OPT Security Operations Engineer Jobs
Security Operations Engineer jobs on OPT require employers comfortable sponsoring F-1 students for H-1B visa, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation under cybersecurity or computer science. STEM OPT extensions apply, giving you up to three years of work authorization to secure long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsCareers With Purpose
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.
Facility: Bismarck Med Ctr
Location: Bismarck, ND
Address: 300 N 7th St, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts
Job Schedule: Full time
Weekly Hours: 40.00
Salary Range: $37.50 - $62.00
Job Summary
Responsible for executing enterprise cybersecurity focusing on the processes and tools that support Security Operations’ threat prevention, threat hunting, vulnerability assessments, and incident response. Also is responsible for providing insight and direction to minimize identified threats and risks to the organization through collaboration with other IS and Sanford technological groups. Perform real-time and forensic log and EDR monitoring and analysis to provide network, data, and asset security for Sanford Health. Perform vulnerability assessments and report results to application and asset owners. Provide consulting services to owners relating to response activities. Perform and collaborate on Incident Response activities including the collection, preservation, and interpretation of digital evidence.
Build, administer, and support the IS Security Operations tools, processes, and services. Identify and complete improvements and metrics to Security Operations processes and services. Manage the IS Security Operations ticket queue. Prioritize and complete tickets according to impact to Sanford Health business functions.
Provide security consulting services to other Sanford Health groups. Evaluate critical systems, prioritize workflow, and determine solutions. Research and advise on SOC trends and capabilities. Use data analysis to drive service improvement. Learn new tools, processes, and work methods based on business needs. Communicate via written, verbal, and presentation style to individuals of varying technical abilities and job function.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required, in lieu of education, leadership may consider an Associates degree plus 3 years of applicable experience in computer science, cyber security or an information technology related field.
Minimum of at least 2 years experience in the cyber security field.
Security Certifications are desired.
Benefits
Sanford offers an attractive benefits package for qualifying full-time and part-time employees. Depending on eligibility, a variety of benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, work/life balance benefits, and a generous time off package to maintain a healthy home-work balance. For more information about Total Rewards, visit https://sanfordcareers.com/benefits.
Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-673-0854 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.
Sanford has a Drug Free Workplace Policy. An accepted offer will require a drug screen and pre-employment background screening as a condition of employment.
Req Number: R-0254169
Job Function: Information Technology
Featured: No
Careers With Purpose
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.
Facility: Bismarck Med Ctr
Location: Bismarck, ND
Address: 300 N 7th St, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts
Job Schedule: Full time
Weekly Hours: 40.00
Salary Range: $37.50 - $62.00
Job Summary
Responsible for executing enterprise cybersecurity focusing on the processes and tools that support Security Operations’ threat prevention, threat hunting, vulnerability assessments, and incident response. Also is responsible for providing insight and direction to minimize identified threats and risks to the organization through collaboration with other IS and Sanford technological groups. Perform real-time and forensic log and EDR monitoring and analysis to provide network, data, and asset security for Sanford Health. Perform vulnerability assessments and report results to application and asset owners. Provide consulting services to owners relating to response activities. Perform and collaborate on Incident Response activities including the collection, preservation, and interpretation of digital evidence.
Build, administer, and support the IS Security Operations tools, processes, and services. Identify and complete improvements and metrics to Security Operations processes and services. Manage the IS Security Operations ticket queue. Prioritize and complete tickets according to impact to Sanford Health business functions.
Provide security consulting services to other Sanford Health groups. Evaluate critical systems, prioritize workflow, and determine solutions. Research and advise on SOC trends and capabilities. Use data analysis to drive service improvement. Learn new tools, processes, and work methods based on business needs. Communicate via written, verbal, and presentation style to individuals of varying technical abilities and job function.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required, in lieu of education, leadership may consider an Associates degree plus 3 years of applicable experience in computer science, cyber security or an information technology related field.
Minimum of at least 2 years experience in the cyber security field.
Security Certifications are desired.
Benefits
Sanford offers an attractive benefits package for qualifying full-time and part-time employees. Depending on eligibility, a variety of benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, work/life balance benefits, and a generous time off package to maintain a healthy home-work balance. For more information about Total Rewards, visit https://sanfordcareers.com/benefits.
Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-673-0854 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.
Sanford has a Drug Free Workplace Policy. An accepted offer will require a drug screen and pre-employment background screening as a condition of employment.
Req Number: R-0254169
Job Function: Information Technology
Featured: No
See all 60+ OPT Security Operations Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Security Operations Engineer
Target employers with active H-1B sponsorship history
Companies that have sponsored H-1B visas for Security Operations Engineers before are far more likely to do it again. Check DOL Labor Condition Application data to confirm a prospective employer has filed for this specific role category.
Emphasize SIEM and threat detection skills in your resume
Employers sponsoring OPT students want specialists, not generalists. Highlighting hands-on experience with tools like Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, or CrowdStrike signals you bring specialized value that justifies the sponsorship investment.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility early in conversations
Computer science and cybersecurity degrees qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving employers three years total. Stating this upfront removes a common objection and shows you understand your own work authorization timeline.
Pursue security certifications that strengthen your specialty occupation case
Credentials like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH reinforce that your role requires specialized technical knowledge. This strengthens both your candidacy and the employer's eventual H-1B specialty occupation argument to USCIS.
Look beyond big tech for sponsorship opportunities
Managed security service providers, financial institutions, and healthcare systems hire Security Operations Engineers and routinely sponsor visas. These sectors often have longer hiring timelines but stronger retention, which benefits your long-term immigration path.
Communicate your OPT end date and H-1B cap deadlines clearly
H-1B registration opens in March each year, with October 1 start dates. If your OPT expires before then, cap-gap protection may apply. Knowing these dates and explaining them confidently builds employer trust.
Security Operations Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Security Operations Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Security Operations Engineer roles almost always qualify as specialty occupations because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or a directly related field. USCIS looks at whether the degree requirement is tied specifically to the role, and the technical depth of SOC work, including threat analysis and incident response, consistently supports that argument.
Can I work as a Security Operations Engineer on STEM OPT?
Yes. If your degree is in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a related STEM field, you qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12 months of OPT. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, which most companies large enough to hire Security Operations Engineers already are. This gives you up to 36 months total to work and pursue H-1B sponsorship.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor Security Operations Engineers on OPT?
Financial services firms, healthcare systems, defense contractors, and managed security service providers sponsor Security Operations Engineers regularly. These industries face strict compliance requirements that create sustained demand for dedicated SOC talent. You can browse Security Operations Engineer roles from sponsoring employers directly on Migrate Mate, which filters for positions open to OPT and visa sponsorship candidates.
What happens to my work authorization if my employer files an H-1B petition before my OPT expires?
If your employer files a timely H-1B cap-subject petition before your OPT expires, cap-gap protection automatically extends your F-1 status and work authorization through September 30 of that year. If your petition is selected and approved, your H-1B status begins October 1. You can continue working without interruption throughout this period as long as your employer filed before your OPT end date.
Do security clearance requirements affect OPT students applying for Security Operations Engineer roles?
Some Security Operations Engineer positions, particularly with government contractors, require a U.S. security clearance. F-1 OPT students are generally not eligible for clearances because clearances typically require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Focus your search on private sector roles at companies without clearance requirements. Most commercial security operations positions do not require clearances and are fully accessible to OPT candidates.