help operationalize policies (e.g., PII tagging, restricted domains, masking policies) within tools and data platforms.
- Expected to maintain a regular and predictable work schedule and full attention to and engagement in work activities on behalf of the firm during business hours unless otherwise approved or required by applicable law.
- Special projects and duties as assigned.
Required Skills:
- Hands-on experience with at least one of the following (or similar):
- Data catalog: Atlan, Collibra, Alation, Informatica, etc.
- Data quality / observability: Monte Carlo, Soda, Great Expectations, etc.
- Strong SQL skills and solid understanding of modern data platforms (data warehouses/lakes, e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, Redshift, Synapse, etc.).
- Experience integrating tools using APIs, SDKs, or event-based approaches.
- Familiarity with data governance concepts: data ownership, stewardship, lineage, business glossary, classifications, access controls.
- Strong communication skills and ability to translate technical configurations into clear workflows and documentation.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, or Microsoft 365.
Required Qualifications & Education:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 3+ years of experience in data engineering, data platform administration, or similar technical role.
Preferred Qualifications & Education:
- Experience administering Atlan and/or Monte Carlo specifically.
- Experience with:
- Master data management (MDM) tools and concepts
- AI / ML governance, model registries
- Background supporting or participating in a formal data governance program (council, domain stewards, policy rollout, etc.).
- Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks related to data (e.g., data masking, RBAC/ABAC, least privileged access).
- Experience working in a regulated or data-sensitive industry (e.g., financial services, legal, healthcare, or public sector).
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
- Moderate or advanced keyboard usage.
Benefits: Our goal is to promote a work environment in which individuals have access to the resources they need to be their best both professionally and personally, which includes resources that encourage individuals to focus on their health and well-being.
Below are the benefits we offer: comprehensive medical (PPO and HDHPs), dental and vision plans including coverage for domestic partners; life and AD&D insurance; short and long term disability insurance; tax-advantaged accounts for health care expenses, including FSAs and HSAs; FSAs for dependent care; health advocacy services; behavioral health and counseling resources for all family members; 401(k); profit sharing; backup dependent care; senior care planning support; resources for individuals with development disabilities and their caregivers; and paid holidays and other paid time off, including paid leave for new parents.
Holland & Knight is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other factor prohibited by law.
Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact ApplicantAccommodations@hklaw.com.
Personal Information collected from applicants will be used for the purpose of processing the application throughout any recruitment or employment process, as well as inclusion in a personnel file. Categories of data collected may include name, address, phone numbers, email, Social Security Number, and signature. Holland & Knight may collect further information if you consent to a background check. This includes criminal background, employment, and certifications. Please visit Legal Information Portal for Holland & Knight LLP’s privacy policies.
We are a Firm where people truly believe in what they do and strive to achieve the highest standards of performance and success.
This position may be based at the Firm's Global Operations Center in Tampa, Florida, or at one of the Firm's offices in Dallas or Atlanta.
General Description:
We are seeking an AI and Data Governance Engineer to join our team. The AI and Data Governance (AIDG) Engineer is responsible for implementing, configuring, and maintaining the technology stack that powers the AI and data governance program. This includes the data catalog (Atlan), data quality & observability platform (Monte Carlo), and tools and initiatives such as master data management and AI governance solutions. This role works closely within the AIDG Team, as well as the broader Data Strategy and Knowledge & Innovation teams, to ensure that data is discoverable, trustworthy, and governed throughout its lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions:
Platform Ownership & Administration
- Serve as primary administrator for:
- Data catalog (Atlan): users, roles, workspaces, integrations, policies
- Data quality / observability tool (Monte Carlo): monitors, alerts, integrations
- Tools and initiatives like MDM and AI governance / model registry platforms
- Manage configuration, upgrades, and maintenance in partnership with vendors.
- Monitor system health, performance, and usage. Drive improvements and automation where possible.
- Coordinate closely with IT on system administration.
Integration & Automation
- Integrate governance tools with key data platforms (e.g., data warehouse/lake, BI tools, orchestration platforms, source systems).
- Develop and maintain pipelines to:
- Synchronize metadata into the data catalog.
- Push incident/alert data from observability tools into ticketing/incident systems.
- Synchronize ownership, classifications, and tags across systems.
- Automate repetitive tasks (user provisioning, role assignments, metadata sync jobs, etc.) where possible.
Metadata Management & Lineage
- Implement and maintain technical and business metadata in Atlan.
- Configure and validate data lineage across pipelines, data stores, and BI layers.
- Advise on metamodel design for business glossaries, domains, and classifications.
- Establish best practices for naming conventions, tagging, and documentation within the tools.
Data Quality & Observability
- Configure and optimize Monte Carlo for:
- Freshness, volume, and schema checks
- Custom rule-based and anomaly-based quality monitors
- Incident routing, severity, and escalation rules
- Partner with data engineering and AIDG analysts to embed data quality checks into critical pipelines.
- Track, report, and help reduce data incidents, broken pipelines, and recurring quality issues.
Reference Data and User Enablement
- Help define how golden records, reference data, and crosswalks are surfaced in the catalog and monitored in the DQ tool.
- Ensure consistent identifiers, hierarchies, and mappings across systems.
- Provide hands-on support to users of Atlan, Monte Carlo, and other governance tools.
- Create and maintain training materials, quick-start guides, and best-practice playbooks.
- Host training sessions, office hours, and demos to drive adoption and consistent usage.
Model Governance & Compliance Support
- Evaluate and support adoption and integration of any future AI governance tools (e.g., for model registry, lineage, risk controls, and policy enforcement).
- Integrate model metadata and lineage into the data catalog.
- Partner with Data Science / AI teams to ensure governed access, monitoring, and documentation of models and AI assets.
- Align tool configurations with overall data governance policies (access control, retention, sensitivity classifications, etc.).
- Help operationalize policies (e.g., PII tagging, restricted domains, masking policies) within tools and data platforms.
- Expected to maintain a regular and predictable work schedule and full attention to and engagement in work activities on behalf of the firm during business hours unless otherwise approved or required by applicable law.
- Special projects and duties as assigned.
Required Skills:
- Hands-on experience with at least one of the following (or similar):
- Data catalog: Atlan, Collibra, Alation, Informatica, etc.
- Data quality / observability: Monte Carlo, Soda, Great Expectations, etc.
- Strong SQL skills and solid understanding of modern data platforms (data warehouses/lakes, e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, Redshift, Synapse, etc.).
- Experience integrating tools using APIs, SDKs, or event-based approaches.
- Familiarity with data governance concepts: data ownership, stewardship, lineage, business glossary, classifications, access controls.
- Strong communication skills and ability to translate technical configurations into clear workflows and documentation.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, or Microsoft 365.
Required Qualifications & Education:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 3+ years of experience in data engineering, data platform administration, or similar technical role.
Preferred Qualifications & Education:
- Experience administering Atlan and/or Monte Carlo specifically.
- Experience with:
- Master data management (MDM) tools and concepts
- AI / ML governance, model registries
- Background supporting or participating in a formal data governance program (council, domain stewards, policy rollout, etc.).
- Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks related to data (e.g., data masking, RBAC/ABAC, least privileged access).
- Experience working in a regulated or data-sensitive industry (e.g., financial services, legal, healthcare, or public sector).
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
- Moderate or advanced keyboard usage.
Benefits: Our goal is to promote a work environment in which individuals have access to the resources they need to be their best both professionally and personally, which includes resources that encourage individuals to focus on their health and well-being.
Below are the benefits we offer: comprehensive medical (PPO and HDHPs), dental and vision plans including coverage for domestic partners; life and AD&D insurance; short and long term disability insurance; tax-advantaged accounts for health care expenses, including FSAs and HSAs; FSAs for dependent care; health advocacy services; behavioral health and counseling resources for all family members; 401(k); profit sharing; backup dependent care; senior care planning support; resources for individuals with development disabilities and their caregivers; and paid holidays and other paid time off, including paid leave for new parents.
Holland & Knight is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other factor prohibited by law.
Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require an accommodation during the process should contact ApplicantAccommodations@hklaw.com.
Personal Information collected from applicants will be used for the purpose of processing the application throughout any recruitment or employment process, as well as inclusion in a personnel file. Categories of data collected may include name, address, phone numbers, email, Social Security Number, and signature. Holland & Knight may collect further information if you consent to a background check. This includes criminal background, employment, and certifications. Please visit Legal Information Portal for Holland & Knight LLP’s privacy policies.
See all OPT Data Governance Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Data Governance Specialist
Lead with your STEM OPT eligibility
Data Governance Specialist roles typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Mention your STEM-designated degree upfront in applications so employers know your work authorization extends well beyond standard OPT before they raise the question.
Target industries with established data compliance needs
Financial services, healthcare, and enterprise tech companies build entire governance teams to meet regulatory requirements. These industries hire data governance roles consistently and are more experienced managing OPT timelines than smaller startups without compliance infrastructure.
Align your degree to the job description explicitly
Data governance roles require a clear connection between your degree field and the position. Explicitly map your information systems, computer science, or statistics background to the job's metadata, data quality, or policy responsibilities in your resume and cover letter.
Highlight hands-on tools and frameworks
Employers prioritize candidates with practical experience in data cataloging tools, master data management platforms, or governance frameworks like DAMA-DMBOK. Listing specific tools you have worked with signals job-readiness and reduces perceived onboarding risk for OPT hires.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Data governance hiring often involves multiple interview rounds and cross-team coordination. Starting your job search at least three months before your OPT authorization begins gives employers enough lead time to complete hiring without feeling pressured by your timeline.
Address the E-Verify requirement proactively
STEM OPT employers are required to use E-Verify. Mentioning in your application that you understand this requirement and are prepared to complete E-Verify enrollment signals that you have done your research and removes a common administrative concern employers have with OPT hires.
Data Governance Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Data Governance Specialist jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Data Governance Specialist roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, information systems, or statistics. The job must involve work directly related to your degree field. Your designated school official confirms eligibility when you apply for the extension through your university, so review your I-20 and degree designation early.
Which employers hire Data Governance Specialists on OPT?
Large financial institutions, health systems, insurance companies, and enterprise technology firms are among the most consistent employers for this role. These organizations maintain dedicated data governance teams to meet regulatory and compliance requirements, which means hiring is less discretionary than at smaller companies. Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for OPT-friendly employers, so you can focus on roles where sponsorship is genuinely on the table.
How does the OPT cap-gap rule apply if I receive an H-1B petition while working as a Data Governance Specialist?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your OPT expires and the petition is selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can continue working in your Data Governance Specialist role without interruption during this period. Keep copies of your OPT EAD, the H-1B receipt notice, and your current I-20 readily available.
What degree fields are considered relevant for a Data Governance Specialist position on OPT?
Computer science, management information systems, data science, statistics, and information management are the most commonly accepted degree fields for this role. Some employers also accept degrees in business analytics or library and information science when the applicant can demonstrate technical data skills. A clear connection between your coursework and the specific responsibilities listed in the job description strengthens both your application and your STEM OPT extension eligibility.
Can I switch employers as a Data Governance Specialist while on OPT?
Yes, but the new job must be directly related to your degree field and you must report the employer change to your DSO within 10 days. If you are on standard OPT, the new role must also be a minimum of 20 hours per week. On STEM OPT, the new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and you must file a new I-983 training plan. Avoid gaps between positions, as extended unemployment can jeopardize your OPT status.