OPT Principal Software Engineer Jobs
Principal Software Engineer jobs are among the most OPT-friendly senior roles in tech. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa standards, making OPT-to-H-1B transitions straightforward. STEM OPT extensions apply if your degree is in computer science, software engineering, or a related field, giving you up to three years of authorized work.
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Get Access To All JobsAlly and Your Career
Ally Financial only succeeds when its people do - and that’s more than some cliché people put on job postings. We love this stuff! We see our people as, well, people - with interests, families, friends, dreams, and causes that are all important to them. Our focus is on the health and safety of our teammates as well as work-life balance and diversity and inclusion. From generous benefits to a variety of employee resource groups, we strive to build paths that encourage employees to stretch themselves professionally. We want to help you grow, develop, and learn new things. You’re constantly evolving, so shouldn’t your opportunities be, too?
Work Schedule: Ally designates roles as (1) fully on-site, (2) hybrid, or (3) fully remote. Hybrid roles are generally expected to be in the office a certain number of days per week as indicated by your manager. Your hiring manager will discuss this role's specific work requirements with you during the hiring process. All work requirements are subject to change at any time based on leader discretion and/or business need.
Duties
Ally Bank seeks a Principal – Software Test based out of our headquarter U.S. office in Detroit, MI
- Define and own the end-to-end testing strategy to support timely delivery and reduce post-release defects.
- Design, develop and execute automated test scripts using Python and JavaScript for Mobile and Web applications.
- Implement and maintain test automation frameworks for Mobile and Web using tools such as Appium/Maestro/Cypress to support continuous integration and delivery process.
- Utilize device clouds (e.g. Browserstack, Perfecto) for testing across various mobile devices and browsers.
- Drive the adoption for best practices in software testing, including agile methodologies and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Perform hands-on testing including functional, regression, accessibility, performance and security testing.
The Qualifications We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s degree or foreign academic equivalent in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a closely related field and Four (4) years of experience in position offered or related occupation.
Skills:
Experience must include:
- 4 yrs. exp. of software testing for web and mobile applications.
- 4 yrs. exp. of software testing in an Agile development environment.
- 2 yrs. exp. of software testing in the financial-services industry, including banking or investment products.
- 2 yrs. exp. Using test-automation frameworks, including Appium, Maestro, or Cypress.
- 2 yrs. exp. using Python and JavaScript to develop automated test scripts.
- 1 yr. exp. leading QA initiatives and mentoring QA team members.
- Experience using mobile-device cloud platforms, including BrowserStack or Perfecto.
- Experience performing accessibility testing using aTalkBack, VoiceOver, or accessibility-scanning tools.
Other:
This is a purely telecommuting/work-from-home position whereby the employee may reside anywhere within the U.S. This position does not require travel.
Who We Are:
Ally Financial is a customer-centric, leading digital financial services company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions. We are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers.
Ally is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic disposition or any other reason protected by law.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if after review of the position expectations, you believe that you may need a medical accommodation to fulfill the duties of this role, please email hrpolicy@ally.com with details of your accommodation request.
Ally and Your Career
Ally Financial only succeeds when its people do - and that’s more than some cliché people put on job postings. We love this stuff! We see our people as, well, people - with interests, families, friends, dreams, and causes that are all important to them. Our focus is on the health and safety of our teammates as well as work-life balance and diversity and inclusion. From generous benefits to a variety of employee resource groups, we strive to build paths that encourage employees to stretch themselves professionally. We want to help you grow, develop, and learn new things. You’re constantly evolving, so shouldn’t your opportunities be, too?
Work Schedule: Ally designates roles as (1) fully on-site, (2) hybrid, or (3) fully remote. Hybrid roles are generally expected to be in the office a certain number of days per week as indicated by your manager. Your hiring manager will discuss this role's specific work requirements with you during the hiring process. All work requirements are subject to change at any time based on leader discretion and/or business need.
Duties
Ally Bank seeks a Principal – Software Test based out of our headquarter U.S. office in Detroit, MI
- Define and own the end-to-end testing strategy to support timely delivery and reduce post-release defects.
- Design, develop and execute automated test scripts using Python and JavaScript for Mobile and Web applications.
- Implement and maintain test automation frameworks for Mobile and Web using tools such as Appium/Maestro/Cypress to support continuous integration and delivery process.
- Utilize device clouds (e.g. Browserstack, Perfecto) for testing across various mobile devices and browsers.
- Drive the adoption for best practices in software testing, including agile methodologies and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Perform hands-on testing including functional, regression, accessibility, performance and security testing.
The Qualifications We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s degree or foreign academic equivalent in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a closely related field and Four (4) years of experience in position offered or related occupation.
Skills:
Experience must include:
- 4 yrs. exp. of software testing for web and mobile applications.
- 4 yrs. exp. of software testing in an Agile development environment.
- 2 yrs. exp. of software testing in the financial-services industry, including banking or investment products.
- 2 yrs. exp. Using test-automation frameworks, including Appium, Maestro, or Cypress.
- 2 yrs. exp. using Python and JavaScript to develop automated test scripts.
- 1 yr. exp. leading QA initiatives and mentoring QA team members.
- Experience using mobile-device cloud platforms, including BrowserStack or Perfecto.
- Experience performing accessibility testing using aTalkBack, VoiceOver, or accessibility-scanning tools.
Other:
This is a purely telecommuting/work-from-home position whereby the employee may reside anywhere within the U.S. This position does not require travel.
Who We Are:
Ally Financial is a customer-centric, leading digital financial services company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions. We are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers.
Ally is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic disposition or any other reason protected by law.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if after review of the position expectations, you believe that you may need a medical accommodation to fulfill the duties of this role, please email hrpolicy@ally.com with details of your accommodation request.
See all 259+ OPT Principal Software Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Principal Software Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Principal Software Engineer
Lead with your OPT timeline upfront
Principal-level hiring moves slowly. Tell recruiters your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility in your first message. It saves both sides time and signals you understand the sponsorship process, which matters at this level.
Target companies with established H-1B pipelines
Companies that have sponsored dozens of H-1B visa petitions are far more likely to sponsor again. Look for employers with legal teams experienced in immigration. Startups under 50 people rarely have the infrastructure to support senior visa sponsorship.
Frame your seniority as sponsorship ROI
Employers weigh sponsorship cost against retention risk. Principal engineers represent multi-year investments in leadership and architecture. Emphasize your scope of impact clearly so hiring managers can justify the sponsorship internally to legal and finance teams.
Use your STEM OPT extension strategically
A STEM extension gives you 24 additional months after your initial 12-month OPT period. That buffer covers two H-1B lottery cycles, which is critical for senior roles where offer timelines and lottery registration windows may not align perfectly.
Get clarity on the H-1B cap-exempt option
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government labs are cap-exempt H-1B employers. As a Principal Engineer, these organizations offer competitive roles and can sponsor year-round without lottery risk, which is worth exploring alongside private-sector opportunities.
Prepare a concise sponsorship FAQ for offers
When you receive an offer, HR teams often have basic questions about OPT. Having a one-page summary explaining your current status, extension timeline, and what H-1B sponsorship requires from the employer speeds up the legal review considerably.
Principal Software Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Principal Software Engineer on OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in a qualifying STEM field such as computer science or software engineering. Principal Software Engineer roles consistently meet the specialty occupation standard, which requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific technical discipline. That alignment makes OPT authorization and future H-1B sponsorship straightforward for this job title.
Do Principal Software Engineer roles typically qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Yes. If your underlying degree is on the STEM designated degree program list, Principal Software Engineer positions almost always satisfy the practical training requirement because the role directly applies engineering and computer science knowledge. Your DSO at your university confirms eligibility, but this job title rarely presents issues with STEM OPT extension approval.
How competitive is the job market for OPT students at the Principal Engineer level?
Principal-level roles require eight or more years of experience and demonstrated leadership, so the candidate pool is smaller than for mid-level positions. OPT students who have progressed to this level through U.S. work history or strong international experience are genuinely competitive. You can browse Principal Software Engineer roles open to OPT candidates on Migrate Mate.
What happens to my OPT status if my Principal Engineer offer falls through after I resign from my current employer?
You have a 60-day unemployment grace period during OPT. At the Principal level, job searches can take two to four months, which means the grace period may not be enough buffer. Avoid resigning before a written offer is in hand, and start your search early so you have overlap between your current role and the new one.
Do I need to find an employer willing to sponsor H-1B before accepting a Principal Software Engineer role on OPT?
Not immediately, but you should confirm sponsorship willingness before accepting. OPT authorizes work independently of H-1B, so you can start the role on OPT. However, if the employer won't commit to H-1B sponsorship and your OPT period ends before you secure another status, you'll lose work authorization. Clarify sponsorship intent during the offer stage.