OPT Platform Architect Jobs
Platform Architect roles sit at the intersection of infrastructure, cloud engineering, and systems design, making them a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with computer science, software engineering, or information systems degrees. Most employers filing LCAs for this role classify it as a specialty occupation, which supports both OPT and H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsDescription
Invent the future with us.
Ampere is a semiconductor design company for a new era, leading the future of computing with an innovative approach to CPU design focused on high-performance, energy efficient AI compute.
As a pioneer in the new frontier of energy efficient high-performance computing, Ampere is part of the Softbank Group of companies driving sustainable computing for AI, Cloud, and edge applications.
Join us at Ampere and work alongside a passionate and growing team — we’d love to have you apply!
About the Role:
As a Virtual Platform Architect, you will apply extensive architectural expertise and visionary leadership to strategically deliver virtual platform prototypes that enable internal teams to accelerate software development and architecture analysis. This pivotal role navigates significant, unique technical challenges—requiring incisive evaluation of complex requirements across performance, interoperability, and ecosystem needs—to ensure timely, well-tuned SoC / CPU designs.
What You'll Achieve:
- Deliver virtual platform prototypes to internal teams for software development and architecture analysis.
- Developing functional models of the hardware in C++ or System C.
- Create and maintain technical documents including platform specifications, and user guides.
- Collaborate with the team from product roadmap to design implementation.
- Learning the virtual platform model from senior team members and helping to develop, deploy, and run firmware and software for future products.
- Developing automated systems for software testing, debug and analysis.
- Developing visualization tools to assist in debug and analysis.
About you:
- 3+ years of proven SoC / CPU Architect know-how.
- General programming/debugging abilities, as well as modeling computer systems in C++, SystemC, and Python.
- Understanding of computer architecture principles, e.g. virtual memory, pipelining, bus protocols, multi-processing.
- Understanding of computer systems’ performance principles, e.g. Amdahl’s Law, Queuing Theory, and mean value analysis.
- Experience with software development methods including revision control, continuous integration, and unit testing.
- Experience with virtual platform/fast functional simulation model development.
- Additional skills highly desired: Excellent and engaging communicator, Version Control, Unit Testing.
Education:
BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science & 5 years of related experience, MS degree & 3 years, or PhD & 0 years
What we’ll offer:
At Ampere we believe in taking care of our employees and providing a competitive total rewards package that includes base pay, cash long-term incentive, and comprehensive benefits. The full base pay range for this role is between $147,000 and $220,000, except in the San Francisco Bay Area where the range is between $159,000 and $239,000.
Our benefits include health, wellness, and financial programs that support employees through every stage of life.
Benefits highlights include:
- Premium medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, as well as income protection and a 401K retirement plan, so that you can feel secure in your health and financial future
- Unlimited Flextime and 10+ paid holidays so that you can embrace a healthy work-life balance
- A variety of healthy snacks, energizing espresso, and refreshing drinks to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day
And there are much more than compensation and benefits. At Ampere, we foster an inclusive culture that empowers our employees to do more and grow more. We are excited to share more about our career opportunities with you through the interview process.
LI-GW1
LI-Hybrid
Ampere is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.
Description
Invent the future with us.
Ampere is a semiconductor design company for a new era, leading the future of computing with an innovative approach to CPU design focused on high-performance, energy efficient AI compute.
As a pioneer in the new frontier of energy efficient high-performance computing, Ampere is part of the Softbank Group of companies driving sustainable computing for AI, Cloud, and edge applications.
Join us at Ampere and work alongside a passionate and growing team — we’d love to have you apply!
About the Role:
As a Virtual Platform Architect, you will apply extensive architectural expertise and visionary leadership to strategically deliver virtual platform prototypes that enable internal teams to accelerate software development and architecture analysis. This pivotal role navigates significant, unique technical challenges—requiring incisive evaluation of complex requirements across performance, interoperability, and ecosystem needs—to ensure timely, well-tuned SoC / CPU designs.
What You'll Achieve:
- Deliver virtual platform prototypes to internal teams for software development and architecture analysis.
- Developing functional models of the hardware in C++ or System C.
- Create and maintain technical documents including platform specifications, and user guides.
- Collaborate with the team from product roadmap to design implementation.
- Learning the virtual platform model from senior team members and helping to develop, deploy, and run firmware and software for future products.
- Developing automated systems for software testing, debug and analysis.
- Developing visualization tools to assist in debug and analysis.
About you:
- 3+ years of proven SoC / CPU Architect know-how.
- General programming/debugging abilities, as well as modeling computer systems in C++, SystemC, and Python.
- Understanding of computer architecture principles, e.g. virtual memory, pipelining, bus protocols, multi-processing.
- Understanding of computer systems’ performance principles, e.g. Amdahl’s Law, Queuing Theory, and mean value analysis.
- Experience with software development methods including revision control, continuous integration, and unit testing.
- Experience with virtual platform/fast functional simulation model development.
- Additional skills highly desired: Excellent and engaging communicator, Version Control, Unit Testing.
Education:
BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science & 5 years of related experience, MS degree & 3 years, or PhD & 0 years
What we’ll offer:
At Ampere we believe in taking care of our employees and providing a competitive total rewards package that includes base pay, cash long-term incentive, and comprehensive benefits. The full base pay range for this role is between $147,000 and $220,000, except in the San Francisco Bay Area where the range is between $159,000 and $239,000.
Our benefits include health, wellness, and financial programs that support employees through every stage of life.
Benefits highlights include:
- Premium medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, as well as income protection and a 401K retirement plan, so that you can feel secure in your health and financial future
- Unlimited Flextime and 10+ paid holidays so that you can embrace a healthy work-life balance
- A variety of healthy snacks, energizing espresso, and refreshing drinks to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day
And there are much more than compensation and benefits. At Ampere, we foster an inclusive culture that empowers our employees to do more and grow more. We are excited to share more about our career opportunities with you through the interview process.
LI-GW1
LI-Hybrid
Ampere is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.
See all 319+ OPT Platform Architect Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Platform Architect Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Platform Architect
Target employers with existing LCA filings
Companies that have previously filed Labor Condition Applications for Platform Architect or similar titles are already familiar with the sponsorship process. This significantly reduces friction when you raise OPT and future H-1B visa sponsorship during interviews.
Align your degree to the role explicitly
Platform Architect positions require demonstrating that your computer science, software engineering, or systems engineering degree directly supports the specialty occupation standard. Make this connection explicit in your resume summary and cover letter, not just your education section.
Lead with cloud and platform credentials
Certifications in AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure signal technical depth that employers associate with senior platform roles. For OPT students, credentials help bridge any concerns about experience gaps and strengthen your case for H-1B sponsorship down the line.
Know your OPT expiration and plan your timeline
Platform Architect hiring cycles often run eight to twelve weeks. If your OPT expires within six months, lead with that timeline early. STEM OPT extension eligibility gives you up to 36 months total, which comfortably covers most H-1B cap timelines.
Focus on system design interview preparation
Platform Architect interviews heavily emphasize system design problems involving scalability, availability, and distributed systems. Strong performance in these rounds signals seniority, which makes employers more willing to invest in sponsorship and immigration paperwork for your offer.
Raise sponsorship after the technical rounds
Bringing up OPT sponsorship before you have demonstrated technical fit can stall conversations. Wait until after the system design or final rounds, when the employer has already decided you are qualified, then address your authorization timeline and STEM extension eligibility directly.
Platform Architect OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Platform Architects in the United States?
Yes. Platform Architect roles fall squarely within specialty occupation definitions, which aligns with the degree requirements that support F-1 OPT work authorization. You need a computer science, software engineering, information systems, or a closely related degree. Your OPT EAD card serves as your work authorization document for the duration of your authorized period.
Does a Platform Architect role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It does in most cases. Platform Architect positions typically fall under CIP codes related to computer science or information technology, which are STEM-designated fields eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm the specific CIP code on your degree with your DSO before applying for the extension.
How do I find Platform Architect jobs that sponsor OPT and H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate is the recommended platform for F-1 OPT students searching for Platform Architect roles at employers willing to sponsor. Rather than filtering through general job postings, Migrate Mate surfaces roles from companies with sponsorship history, saving you significant time and reducing the risk of pursuing employers unfamiliar with the process.
What happens to my Platform Architect job if my OPT expires before the H-1B is approved?
If your employer files an H-1B cap-subject petition by April 1 and USCIS selects it in the lottery, your OPT is automatically extended under cap-gap rules until October 1. This allows you to continue working without interruption. STEM OPT holders whose status expires during cap-gap are similarly protected, provided the petition was filed before their STEM OPT end date.
Is Platform Architect considered a senior enough role for employers to sponsor visas?
Generally yes. Platform Architect is a senior technical role that requires specialized expertise in cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and platform engineering. Employers filling this role have already committed significant resources to hiring, which makes them more likely to absorb sponsorship costs. The higher the seniority of the role, the stronger the business case employers can make to USCIS for a specialty occupation determination.