OPT Quality Assurance Tester Jobs
Quality Assurance Tester roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in computer science, information systems, or engineering. Most positions qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to three years of work authorization. Employers in software, fintech, and healthcare IT regularly hire QA testers on OPT.
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INTRODUCTION
This role is Hybrid, 3 days a week on-site at our Northbrook, IL Office.
As a Senior Penetration Tester, you will lead technical engagements responsible for evaluating and testing the security of embedded systems, cloud environments, web applications and mobile applications.
You will identify and responsibly exploit vulnerabilities, validate implemented security controls, and deliver actionable, high-value reports to clients. The role combines hands-on technical expertise with customer collaboration and contributions to internal R&D for advancing attack methodologies.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead end-to-end security assessment engagements for embedded products, IoT Medical & Industrial devices, Web/Mobile applications, and Cloud infrastructures.
- Perform comprehensive security evaluations, including vulnerability discovery, exploitation, code review, fuzzing, binary analysis, and validation of implemented security controls across all target environments.
- Interpret and apply cybersecurity compliance standards like EN18031, CRA, UK PSTI, UL Standards to diverse product types, translating requirements into effective test plans.
- Collaborate closely with clients to understand their security objectives, provide technical guidance, and deliver clear, professional reports with findings, risk ratings, and remediation recommendations.
- Provide high-level technical support in areas like test planning, methodology development, procedure updates, staff training, and resolution of complex quality or testing issues.
- Maintain/improve technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, obtaining applicable certifications, and participating in professional societies and cross-departmental task forces.
- Follow up with the latest technical developments in the physical attacks area that need to be contributed to the internal R&D developments in hardware (analogue and digital electronics) and software (C, C++, Assembly, and others) to enhance the level of our attacks and to explore new forms of attacks.
- Implement sophisticated attacks requiring multiple techniques such as vulnerability analysis, signal processing, FPGA, optical, and others.
- Undertake security evaluation attacks on smart cards or embedded systems. The main activity will be the real product analysis with the aim to highlight its strengths and weaknesses.
- Specialize in the realization of innovative physical attacks using laser or EM techniques, in-depth understanding on how the products work with the aim to stress them using complex hardware techniques.
- Conduct web application penetration testing (covering OWASP Top 10, API security, authentication/authorization flaws, business logic vulnerabilities, and modern web frameworks).
- Perform mobile application security assessments on iOS and Android platforms, including static analysis, dynamic analysis, reverse engineering, and platform-specific vulnerability testing.
- Execute cloud security testing and configuration reviews across AWS, Azure, GCP, or multi-cloud environments, focusing on identity and access management (IAM), network security, container/Kubernetes security, serverless architectures, storage security, and cloud misconfigurations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- University Degree (Equivalent to Bachelor’s Degree) in Electronic/Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Electrical Engineering or a related discipline plus 3-5 years of related experience. Good skills in Cloud security testing preferred.
- Proficiency in low-level programming (C, C++, Assembly) and scripting. Experience with FPGA, signal processing, or hardware debugging tools is a strong plus.
- Familiar with test equipment and working in a multi-skills environment mixing electronic, optical, security, mechanical, and IT.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- A self-motivated team player who can work independently and likes to bring new ideas for technical development.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
What you’ll experience working for ULS
UL Solutions has been pioneering change since 1894 and we’re still leading the way. From day one, we’ve blazed a trail protecting the planet and everyone on it. Our teams have influenced billions of products, plus services, software offerings and more. We break things, burn things and blow things up. All in the name of safety science.
That’s where you come in — because none of it could happen without you. It takes passion to protect people, problem-solving to safeguard personal data and conviction to make the world a more sustainable place. It takes bold ideas and brilliant minds to build a better world for future generations across the globe.
This is more than a job. It’s a calling. A passion to use our expertise and play our part in creating a more secure, sustainable world today — and tomorrow. As a member of our safety science community, you’ll use your ideas, your energy and your ambition to innovate, challenge and ultimately, help create a safer world.
Everyone here is unique. But we’re also a global community, working together to help create a safer world. Join UL Solutions and you can connect with the brightest minds in the business, all bringing their distinct perspectives and diverse backgrounds together to deliver real change.
Empowering our customers to keep the world safe means thinking ahead. It means investing in training and empowering our people to learn and innovate. At UL Solutions, we help build a better future — one where everyone benefits.
Join UL Solutions to be at the center of safety. To learn more about us and the work we do, visit UL.com
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $110,000 to $140,000 USD and is based on multiple factors, including job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, as well as other factors.
- This position is eligible for annual bonus compensation with a target payout of 10% of the base salary.
- This position also provides health benefits such as medical, dental and vision; wellness benefits such as mental and financial health; and retirement savings (401K) commensurate with the standard rewards offered in each individual location or country.
- We also provide full-time employees with paid time off including vacation (15 days), holiday and personal days (totaling 12 days) and sick time off (72 hours).
LI-SG2
LI-Hybrid
A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers’ product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers’ products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.
The world has never been more connected. Which means your skills as a cybersecurity expert have never been more essential. We hack for good, uncovering threats and understanding how bad actors operate. Whether it’s connected vehicles, medical devices or smart appliances, you’ll help keep products safe and secure in an increasingly threatened world. Join our team, collaborate with a global community of experts and use your skills to help shape a more secure future.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Quality Assurance Tester
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
QA Tester roles typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in computer science, information systems, or a related STEM field. Verify your CIP code with your DSO before applying to avoid surprises at offer stage.
Target companies with active H-1B filing histories
Employers who have sponsored H-1B visas before are far more likely to extend that path to OPT hires. Search public DOL disclosure data for companies filing QA or software testing roles to identify OPT-friendly employers worth prioritizing.
Emphasize automation skills over manual testing
QA engineers with Selenium, Cypress, or Playwright experience command stronger hiring interest and are easier for employers to justify sponsoring. Automation testing roles also align more cleanly with STEM specialty occupation requirements than manual-only positions.
Address OPT proactively but briefly
Mention your work authorization status early in the process, ideally in a cover letter or initial outreach. Framing it as a short-term timeline with a clear STEM extension and H-1B path reduces employer uncertainty and keeps conversations moving forward.
Build a portfolio of documented test cases and bug reports
QA hiring managers look for evidence of systematic thinking. A GitHub repository or PDF portfolio showing test plans, defect logs, and automation scripts demonstrates readiness on day one and differentiates you from candidates without hands-on artifacts.
Pursue certifications that signal commitment to the field
The ISTQB Foundation Level certification is widely recognized and signals professional seriousness to employers unfamiliar with QA as a discipline. Completing it during your OPT period strengthens both your application and your case for long-term sponsorship conversations.
Quality Assurance Tester OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Quality Assurance Tester jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most QA Tester roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, provided your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, information systems, or software engineering. The role itself must also involve applying STEM knowledge directly. Confirm with your DSO and review the job description carefully before assuming eligibility, since manual-only QA roles can occasionally fall into gray areas with some employers.
How do I find QA Tester jobs where employers are open to OPT?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and international students, so every listing on the platform is from an employer open to sponsoring or hiring on work authorization. Searching there saves you from filtering out hundreds of roles that quietly require permanent residency or citizenship, which is a common frustration when using general job boards.
What type of employer is most likely to sponsor a QA Tester on OPT?
Mid-size and enterprise software companies, fintech firms, and healthcare IT organizations are the most consistent sponsors for QA roles. These employers have established immigration programs and recurring hiring pipelines for testers. Early-stage startups occasionally hire on OPT but rarely have the legal infrastructure to sponsor H-1B visas once your OPT period ends, so it is worth asking about their sponsorship history before investing heavily in the process.
Can I work as a QA Tester contractor or through a staffing agency on OPT?
Yes, but with important restrictions. On standard OPT, you can work through a staffing agency as long as the work is directly related to your degree and you are not self-employed. On STEM OPT, the rules tighten significantly: your employer of record must be E-Verify enrolled, and third-party placements require a formal bona fide employer-employee relationship. Speak with your DSO before accepting a contract or staffing arrangement to confirm it meets STEM OPT requirements.
Does QA Tester experience count toward H-1B specialty occupation requirements?
It can, but the strength of the case depends heavily on how the role is defined. QA roles tied to software engineering, systems analysis, or test automation are more straightforward to classify as specialty occupations than general manual testing positions. Employers should ensure the job description requires a specific bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field. Working with an immigration attorney early helps structure the role correctly before your OPT ends and an H-1B petition needs to be filed.