OPT Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs
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.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Adjunct Faculty - Electrical and Computer Engineering - Cybersecurity Capstone Coach
Posting End Date: September 28, 2026
NOTE: Last day to apply is Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 11:59pm (MT)
Required Degree:
BS degree in cybersecurity, computer science, engineering, or related field required. MS degree preferred.
The required degree must be completed by the start date.
Experience:
Demonstrated success within career. Interest and passion in the design education process are required.
Duties/Expectations:
Must work with assigned student team of 5-7 members. Help students learn the design process and successfully complete their assigned project. Duties will include:
- Guide the team in selecting and applying a project structure, workflow, and design process that fits the nature of the project, technical requirements, deliverables, timeline, and sponsor expectations.
- Learn and share Capstone policies.
- Coach and mentor your student team.
- Attend Capstone lectures, weekly team meetings and Capstone faculty coach meetings.
- Establish and maintain an excellent working relationship with the project sponsor.
- Help the teams maintain realistic project scope, timelines, and deliverables throughout the project lifecycle.
- Assist students in understanding how general course requirements apply to their project.
- Help students learn important professional soft skills and how to work together as a team.
- Ability to spend an average of 3 hours per week between 8-10 am M-F coaching a team of engineering students.
Must also be able to support the mission of Brigham Young University.
Instructions to Applicants:
In your Cover Letter, please include an experience you have had teaching young students how to design and work in teams on a project.
Documents Required at the Time of Application:
Please attach your updated curriculum vitae, cover letter, and Mission Alignment Statement (instructions below) to the faculty application.
Note: Failure to attach the required documents may result in your application not being considered.
This position requires the successful candidate to relocate and/or reside in Utah for the duration of their employment.
MISSION ALIGNMENT STATEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
BYU is committed to hiring faculty members who enthusiastically embrace and energetically advance its unique mission. To this end, please include a one-page mission alignment statement as part of your application that addresses how you might, as a BYU faculty member: (1) live a life of loyalty to Jesus Christ and His restored Church and align yourself with doctrine and teachings declared by living prophets, seers, and revelators; (2) demonstrate intentionality in building faith in Jesus Christ and testimony of His restored gospel among students and others in the BYU community; and (3) teach your subject matter with the Spirit of God and strive to keep it “bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel” (Spencer W. Kimball).
If you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Applicants who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include a one-page mission alignment statement that describes understanding of and commitment to the Mission of Brigham Young University and the AIMS of a BYU Education.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
All new employees who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be required to hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend. All employees are required to abide by the university's Honor Code and Dress & Grooming Standards. Preference is given to qualified candidates who are members in good standing of the affiliated church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Successful candidates are expected to support and contribute to the academic and religious missions of the university within the context of the principles and doctrines of the affiliated church.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Job Title: Adjunct Faculty - Electrical and Computer Engineering - Cybersecurity Capstone Coach
Posting End Date: September 28, 2026
NOTE: Last day to apply is Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 11:59pm (MT)
Required Degree:
BS degree in cybersecurity, computer science, engineering, or related field required. MS degree preferred.
The required degree must be completed by the start date.
Experience:
Demonstrated success within career. Interest and passion in the design education process are required.
Duties/Expectations:
Must work with assigned student team of 5-7 members. Help students learn the design process and successfully complete their assigned project. Duties will include:
- Guide the team in selecting and applying a project structure, workflow, and design process that fits the nature of the project, technical requirements, deliverables, timeline, and sponsor expectations.
- Learn and share Capstone policies.
- Coach and mentor your student team.
- Attend Capstone lectures, weekly team meetings and Capstone faculty coach meetings.
- Establish and maintain an excellent working relationship with the project sponsor.
- Help the teams maintain realistic project scope, timelines, and deliverables throughout the project lifecycle.
- Assist students in understanding how general course requirements apply to their project.
- Help students learn important professional soft skills and how to work together as a team.
- Ability to spend an average of 3 hours per week between 8-10 am M-F coaching a team of engineering students.
Must also be able to support the mission of Brigham Young University.
Instructions to Applicants:
In your Cover Letter, please include an experience you have had teaching young students how to design and work in teams on a project.
Documents Required at the Time of Application:
Please attach your updated curriculum vitae, cover letter, and Mission Alignment Statement (instructions below) to the faculty application.
Note: Failure to attach the required documents may result in your application not being considered.
This position requires the successful candidate to relocate and/or reside in Utah for the duration of their employment.
MISSION ALIGNMENT STATEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
BYU is committed to hiring faculty members who enthusiastically embrace and energetically advance its unique mission. To this end, please include a one-page mission alignment statement as part of your application that addresses how you might, as a BYU faculty member: (1) live a life of loyalty to Jesus Christ and His restored Church and align yourself with doctrine and teachings declared by living prophets, seers, and revelators; (2) demonstrate intentionality in building faith in Jesus Christ and testimony of His restored gospel among students and others in the BYU community; and (3) teach your subject matter with the Spirit of God and strive to keep it “bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel” (Spencer W. Kimball).
If you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Applicants who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include a one-page mission alignment statement that describes understanding of and commitment to the Mission of Brigham Young University and the AIMS of a BYU Education.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
All new employees who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be required to hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend. All employees are required to abide by the university's Honor Code and Dress & Grooming Standards. Preference is given to qualified candidates who are members in good standing of the affiliated church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Successful candidates are expected to support and contribute to the academic and religious missions of the university within the context of the principles and doctrines of the affiliated church.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
See all 268+ OPT Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT 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 visa 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.
Negotiate H-1B sponsorship terms before accepting an offer
Confirm the employer will sponsor H-1B before your OPT expires, not just in principle. Ask whether they cover filing fees, use premium processing, and have done this before. Vague commitments become problems at the worst possible time.
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 OPT: Frequently 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.