Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Principal Cybersecurity Engineer roles require deep technical expertise and often involve leading security architecture, threat modeling, and incident response programs. Many employers in defense, finance, and tech actively sponsor OPT students in this field. Your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies, is your sponsorship runway.
See All Principal Cybersecurity Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 10+ Principal Cybersecurity Engineer jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 10+ Principal Cybersecurity Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Principal Cybersecurity Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary
As a Principal Software Engineer on the AI Safety team within Information Security, you will be the technical and strategic anchor for how Walmart evaluates, governs, and safely operates AI systems at enterprise scale. You will define the standards, build the reference implementations, and serve as the trusted authority on AI Safety across product, engineering, legal, and executive stakeholders.
You are a hands-on engineering leader who also thinks in frameworks. You can write production code and you can write policy. You understand what AI systems can do, what they can do wrong, and what governance structures need to exist.
About the team:
The AI Security team within Information Security integrates cybersecurity, generative AI, and governance to enhance organizational protection and secure AI systems. We are expanding our scope to include AI Safety — the discipline focused on ensuring AI systems behave responsibly, fairly, and as intended across their lifecycle. This encompasses bias and fairness evaluation, output reliability governance, human oversight architecture for agentic systems, regulatory compliance, and organizational AI fluency. As Principal, you will shape this capability from the ground up.
- Define AI Safety standards and controls — develop, own, and continuously evolve Walmart's AI Safety standards, covering model evaluation criteria, bias and fairness requirements.
- Architect the AI Safety program — design the end-to-end operating model for AI Safety at Walmart.
- Review AI projects and architectures for safety gaps — assess internal AI deployments and planned implementations for safety risks, and drive mitigations.
- Lead AI Safety governance — define the human oversight architecture for AI systems, including autonomy thresholds for agentic AI.
- Represent AI Safety posture to leadership — communicate program status, emerging risks, and strategic priorities to senior and executive leadership.
What you'll bring
- AI Safety Domain Expertise — Deep knowledge of AI failure modes, safety evaluation methodology, and responsible AI governance.
- AI/ML Technical Depth — Hands-on experience with machine learning development, model deployment, and MLOps. Strong working knowledge of LLMs and generative AI systems.
- Regulatory and Frameworks Fluency — Demonstrated ability to operationalize AI risk management frameworks.
- Cross-Functional Communication and Influence — Proven ability to communicate complex technical risk to non-technical audiences including legal, compliance, and executive stakeholders.
- Agentic AI Understanding — Working knowledge of AI agent architectures — systems that take sequences of real-world actions with limited human intervention.
At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00. Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include stock.
Minimum Qualifications
Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.
Option 1: Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, information systems, cybersecurity, or related area and 5 years’ experience in software engineering or related area at a technology, retail, or data-driven company.
Option 2: 7 years’ experience in software engineering or related area at a technology, retail, or data-driven company.
Preferred Qualifications
Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.
Certification in Security+, GISF, CISSP, CCSP, or GSEC, Master’s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, information systems, cybersecurity or related area and 3 years’ experience leading information security or cybersecurity projects. We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart’s accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.
Primary Location
805 Se Moberly Ln, Bentonville, AR 72712, United States of America
Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.
Position Summary
As a Principal Software Engineer on the AI Safety team within Information Security, you will be the technical and strategic anchor for how Walmart evaluates, governs, and safely operates AI systems at enterprise scale. You will define the standards, build the reference implementations, and serve as the trusted authority on AI Safety across product, engineering, legal, and executive stakeholders.
You are a hands-on engineering leader who also thinks in frameworks. You can write production code and you can write policy. You understand what AI systems can do, what they can do wrong, and what governance structures need to exist.
About the team:
The AI Security team within Information Security integrates cybersecurity, generative AI, and governance to enhance organizational protection and secure AI systems. We are expanding our scope to include AI Safety — the discipline focused on ensuring AI systems behave responsibly, fairly, and as intended across their lifecycle. This encompasses bias and fairness evaluation, output reliability governance, human oversight architecture for agentic systems, regulatory compliance, and organizational AI fluency. As Principal, you will shape this capability from the ground up.
- Define AI Safety standards and controls — develop, own, and continuously evolve Walmart's AI Safety standards, covering model evaluation criteria, bias and fairness requirements.
- Architect the AI Safety program — design the end-to-end operating model for AI Safety at Walmart.
- Review AI projects and architectures for safety gaps — assess internal AI deployments and planned implementations for safety risks, and drive mitigations.
- Lead AI Safety governance — define the human oversight architecture for AI systems, including autonomy thresholds for agentic AI.
- Represent AI Safety posture to leadership — communicate program status, emerging risks, and strategic priorities to senior and executive leadership.
What you'll bring
- AI Safety Domain Expertise — Deep knowledge of AI failure modes, safety evaluation methodology, and responsible AI governance.
- AI/ML Technical Depth — Hands-on experience with machine learning development, model deployment, and MLOps. Strong working knowledge of LLMs and generative AI systems.
- Regulatory and Frameworks Fluency — Demonstrated ability to operationalize AI risk management frameworks.
- Cross-Functional Communication and Influence — Proven ability to communicate complex technical risk to non-technical audiences including legal, compliance, and executive stakeholders.
- Agentic AI Understanding — Working knowledge of AI agent architectures — systems that take sequences of real-world actions with limited human intervention.
At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00. Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include stock.
Minimum Qualifications
Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.
Option 1: Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, information systems, cybersecurity, or related area and 5 years’ experience in software engineering or related area at a technology, retail, or data-driven company.
Option 2: 7 years’ experience in software engineering or related area at a technology, retail, or data-driven company.
Preferred Qualifications
Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.
Certification in Security+, GISF, CISSP, CCSP, or GSEC, Master’s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, information systems, cybersecurity or related area and 3 years’ experience leading information security or cybersecurity projects. We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart’s accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.
Primary Location
805 Se Moberly Ln, Bentonville, AR 72712, United States of America
Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer
Target employers with active security clearance pipelines
Defense contractors and federal IT firms regularly sponsor OPT students for Principal Cybersecurity Engineer roles. These employers understand visa timelines and often have dedicated immigration counsel. Look for companies with DoD or federal agency contracts as a proxy for sponsorship willingness.
Align your degree to the specialty occupation standard
USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree field and the role. A degree in computer science, information security, or electrical engineering maps cleanly. If your degree is in a related but adjacent field, document how your coursework directly supports cybersecurity engineering work.
Prioritize STEM OPT extension eligibility from day one
A 24-month STEM extension gives you far more time to secure H-1B sponsorship. Confirm your degree program is on the USCIS STEM designated degree program list before accepting a role. File your extension application at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires.
Lead with certifications that signal senior-level credibility
CISSP, CISM, and OSCP are credentials employers associate with principal-level engineers. Holding one or more demonstrates you can operate independently and lead security programs, which strengthens both your candidacy and the employer's case for sponsoring your visa.
Frame your job search around employers with prior H-1B filings
Employers who have sponsored H-1B petitions before are far more likely to do it again. They have established relationships with immigration attorneys and internal processes. This significantly reduces the risk that a sponsorship commitment falls apart when it matters most.
Principal Cybersecurity Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Principal Cybersecurity Engineer JobsSee all 10+ Principal Cybersecurity Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Principal Cybersecurity Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Principal Cybersecurity Engineer roles qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Principal Cybersecurity Engineer is a specialty occupation under USCIS standards, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a closely related field. Most employers treat it as a senior individual contributor or technical lead role, which strengthens the specialty occupation argument. Your OPT EAD card is all the work authorization you need during the authorized period.
Does a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer role qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, cybersecurity, or electrical engineering, you likely qualify. The employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. If both conditions are met, you can apply for the 24-month extension, giving you up to three years of total OPT.
How do I find Principal Cybersecurity Engineer employers that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search. It filters for employers actively willing to sponsor F-1 OPT and H-1B candidates, so you can focus on companies that have already committed to sponsorship rather than spending time on applications that will never go anywhere. Principal Cybersecurity Engineer roles are listed across defense, finance, and enterprise tech sectors.
Can I work as a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer if my role requires a security clearance?
This is a real constraint. Most U.S. security clearances require U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, which OPT students typically don't hold. However, not all principal-level cybersecurity roles require clearances. Many positions in commercial finance, healthcare, and private sector tech do not. Filter your search toward non-cleared roles, and confirm clearance requirements before applying.
What visa options should I plan for after my OPT expires?
H-1B is the most common next step for Principal Cybersecurity Engineer roles. The annual lottery runs in March for an October 1 start date, so timing matters. If your employer misses a lottery cycle, your STEM OPT extension buys additional time. O-1A is also worth exploring if you have publications, conference presentations, industry awards, or other evidence of distinction in the cybersecurity field.
See which Principal Cybersecurity Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs