OPT Data Scientist Jobs
Data Scientist roles are among the most actively sponsored positions for F-1 OPT students, with strong demand across tech, finance, and healthcare. Most positions qualify under STEM OPT, giving you up to three years of work authorization. A background in machine learning, Python, or statistical modeling significantly strengthens your candidacy.
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INTRODUCTION
As a People Data Scientist, you will bring deep expertise in research science, measurement, and experimentation to OpenAI’s most important People programs. You will design studies, evaluate people processes, build research frameworks, and help leaders understand how we can better empower employees, strengthen organizational systems, and deliver exceptional employee experiences.
We’re looking for an experienced data scientist who can translate ambiguous People questions into rigorous research designs, validated insights, and actionable recommendations.
This role will be based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role you will:
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Design rigorous research and evaluation strategies for organizational health, manager effectiveness, employee experience, and talent outcomes.
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Conduct fairness, adverse impact, validity, reliability, calibration, and measurement-invariance analyses for high-stakes People processes and AI-assisted workflows.
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Apply advanced statistical modeling, machine learning, and research methods to inform program design, evaluate effectiveness, and quantify business impact.
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Partner with People Operations, data engineering, and people systems teams to define data requirements, improve data quality, establish documentation standards, and ensure research datasets are governed, reproducible, and privacy-preserving.
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Build scalable people science infrastructure, including self-service agentic tools, automated validation workflows, reusable research datasets and analytical pipelines.
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Develop research playbooks that establish rigorous standards for study design, measurement, validation, and documentation, enabling high-quality, repeatable, and scalable research across the organization.
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Communicate findings through concise, executive-ready narratives.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
You might thrive in this role if you:
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Have deep curiosity, strong attention to detail, and passion for solving ambiguous and complex problems with creativity.
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Possess exceptional strength in research design, experimentation, measurement, causal inference, and statistical modeling, including hands-on experience with psychometrics, survey methodology, structural equation modeling, multilevel modeling, randomized controlled experiments, A/B testing, quasi-experimental design, validation studies, and machine learning evaluation.
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Have high proficiency in R or Python and SQL, with experience working across complex, messy datasets.
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Have experience building measurement systems, research programs, data products, reusable analytics frameworks, self-service tools, and governed analytical workflows.
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Can communicate complex methods and tradeoffs clearly to senior leaders, technical partners, and non-technical audiences.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
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Experience evaluating AI-assisted workflows, algorithmic systems, and human-AI decision processes in operational contexts, including familiarity with model evaluation methods.
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Advanced degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Quantitative Psychology, Behavioral Economics, Statistics, Economics, Data Science, or a related field; PhD preferred.
COMPENSATION
- $198K – $260K + Offers Equity
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Data Scientist
Lead with your STEM OPT eligibility
Mention your STEM OPT authorization upfront in your resume summary and cover letter. Employers who understand the 24-month extension are far more likely to engage than those assuming standard 12-month OPT timelines.
Target companies with active USCIS filing histories
Companies that regularly file H-1B visa petitions are experienced with work authorization requirements. Focus your applications on employers with a documented track record of sponsoring international data professionals, not just those with open roles.
Quantify your technical impact, not just your tools
Listing Python and SQL is table stakes. Describe the outcome: a model that reduced churn by 15%, or a pipeline that cut processing time in half. Measurable results make sponsorship conversations easier for hiring managers to justify.
Apply before your OPT clock creates urgency
Start applying at least three to four months before your current authorization expires. Employers notice tight timelines and may hesitate. Earlier outreach signals that you're organized and gives both sides room to negotiate terms.
Clarify your authorization status in your first email
When reaching out to recruiters, briefly state your OPT status and STEM extension eligibility in one sentence. Removing ambiguity early filters out employers who won't sponsor and saves you time with those who will.
Build a portfolio that removes doubt about your skills
A GitHub repository with real data projects, documented methodology, and clean code answers the question before it's asked. Recruiters for Data Scientist roles regularly check portfolios before scheduling interviews.
Data Scientist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Scientist role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Yes, Data Scientist positions almost always qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The role falls under CIP codes tied to computer science, statistics, and applied mathematics. Your degree must be in a STEM-designated field and your employer must enroll in E-Verify. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before applying.
How do I find Data Scientist jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for employers willing to sponsor international candidates, including OPT students. Searching there saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering sponsorship limitations late in the process. Focus on companies in tech, finance, healthcare, and consulting, which have the highest concentration of sponsored Data Scientist roles.
Can I work as a Data Scientist on OPT before my employer files for H-1B?
Yes. OPT authorizes full-time employment in a role directly related to your degree field. You don't need an H-1B to start working. If your employer files an H-1B cap-subject petition before April 1 and you maintain valid OPT, the cap-gap rule protects your authorization through September 30 while the petition is pending.
What degree fields support OPT authorization for Data Scientist roles?
Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Information Systems, and Engineering degrees are the most common qualifying fields. Applied economics and quantitative social science degrees may also qualify depending on how your school's DSO classified the program. The key requirement is that your job duties must be directly related to your degree field.
Do I need to report a Data Scientist job to my DSO while on OPT?
Yes. Within 10 days of starting employment, you must report your employer's name, address, job title, and start date to your DSO, who updates your SEVIS record. Failing to report can jeopardize your OPT status. If you change employers or take on a second position, each change requires a separate update.