OPT Information Security Engineer Jobs
Information Security Engineer jobs are among the more OPT-friendly roles in tech: employers filing H-1B visa petitions for security engineers do so at high rates, and STEM OPT's 24-month extension applies directly to this field. Most roles require a degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or a related discipline.
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Job Description:
We Deliver the Goods: Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much more
Growth opportunities performing essential work to support America’s food distribution system
Safe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respect
Position Summary:
Performance Food Group is looking for a talented Information Security Analyst to play a key role in supporting Information and Privacy Risk Management aspects of the company as a member of the Information Security Department. PFG is in the midst of establishing a Risk Management function that focuses on identifying, quantifying, communicating, and tracking risks associated with information assets. Reporting to the Manager of Information Security Risk Management and working with IT and line of business stakeholders, the analyst will have a heavy focus on compliance with internal/external policies/statutes, IT Risk Management, and Third Party Risk.
Position Responsibilities:
- Conduct risk assessments and maintain risk register. Perform assessments of IT controls processes, and systems, identifying gaps and opportunities to enhance design/operational effectiveness while reducing the cost of compliance. Conduct periodic readouts and risk reviews with IT teams and segment/line of business stakeholders to convey risk and influence decision making
- Assist in maintaining security exception lifecycle, including qualifying associated risk, determining compensating controls, communicating with IT and LOB stakeholders.
- Assist in development of evaluative risk frameworks for new and emerging technologies, including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence
- Maintain Business Impact Analysis. Work with IT and LOB teams to maintain Business Impact Analysis, establishing risk categorizations for applications and infrastructure based on mission criticality and sensitivity of hosted data.
- Assist in development and implementation of Enterprise Crown Jewels program. Work with IT, LOB teams, and security control owners to define and govern control parameters for critical applications and technologies.
- KPI/KRI Development and Reporting. Assist in development of control-based Key Risk Indicators and Key Performance Indicators across business segments. Assist in developing associated governance model and metric tiers for consumption by various levels of stakeholders, up to and including the Board of Directors.
- Support IT Risk and exception management governance forums across business segments with varying operational models and business context.
- Support PFG’s Third Party Risk Management Program, assessing third parties for inherent and residual risk based on the nature of their services and their ability to appropriately secure PFG data and provide dependent services.
- Negotiate the inclusion of security requirements into third party contract agreements.
- Develop and Maintain IT Audit and Control documentation.
- Support necessary governance forums (committees, working groups) to ensure sound decision-making and stakeholder communications.
- Identify and report on non-compliance with regulatory mandates (i.e. Sarbanes Oxley section 404 PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA).
- Support operational audits as necessary.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelors Degree
- 1 - 3 Years of experience
- Experience in developing, communicating, and presenting security or risk concepts to varying audiences
- Experience with evaluating AI initiatives through a security risk lens
- Knowledge of regulatory requirements and frameworks
- Development and implementation of security policies
- Experience conducting security maturity assessments
- Development and implementation of security controls
- Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills
- Experience in assisting with process improvement initiatives
- Hold relevant security certifications or willingness to pursue additional certifications
- Continuous learning mindset
- Experience performing IT and security risk assessments, using both qualitative and quantitative methods to identify, quantify, and communicate risk
- Working knowledge of privacy statutes including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
- Experience with Data Classification, Data Security, and Data Loss Prevention methods and tools, specifically Microsoft Azure Information Protection
- Strong MS Office skills (specifically PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Project, Visio)
- Strong process analysis and engineering skills
- Experience conducting and documenting business impact analysis, designing and implementing Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery plans
- Experience with IT assurance mandates/frameworks such as Sarbanes-Oxley, CobIT
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- Demonstrated high level of analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to influence cross functional and highly matrixed business and IT stakeholders
Company description
Performance Food Group is a customer-centric foodservice distribution leader headquartered in Richmond, Va. Grounded by roots that date back to a grocery peddler in 1885, PFG has a nationwide network of approximately 150 distribution centers, 35,000-plus talented associates, and thousands of valued suppliers across the country. With the goal of helping customers thrive, PFG markets and delivers quality food and related products to independent and chain restaurants, schools, business and industry locations, convenience operations, healthcare facilities, vending distributors, office coffee service distributors, big box retailers, and theaters across the U.S.
Performance Food Group and/or its subsidiaries (individually or collectively, the "Company") provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Please click on the following links to review: (1) our EEO Policy; (2) the "EEO is the Law" poster and supplement; and (3) the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Information Security Engineer
Lead with your clearance eligibility or certifications
Security clearances are hard to come by. If you hold or can obtain a clearance, say so upfront. Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH signal technical credibility and reduce employer hesitation about sponsorship investment.
Target companies with established security teams
Large financial institutions, cloud providers, and defense contractors run mature security programs and have dedicated immigration support. These employers sponsor OPT students far more consistently than early-stage startups with no HR infrastructure.
Frame your OPT timeline around the hiring cycle
STEM OPT gives you up to three years of work authorization. Tell employers you have time before H-1B visa is needed. That runway reduces perceived urgency and makes sponsorship conversations feel less pressured during initial interviews.
Demonstrate hands-on experience with specific tools
Generic security knowledge does not stand out. Highlight direct experience with SIEM platforms, vulnerability scanners, or cloud security tooling. Employers sponsoring OPT want engineers who contribute immediately, not candidates who need six months of ramp-up.
Apply before your OPT start date if possible
Starting your job search while still in school gives you more negotiating room. Employers can plan onboarding around your authorized start date, and you avoid the pressure of hunting for roles mid-OPT with a ticking clock.
Research employers' H-1B filing history before applying
Employers who consistently file H-1B petitions for security engineers are your highest-probability targets. USCIS disclosure data shows which companies sponsor this role repeatedly, helping you focus your applications where sponsorship is genuinely on the table.
Information Security Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Information Security Engineer roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Information Security Engineering falls under CIP codes tied to computer science and cybersecurity, both of which are on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. That makes you eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of total work authorization after graduation, provided your employer enrolls in E-Verify.
How do I find Information Security Engineer jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters jobs specifically for F-1 OPT and STEM OPT candidates, so you can browse Information Security Engineer roles posted by employers open to work authorization sponsorship. Searching general job boards returns results without any OPT filter, which wastes time on employers who will not sponsor.
Can I work as a contractor or on a third-party placement as an Information Security Engineer on OPT?
OPT requires that your work be directly related to your degree field, but the employment relationship matters too. Third-party staffing arrangements are permitted under OPT, provided the work genuinely matches your degree. However, contract-to-hire through a staffing agency does not qualify as employer-sponsored H-1B support, which affects your path after OPT ends.
What degree fields qualify an F-1 student to work as an Information Security Engineer on OPT?
Computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, electrical engineering, and software engineering degrees all support an OPT authorization for this role. The job duties must be directly related to your field of study. A marketing or business degree, even with security certifications, would not satisfy the degree-relatedness requirement DSOs and USCIS apply to OPT eligibility.
How does the 60-day unemployment limit affect Information Security Engineer job seekers on OPT?
F-1 students on standard OPT may be unemployed for no more than 90 days total; STEM OPT adds another 60 days, for 150 days cumulative. Information Security Engineer roles often have longer hiring cycles due to background checks and technical interview rounds, so starting your search early is important. Gaps beyond the limit jeopardize your F-1 status.