OPT IT Director Jobs
IT Director jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with STEM-designated degrees in computer science, information systems, or engineering. Most roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Employers typically require 8-plus years of experience, so OPT students entering this path often target deputy or associate director roles first.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.
LOCATION
680 Lake Shore Drive
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Application Security Engineer is a hands-on technical role responsible for implementing, validating, and maintaining security controls across all tiers of the hospital’s application stack, including database, middleware, web server, API, and presentation layers. The engineer ensures applications, integrations, and supporting components are securely configured, monitored, and aligned with enterprise security standards.
This role works directly with infrastructure, vulnerability management, and vendors to identify, remediate, and prevent application-layer risks. The engineer performs hands-on validation, troubleshooting, and configuration enforcement to ensure secure-by-default application deployments across the enterprise.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Serve as the central authority for application and integration risk by applying consistent security standards across a portfolio of more than 250 commercial and third-party applications.
- Identify and reduce application-layer risk across third-party applications, APIs, system integrations, automated file transfers, and service accounts.
- Interface with application vendors, application owners, and other departments as needed.
- Assess and secure internet-facing applications by identifying exposed access points and prioritizing remediation of high-risk entry vectors.
- Enforce standardized security controls for authentication, authorization, credential and secret management, encryption, and secure communication patterns.
- Partner with application owners and vendors to eliminate insecure configurations, excessive access, credential misuse, and other security issues.
- Evaluate and secure applications throughout their lifecycle including procurement, implementation, integration, and ongoing operations.
- Support third-party risk management by assessing vendor integrations, data flow methods, and exposure points.
- Drive remediation of application vulnerabilities identified through vulnerability scanning (e.g., Qualys), configuration reviews, and security testing of externally facing systems.
- Improve visibility and governance over application security posture by tracking exposure trends, risk reduction, and remediation progress.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Strong understanding of application-layer attack paths including credential compromise, integration abuse, API exploitation, and external exposure risks.
- Deep knowledge of authentication and authorization models such as SSO, OAuth, service accounts, and secure integration patterns.
- Expertise in encryption and data protection across application and integration workflows.
- Experience in complex enterprise environments with large commercial application portfolios.
- Strong familiarity with OWASP Top 10, common exploitation techniques, IAM concepts, and secrets/credential lifecycle management.
- Knowledge of CIS Controls and Benchmarks as they apply to application security.
- Experience with vulnerability scanning and testing tools such as Qualys, Qualys WAS, Metasploit, SAST/DAST, and configuration/exposure analysis tools.
- Understanding of network and edge security including WAFs, firewalls, segmentation, and internet-facing exposure.
- Ability to drive cross-functional remediation across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and prioritization skills in a risk-based environment.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical risk into business impact.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
- 3–7+ years of experience in application security, cybersecurity, or enterprise application support.
- Experience working in large enterprise environments with multiple commercial applications and integrations preferred.
- Experience within a healthcare provider environment is desirable.
- Security certifications such as CISSP, CSSLP, GWAPT, CASE, CEH, OSCP or equivalent are beneficial but not required.
Education
Bachelor's Degree
PAY RANGE
$93,600.00-$154,440.00 Salary
At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offers a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.
BENEFIT STATEMENT
For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Employer paid group term life and disability
- Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave
- 403(b) with a 5% employer match
Various voluntary benefits:
- Supplemental Life, AD and Disability
- Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
- Tuition assistance
- Student loan servicing and support
- Adoption benefits
- Backup Childcare and Eldercare
- Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members
- Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
- Discount purchasing program
THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU WITH US
At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.
Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: employeehealth@luriechildrens.org
AI NOTICE
Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals.
It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes.
For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: peoplequestions@luriechildrens.org
INTRODUCTION
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.
LOCATION
680 Lake Shore Drive
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Application Security Engineer is a hands-on technical role responsible for implementing, validating, and maintaining security controls across all tiers of the hospital’s application stack, including database, middleware, web server, API, and presentation layers. The engineer ensures applications, integrations, and supporting components are securely configured, monitored, and aligned with enterprise security standards.
This role works directly with infrastructure, vulnerability management, and vendors to identify, remediate, and prevent application-layer risks. The engineer performs hands-on validation, troubleshooting, and configuration enforcement to ensure secure-by-default application deployments across the enterprise.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Serve as the central authority for application and integration risk by applying consistent security standards across a portfolio of more than 250 commercial and third-party applications.
- Identify and reduce application-layer risk across third-party applications, APIs, system integrations, automated file transfers, and service accounts.
- Interface with application vendors, application owners, and other departments as needed.
- Assess and secure internet-facing applications by identifying exposed access points and prioritizing remediation of high-risk entry vectors.
- Enforce standardized security controls for authentication, authorization, credential and secret management, encryption, and secure communication patterns.
- Partner with application owners and vendors to eliminate insecure configurations, excessive access, credential misuse, and other security issues.
- Evaluate and secure applications throughout their lifecycle including procurement, implementation, integration, and ongoing operations.
- Support third-party risk management by assessing vendor integrations, data flow methods, and exposure points.
- Drive remediation of application vulnerabilities identified through vulnerability scanning (e.g., Qualys), configuration reviews, and security testing of externally facing systems.
- Improve visibility and governance over application security posture by tracking exposure trends, risk reduction, and remediation progress.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Strong understanding of application-layer attack paths including credential compromise, integration abuse, API exploitation, and external exposure risks.
- Deep knowledge of authentication and authorization models such as SSO, OAuth, service accounts, and secure integration patterns.
- Expertise in encryption and data protection across application and integration workflows.
- Experience in complex enterprise environments with large commercial application portfolios.
- Strong familiarity with OWASP Top 10, common exploitation techniques, IAM concepts, and secrets/credential lifecycle management.
- Knowledge of CIS Controls and Benchmarks as they apply to application security.
- Experience with vulnerability scanning and testing tools such as Qualys, Qualys WAS, Metasploit, SAST/DAST, and configuration/exposure analysis tools.
- Understanding of network and edge security including WAFs, firewalls, segmentation, and internet-facing exposure.
- Ability to drive cross-functional remediation across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and prioritization skills in a risk-based environment.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical risk into business impact.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
- 3–7+ years of experience in application security, cybersecurity, or enterprise application support.
- Experience working in large enterprise environments with multiple commercial applications and integrations preferred.
- Experience within a healthcare provider environment is desirable.
- Security certifications such as CISSP, CSSLP, GWAPT, CASE, CEH, OSCP or equivalent are beneficial but not required.
Education
Bachelor's Degree
PAY RANGE
$93,600.00-$154,440.00 Salary
At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offers a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.
BENEFIT STATEMENT
For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Employer paid group term life and disability
- Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave
- 403(b) with a 5% employer match
Various voluntary benefits:
- Supplemental Life, AD and Disability
- Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
- Tuition assistance
- Student loan servicing and support
- Adoption benefits
- Backup Childcare and Eldercare
- Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members
- Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
- Discount purchasing program
THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU WITH US
At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.
Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: employeehealth@luriechildrens.org
AI NOTICE
Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals.
It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes.
For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: peoplequestions@luriechildrens.org
See all 2,606+ OPT IT Director Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in IT Director
Lead with your technical depth, not just management experience
IT Directors are hired to make high-stakes technical decisions. Highlight hands-on expertise in infrastructure, cloud architecture, or cybersecurity alongside any leadership experience. Employers want to see you can own the technical strategy, not just manage a team.
Target companies already familiar with OPT authorization
Mid-size technology companies, healthcare systems, and financial firms with established HR processes are more likely to understand OPT work authorization than early-stage startups. Search Migrate Mate to find IT Director roles at employers with a track record of sponsoring international candidates.
Frame your OPT timeline around the project cycle
IT Directors are hired to deliver multi-year infrastructure or transformation projects. Emphasize your STEM OPT extension eligibility upfront, giving employers confidence you can see a two-to-three year initiative through without an immediate visa transition disrupting the project.
Quantify the scale of systems and teams you have managed
Vague leadership claims do not move hiring managers at the director level. Include specific numbers: team size, budget managed, uptime percentages improved, or the number of users supported. Concrete metrics demonstrate executive-level impact and separate you from generic applicants.
Address H-1B sponsorship proactively but professionally
Most IT Director candidates on OPT will eventually need H-1B visa sponsorship. Raise it after demonstrating your value, not in the first conversation. Frame it as standard practice for high-value technical hires, which it is at most companies operating at this level.
Pursue internal promotions within OPT-friendly organizations
Moving from a senior manager or principal engineer role to IT Director within the same organization is one of the most reliable paths. The company already understands your authorization status and has invested in you, making the sponsorship conversation significantly less complicated.
IT Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students legally work as an IT Director in the United States?
Yes. F-1 OPT authorizes full-time employment in any role directly related to your degree field. IT Director roles typically qualify under computer science, information systems, management information systems, or engineering degrees. If your degree carries a STEM designation, you may also be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of total work authorization.
Does an IT Director role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
In most cases, yes. IT Director roles involve managing technical infrastructure, overseeing engineering teams, and driving technology strategy, all of which align with STEM-designated degree fields. Your employer must also be E-Verify enrolled to support a STEM OPT extension. Confirm your degree's STEM designation with your Designated School Official before applying, as approval depends on both the role and the degree.
Where can F-1 OPT students find IT Director jobs that offer visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters job listings by sponsorship availability, making it far more efficient than searching general job boards. IT Director roles that actively welcome OPT candidates and offer H-1B sponsorship are listed there, saving you from applying to positions where your work authorization will be a disqualifier.
How competitive is the IT Director job market for OPT candidates compared to permanent residents?
IT Director is a senior role, and most candidates have 10-plus years of experience, so the competition is already narrow. OPT candidates face an additional layer of scrutiny around long-term work authorization. Demonstrating STEM OPT extension eligibility and a clear H-1B pathway reduces employer hesitation. Targeting organizations with prior experience hiring international professionals substantially improves your odds.
What happens to my IT Director employment if my OPT expires before H-1B approval?
If your employer files an H-1B petition before your OPT expires and you have a valid STEM OPT extension in place, you may be able to continue working under a cap-gap provision while the petition is pending. Timing is critical. Work closely with your employer's immigration counsel and your DSO to ensure there is no gap in your work authorization between OPT expiration and H-1B approval.