Data Infrastructure Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Data Infrastructure Engineer jobs are among the more OPT-friendly roles in tech because the underlying skills, distributed systems, pipeline architecture, and cloud infrastructure, map directly to H-1B specialty occupation criteria. Most employers in this space are comfortable with STEM OPT's 36-month authorization window and routinely file H-1B petitions for engineers in this function.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Engineering a world of possibilities
ABOUT THE JOB
Postdoctoral Scholar - Mines NIST PREP Lead Data Infrastructure Engineer
THE OPPORTUNITY:
Colorado School of Mines and the Statistical Engineering Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology are seeking immediate applications for a post-doctoral position focusing on leading the development of scientific computing applications and tools. The tools will include both public-facing web infrastructure and code bases used by bench scientists for data collection and analysis. A primary focus will be establishing a central, high-resolution data repository for international clock and frequency standard measurements, providing essential data and collaborative infrastructure for the upcoming redefinition of the second.
The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is a cooperative partnership between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Colorado School of Mines (Mines). Through PREP, Mines undergraduate and graduate students—as well as researchers holding a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD—have the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in NIST laboratories while working closely with both NIST scientists and a Mines faculty advisor. This dual mentorship ensures participants gain not only hands-on technical expertise but also guidance in connecting their NIST research to Mines’ academic and professional pathways. All hires made through the NIST PREP program at Mines are employed by Colorado School of Mines.
RESEARCH TITLE:
Postdoctoral Scholar / PREP0004023 / Lead Data Infrastructure Software Engineer
RESEARCH LOCATION:
In Boulder, CO at the NIST campus with the Applied and Computational Statistics Group in the Information Technology Lab and in Golden, CO on the campus of Colorado School of Mines
Responsibilities:
The candidate’s primary responsibilities may include:
- Leading the development of scientific computing applications and tools by partnering with domain experts, understanding the fundamental physics and meaning of the data, understanding stakeholder goals, and translating those goals into actionable software development plans and requirements.
- Guiding the creation and deployment of a data repository to store, maintain, and share results of interlaboratory measurements and analyses
- Guiding and performing the data curation and data engineering work to transform raw data into machine actionable datasets as guided by the FAIR data principles
- Managing and consolidating data streams originating from atomic clocks and the associated network components including, e.g., optical fiber links and optical frequency combs.
- Developing methodology for collating complex datasets involving multimodal data or heterogeneous processing pathways
- Guiding and extracting information from the curated data using statistical techniques and/or AI approaches
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have the following skills, experience, and/or qualifications:
- Doctoral degree in at least one of the following fields: computer science, systems engineering, statistics, physics, or a closely-related discipline
- Proven leadership in cross-disciplinary environments; able to guide collaborative teams and provide strong scientific communication.
- Experience in scientific computing, workflow development and data management.
- Applied machine learning / data science.
- Reproducible research and production/dissemination of archival datasets.
- Enthusiasm for learning about diverse measurement science techniques.
- US Citizen Preferred.
NIST sponsor / advisor: Amanda Koepke, Mathematical Statistician
Mines sponsor / advisor: Gabe Fierro, Associate Professor of Computer Science
ANTICIPATED START:
May 2026
COMPENSATION:
- Salary: $71,000 annual salary rate
Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.
Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:
- Flexible health and dental care options (receive at a minimum with EE only coverage, $10,308 in medical benefits until July 1, 2026)
- Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
- Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution (you will receive 12% from Mines in a MDCP averaging $8,640 a year)
- Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
- Free RTD Ecopass for regional bus and light rail transportation
All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.
HOW TO APPLY:
Review of applications will begin on April 1st and continue until filled. Applicants must complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status) and upload the following:
- CV including publication list
- Letter of interest with description of qualifications
- Contact information for three references
Applicants will notice on the application form, there is only one location to upload all required materials. Further, once submitted, the applicant will not be able to edit their application. Applicants may submit their application as one combined document or as separate documents. Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position. This posting may be used to fill multiple openings. Contact Kathleen Feighny in HR with any questions at kfeighny@mines.edu. We appreciate your interest in Mines!
KEYWORDS:
Python, DevOps, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Bash, Amazon Web Services, JSON, XML, HTML, JavaScript, CSS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS
It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.
Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.
Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.
Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting
INTRODUCTION
Engineering a world of possibilities
ABOUT THE JOB
Postdoctoral Scholar - Mines NIST PREP Lead Data Infrastructure Engineer
THE OPPORTUNITY:
Colorado School of Mines and the Statistical Engineering Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology are seeking immediate applications for a post-doctoral position focusing on leading the development of scientific computing applications and tools. The tools will include both public-facing web infrastructure and code bases used by bench scientists for data collection and analysis. A primary focus will be establishing a central, high-resolution data repository for international clock and frequency standard measurements, providing essential data and collaborative infrastructure for the upcoming redefinition of the second.
The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is a cooperative partnership between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Colorado School of Mines (Mines). Through PREP, Mines undergraduate and graduate students—as well as researchers holding a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD—have the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in NIST laboratories while working closely with both NIST scientists and a Mines faculty advisor. This dual mentorship ensures participants gain not only hands-on technical expertise but also guidance in connecting their NIST research to Mines’ academic and professional pathways. All hires made through the NIST PREP program at Mines are employed by Colorado School of Mines.
RESEARCH TITLE:
Postdoctoral Scholar / PREP0004023 / Lead Data Infrastructure Software Engineer
RESEARCH LOCATION:
In Boulder, CO at the NIST campus with the Applied and Computational Statistics Group in the Information Technology Lab and in Golden, CO on the campus of Colorado School of Mines
Responsibilities:
The candidate’s primary responsibilities may include:
- Leading the development of scientific computing applications and tools by partnering with domain experts, understanding the fundamental physics and meaning of the data, understanding stakeholder goals, and translating those goals into actionable software development plans and requirements.
- Guiding the creation and deployment of a data repository to store, maintain, and share results of interlaboratory measurements and analyses
- Guiding and performing the data curation and data engineering work to transform raw data into machine actionable datasets as guided by the FAIR data principles
- Managing and consolidating data streams originating from atomic clocks and the associated network components including, e.g., optical fiber links and optical frequency combs.
- Developing methodology for collating complex datasets involving multimodal data or heterogeneous processing pathways
- Guiding and extracting information from the curated data using statistical techniques and/or AI approaches
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have the following skills, experience, and/or qualifications:
- Doctoral degree in at least one of the following fields: computer science, systems engineering, statistics, physics, or a closely-related discipline
- Proven leadership in cross-disciplinary environments; able to guide collaborative teams and provide strong scientific communication.
- Experience in scientific computing, workflow development and data management.
- Applied machine learning / data science.
- Reproducible research and production/dissemination of archival datasets.
- Enthusiasm for learning about diverse measurement science techniques.
- US Citizen Preferred.
NIST sponsor / advisor: Amanda Koepke, Mathematical Statistician
Mines sponsor / advisor: Gabe Fierro, Associate Professor of Computer Science
ANTICIPATED START:
May 2026
COMPENSATION:
- Salary: $71,000 annual salary rate
Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.
Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:
- Flexible health and dental care options (receive at a minimum with EE only coverage, $10,308 in medical benefits until July 1, 2026)
- Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
- Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution (you will receive 12% from Mines in a MDCP averaging $8,640 a year)
- Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
- Free RTD Ecopass for regional bus and light rail transportation
All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.
HOW TO APPLY:
Review of applications will begin on April 1st and continue until filled. Applicants must complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status) and upload the following:
- CV including publication list
- Letter of interest with description of qualifications
- Contact information for three references
Applicants will notice on the application form, there is only one location to upload all required materials. Further, once submitted, the applicant will not be able to edit their application. Applicants may submit their application as one combined document or as separate documents. Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position. This posting may be used to fill multiple openings. Contact Kathleen Feighny in HR with any questions at kfeighny@mines.edu. We appreciate your interest in Mines!
KEYWORDS:
Python, DevOps, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Bash, Amazon Web Services, JSON, XML, HTML, JavaScript, CSS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS
It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.
Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.
Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.
Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Data Infrastructure Engineer
Lead with your infrastructure stack in applications
Employers screening for sponsorship eligibility want to see technical depth immediately. List specific tools you've worked with, Spark, Kafka, Airflow, dbt, Terraform, in your resume summary so hiring managers can assess fit before the sponsorship question arises.
Target companies with existing H-1B filing history
Companies that have sponsored data engineers before are far more likely to do it again. Search public LCA disclosure data on the DOL FLAG database to confirm whether a target employer has filed for data infrastructure or similar engineering roles in the past.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with recruiters
STEM OPT gives you up to 36 months of work authorization. Telling recruiters your exact end date and H-1B eligibility window early removes ambiguity and prevents late-stage offer withdrawals once sponsorship requirements surface during background checks.
Emphasize cloud certifications as credential proxies
AWS, GCP, and Azure certifications signal specialized knowledge in the absence of a U.S. work history. For OPT students, these credentials help justify the specialty occupation threshold that USCIS applies when evaluating H-1B petitions for infrastructure roles.
Focus on mid-size tech companies and well-funded startups
Large enterprises move slowly on sponsorship decisions. Mid-size companies and Series B or later startups typically have established immigration counsel, faster hiring cycles, and real urgency to fill senior data infrastructure gaps with qualified international candidates.
Frame your OPT period as a low-risk trial for employers
Some employers hesitate on sponsorship before seeing on-the-job performance. Position your OPT authorization as a period where they can assess your work before committing to an H-1B petition, which reduces perceived hiring risk during initial conversations.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Data Infrastructure Engineer on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Data Infrastructure Engineer roles qualify under STEM OPT because the work directly applies computer science, electrical engineering, or a related STEM field. Your degree must align with the role, so a background in computer science, data engineering, or a related technical discipline is typically required. STEM OPT authorization lasts up to 36 months across two extensions.
How do I find Data Infrastructure Engineer jobs that offer visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for OPT and visa sponsorship eligibility, so you're not manually screening hundreds of postings. For data infrastructure roles, look for companies with established data platform teams, since those organizations almost always have the immigration infrastructure to support H-1B sponsorship for engineers in this function.
Does a Data Infrastructure Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
In most cases, yes. Data infrastructure roles require theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge, which meets the specialty occupation standard. The key is that the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field. Generic job descriptions that accept any bachelor's degree can complicate the petition, so the job title and duties need to reflect genuine technical specialization.
What STEM fields qualify an F-1 student to work as a Data Infrastructure Engineer on OPT?
Degrees in computer science, information systems, computer engineering, applied mathematics, and data science are the most straightforward qualifications. Some students with electrical engineering or physics backgrounds also qualify if their coursework included substantial programming and systems components. Your DSO can confirm whether your specific degree program is classified as STEM-eligible for OPT extension purposes.
What should I do if my OPT expires before my H-1B is approved?
If your employer files your H-1B petition before your OPT expires and you receive a timely filed receipt notice, you're protected under cap-gap rules through September 30 of that year. If you're still working while the petition is pending, your authorized work continues. If October arrives without an approval, you'll need to stop working until USCIS issues a decision or your employer pursues an alternative visa category.
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