Lead Software Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Lead Software Engineer roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in tech, with many employers filing H-1B sponsorship well before your 12-month standard OPT or 24-month STEM extension expires. These senior roles demand strong system design, team leadership, and hands-on engineering experience.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Tyler Technologies is looking for a Lead Software Engineer at 12801 Worldgate Dr, Suite 600, Herndon, VA 20170 to perform the following job duties:
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide high-level analysis and design to address and create well-integrated application systems.
- Develop new application solutions and enhance existing solutions by coding system features according to system designs.
- Provide guidance and direction to less experienced staff to ensure bugs to existing applications are fixed and/or to clear up operational deficiencies in both previously released software and software slated for future release.
- Assure service and system integrity through thorough unit tests, integration tests, end to end test combined with adherence to company standards and procedures.
- Assist in leading phases of the software development life cycle, including research, design, analysis, requirements, implementation, test automation, and maintenance.
- Utilize new technologies and tools to modify products and provide integration with applications developed internally and externally.
- Prepare and modify program and system documentation.
- Provide guidance to less experienced team members to ensure knowledge transfer and training are successfully meeting department goals.
- Achieve departmental goals and timelines.
Working from home within the same MSA as worksite 4 days per week is an option. Must be in the office 1 day per week.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering.
- 3 years of experience in OSGeo/GDAL; Mapbox APIs; RedShift; DMS; Redis; Glue; SQS; Scala; Elixir/Erlang and Python.
Please send resume to Attn: HR, Tyler Technologies, 12801 Worldgate Dr, Suite 600, Herndon, VA 20170 or apply here: https://www.tylertech.com/careers/job-openings. Please refer to #DG26 in your cover letter.
LI-DNI
INTRODUCTION
Tyler Technologies is looking for a Lead Software Engineer at 12801 Worldgate Dr, Suite 600, Herndon, VA 20170 to perform the following job duties:
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide high-level analysis and design to address and create well-integrated application systems.
- Develop new application solutions and enhance existing solutions by coding system features according to system designs.
- Provide guidance and direction to less experienced staff to ensure bugs to existing applications are fixed and/or to clear up operational deficiencies in both previously released software and software slated for future release.
- Assure service and system integrity through thorough unit tests, integration tests, end to end test combined with adherence to company standards and procedures.
- Assist in leading phases of the software development life cycle, including research, design, analysis, requirements, implementation, test automation, and maintenance.
- Utilize new technologies and tools to modify products and provide integration with applications developed internally and externally.
- Prepare and modify program and system documentation.
- Provide guidance to less experienced team members to ensure knowledge transfer and training are successfully meeting department goals.
- Achieve departmental goals and timelines.
Working from home within the same MSA as worksite 4 days per week is an option. Must be in the office 1 day per week.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering.
- 3 years of experience in OSGeo/GDAL; Mapbox APIs; RedShift; DMS; Redis; Glue; SQS; Scala; Elixir/Erlang and Python.
Please send resume to Attn: HR, Tyler Technologies, 12801 Worldgate Dr, Suite 600, Herndon, VA 20170 or apply here: https://www.tylertech.com/careers/job-openings. Please refer to #DG26 in your cover letter.
LI-DNI
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Lead Software Engineer
Target companies with established H-1B sponsorship history
Focus on employers who have sponsored H-1B petitions in previous years. Large tech companies and well-funded startups with engineering teams regularly sponsor senior engineers. A proven sponsorship history means fewer surprises before your OPT window closes.
Frame leadership experience as a business case for sponsorship
Employers weigh sponsorship costs against candidate value. A track record of leading engineering teams, shipping products, and mentoring junior developers makes the business case for sponsoring you significantly stronger than technical skills alone.
Time your job search around H-1B lottery cycles
H-1B registration opens each March for an October 1 start date. Starting your Lead Software Engineer job search by late fall gives employers enough time to assess fit and file your petition before the registration window opens.
Highlight system design and architectural scope in applications
Lead roles require demonstrated experience owning systems at scale, not just individual contributions. Showcasing architectural decisions, cross-team coordination, and technical roadmaps signals the seniority level that justifies both the compensation and sponsorship investment.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Lead Software Engineer on OPT?
Yes, Lead Software Engineer is a qualifying role for F-1 OPT work authorization, provided the position directly relates to your degree field. Computer science, software engineering, and closely related STEM degrees all support this role. If you hold a qualifying STEM degree, you can also apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of authorized work experience.
Do Lead Software Engineer roles typically come with H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, particularly at established tech companies and growth-stage startups with dedicated HR and legal infrastructure. Senior engineering roles carry enough business value that employers are generally more willing to sponsor than for entry-level positions. You can browse Lead Software Engineer roles from verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for OPT-friendly positions.
Does my degree need to be in computer science to qualify for this role on OPT?
Not necessarily. USCIS requires that your OPT employment be directly related to your major field of study. Computer science, electrical engineering, information systems, and applied mathematics degrees all commonly support software engineering roles. If your degree is in a less obvious field, you will need to document how your coursework and skills directly connect to the job responsibilities.
What happens to my OPT status if I lose my Lead Software Engineer job?
F-1 OPT allows a maximum of 90 days of unemployment, or 150 days total if you have been approved for the STEM extension. The clock starts from your employment end date. Finding a new qualifying position quickly is critical. During the gap period, you should update your SEVIS record and work closely with your Designated School Official to stay in status.
Is a Lead Software Engineer role considered a STEM job for OPT extension purposes?
Yes, in virtually all cases. Software engineering falls under the STEM designated degree list maintained by DHS, and a Lead Software Engineer role at a company enrolled in E-Verify will qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and submit a formal training plan using Form I-983 as part of the extension process.
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