Machine Learning Manager Jobs for OPT Students
Machine Learning Manager jobs on OPT require employers who can sponsor H-1B or support STEM OPT extensions, since the role typically falls under Computer and Information Research as a specialty occupation. Most positions demand 5-plus years of ML experience, making early OPT the right time to target senior IC roles that lead to management tracks.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Every day, tens of millions of people come to Roblox to explore, create, play, learn, and connect with friends in 3D immersive digital experiences– all created by our global community of developers and creators.
At Roblox, we’re building the tools and platform that empower our community to bring any experience that they can imagine to life. Our vision is to reimagine the way people come together, from anywhere in the world, and on any device. We’re on a mission to connect a billion people with optimism and civility, and looking for amazing talent to help us get there.
A career at Roblox means you’ll be working to shape the future of human interaction, solving unique technical challenges at scale, and helping to create safer, more civil shared experiences for everyone.
WHY SAFETY?
At Roblox, we strive to connect a billion people with optimism and civility, and the Safety organization's mission is to become the leader in civil immersive online communities. We systematically and proactively detect, remove, and prevent problematic content and behavior, and we make Roblox accounts secure and free from compromise. We also keep the platform compliant for changing regulations and growth markets. We cover a broad area of the tech spectrum, including machine learning, experimentation, automation, highly scalable distributed backend systems, detection workflows, and AI-powered text filters. Aligned and partnering with product teams, we use this tool belt to discover new opportunities, influence and shape the product roadmap and prioritization, build safety products, and measure the impact on our community of users and developers. In doing so, we keep Roblox safe, civil, and inclusive, and we foster positive relationships between people around the world.
WHY CRITICAL HARMS?
As an Engineering Manager on Critical Harms, you’ll lead an engineering team to identify and address some of the highest-risk and most critical problems we face, including rare events with sparse data such as predatory behavior, child endangerment, extremism, fraud. Safety and Civility is Roblox's #1 priority, and our mission is to protect our community.
You Will:
- Shape and grow a high-performing engineering team. Support engineers, ranging from junior to principal, in their development.
- Foster a team culture of collaboration, innovation, and engineering excellence; while getting things done.
- Take responsibility for high-scale systems to detect and address problematic content on Roblox. Operate creatively and strategically in a highly adversarial space.
- Own the team’s mission and outcomes. Work with stakeholders to define the team’s roadmap, and ensure execution.
- Partner with Moderation Operations, PM, Data, and stakeholders across Roblox, to develop innovative solutions that ensure the safety of user-generated content.
You Have:
- 2+ years of experience as an engineering manager working in ML space
- Excellence in collaborating with others, and in developing software engineers. You have demonstrated outcomes of facilitating team success.
- A proven track record of technical delivery in high-scale environments with complex constraints
- Ability to contribute to architecture and implementation discussions around high-scale ML systems
- Experience solving difficult problems involving both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders
You Are:
- Resourceful: You're able to navigate tough constraints to find the best solution. You stay laser-focused on the end goal and are adaptable, creative, and strategic to achieve it.
- Solution Oriented: You start with the problem to be solved, and stay laser-focused on getting it solved. You can tackle anything that comes your way, whether it’s a technical problem, a business problem, or a people problem.
- Team Oriented: You are constantly looking at how to make the team stronger – both the team you directly manage, and the team of peers you collaborate with.
- Empathetic: You can put yourself in the shoes of anyone – a junior engineer, an executive, an adversarial attacker, a new user – and understand their needs.
COMPENSATION
For roles that are based at our headquarters in San Mateo, CA: The starting base pay for this position is as shown below. The actual base pay is dependent upon a variety of job-related factors such as professional background, training, work experience, location, business needs and market demand. Therefore, in some circumstances, the actual salary could fall outside of this expected range. This pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. All full-time employees are also eligible for equity compensation and for benefits as described on this page.
- Annual Salary Range: $295,250—$345,040 USD
Roles that are based in an office are onsite Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with optional presence on Monday and Friday (unless otherwise noted).
Roblox provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Roblox also provides reasonable accommodations to candidates with qualifying disabilities or religious beliefs during the recruiting process.
INTRODUCTION
Every day, tens of millions of people come to Roblox to explore, create, play, learn, and connect with friends in 3D immersive digital experiences– all created by our global community of developers and creators.
At Roblox, we’re building the tools and platform that empower our community to bring any experience that they can imagine to life. Our vision is to reimagine the way people come together, from anywhere in the world, and on any device. We’re on a mission to connect a billion people with optimism and civility, and looking for amazing talent to help us get there.
A career at Roblox means you’ll be working to shape the future of human interaction, solving unique technical challenges at scale, and helping to create safer, more civil shared experiences for everyone.
WHY SAFETY?
At Roblox, we strive to connect a billion people with optimism and civility, and the Safety organization's mission is to become the leader in civil immersive online communities. We systematically and proactively detect, remove, and prevent problematic content and behavior, and we make Roblox accounts secure and free from compromise. We also keep the platform compliant for changing regulations and growth markets. We cover a broad area of the tech spectrum, including machine learning, experimentation, automation, highly scalable distributed backend systems, detection workflows, and AI-powered text filters. Aligned and partnering with product teams, we use this tool belt to discover new opportunities, influence and shape the product roadmap and prioritization, build safety products, and measure the impact on our community of users and developers. In doing so, we keep Roblox safe, civil, and inclusive, and we foster positive relationships between people around the world.
WHY CRITICAL HARMS?
As an Engineering Manager on Critical Harms, you’ll lead an engineering team to identify and address some of the highest-risk and most critical problems we face, including rare events with sparse data such as predatory behavior, child endangerment, extremism, fraud. Safety and Civility is Roblox's #1 priority, and our mission is to protect our community.
You Will:
- Shape and grow a high-performing engineering team. Support engineers, ranging from junior to principal, in their development.
- Foster a team culture of collaboration, innovation, and engineering excellence; while getting things done.
- Take responsibility for high-scale systems to detect and address problematic content on Roblox. Operate creatively and strategically in a highly adversarial space.
- Own the team’s mission and outcomes. Work with stakeholders to define the team’s roadmap, and ensure execution.
- Partner with Moderation Operations, PM, Data, and stakeholders across Roblox, to develop innovative solutions that ensure the safety of user-generated content.
You Have:
- 2+ years of experience as an engineering manager working in ML space
- Excellence in collaborating with others, and in developing software engineers. You have demonstrated outcomes of facilitating team success.
- A proven track record of technical delivery in high-scale environments with complex constraints
- Ability to contribute to architecture and implementation discussions around high-scale ML systems
- Experience solving difficult problems involving both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders
You Are:
- Resourceful: You're able to navigate tough constraints to find the best solution. You stay laser-focused on the end goal and are adaptable, creative, and strategic to achieve it.
- Solution Oriented: You start with the problem to be solved, and stay laser-focused on getting it solved. You can tackle anything that comes your way, whether it’s a technical problem, a business problem, or a people problem.
- Team Oriented: You are constantly looking at how to make the team stronger – both the team you directly manage, and the team of peers you collaborate with.
- Empathetic: You can put yourself in the shoes of anyone – a junior engineer, an executive, an adversarial attacker, a new user – and understand their needs.
COMPENSATION
For roles that are based at our headquarters in San Mateo, CA: The starting base pay for this position is as shown below. The actual base pay is dependent upon a variety of job-related factors such as professional background, training, work experience, location, business needs and market demand. Therefore, in some circumstances, the actual salary could fall outside of this expected range. This pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. All full-time employees are also eligible for equity compensation and for benefits as described on this page.
- Annual Salary Range: $295,250—$345,040 USD
Roles that are based in an office are onsite Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with optional presence on Monday and Friday (unless otherwise noted).
Roblox provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Roblox also provides reasonable accommodations to candidates with qualifying disabilities or religious beliefs during the recruiting process.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Machine Learning Manager
Confirm the role qualifies as a specialty occupation
Machine Learning Manager positions almost always require a bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, statistics, or a related field. Verify the job posting explicitly states a degree requirement, not just a preference, to ensure your OPT authorization aligns cleanly.
Target employers with an established H-1B track record
Companies that have sponsored ML engineers and data scientists before are far more likely to sponsor a Machine Learning Manager. Search employer H-1B disclosure data through the Department of Labor to confirm a pattern of sponsorship before investing time in applications.
Lead with your STEM OPT extension eligibility
A STEM OPT extension gives you up to three additional years of work authorization, which meaningfully reduces urgency for employers. If your degree is in computer science, data science, or a related STEM field, mention this extension explicitly in your cover letter and recruiter conversations.
Demonstrate cross-functional leadership to differentiate yourself
Machine Learning Manager roles require leading engineers, aligning with product teams, and owning model deployment decisions. Candidates who can show tangible team leadership experience, not just technical depth, stand out and reduce employer hesitation around sponsorship investment.
Focus on companies scaling ML infrastructure, not just experimenting
Organizations at the proof-of-concept stage rarely commit to sponsorship for senior hires. Target employers actively productionizing ML systems, with dedicated ML platform teams, as they have stronger business reasons to sponsor and retain a capable manager long term.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Machine Learning Manager on OPT?
Yes, provided your role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a degree in a directly related field like computer science, electrical engineering, or applied mathematics. Machine Learning Manager positions consistently meet this standard. Your OPT authorization must remain valid, and the job must be directly related to your degree field.
Do Machine Learning Manager jobs commonly offer H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, particularly at mid-size and large technology companies that depend on ML infrastructure for their core products. Firms in sectors like cloud computing, fintech, and health tech regularly sponsor ML leadership roles. Migrate Mate filters sponsorship-friendly employers so you can focus your search on companies with a documented history of supporting international candidates.
Does my degree field affect OPT eligibility for this role?
Yes. Your OPT work must be directly related to your degree. A Machine Learning Manager role is most straightforwardly supported by degrees in computer science, data science, statistics, or electrical engineering. If your degree is adjacent, such as applied mathematics or operations research, you can still qualify, but you may need to clearly articulate the connection on your OPT reporting documentation.
How does STEM OPT extension work for Machine Learning Manager roles?
If your bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree is in a STEM-designated field, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12-month OPT period. The employer must be E-Verify enrolled and agree to a formal training plan. For Machine Learning Manager roles, most qualifying employers are already E-Verify participants, making the extension straightforward to execute.
What should I do if my OPT expires before an employer completes H-1B sponsorship?
The timing risk is real for management-level roles, where hiring decisions move slowly. If an approved H-1B petition is in place before your OPT expires, you can maintain status through the cap-gap provision while waiting for October 1 employment to begin. Working closely with an immigration attorney and starting conversations with employers at least six months before expiration significantly reduces the risk of a gap.
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