Network Operations Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Network Operations Engineer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in computer science, information technology, or electrical engineering. Most roles qualify as STEM-designated positions, making you eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension beyond your initial 12 months of work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Network Control Specialists
Working Title: Network Operations Engineer
Career Progression Track: P00
Track Level: P3 - Career, P2 - Developing, P1 - Entry Level Pro
FLSA Code: Computer Employee
Patient Sensitive Job Code?: No
Standard Hours per Week: 40
Full Time or Part Time?: Full Time
Shift: Day
Work Schedule Summary:
Schedule: Wednesday through Sunday 7:30a – 4:30p with some mid-week flexibility.
This is a weekend shift with Saturdays and Sundays mandatory.
This position will require 2-4 weeks of in person training at our Salt Lake City Network Operations Center.
Following completion of training, 2 days a week of in-office work will be required at our Salt Lake City Network Operations Center.
This position is required to be prompt and on-time to facilitate customer requests during normal business hours.
VP Area: President
Department: 00336 - KUEN/Utah Education Network
Location: Campus
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment: External Posting
Pay Rate Range: 65000 - 80000
Close Date: 06/30/2026
Job Summary:
Network Control Specialists
Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure. Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption. Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance. Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels. Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure. Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals.
This position provides support for UEN’s customers in the Network Operations Center. It is primarily focused on Network Monitoring, Management, and Maintenance.
This is a Category IIA position: Not required on campus and able to telework. Employees and/or functions where employees are able to work remotely in order to maintain campus systems, campus operations, clinical operations, and patient care.
Responsibilities:
Performs duties associated with the management, monitoring, and maintaining UEN’s (Utah Education Network) Network Operations Center:
- Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure.
- Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption.
- Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance.
- Log into Cisco switches and routers and perform basic layer 2 and 3 troubleshooting.
- Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels.
- Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure.
- Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals.
- Requires basic skill set and proficiency.
- Conduct work assignments as directed.
This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
Work Environment:
Often: This is primarily a remote work position
Seldom: Occasional Office attendance is required
Physical Requirements:
Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking, bending, twisting, kneeling, squatting, crawling.
Seldom: Reaching overhead, lifting - up to 50 pounds.
Network Control Specialist, I
Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure. Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption. Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance. Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels. Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure. Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals. Requires basic skill set and proficiency. Conducts work assignments as directed. Closely supervised with little latitude for independent judgment.
Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience or a master’s (or equivalency) degree.
This is an Entry-Level position in the General Professional track.
Job Code: P35051
Grade: P13
Network Control Specialist, II
Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure. Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption. Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance. Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels. Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure. Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals. Requires moderate skill set and proficiency in discipline. Conducts work assignments of increasing complexity, under moderate supervision with some latitude for independent judgment.
Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
This is a Developing-Level position in the General Professional track.
Job Code: P35052
Grade: P17
Network Control Specialist, III
Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure. Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption. Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance. Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels. Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure. Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals. Considered highly skilled and proficient in discipline. Conducts complex, important work under minimal supervision and with wide latitude for independent judgment.
Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.
This is a Career-Level position in the General Professional track.
Job Code: P35053
Grade: P18
Minimum Qualifications:
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:
- Network Control Specialist, I: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience or a master’s (or equivalency) degree.
- Network Control Specialist, II: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
- Network Control Specialist, III: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.
Preferences:
- Experience with Cisco Systems platforms
- Experience with scripting and/or programming languages
- Experience troubleshooting layer 2/layer 3 network issues
Type: Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary:
Additional Information:
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/ Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu. This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
Job Title: Network Control Specialists
Working Title: Network Operations Engineer
Career Progression Track: P00
Track Level: P3 - Career, P2 - Developing, P1 - Entry Level Pro
FLSA Code: Computer Employee
Patient Sensitive Job Code?: No
Standard Hours per Week: 40
Full Time or Part Time?: Full Time
Shift: Day
Work Schedule Summary:
Schedule: Wednesday through Sunday 7:30a – 4:30p with some mid-week flexibility.
This is a weekend shift with Saturdays and Sundays mandatory.
This position will require 2-4 weeks of in person training at our Salt Lake City Network Operations Center.
Following completion of training, 2 days a week of in-office work will be required at our Salt Lake City Network Operations Center.
This position is required to be prompt and on-time to facilitate customer requests during normal business hours.
VP Area: President
Department: 00336 - KUEN/Utah Education Network
Location: Campus
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment: External Posting
Pay Rate Range: 65000 - 80000
Close Date: 06/30/2026
Job Summary:
Network Control Specialists
Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure. Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption. Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance. Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels. Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure. Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals.
This position provides support for UEN’s customers in the Network Operations Center. It is primarily focused on Network Monitoring, Management, and Maintenance.
This is a Category IIA position: Not required on campus and able to telework. Employees and/or functions where employees are able to work remotely in order to maintain campus systems, campus operations, clinical operations, and patient care.
Responsibilities:
Performs duties associated with the management, monitoring, and maintaining UEN’s (Utah Education Network) Network Operations Center:
- Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure.
- Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption.
- Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance.
- Log into Cisco switches and routers and perform basic layer 2 and 3 troubleshooting.
- Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels.
- Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure.
- Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals.
- Requires basic skill set and proficiency.
- Conduct work assignments as directed.
This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
Work Environment:
Often: This is primarily a remote work position
Seldom: Occasional Office attendance is required
Physical Requirements:
Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking, bending, twisting, kneeling, squatting, crawling.
Seldom: Reaching overhead, lifting - up to 50 pounds.
Network Control Specialist, I
Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure. Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption. Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance. Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels. Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure. Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals. Requires basic skill set and proficiency. Conducts work assignments as directed. Closely supervised with little latitude for independent judgment.
Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience or a master’s (or equivalency) degree.
This is an Entry-Level position in the General Professional track.
Job Code: P35051
Grade: P13
Network Control Specialist, II
Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure. Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption. Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance. Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels. Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure. Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals. Requires moderate skill set and proficiency in discipline. Conducts work assignments of increasing complexity, under moderate supervision with some latitude for independent judgment.
Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
This is a Developing-Level position in the General Professional track.
Job Code: P35052
Grade: P17
Network Control Specialist, III
Monitor and support critical network elements to maintain the continuous operation of network and system infrastructure. Follow procedures to identify and validate trouble conditions and take the appropriate course of action to minimize service interruption. Perform proactive network status checks as part of normal surveillance activities, ensuring optimum performance. Work closely with various engineering groups and network control technicians to develop and implement tools and processes to improve capabilities and ensure quality service levels. Review planned and unplanned changes to network infrastructure. Ensure all networks are meeting industry standards and performance goals. Considered highly skilled and proficient in discipline. Conducts complex, important work under minimal supervision and with wide latitude for independent judgment.
Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.
This is a Career-Level position in the General Professional track.
Job Code: P35053
Grade: P18
Minimum Qualifications:
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:
- Network Control Specialist, I: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience or a master’s (or equivalency) degree.
- Network Control Specialist, II: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
- Network Control Specialist, III: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.
Preferences:
- Experience with Cisco Systems platforms
- Experience with scripting and/or programming languages
- Experience troubleshooting layer 2/layer 3 network issues
Type: Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary:
Additional Information:
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/ Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu. This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Network Operations Engineer
Lead with your network monitoring experience
Hiring managers in NOC roles care about hands-on tool experience. Highlight specific platforms like SolarWinds, Nagios, or Cisco IOS in your resume. Concrete lab or internship experience with these tools addresses employer uncertainty about OPT candidates faster than a generic skills list.
Target employers with existing OPT infrastructure
Large ISPs, cloud providers, and managed service providers regularly hire OPT students for NOC roles. These companies already have immigration compliance processes in place, which means far less friction when your start date or work authorization timeline comes up in hiring conversations.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
Network Operations Engineer roles at most employers qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Mentioning this in early conversations signals you understand your own authorization and reduces employer concern about a short runway. Most hiring managers appreciate candidates who can explain their status clearly.
Get your certifications before you apply
CompTIA Network+, CCNA, or Juniper JNCIA certifications meaningfully reduce employer hesitation about sponsoring an OPT candidate. Certified candidates signal lower training risk. Even one entry-level certification can shift a borderline hiring decision in your favor during the OPT period.
Be transparent about your OPT end date and extension timeline
Employers making 12 to 24-month hiring decisions need to know your authorization window. Come prepared with your exact OPT end date and, if eligible, your STEM extension timeline. Candidates who present this information proactively are perceived as lower-risk hires than those who avoid the topic.
Emphasize shift flexibility for NOC roles
Network operations centers run 24/7, and many employers struggle to fill overnight or weekend rotations. If your schedule allows it, expressing willingness to work non-standard shifts increases your competitiveness significantly, especially for OPT candidates competing against candidates with fewer authorization constraints.
Network Operations Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Network Operations Engineers?
Yes. Network Operations Engineer roles typically fall within computer science, information technology, or electrical engineering, all of which are degree fields covered by F-1 OPT authorization. Your employment must be directly related to your major field of study. Most NOC positions at technology companies and managed service providers meet this requirement without issue.
Do Network Operations Engineer jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do. Network Operations Engineer is classified under SOC codes associated with computer and information systems occupations, which are on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list. If your degree is in computer science, IT, or electrical engineering, you are likely eligible for the 24-month STEM extension after your initial 12 months of OPT, giving you up to 36 months of total work authorization.
How do I find Network Operations Engineer jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and international students, so the jobs listed there are filtered for visa-friendliness. Searching Migrate Mate for Network Operations Engineer roles lets you focus on employers who are already open to candidates on work authorization, rather than spending time on applications that will stall at the visa question.
What happens if my OPT expires before my employer files for H-1B sponsorship?
If you are on a STEM OPT extension when your employer files an H-1B petition for the October 1 start date, your work authorization is automatically extended through September 30 of that year under cap-gap protection. This only applies if your employer files before your STEM OPT expires and you maintain lawful F-1 status throughout the process.
Do employers need to do anything special to hire a Network Operations Engineer on OPT?
For initial OPT, employers do not file any petitions with USCIS. Your authorization comes from your EAD card, which you obtain before starting work. For the STEM OPT extension, your employer must be E-Verify enrolled and sign a formal training plan using Form I-983. Most mid-size and larger technology employers are already E-Verify participants, so this rarely creates a barrier.
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