IT Security Specialist Jobs for OPT Students
IT Security Specialist roles qualify as specialty occupations under OPT, making them a strong fit for F-1 students with degrees in cybersecurity, computer science, or information systems. STEM OPT extension eligibility gives you up to three years of work authorization, which is enough time to secure H-1B sponsorship.
See All IT Security Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 33+ IT Security Specialist jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 33+ IT Security Specialist jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new IT Security Specialist roles.
Get Access To All JobsSubmission Due Date: 03/16/2026
Client - State of Ohio
Initial Teams interview, followed by in-person interview at 1970 W. Broad Street Columbus
Full-Time Remote PART-TIME position: approximately 10 hours/week. Must be able to attend occasional on-site meetings.
This work can be done at any time, including nights and weekends.
This is a fully remote position, and other employment is permitted (candidate must be able to dedicate approximately 10 hours per week analyzing and communicating results).
Description
Security Analyst to analyze security posture ratings for 61+ Online Driver Training Organizations licensed to operate by the State of Ohio Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety will provide access to the Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) tool, Bitsight, and the assessment communication tool, OneTrust.
This position will function as part-time Cyber Security Consultant with specific responsibilities that include:
- Review initial security assessment provided by online driver training companies at the time of application.
- DPS to provide the security assessment questionnaire.
- Security Consultant to validate the security assessment is accurately and thoroughly completed.
- Review updated security assessment provided by online driver training companies for submission of changes of security controls.
- Document and address concerns or clarifications needed for the security assessment review with the online driver education companies.
- Security Consultant to compare responses against the assessment and industry standards.
- Review online driver training company annual attestations of compliance.
- Security Consultant to validate the security assessment is accurately and thoroughly completed.
- Security Consultant to communicate any deficiencies in annual attestation to the online driver training company and facilitate the accurate completion of the attestation of compliance.
- Contact and work with Bitsight to configure monitoring parameters. Use Bitsight functionality to direct the findings and remediation recommendations to the online driver training company.
- Discuss findings with online driver training company.
- Security Consultant will use OneTrust as the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) tool to assess and communicate.
- Security Consultant does NOT assist the online driver training company determine corrective path of action.
- Upon complaint for investigation, including but not limited to, reviewing updated monitoring results to confirm no falsification or other violation has occurred.
- Run Bitsight reports and provide the information the business needs for administrative action. Communicate with DPS Driver Training Program Office on a consistent basis with status updates.
- Monitor upcoming changes to the controls and communicate with the Driver Training Program Office with the specifics.
- May need to provide testimony at administrative hearings. Any testimony is based on processes and expertise on security controls, if needed.
Submission Due Date: 03/16/2026
Client - State of Ohio
Initial Teams interview, followed by in-person interview at 1970 W. Broad Street Columbus
Full-Time Remote PART-TIME position: approximately 10 hours/week. Must be able to attend occasional on-site meetings.
This work can be done at any time, including nights and weekends.
This is a fully remote position, and other employment is permitted (candidate must be able to dedicate approximately 10 hours per week analyzing and communicating results).
Description
Security Analyst to analyze security posture ratings for 61+ Online Driver Training Organizations licensed to operate by the State of Ohio Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety will provide access to the Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) tool, Bitsight, and the assessment communication tool, OneTrust.
This position will function as part-time Cyber Security Consultant with specific responsibilities that include:
- Review initial security assessment provided by online driver training companies at the time of application.
- DPS to provide the security assessment questionnaire.
- Security Consultant to validate the security assessment is accurately and thoroughly completed.
- Review updated security assessment provided by online driver training companies for submission of changes of security controls.
- Document and address concerns or clarifications needed for the security assessment review with the online driver education companies.
- Security Consultant to compare responses against the assessment and industry standards.
- Review online driver training company annual attestations of compliance.
- Security Consultant to validate the security assessment is accurately and thoroughly completed.
- Security Consultant to communicate any deficiencies in annual attestation to the online driver training company and facilitate the accurate completion of the attestation of compliance.
- Contact and work with Bitsight to configure monitoring parameters. Use Bitsight functionality to direct the findings and remediation recommendations to the online driver training company.
- Discuss findings with online driver training company.
- Security Consultant will use OneTrust as the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) tool to assess and communicate.
- Security Consultant does NOT assist the online driver training company determine corrective path of action.
- Upon complaint for investigation, including but not limited to, reviewing updated monitoring results to confirm no falsification or other violation has occurred.
- Run Bitsight reports and provide the information the business needs for administrative action. Communicate with DPS Driver Training Program Office on a consistent basis with status updates.
- Monitor upcoming changes to the controls and communicate with the Driver Training Program Office with the specifics.
- May need to provide testimony at administrative hearings. Any testimony is based on processes and expertise on security controls, if needed.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as an IT Security Specialist
Target employers with established security teams
Large enterprises in finance, healthcare, and defense typically have dedicated security operations centers and HR processes built around sponsoring specialized technical roles. Smaller companies often lack the infrastructure to sponsor efficiently, even when they want to.
Align your degree field with your job title
USCIS scrutinizes whether your degree directly relates to the role. A cybersecurity or information systems degree maps cleanly to IT Security Specialist. If your degree is in a adjacent field, document how your coursework covers security fundamentals specifically.
Pursue relevant security certifications before applying
Credentials like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH signal job-readiness to hiring managers and strengthen your OPT specialty occupation argument. Employers sponsoring visas want candidates who reduce risk, and certifications reduce perceived hiring risk considerably.
Raise OPT proactively, not reactively
Bring up your OPT status before the offer stage, ideally after a strong first interview. Framing it as a straightforward administrative step rather than a burden gives employers confidence and avoids last-minute surprises that can derail offers.
Focus your search on OPT-friendly employers
Not every company is experienced with OPT sponsorship. Migrate Mate filters IT Security Specialist jobs by sponsorship history, so you spend time on employers already comfortable with the process rather than educating companies from scratch.
IT Security Specialist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find IT Security Specialist JobsSee all 33+ IT Security Specialist jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new IT Security Specialist roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does an IT Security Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT?
Yes. IT Security Specialist positions consistently qualify as specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field such as cybersecurity, information systems, or computer science. USCIS has approved thousands of petitions for security-focused roles, making this one of the more defensible specialty occupation arguments available to F-1 OPT students.
Am I eligible for the STEM OPT extension as an IT Security Specialist?
Most IT Security Specialists qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, which extends your total work authorization to 36 months. Your undergraduate or graduate degree must appear on the DHS STEM designated degree program list, which includes cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, and most engineering disciplines. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify.
How do I find IT Security Specialist jobs where employers are open to OPT?
The most efficient approach is to focus on employers with a documented history of sponsoring work visas for technical roles. Migrate Mate lists IT Security Specialist positions from employers already familiar with OPT and H-1B sponsorship, which significantly shortens your search compared to filtering through general postings and cold-calling HR departments about their sponsorship policies.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my IT Security Specialist job ends?
You enter a 60-day grace period from the date your employment ends. During this window, you can search for a new IT Security Specialist role, change your program, or prepare to depart. If you're on the STEM OPT extension, you must also report the job change to your DSO within 10 days and update your SEVP portal record.
Can I work as a contractor or on a project basis as an IT Security Specialist on OPT?
Contract and consulting arrangements are permitted on OPT, but your work must remain directly related to your degree field and constitute genuine employment rather than self-employment through your own business entity. Short-term security consulting projects through a staffing firm or direct client engagement are generally acceptable. Document each engagement carefully in case USCIS reviews your OPT period during a future H-1B petition.
See which IT Security Specialist employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search IT Security Specialist Jobs