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.
Find OPT Principal Software Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 364+ Principal Software Engineer jobs
See all 364+ Principal Software Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Principal Software Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsCompany Overview
At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future.
Department Overview
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Job Description
- Plan, develop and coordinate activities focused on design, development, coding, testing, research, programming and documentation for software systems, applications and/or operating systems in conjunction with equipment designers and/or hardware developers.
- Perform modeling, designing, and coding activities, employing structured methods.
- Review design documentation for all levels of the software development process.
- Create and execute unit, integration, system, regression, performance, load and acceptance test plans and scripts.
- Use software system testing procedures and document results.
- Analyze software requirements to determine feasibility of design within quality assurance, time and cost constraints.
- Participate in formal design and implementation activities.
- Develop requirements, write code, and create unit and other automated testing solutions.
- Provide engineering management with accurate effort estimates for projected work.
- Telecommuting permitted anywhere within the U.S.
Target Base Salary Range: $165,693 to $202,600 USD
Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate.
Basic Requirements
- Bachelors degree + 5 years experience or
- Masters degree + 3 years experience.
Travel Requirements
None
Relocation Provided
None
Position Type
Experienced
Referral Payment Plan
No
Our U.S. Benefits include:
- Incentive Bonus Plans
- Medical, Dental, Vision benefits
- 401K with Company Match
- 10 Paid Holidays
- Generous Paid Time Off Packages
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Paid Parental & Family Leave
- and more!
EEO Statement
Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.
We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team.
We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this Reasonable Accommodations Form so we can assist you.
Company Overview
At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future.
Department Overview
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Job Description
- Plan, develop and coordinate activities focused on design, development, coding, testing, research, programming and documentation for software systems, applications and/or operating systems in conjunction with equipment designers and/or hardware developers.
- Perform modeling, designing, and coding activities, employing structured methods.
- Review design documentation for all levels of the software development process.
- Create and execute unit, integration, system, regression, performance, load and acceptance test plans and scripts.
- Use software system testing procedures and document results.
- Analyze software requirements to determine feasibility of design within quality assurance, time and cost constraints.
- Participate in formal design and implementation activities.
- Develop requirements, write code, and create unit and other automated testing solutions.
- Provide engineering management with accurate effort estimates for projected work.
- Telecommuting permitted anywhere within the U.S.
Target Base Salary Range: $165,693 to $202,600 USD
Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate.
Basic Requirements
- Bachelors degree + 5 years experience or
- Masters degree + 3 years experience.
Travel Requirements
None
Relocation Provided
None
Position Type
Experienced
Referral Payment Plan
No
Our U.S. Benefits include:
- Incentive Bonus Plans
- Medical, Dental, Vision benefits
- 401K with Company Match
- 10 Paid Holidays
- Generous Paid Time Off Packages
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Paid Parental & Family Leave
- and more!
EEO Statement
Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.
We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team.
We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this Reasonable Accommodations Form so we can assist you.
See all 364+ 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.