Research Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Research Engineer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students, particularly those with STEM degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, materials science, or related fields. Most Research Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of U.S. work authorization to build your career.
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Get Access To All JobsABOUT THE ROLE AND TEAM
Joining us as a Research Engineer on the ML Systems team, you’ll be working on cutting-edge ML training and inference systems, optimizing the performance and efficiency of our GPU clusters, and developing new technologies that fine-tune leading consumer AI models with a data flywheel, and serve 20K+ QPS in production with LLMs. Your work will directly contribute to our groundbreaking advancements in AI, helping shape an era where technology is not just a tool, but a companion in our daily lives. At Character.AI, your talent, creativity, and expertise will not just be valued—they will be the catalyst for change in an AI-driven future.
The ML Systems team is responsible for the research and deployment of systems that efficiently utilize GPU for AI-enabled products.
As a research engineer, you will work across teams and our technical stack to improve our training performance and inference runtime. You will get to shape the conversational experience of millions of users per day.
Example projects:
- Write efficient Triton kernels and tune them for our specific models and hardware
- Develop prefix-aware routing algorithms to improve serving cache hit rate
- Train and distill LLMs to improve latency while preserving accuracy and engagements
- Build an efficient and scalable distributed RLHF stack powering the model innovations
- Develop systems for efficient multimodal (image gen/video gen) model training & inference
WHO YOU ARE
- "All Industry Levels": at least PhD (or equivalent) research experience
- Write clear and clean production system code
- Strong understanding of modern machine learning techniques (reinforcement learning, transformers, etc)
- Track record of exceptional research or creative ML systems projects
- Comfortable writing model development code (PyTorch) for either training or inference
NICE TO HAVE
- Experience training large models in a distributed setting utilizing PyTorch distributed, DeepSpeed, Megatron.
- Experience working with GPUs & collectives (training, serving, debugging) and writing kernels (Triton, CUDA, CUTLASS).
- Experience with LLM inference systems and literature such as vLLM and FlashAttention.
- Familiarity with ML deployment and orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker, cloud)
- Publications in relevant academic journals or conferences in the field of machine learning and systems
ABOUT CHARACTER.AI
Character.AI empowers people to connect, learn and tell stories through interactive entertainment. Over 20 million people visit Character.AI every month, using our technology to supercharge their creativity and imagination. Our platform lets users engage with tens of millions of characters, enjoy unlimited conversations, and embark on infinite adventures.
In just two years, we achieved unicorn status and were honored as Google Play's AI App of the Year—a testament to our innovative technology and visionary approach.
Join us and be a part of establishing this new entertainment paradigm while shaping the future of Consumer AI!
At Character, we value diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly uphold a non-discrimination policy based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability. Your unique perspectives are vital to our success.
ABOUT THE ROLE AND TEAM
Joining us as a Research Engineer on the ML Systems team, you’ll be working on cutting-edge ML training and inference systems, optimizing the performance and efficiency of our GPU clusters, and developing new technologies that fine-tune leading consumer AI models with a data flywheel, and serve 20K+ QPS in production with LLMs. Your work will directly contribute to our groundbreaking advancements in AI, helping shape an era where technology is not just a tool, but a companion in our daily lives. At Character.AI, your talent, creativity, and expertise will not just be valued—they will be the catalyst for change in an AI-driven future.
The ML Systems team is responsible for the research and deployment of systems that efficiently utilize GPU for AI-enabled products.
As a research engineer, you will work across teams and our technical stack to improve our training performance and inference runtime. You will get to shape the conversational experience of millions of users per day.
Example projects:
- Write efficient Triton kernels and tune them for our specific models and hardware
- Develop prefix-aware routing algorithms to improve serving cache hit rate
- Train and distill LLMs to improve latency while preserving accuracy and engagements
- Build an efficient and scalable distributed RLHF stack powering the model innovations
- Develop systems for efficient multimodal (image gen/video gen) model training & inference
WHO YOU ARE
- "All Industry Levels": at least PhD (or equivalent) research experience
- Write clear and clean production system code
- Strong understanding of modern machine learning techniques (reinforcement learning, transformers, etc)
- Track record of exceptional research or creative ML systems projects
- Comfortable writing model development code (PyTorch) for either training or inference
NICE TO HAVE
- Experience training large models in a distributed setting utilizing PyTorch distributed, DeepSpeed, Megatron.
- Experience working with GPUs & collectives (training, serving, debugging) and writing kernels (Triton, CUDA, CUTLASS).
- Experience with LLM inference systems and literature such as vLLM and FlashAttention.
- Familiarity with ML deployment and orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker, cloud)
- Publications in relevant academic journals or conferences in the field of machine learning and systems
ABOUT CHARACTER.AI
Character.AI empowers people to connect, learn and tell stories through interactive entertainment. Over 20 million people visit Character.AI every month, using our technology to supercharge their creativity and imagination. Our platform lets users engage with tens of millions of characters, enjoy unlimited conversations, and embark on infinite adventures.
In just two years, we achieved unicorn status and were honored as Google Play's AI App of the Year—a testament to our innovative technology and visionary approach.
Join us and be a part of establishing this new entertainment paradigm while shaping the future of Consumer AI!
At Character, we value diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly uphold a non-discrimination policy based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability. Your unique perspectives are vital to our success.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Research Engineer
Target employers with established research divisions
Large technology companies, national laboratories, and research universities file OPT and H-1B sponsorship regularly. Employers with active R&D teams are far more familiar with work authorization processes than general hiring managers at smaller firms.
Confirm your role qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Research Engineer positions at employers registered with E-Verify typically qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Verify your degree field appears on the STEM OPT designated degree program list before accepting an offer to protect your timeline.
Apply early relative to your OPT end date
STEM OPT extension applications must be filed before your current OPT expires. Filing 90 days early is the practical window. Employers hiring Research Engineers often have long interview cycles, so starting your search four to six months out is realistic.
Highlight research output, not just experience
Publications, conference papers, patents, and open-source contributions carry significant weight for Research Engineer roles. Including these on your resume signals independent research capability, which is exactly what employers sponsoring long-term candidates want to see.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship before accepting an offer
OPT authorization is temporary. Before signing, ask directly whether the company sponsors H-1B visas for Research Engineers. Employers with active research programs generally do, but confirming this early prevents difficult conversations after your authorization window closes.
Use your university's research network strategically
Faculty advisors, lab alumni, and department career offices often have direct connections to companies that hire OPT students for research roles. Warm introductions through academic networks consistently outperform cold applications for research-focused positions.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Research Engineer jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Research Engineer positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, provided your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or materials science. The employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. If both conditions are met, you can work for up to three years total on OPT before needing H-1B or another visa.
How do I find Research Engineer employers that sponsor OPT students?
Browse Research Engineer listings on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for employers open to OPT candidates. Beyond the job board, look for companies with active R&D divisions, government contractors, and national laboratories. These employers file work authorization paperwork routinely and are generally more comfortable with OPT timelines than smaller startups.
Can I work as a Research Engineer on STEM OPT without E-Verify enrollment?
No. E-Verify enrollment is a firm requirement for STEM OPT extension eligibility. If your employer is not enrolled, you cannot receive the 24-month extension, regardless of your degree or role. Before accepting a Research Engineer offer, confirm E-Verify enrollment status directly with the HR team or through the E-Verify website.
What counts as a qualifying STEM degree for a Research Engineer OPT role?
Degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, applied mathematics, and physics are commonly accepted for Research Engineer positions under the STEM OPT extension. The degree must appear on DHS's official STEM designated degree program list. A degree in business or social sciences would not qualify, even if the role is research-oriented.
How long does the OPT authorization process take for a new Research Engineer job?
If you are starting your first OPT period, USCIS recommends filing at least 90 days before your program end date, and processing typically takes 3 to 5 months. For a STEM OPT extension, file at least 90 days before your current EAD expires. Delays are possible during peak filing seasons, so build buffer time into your job search timeline before your Research Engineer start date.
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