OPT Lead Software Engineer Jobs
Lead Software Engineer roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in tech, with many employers filing H-1B visa 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 JobsOur Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Lead Software Engineer (Azure Platform Engineering)
ABOUT MASTERCARD
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. At Mastercard, our industry expertise is enhanced by our commitment to being a force for good in the world. We do well by doing good. Our core values of trust, partnership, agility, and thoughtful risk taking are displayed in everything we do. Our culture of collaboration and inclusion makes our company the place where the best people choose to be.
Overview
On the Cloud Platform team, you will be working with Mastercard’s Azure Platform Engineering team. The team is responsible for developing the best of breed Azure Platform capabilities to application development teams such that automated cloud infrastructure can be provided to software engineering and operation teams.
The Role
- Implement solutions to manage Mastercard’s Azure infrastructure via code.
- Engage and improve the lifecycle of the Azure platform and services - from development to deployment, operation, and refinement.
- Scale systems sustainably through mechanisms like automation, and evolve systems by pushing for changes that improve reliability and velocity.
- Design and Develop scalable platform solutions.
- Practice sustainable incident response and blameless postmortem.
All About You
- Experience in the fields of Computer Science or Software Engineering.
- Experience in Azure infrastructure provisioning through automation tools Terraform.
- Experience programming in at least one of the following languages: Python, Java, Go, Bash, etc.
- Experience using DevOps tools such as ADO, Jenkins, BitBucket, Artifactory, SonarQube, etc.
- Having an understanding of best practices for Logging, Monitoring, and Alerting solutions.
- Experience with software deployment and configuration automation.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, or a related technical field involving programming.
- Expertise in designing, analyzing, and troubleshooting large-scale systems.
- Ability to debug, optimize code, and automate routine tasks.
- Systematic problem-solving approach, with effective communication skills and a sense of drive.
- Understanding of Windows/Linux operating systems.
- Implement solutions to manage Mastercard’s Azure infrastructure via code.
- Engage and improve the lifecycle of the Azure platform and services - from development to deployment, operation, and refinement.
- Design, develop, and implement software systems and applications on Azure platform.
- Establish and ensure adherence to Azure cloud best practices and standards.
- Troubleshoot issues and provide solutions to complex problems.
- Stay updated with the latest Azure updates, features, and capabilities.
- Contribute to design, architecture, process, and development discussions.
- Assist in the deployment, scaling, and performance tuning of applications on Azure.
Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
- Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
- Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
- Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
- Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.
In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.
Pay Ranges
O'Fallon, Missouri: $140,000 - $231,000 USD
Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Lead Software Engineer (Azure Platform Engineering)
ABOUT MASTERCARD
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. At Mastercard, our industry expertise is enhanced by our commitment to being a force for good in the world. We do well by doing good. Our core values of trust, partnership, agility, and thoughtful risk taking are displayed in everything we do. Our culture of collaboration and inclusion makes our company the place where the best people choose to be.
Overview
On the Cloud Platform team, you will be working with Mastercard’s Azure Platform Engineering team. The team is responsible for developing the best of breed Azure Platform capabilities to application development teams such that automated cloud infrastructure can be provided to software engineering and operation teams.
The Role
- Implement solutions to manage Mastercard’s Azure infrastructure via code.
- Engage and improve the lifecycle of the Azure platform and services - from development to deployment, operation, and refinement.
- Scale systems sustainably through mechanisms like automation, and evolve systems by pushing for changes that improve reliability and velocity.
- Design and Develop scalable platform solutions.
- Practice sustainable incident response and blameless postmortem.
All About You
- Experience in the fields of Computer Science or Software Engineering.
- Experience in Azure infrastructure provisioning through automation tools Terraform.
- Experience programming in at least one of the following languages: Python, Java, Go, Bash, etc.
- Experience using DevOps tools such as ADO, Jenkins, BitBucket, Artifactory, SonarQube, etc.
- Having an understanding of best practices for Logging, Monitoring, and Alerting solutions.
- Experience with software deployment and configuration automation.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, or a related technical field involving programming.
- Expertise in designing, analyzing, and troubleshooting large-scale systems.
- Ability to debug, optimize code, and automate routine tasks.
- Systematic problem-solving approach, with effective communication skills and a sense of drive.
- Understanding of Windows/Linux operating systems.
- Implement solutions to manage Mastercard’s Azure infrastructure via code.
- Engage and improve the lifecycle of the Azure platform and services - from development to deployment, operation, and refinement.
- Design, develop, and implement software systems and applications on Azure platform.
- Establish and ensure adherence to Azure cloud best practices and standards.
- Troubleshoot issues and provide solutions to complex problems.
- Stay updated with the latest Azure updates, features, and capabilities.
- Contribute to design, architecture, process, and development discussions.
- Assist in the deployment, scaling, and performance tuning of applications on Azure.
Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
- Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
- Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
- Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
- Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.
In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.
Pay Ranges
O'Fallon, Missouri: $140,000 - $231,000 USD
See all 320+ OPT Lead Software Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Lead Software Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Lead Software Engineer
Target companies with established H-1B sponsorship history
Focus on employers who have sponsored H-1B visa 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.
Emphasize your STEM extension eligibility upfront
If your degree is in computer science, engineering, or a related STEM field, you qualify for a 24-month OPT extension. Lead engineer candidates should mention this early, giving employers a longer runway before H-1B sponsorship becomes urgent.
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.
Be specific about your OPT end date and cap-exempt options
Know your exact OPT expiration date and communicate it clearly. Also research cap-exempt employers like universities and nonprofits, where H-1B petitions can be filed at any time, bypassing the annual lottery entirely.
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.
Lead Software Engineer OPT: Frequently 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.