OPT Server Jobs
Server jobs on OPT are available at restaurants, hotels, and catering companies that routinely hire international students. Most server roles are hourly with tip income, so confirm your employer can provide proper OPT employment verification documentation. STEM OPT extensions don't apply to this field.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Visual Concepts, we believe great games are made by diverse and empowered teams with a shared passion for play. As one of the world's top game development studios, we have shipped over 100 multi-sku titles to critical acclaim and commercial success. Our teams are independent and ambitious. Our studios in Novato, Irvine, Budapest, Shanghai, Austin, Boise, Seoul and Parksville, Canada are committed to artistry and groundbreaking technology, offering top candidates the opportunity to learn and grow with some of the hardest working and most creative minds in the industry.
What We Need:
We're seeking a Engineer with a passion for server-side development to join the NBA 2K team! In this role, you'll take ownership across a broad technical landscape - working in distributed systems, large-scale computing, and efficient databases to build high-performance backend services. Your work will play a key role in delivering world-class online experiences that power one of the most popular sports game franchises in the world. This role reports into Lead Director of Programming.
What You Will Do:
- Work in the backend architecture and services that support NBA 2K's online features
- Design and optimize distributed systems to ensure scalability, reliability, and fault tolerance
- Build and maintain large-scale computing solutions that handle millions of concurrent players
- Develop efficient database structures and queries to support high-volume, real-time transactions
- Deliver high-performance backend services with a focus on low latency and stability
- Partner with engineering and design teams to enable seamless online gameplay experiences.
Who Will Be A Great Fit:
- 3+ years of professional software development experience, with a strong focus on backend and server-side systems
- Strong proficiency in C++ with a solid understanding of object-oriented programming principles
- Proficiency in one or more scripting languages such as Python, javascript/typescript, Perl, or Ruby, with a strong preference for Python and javascript
- Understanding of distributed and scalable systems
- Proven experience with multithreaded programming, driving efficiency and stability across large-scale, real-time environments
- Demonstrated ability to research, evaluate, and integrate emerging technologies and trends to enhance team capabilities, platform performance, and product innovation
- BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience in large-scale software development
- Experience developing secure transaction systems, including virtual currency and account-based features, a strong plus
- Skilled in database optimization, including connection management and query performance tuning
- Familiarity with online gaming architectures and service design for live, connected player experiences
- Working knowledge of SQL databases such as MySQL, PostgresSQL, or similar systems
- Video game console development experience is highly beneficial
- Love for video games (not just ours!)
Compensation
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The pay range for this position in Irvine, California at the start of employment is expected to be between $102,900 and $137,200 per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.
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Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
At Visual Concepts, we believe great games are made by diverse and empowered teams with a shared passion for play. As one of the world's top game development studios, we have shipped over 100 multi-sku titles to critical acclaim and commercial success. Our teams are independent and ambitious. Our studios in Novato, Irvine, Budapest, Shanghai, Austin, Boise, Seoul and Parksville, Canada are committed to artistry and groundbreaking technology, offering top candidates the opportunity to learn and grow with some of the hardest working and most creative minds in the industry.
What We Need:
We're seeking a Engineer with a passion for server-side development to join the NBA 2K team! In this role, you'll take ownership across a broad technical landscape - working in distributed systems, large-scale computing, and efficient databases to build high-performance backend services. Your work will play a key role in delivering world-class online experiences that power one of the most popular sports game franchises in the world. This role reports into Lead Director of Programming.
What You Will Do:
- Work in the backend architecture and services that support NBA 2K's online features
- Design and optimize distributed systems to ensure scalability, reliability, and fault tolerance
- Build and maintain large-scale computing solutions that handle millions of concurrent players
- Develop efficient database structures and queries to support high-volume, real-time transactions
- Deliver high-performance backend services with a focus on low latency and stability
- Partner with engineering and design teams to enable seamless online gameplay experiences.
Who Will Be A Great Fit:
- 3+ years of professional software development experience, with a strong focus on backend and server-side systems
- Strong proficiency in C++ with a solid understanding of object-oriented programming principles
- Proficiency in one or more scripting languages such as Python, javascript/typescript, Perl, or Ruby, with a strong preference for Python and javascript
- Understanding of distributed and scalable systems
- Proven experience with multithreaded programming, driving efficiency and stability across large-scale, real-time environments
- Demonstrated ability to research, evaluate, and integrate emerging technologies and trends to enhance team capabilities, platform performance, and product innovation
- BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience in large-scale software development
- Experience developing secure transaction systems, including virtual currency and account-based features, a strong plus
- Skilled in database optimization, including connection management and query performance tuning
- Familiarity with online gaming architectures and service design for live, connected player experiences
- Working knowledge of SQL databases such as MySQL, PostgresSQL, or similar systems
- Video game console development experience is highly beneficial
- Love for video games (not just ours!)
Compensation
-
The pay range for this position in Irvine, California at the start of employment is expected to be between $102,900 and $137,200 per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.
-
Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
See all 54+ OPT Server Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Server
Confirm employer OPT compliance upfront
Before accepting any server position, ask whether the employer can provide a formal offer letter listing your job title, hours, and start date. Many small restaurants aren't familiar with OPT paperwork requirements, so clarifying early prevents problems later.
Track your hours carefully
OPT requires you to work at least 20 hours per week to maintain valid status. Restaurant schedules fluctuate, so monitor your weekly hours closely and communicate with your manager if you're consistently being scheduled below that threshold.
Get employment verification in writing
Your DSO needs documentation confirming your employer name, job title, and hours worked. Request a formal letter or signed employment verification form from your restaurant's manager or HR contact before your OPT start date to avoid reporting delays.
Report employer changes to your DSO immediately
Switching restaurants or catering employers requires updating your employment record in SEVP within 10 days. Failing to report a job change, even temporarily, puts your OPT authorization at risk regardless of how quickly you find new work.
Understand how tip income affects your tax obligations
Server income includes both wages and tips, both of which are taxable. As an F-1 student, you're typically a nonresident alien for tax purposes, so consult IRS Publication 519 and consider whether your country has a U.S. tax treaty.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly employers
Not every restaurant or hospitality employer understands OPT authorization requirements. Migrate Mate filters server job listings to surface employers already open to hiring international students, saving you from repeated rejections based on work authorization status.
Server OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a server on OPT?
Yes, you can work as a server on OPT as long as the position is related to your field of study. This is an important distinction: OPT requires your job to be directly tied to the major listed on your I-20. If your degree is in hospitality, food service management, or a related field, a server role qualifies. A server job won't qualify OPT for an unrelated degree like computer science.
Does a server job qualify for STEM OPT extension?
No, server roles do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. STEM OPT is limited to graduates of qualifying STEM degree programs working in occupations directly tied to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Hospitality and food service roles are not on the STEM designated degree program list, so standard OPT's 12-month limit applies.
What documentation does my restaurant employer need to hire me on OPT?
Your employer needs your EAD card, which serves as proof of work authorization, along with your passport and any standard I-9 documentation. Many smaller restaurants aren't familiar with OPT specifically, so it helps to explain that your EAD is a federal work authorization card issued by USCIS. You'll also need a formal offer letter from them for your DSO to update your SEVP record.
How do I find server jobs open to OPT students?
Most general job listings don't filter by work authorization type, making it time-consuming to identify which employers are open to OPT candidates. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces hospitality and food service roles from employers already familiar with international student hiring. Browsing there is significantly more efficient than applying broadly and filtering rejections manually.
What happens to my OPT if my restaurant cuts my hours below 20 per week?
If your scheduled hours consistently fall below 20 per week, you risk falling out of compliance with OPT's minimum employment requirement. Occasional slow weeks aren't automatically a violation, but a sustained pattern can be. Contact your DSO if your hours drop significantly. You may need to find a second qualifying employer to maintain your required weekly hours and protect your status.