Security Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Security Engineer roles are among the most actively sponsored positions for OPT students, particularly in tech, finance, and defense contracting. Your 12-month OPT window (or 24-month STEM extension with a qualifying degree in computer science or cybersecurity) gives you real runway to land a role and transition to H-1B sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsDESCRIPTION
Amazon is seeking qualified Security Engineers to join our innovative, high energy Information Security team. In this role you will work within the Amazon Security Incident Response Team (SIRT).
SIRT Security Engineers respond to security events, conduct analysis of threats such as malware and intrusion attempts, and provide security services to safeguard highly sensitive data. They work hands-on with detection systems and vulnerability analysis tools to respond to potential threats to Amazon systems. SIRT Security Engineers are unique individuals prepared to relentlessly resolve security issues by gathering and analyzing event data and conducting root-cause analysis.
With your technical expertise, you will be solving security challenges at scale, working to protect the applications powering the most sophisticated e-commerce platform ever built. We value broad and deep technical knowledge, specifically in the fields of forensics, malware analysis, network security, application security, threat hunting, and threat intelligence.
Key job responsibilities
- Responding to security incidents, and coordinating a cohesive response involving multiple teams across Amazon.
- Providing security engineering solutions and support during customer-facing incidents, proactively considering the prevention of similar incidents from occurring in the future.
- Assisting in the development of pragmatic solutions that achieve business requirements while maintaining an acceptable level of risk.
- Identifying and recommending solutions that improve or expand Amazon’s incident response capabilities.
- Working alongside and mentoring Information Security engineers to improve security, reduce and quickly address risk.
- Evaluating the impact of current security trends, advisories, publications, and academic research to Amazon, coordinating response as necessary across affected teams.
- Keeping your knowledge and skills current with the rapidly changing threat landscape.
- Participating in a follow-the-sun on-call rotation.
About the team
Diverse Experiences
Amazon Security values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.
Why Amazon Security
At Amazon, security is central to maintaining customer trust and delivering delightful customer experiences. Our organization is responsible for creating and maintaining a high bar for security across all of Amazon’s products and services. We offer talented security professionals the chance to accelerate their careers with opportunities to build experience in a wide variety of areas including cloud, devices, retail, entertainment, healthcare, operations, and physical stores.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
Inclusive Team Culture
In Amazon Security, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Ongoing DEI events and learning experiences inspire us to continue learning and to embrace our uniqueness. Addressing the toughest security challenges requires that we seek out and celebrate a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and voices.
Training and Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, training, and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of scripting, programming, and security code review in a common programming language (non-internship) experience
- 2+ years of troubleshooting systems issues, analyzing logs, or automating basic tasks using command line tools (non-internship) experience
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), or 2+ years of IT Security experience
- Knowledge of industry-based security vulnerabilities and remediation techniques
- Experience in troubleshooting systems issues, analyzing logs, or automating basic tasks using command line tools (non-internship experience)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of any combination of the following: threat modeling experience, secure coding, identity management and authentication, software development, cryptography, system administration and network security experience
- Knowledge of networking protocols, to include HTTP(S), DNS, and TCP/IP
- Experience with AWS products and services
- Experience performing security activities across one or more phases of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), such as security design review, threat modeling, secure code review, and security testing
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, WA, Seattle
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $159,300.00 - $202,400.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Amazon is seeking qualified Security Engineers to join our innovative, high energy Information Security team. In this role you will work within the Amazon Security Incident Response Team (SIRT).
SIRT Security Engineers respond to security events, conduct analysis of threats such as malware and intrusion attempts, and provide security services to safeguard highly sensitive data. They work hands-on with detection systems and vulnerability analysis tools to respond to potential threats to Amazon systems. SIRT Security Engineers are unique individuals prepared to relentlessly resolve security issues by gathering and analyzing event data and conducting root-cause analysis.
With your technical expertise, you will be solving security challenges at scale, working to protect the applications powering the most sophisticated e-commerce platform ever built. We value broad and deep technical knowledge, specifically in the fields of forensics, malware analysis, network security, application security, threat hunting, and threat intelligence.
Key job responsibilities
- Responding to security incidents, and coordinating a cohesive response involving multiple teams across Amazon.
- Providing security engineering solutions and support during customer-facing incidents, proactively considering the prevention of similar incidents from occurring in the future.
- Assisting in the development of pragmatic solutions that achieve business requirements while maintaining an acceptable level of risk.
- Identifying and recommending solutions that improve or expand Amazon’s incident response capabilities.
- Working alongside and mentoring Information Security engineers to improve security, reduce and quickly address risk.
- Evaluating the impact of current security trends, advisories, publications, and academic research to Amazon, coordinating response as necessary across affected teams.
- Keeping your knowledge and skills current with the rapidly changing threat landscape.
- Participating in a follow-the-sun on-call rotation.
About the team
Diverse Experiences
Amazon Security values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.
Why Amazon Security
At Amazon, security is central to maintaining customer trust and delivering delightful customer experiences. Our organization is responsible for creating and maintaining a high bar for security across all of Amazon’s products and services. We offer talented security professionals the chance to accelerate their careers with opportunities to build experience in a wide variety of areas including cloud, devices, retail, entertainment, healthcare, operations, and physical stores.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
Inclusive Team Culture
In Amazon Security, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Ongoing DEI events and learning experiences inspire us to continue learning and to embrace our uniqueness. Addressing the toughest security challenges requires that we seek out and celebrate a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and voices.
Training and Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, training, and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of scripting, programming, and security code review in a common programming language (non-internship) experience
- 2+ years of troubleshooting systems issues, analyzing logs, or automating basic tasks using command line tools (non-internship) experience
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), or 2+ years of IT Security experience
- Knowledge of industry-based security vulnerabilities and remediation techniques
- Experience in troubleshooting systems issues, analyzing logs, or automating basic tasks using command line tools (non-internship experience)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of any combination of the following: threat modeling experience, secure coding, identity management and authentication, software development, cryptography, system administration and network security experience
- Knowledge of networking protocols, to include HTTP(S), DNS, and TCP/IP
- Experience with AWS products and services
- Experience performing security activities across one or more phases of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), such as security design review, threat modeling, secure code review, and security testing
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, WA, Seattle
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $159,300.00 - $202,400.00 USD annually
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Security Engineer
Focus on employers with active H-1B filing histories
Companies that regularly sponsor H-1B visas for security roles are your best bet for OPT conversion. Look for employers who have sponsored similar titles like Information Security Engineer or Cybersecurity Analyst in recent years, not just this year.
Pursue certifications that reduce employer hesitation
Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH signal job-ready skills to employers unfamiliar with OPT. They reduce perceived hiring risk and make it easier for smaller teams without dedicated HR to justify sponsoring an international candidate.
Address clearance requirements early in your search
Many federal and defense-adjacent security roles require U.S. security clearances, which OPT students are generally ineligible to obtain. Filter for roles that explicitly state clearance is not required, and clarify this in screening calls before investing time.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly security roles
Migrate Mate surfaces Security Engineer jobs posted by employers with documented sponsorship histories. Browsing there lets you focus your energy on companies already comfortable hiring international candidates, rather than cold-applying and filtering manually.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Security Engineer on OPT without additional work authorization?
Yes. OPT grants you 12 months of work authorization directly tied to your degree field. If your degree is in computer science, cybersecurity, or a related STEM field, you're also eligible for a 24-month extension, giving you up to three years to work as a Security Engineer before needing H-1B or another visa.
Do Security Engineer roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do, but it depends on your degree, not your job title. Your degree's CIP code must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Degrees in computer science, information security, and cybersecurity almost always qualify. Confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before applying for the extension, since the job title itself doesn't determine eligibility.
Can I work for a defense contractor or government agency as a Security Engineer on OPT?
Civilian contractor roles that don't require a security clearance are generally open to OPT students. However, roles requiring a U.S. security clearance are typically off-limits, since clearances are generally unavailable to non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents. Always check the clearance requirement in the job description before applying, and ask directly during screening if it's unclear.
How do I find Security Engineer employers who are open to sponsoring OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this. It aggregates Security Engineer job listings from employers with verified sponsorship histories, so you can identify companies already comfortable hiring on OPT and planning for H-1B conversion. Filtering by sponsorship track record saves significant time compared to researching each employer manually.
What happens to my OPT status if my Security Engineer job ends?
You're allowed up to 90 days of unemployment during your standard OPT period, and up to 150 days during the STEM extension. If you exceed those limits without securing a new role, your OPT authorization terminates and you fall out of status. Track your unemployment days carefully and prioritize finding a new position well before hitting the threshold.
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