OPT Software Engineer Jobs
Software Engineer is one of the most OPT-friendly roles in the U.S. job market, with hundreds of employers actively filing H-1B visa sponsorship each year. Your 12-month OPT period (plus a 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies) gives you real runway to land a role and build toward long-term status.
See All OPT Software Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 21,684+ Software Engineer jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 21,684+ Software Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Software Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Audible, we believe stories have the power to transform lives. It's why we work with some of the world's leading creators to produce and share audio storytelling with our millions of global listeners. We are dreamers and inventors who come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to empower and inspire each other. Imagine your future with us.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Playback team at Audible owns the core playback logic and services, including players, content delivery, security, listening data, metrics and insights, and a unified SDK. This team focuses on optimizing playback quality, performance, and customer experience across platforms, using automated tools for monitoring and analysis. The Playback team also drives Audible's efforts to advance the state of internet audio through faculty collaborations. You will own critical infrastructure supporting audio ads at Audible, you’ll build scalable systems processing billions of ad opportunities annually, delivering world-class advertising experiences to millions of customers.
This role offers hands-on technical ownership of audio ad systems, real-time ad serving pipelines, and conversational AI integration. You'll work with talented engineers solving complex distributed systems challenges while directly impacting a business.
ABOUT YOU
We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Software Development Engineer to design, architect, and implement machine learning solutions that drive transformative technological advancements. You will combine deep technical expertise with strategic thinking, capable of translating complex business challenges into scalable, intelligent systems.
As a Software Development Engineer, you will...
- Design, develop, and test software components and applications for a leading global provider of audiobooks
- Collaborate with Product, Applied Science, and cross-functional engineering teams to define and deliver innovative advertising products
- Optimize ad serving latency, cost, and business metrics for audio advertising at scale
- Collaborate on an agile engineering team, writing scalable and maintainable code and influencing team decisions
- Collaborate with stakeholders to envision, design, develop, test, and launch customer-centric software solutions
- Utilize technology to tackle challenging problems and deliver high-quality code on schedule
- Demonstrate proficiency in a wide range of data structures and algorithms, applying them effectively
- Independently clarify technical requirements, assess development estimates, and employ diverse design approaches
- Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members
- Foster continuous improvement in software quality, customer experience, and product maintainability
- Mentor and lead developers, fostering curiosity and deep technical understanding
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of non-internship design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience programming with at least one software programming language
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
- 3+ years’ experience of software development and deployment of distributed multi-tier applications
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience building complex software systems that have been successfully delivered to customers
- Experience building complex software systems that have been successfully delivered to customers, or experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
- Full stack proficiency (e.g., Java, C++, Mobile App development - Swift, Kotlin, JS, TS)
- Competency at delegating work in parallel to accelerate delivery
- Enthusiasm for promoting high-quality standard in others across: documentation, unit testing, code reviews, test automation, continuous integration and deployment
COMPENSATION
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, NJ, Newark - 158,100.00 - 213,800.00 USD annually
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.
INTRODUCTION
At Audible, we believe stories have the power to transform lives. It's why we work with some of the world's leading creators to produce and share audio storytelling with our millions of global listeners. We are dreamers and inventors who come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to empower and inspire each other. Imagine your future with us.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Playback team at Audible owns the core playback logic and services, including players, content delivery, security, listening data, metrics and insights, and a unified SDK. This team focuses on optimizing playback quality, performance, and customer experience across platforms, using automated tools for monitoring and analysis. The Playback team also drives Audible's efforts to advance the state of internet audio through faculty collaborations. You will own critical infrastructure supporting audio ads at Audible, you’ll build scalable systems processing billions of ad opportunities annually, delivering world-class advertising experiences to millions of customers.
This role offers hands-on technical ownership of audio ad systems, real-time ad serving pipelines, and conversational AI integration. You'll work with talented engineers solving complex distributed systems challenges while directly impacting a business.
ABOUT YOU
We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Software Development Engineer to design, architect, and implement machine learning solutions that drive transformative technological advancements. You will combine deep technical expertise with strategic thinking, capable of translating complex business challenges into scalable, intelligent systems.
As a Software Development Engineer, you will...
- Design, develop, and test software components and applications for a leading global provider of audiobooks
- Collaborate with Product, Applied Science, and cross-functional engineering teams to define and deliver innovative advertising products
- Optimize ad serving latency, cost, and business metrics for audio advertising at scale
- Collaborate on an agile engineering team, writing scalable and maintainable code and influencing team decisions
- Collaborate with stakeholders to envision, design, develop, test, and launch customer-centric software solutions
- Utilize technology to tackle challenging problems and deliver high-quality code on schedule
- Demonstrate proficiency in a wide range of data structures and algorithms, applying them effectively
- Independently clarify technical requirements, assess development estimates, and employ diverse design approaches
- Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members
- Foster continuous improvement in software quality, customer experience, and product maintainability
- Mentor and lead developers, fostering curiosity and deep technical understanding
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of non-internship design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience programming with at least one software programming language
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
- 3+ years’ experience of software development and deployment of distributed multi-tier applications
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience building complex software systems that have been successfully delivered to customers
- Experience building complex software systems that have been successfully delivered to customers, or experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
- Full stack proficiency (e.g., Java, C++, Mobile App development - Swift, Kotlin, JS, TS)
- Competency at delegating work in parallel to accelerate delivery
- Enthusiasm for promoting high-quality standard in others across: documentation, unit testing, code reviews, test automation, continuous integration and deployment
COMPENSATION
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, NJ, Newark - 158,100.00 - 213,800.00 USD annually
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.
See all 21,684+ OPT Software Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Software Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Software Engineer
Target companies with H-1B filing history
Employers who have filed H-1B visa petitions for software engineers in the past are your strongest leads. Past filing behavior is the most reliable signal that a company is willing to sponsor international candidates through OPT and beyond.
Apply before your OPT start date
Hiring cycles for engineering roles take four to eight weeks. Start applying two to three months before your OPT begins so your authorization is active by the time an offer arrives and background checks clear.
Address OPT early in recruiter conversations
Mention your OPT status in the first recruiter call, not after a final-round interview. Framing it as 12 months plus a 24-month STEM extension gives employers a clearer picture of your available work timeline.
Highlight your STEM extension eligibility
Computer science, electrical engineering, and related STEM degrees qualify for the 24-month extension. Calling this out explicitly tells hiring managers you have up to three years of work authorization before any H-1B sponsorship is required.
Focus your search on mid-size tech companies
Large enterprises often have rigid sponsorship policies, while startups may lack HR infrastructure. Mid-size companies with 50 to 500 engineers frequently sponsor OPT candidates and move faster through their hiring process.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for OPT-ready employers
Migrate Mate surfaces software engineering roles at companies with verified sponsorship history. Filtering by OPT eligibility upfront saves significant time compared to screening hundreds of listings that never mention work authorization.
Software Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Software Engineer on OPT without employer sponsorship?
Yes. During your OPT period, you're authorized to work for any qualifying employer without them filing anything on your behalf initially. Your employer does not sponsor your OPT, USCIS grants it based on your F-1 status. Sponsorship only becomes relevant if you want to transition to an H-1B or another long-term visa after OPT ends.
Does my software engineering job need to be related to my degree field?
Yes, and this is enforced. OPT employment must be directly related to your degree field. A computer science graduate working as a software engineer is a clear match. A business administration graduate doing the same role would likely violate OPT terms. If your degree is adjacent, document how the work connects to your major before accepting an offer.
How does the 24-month STEM OPT extension work for software engineers?
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, software engineering, or electrical engineering, you can apply for a 24-month extension after your initial 12-month OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and both you and your employer must complete a formal training plan. This gives you up to 36 months of total OPT authorization.
Where can I find software engineering jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students on OPT and F-1 status. It surfaces software engineering roles at employers with verified sponsorship history, so you're not guessing which companies are open to work authorization. Filtering by OPT eligibility narrows your search to positions where your status is already expected and accounted for by the hiring team.
Can I do freelance or contract software engineering work on OPT?
Yes, with conditions. OPT permits self-employment and contract work as long as each engagement is directly related to your degree field and you work at least 20 hours per week in aggregate. You cannot be unemployed for more than 90 cumulative days during standard OPT, or 150 days on a STEM extension, so maintaining consistent billable work is essential for staying in status.