OPT Physics Jobs
Physics OPT jobs span research, data analysis, engineering, and instrumentation roles across academia, national labs, and private industry. Your OPT period gives you up to 12 months of work authorization, with a 24-month STEM extension available for qualifying physics and related degree programs. Employers range from university research groups to defense contractors and semiconductor firms.
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Role Mission: IDEA College Prep Teachers are responsible for ensuring that every IDEA student masters the academic and social skills necessary to succeed in college, while also embodying IDEA’s values daily.
IDEA College Prep Teachers set ambitious goals for student achievement and diligently track student data to inform dynamic and effective daily lesson plans. IDEA College Prep Teachers seek feedback and continue to develop their teaching practice to better serve IDEA students. We strive to accomplish our goal in two ways: by giving students the chance to experience rigorous and challenging material in high school and by giving them the opportunity to gain college credit through dual enrollment, AP, or IB courses.
What We Offer
Compensation:
- The starting teacher salary for 0 years of experience is $64,000. This role is eligible for various stipends based on certifications, credentials, and campus leadership ranging from $500-$4,000 each. We also offer additional performance-based compensation. For more information about our compensation and total rewards, visit our compensation and benefits page.
- Additional hourly compensation is provided for after-school tutoring or Saturday school as assigned.
Other Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:
- Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
- Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.
Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.
What You Bring - Competencies
Qualifications
- High level of content-area proficiency as evidenced by teaching certification, field of study, or work experience (strongly preferred)
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year educational institution (required)
- Experience: Experience in a K-12 classroom setting (strongly preferred)
- Licenses or Certifications: State certification preferred but not required
Knowledge and Skills:
- Aligned or relevant coursework that indicates experience or exposure to subject-matter content
- Knowledge of core academic subject assigned and ability to pass a grade level aligned IDEA content assessment
- Basic knowledge of curricula and instructional practices or implementation
- Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment
What You’ll Do - Accountabilities
Responsibilities:
- Implement state learning standards and IDEA curricula and assessments to meet ambitious academic expectations
- Learn, master, and deliver content and grade level curriculum, core content objectives, and texts
- Submit weekly lesson plans two weeks in advance for feedback
- Implement formal and informal assessments to track each individual student’s progress and learning needs, adjust lesson plans accordingly and update gradebook weekly
- Communicate students’ progress with student and family on a weekly basis
- Effective facilitation and personal use of technology as a communication and educational tool to improve student achievement and manage work related tasks.
- Implement a clear and consistent behavior management system that aligns to campus-wide initiatives while developing students’ character and sense of community in the classroom
- Help shape and develop a school wide culture that fosters a productive and enthusiastic learning environment for each student
- Establish and maintain a cooperative working relationship with students and families based on trust, understanding and respect for the communities in which they identify.
- Host necessary tutoring sessions to meet all students’ needs
- Participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, before and after-school duties, and school wide meetings and functions
- Engage in summer and year-long district, school and personal learning and development
- Minimum of 40+ hours spent at school per week
- Additional responsibilities may include: after-school tutoring or Saturday school and are based on the needs of our scholars
We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics:
- Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
- Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
- Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
- Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes
- Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
- Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
- Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
- We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students
About IDEA Public Schools
At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools.
IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.
When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.
Staff Experience
At IDEA, the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members. Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here!
To Apply
Please submit your application online through Jobvite. It’s in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.
Description
Role Mission: IDEA College Prep Teachers are responsible for ensuring that every IDEA student masters the academic and social skills necessary to succeed in college, while also embodying IDEA’s values daily.
IDEA College Prep Teachers set ambitious goals for student achievement and diligently track student data to inform dynamic and effective daily lesson plans. IDEA College Prep Teachers seek feedback and continue to develop their teaching practice to better serve IDEA students. We strive to accomplish our goal in two ways: by giving students the chance to experience rigorous and challenging material in high school and by giving them the opportunity to gain college credit through dual enrollment, AP, or IB courses.
What We Offer
Compensation:
- The starting teacher salary for 0 years of experience is $64,000. This role is eligible for various stipends based on certifications, credentials, and campus leadership ranging from $500-$4,000 each. We also offer additional performance-based compensation. For more information about our compensation and total rewards, visit our compensation and benefits page.
- Additional hourly compensation is provided for after-school tutoring or Saturday school as assigned.
Other Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:
- Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
- Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.
Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.
What You Bring - Competencies
Qualifications
- High level of content-area proficiency as evidenced by teaching certification, field of study, or work experience (strongly preferred)
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year educational institution (required)
- Experience: Experience in a K-12 classroom setting (strongly preferred)
- Licenses or Certifications: State certification preferred but not required
Knowledge and Skills:
- Aligned or relevant coursework that indicates experience or exposure to subject-matter content
- Knowledge of core academic subject assigned and ability to pass a grade level aligned IDEA content assessment
- Basic knowledge of curricula and instructional practices or implementation
- Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment
What You’ll Do - Accountabilities
Responsibilities:
- Implement state learning standards and IDEA curricula and assessments to meet ambitious academic expectations
- Learn, master, and deliver content and grade level curriculum, core content objectives, and texts
- Submit weekly lesson plans two weeks in advance for feedback
- Implement formal and informal assessments to track each individual student’s progress and learning needs, adjust lesson plans accordingly and update gradebook weekly
- Communicate students’ progress with student and family on a weekly basis
- Effective facilitation and personal use of technology as a communication and educational tool to improve student achievement and manage work related tasks.
- Implement a clear and consistent behavior management system that aligns to campus-wide initiatives while developing students’ character and sense of community in the classroom
- Help shape and develop a school wide culture that fosters a productive and enthusiastic learning environment for each student
- Establish and maintain a cooperative working relationship with students and families based on trust, understanding and respect for the communities in which they identify.
- Host necessary tutoring sessions to meet all students’ needs
- Participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, before and after-school duties, and school wide meetings and functions
- Engage in summer and year-long district, school and personal learning and development
- Minimum of 40+ hours spent at school per week
- Additional responsibilities may include: after-school tutoring or Saturday school and are based on the needs of our scholars
We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics:
- Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
- Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
- Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
- Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes
- Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
- Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
- Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
- We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students
About IDEA Public Schools
At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools.
IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.
When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.
Staff Experience
At IDEA, the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members. Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here!
To Apply
Please submit your application online through Jobvite. It’s in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.
See all 10,630+ OPT Physics Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Physics Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Physics
Target STEM OPT-eligible employers first
Physics degrees typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, but only with E-Verify employers. Prioritize companies enrolled in E-Verify from the start so your extension eligibility is never in question.
Highlight quantitative and computational skills
Employers hiring physics graduates often care more about your Python, MATLAB, or data modeling experience than your thesis topic. Lead with technical skills in your resume to connect your background to the role.
Look beyond academia for sponsorship pathways
National laboratories, semiconductor companies, and defense contractors regularly hire physics graduates and have established H-1B visa sponsorship pipelines. These employers often have dedicated immigration support teams for international hires.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Tell employers your OPT start date, expiration date, and STEM extension eligibility early in the process. Employers unfamiliar with OPT benefit from knowing you have up to three years of work authorization available.
Connect your research to applied industry problems
Hiring managers outside academia rarely know what your thesis means in practice. Translate your research into outcomes: reduced error rates, improved detection accuracy, faster processing. Concrete results resonate far more than technical jargon.
Apply to roles with specialty occupation alignment
For future H-1B sponsorship, your physics role needs to qualify as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Applied research, instrumentation, and data science roles tied directly to physics align well.
Physics OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do physics degrees qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Physics is on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, which means graduates are eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension beyond the standard 12-month period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you must apply for the extension before your initial OPT expires. That gives you up to 36 months of total work authorization.
What types of employers hire physics OPT students?
Physics graduates work across a wide range of sectors. National laboratories like Argonne, Brookhaven, and the national labs under DOE regularly hire OPT students for research roles. Private sector employers in semiconductors, defense, medical devices, and data science also recruit physics graduates. Migrate Mate filters OPT-friendly listings so you can find employers who actively sponsor international students.
Can I work at a university or research institution on OPT?
Yes, academic and research institution roles are fully compatible with OPT work authorization. However, confirm that any unpaid or stipend-based position meets your OPT employment requirements. USCIS requires that OPT employment be directly related to your degree and, for paid roles, that compensation is consistent with similarly situated U.S. workers in the same field.
Does a physics job qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Most physics roles do qualify, particularly those in applied research, instrumentation development, computational modeling, and materials science, where a bachelor's degree in physics or a closely related field is a standard requirement. General roles where any science degree would suffice are harder to support. The stronger the connection between the job duties and your specific physics training, the cleaner the specialty occupation argument.
Can I work part-time on OPT as a physics researcher or lab technician?
Yes, part-time OPT employment is permitted during the standard OPT period, defined as fewer than 20 hours per week. During the STEM OPT extension, however, you must work at least 20 hours per week to remain in valid status. If you hold multiple concurrent part-time positions, the combined hours must still meet that threshold during the extension period.