OPT Llm Engineer Jobs
LLM Engineer roles are among the most actively sponsored positions for F-1 OPT students right now, with demand from AI labs, enterprise software companies, and well-funded startups. Your OPT window, including the 24-month STEM extension, gives you up to three years to build experience and secure H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Join the Swift AI Frameworks team and create the best APIs for AI models. You’ll collaborate with passionate and creative colleagues to meet ambitious goals in an environment that not only encourages, but requires constant curiosity and growth.
DESCRIPTION
As a member of the Swift AI Frameworks team, you will implement new features in the Foundation Models framework and craft elegant APIs that surprise and delight our developers. You will be responsible for bringing your ideas to life through all stages of their development: from initial research, to API design, to model evaluation, to testing and development in Swift, to documentation and internal dogfooding. You’ll join us in energetic discussions of each other’s work and ideas, alongside collaborators possessing a variety of different perspectives and domain expertises.
You’ll also have the opportunity to collaborate with experts throughout Apple including: ML researchers, systems engineers, user interface designers, tools engineers, and technical writers. Curious and enterprising individuals who take an expansive view of their role will thrive in this multi-disciplinary environment!
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Interest in machine learning, LLMs and generative AI
- Proficiency with Swift (or the capacity to become proficient quickly)
- The ability to work collaboratively and explain complex ideas clearly
- High standards for quality and attention to detail
- The desire to learn and grow, keeping pace with cutting edge technologies
- Experience with at least one of the following: Framework and API development, LLM tool calling and agentic workflows, Model evaluation, LLM inference algorithms (e.g. constrained decoding, retrieval-augmented generation)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelorʼs Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience
- Experience with any of the following is a plus, but not required: LLM serving, On-device ML systems, Multi-modal LLMs, Swift API design patterns, User interface technologies (e.g. SwiftUI, UIKit), Programming language design and implementation, Technical writing and Open-source software projects.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.
PAY & BENEFITS
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $181,100 and $318,400, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
INTRODUCTION
Join the Swift AI Frameworks team and create the best APIs for AI models. You’ll collaborate with passionate and creative colleagues to meet ambitious goals in an environment that not only encourages, but requires constant curiosity and growth.
DESCRIPTION
As a member of the Swift AI Frameworks team, you will implement new features in the Foundation Models framework and craft elegant APIs that surprise and delight our developers. You will be responsible for bringing your ideas to life through all stages of their development: from initial research, to API design, to model evaluation, to testing and development in Swift, to documentation and internal dogfooding. You’ll join us in energetic discussions of each other’s work and ideas, alongside collaborators possessing a variety of different perspectives and domain expertises.
You’ll also have the opportunity to collaborate with experts throughout Apple including: ML researchers, systems engineers, user interface designers, tools engineers, and technical writers. Curious and enterprising individuals who take an expansive view of their role will thrive in this multi-disciplinary environment!
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Interest in machine learning, LLMs and generative AI
- Proficiency with Swift (or the capacity to become proficient quickly)
- The ability to work collaboratively and explain complex ideas clearly
- High standards for quality and attention to detail
- The desire to learn and grow, keeping pace with cutting edge technologies
- Experience with at least one of the following: Framework and API development, LLM tool calling and agentic workflows, Model evaluation, LLM inference algorithms (e.g. constrained decoding, retrieval-augmented generation)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelorʼs Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience
- Experience with any of the following is a plus, but not required: LLM serving, On-device ML systems, Multi-modal LLMs, Swift API design patterns, User interface technologies (e.g. SwiftUI, UIKit), Programming language design and implementation, Technical writing and Open-source software projects.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.
PAY & BENEFITS
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $181,100 and $318,400, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Llm Engineer
Align your degree field with your job duties
STEM OPT eligibility depends on your role being directly related to your degree. If you studied computer science or data science, document explicitly how your LLM engineering work applies those fields to satisfy DSO and employer verification requirements.
Emphasize production experience, not just research
Employers sponsoring OPT workers want engineers who ship models to production. Highlight experience fine-tuning, deploying, or evaluating large language models in real systems. Research experience alone raises sponsorship hesitancy at many companies.
Raise H-1B sponsorship before accepting an offer
Ask directly whether the company sponsors H-1B visas during the offer negotiation stage, not after signing. Discovering a sponsorship policy gap after your OPT clock is running wastes months you cannot recover.
Get your training plan documentation right from day one
For STEM OPT, your employer must sign a training plan detailing how the role develops your skills. Keep a copy, review it with your DSO, and ensure your actual job duties match what is described to avoid compliance issues.
Build a portfolio that speaks to LLM-specific skills
Open-source contributions, fine-tuned model demos, or retrieval-augmented generation projects give hiring managers concrete proof of your capabilities. A strong portfolio shortens hiring timelines and signals you are worth the sponsorship investment.
Llm Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do LLM Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. If your degree is in computer science, electrical engineering, data science, or a related STEM field listed on the STEM designated degree program list, and your LLM Engineer role is directly related to that field, you qualify for the 24-month extension. Confirm eligibility with your DSO before your initial OPT period ends.
How do I find LLM Engineer jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the best place to start. It filters job listings specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored roles, so you are not wasting time applying to companies that will not hire international students. Search for LLM Engineer, ML Engineer, or AI Engineer roles and filter by OPT sponsorship to surface the most relevant opportunities.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my LLM Engineer job ends unexpectedly?
You have a 60-day unemployment buffer during your OPT period. If you lose your job, you must report the change to your DSO immediately and begin searching for a new qualifying position. Exceeding 90 total days of unemployment across your entire OPT period, including STEM extension, can result in a loss of status.
Does my LLM Engineer role need to be full-time for OPT to remain valid?
OPT permits both full-time and part-time employment, but most students on post-completion OPT work full-time to maximize their unemployment buffer and demonstrate active engagement in their field. STEM OPT rules require that the role be paid and that the employer be enrolled in E-Verify, regardless of whether the position is full-time or part-time.
Can I work as a contract or freelance LLM Engineer on OPT?
Self-employment and independent contracting are technically permitted on OPT, but the rules are strict. You must be actively engaged in work related to your degree, able to document your projects, and cannot simply list yourself as a contractor without real, verifiable work. Most immigration attorneys recommend salaried employment with an E-Verify employer for STEM OPT to reduce compliance risk.