OPT Software Engineer AI Jobs
Software Engineer AI jobs are among the most actively sponsored OPT roles in tech right now. Employers filing H-1B visa and O-1 visa petitions for these positions routinely accept STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to three years of work authorization to build your career in machine learning, LLMs, and AI systems.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Machine Learning Engineering
General Summary:
As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drive digital transformation, creating a smarter, connected future for all. As a Qualcomm Machine Learning Engineer, you will develop and implement cutting-edge machine learning techniques that enable the efficient utilization of state-of-the-art solutions across various technology verticals.
In this position you will be responsible for contributing to the software design and development of the Qualcomm AI Runtime (QAIRT) delegate for both the ExecuTorch, ONNX Runtime and LiteRT frameworks enabling efficient AI inference on edge devices. You will have the opportunity to show your passion for software design and development with your analytical, design, programming, and debugging skills. You will participate in the agentic transformation of Qualcomm’s development and tooling workflow.
All Qualcomm employees are expected to actively support diversity on their teams, and in the Company.
Minimum Qualifications:
* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.
Responsibilities
* Design and develop the graph compilation stack that lowers the ExecuTorch Edge IR, ONNX and LiteRT graphs to QAIRT APIs.
* Collaborate with cross-functional teams in the AI Software team at Qualcomm to gain knowledge of the capabilities of QAIRT SDK and use it to optimize inference of AI models on Qualcomm AI accelerator IP.
* Validate and optimize the performance and accuracy of software through detailed analysis and testing of machine learning use cases.
* Debug complex issues, perform root cause analysis, and ensure high system reliability.
* Participate in the team's adoption of agentic AI workflows — leveraging tools such as Claude Code, or similar frameworks — to help automate testing, benchmarking, and development activities.
* Participate in design and code reviews.
Minimum Qualifications
* 2+ years software development experience using C/C++/Python
* Strong software development skills (e.g. data structure and algorithm design, object oriented or other software design paradigm knowledge, software debugging and testing, etc.)
* Strong communication skills (verbal, presentation, written)
* Foundational knowledge of Machine Learning and Deep Learning
* Experience working with one of the Deep Learning frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX, JAX
Preferred Qualifications
* 1+ years Python programming experience
* Experience with different NN architectures: DNNs, CNNs, RNNs/LSTMs, GANs, LLMs, etc.
* Experience with Graph Compilation technologies, like MLIR, a plus
* Familiarity with ExecuTorch, TorchAO, and other related technologies in the PyTorch ecosystem
* Familiarity with TfLite, LiteRT, TF, and other related technologies in the TF ecosystem
* Familiarity with GenAI model architectures – LLM, LVM, LMM
* Experience with optimizing software, specifically AI graph workloads, for embedded platforms
* Interest in or exposure to agentic AI frameworks (e.g. Claude Code) and their application to development or testing automation
* Ability to collaborate across a globally diverse team and multiple interests
Education Requirements
Required: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.
Preferred: Master's in Computer Science or Computer Engineering
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$110,600.00 - $165,800.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Machine Learning Engineering
General Summary:
As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drive digital transformation, creating a smarter, connected future for all. As a Qualcomm Machine Learning Engineer, you will develop and implement cutting-edge machine learning techniques that enable the efficient utilization of state-of-the-art solutions across various technology verticals.
In this position you will be responsible for contributing to the software design and development of the Qualcomm AI Runtime (QAIRT) delegate for both the ExecuTorch, ONNX Runtime and LiteRT frameworks enabling efficient AI inference on edge devices. You will have the opportunity to show your passion for software design and development with your analytical, design, programming, and debugging skills. You will participate in the agentic transformation of Qualcomm’s development and tooling workflow.
All Qualcomm employees are expected to actively support diversity on their teams, and in the Company.
Minimum Qualifications:
* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.
Responsibilities
* Design and develop the graph compilation stack that lowers the ExecuTorch Edge IR, ONNX and LiteRT graphs to QAIRT APIs.
* Collaborate with cross-functional teams in the AI Software team at Qualcomm to gain knowledge of the capabilities of QAIRT SDK and use it to optimize inference of AI models on Qualcomm AI accelerator IP.
* Validate and optimize the performance and accuracy of software through detailed analysis and testing of machine learning use cases.
* Debug complex issues, perform root cause analysis, and ensure high system reliability.
* Participate in the team's adoption of agentic AI workflows — leveraging tools such as Claude Code, or similar frameworks — to help automate testing, benchmarking, and development activities.
* Participate in design and code reviews.
Minimum Qualifications
* 2+ years software development experience using C/C++/Python
* Strong software development skills (e.g. data structure and algorithm design, object oriented or other software design paradigm knowledge, software debugging and testing, etc.)
* Strong communication skills (verbal, presentation, written)
* Foundational knowledge of Machine Learning and Deep Learning
* Experience working with one of the Deep Learning frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX, JAX
Preferred Qualifications
* 1+ years Python programming experience
* Experience with different NN architectures: DNNs, CNNs, RNNs/LSTMs, GANs, LLMs, etc.
* Experience with Graph Compilation technologies, like MLIR, a plus
* Familiarity with ExecuTorch, TorchAO, and other related technologies in the PyTorch ecosystem
* Familiarity with TfLite, LiteRT, TF, and other related technologies in the TF ecosystem
* Familiarity with GenAI model architectures – LLM, LVM, LMM
* Experience with optimizing software, specifically AI graph workloads, for embedded platforms
* Interest in or exposure to agentic AI frameworks (e.g. Claude Code) and their application to development or testing automation
* Ability to collaborate across a globally diverse team and multiple interests
Education Requirements
Required: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.
Preferred: Master's in Computer Science or Computer Engineering
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$110,600.00 - $165,800.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
See all 1,283+ OPT Software Engineer AI Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Software Engineer AI Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Software Engineer AI
Target companies with active AI research teams
Focus on employers who file H-1B visa petitions for AI and ML roles specifically, not just general software engineering. Companies with dedicated AI labs are far more likely to have established OPT and visa sponsorship pipelines already in place.
Highlight your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
AI engineering roles fall squarely under STEM OPT extension eligibility. Mentioning your three-year authorization window early removes employer hesitation and signals you understand the process, which experienced hiring managers appreciate.
Align your projects to the employer's AI stack
Tailor your portfolio to match the specific frameworks a company uses, whether PyTorch, JAX, or LangChain. Employers sponsoring AI roles care more about production-relevant skills than breadth, so depth in their stack accelerates hiring decisions.
Start your job search at least four months before OPT expiry
AI hiring cycles can run eight to twelve weeks from application to offer. Factor in onboarding and DSO reporting deadlines. Starting early gives you negotiating room and avoids the pressure of a countdown affecting your decisions.
Pursue roles with clear H-1B sponsorship history
Use Department of Labor disclosure data to verify whether a company has sponsored AI engineers for H-1B visas before. Past sponsorship is the strongest predictor that an employer understands and is willing to repeat the process for you.
Prepare to explain your authorization timeline confidently
Recruiters often misunderstand STEM OPT duration. Be ready to explain clearly that your authorization runs up to three years post-graduation, and that H-1B filing happens before that window closes, not immediately after you start.
Software Engineer AI OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Software Engineer AI jobs typically qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Software Engineer AI roles fall under CIP codes tied to computer science, data science, and electrical engineering, all of which qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Combined with your initial 12-month OPT, you have up to three years of work authorization. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before applying.
How do I find Software Engineer AI jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Software Engineer AI roles from employers who have an established record of sponsoring international candidates. Filtering by sponsorship history saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering a company's policy only after multiple interview rounds.
Can I work on AI projects as an independent contractor during OPT?
Self-employment is technically permitted on OPT if you establish a legitimate business entity and the work falls within your field of study. However, most Software Engineer AI roles require access to proprietary data, GPUs, and internal systems that make full-time employer-sponsored employment far more practical and straightforward for maintaining valid OPT status.
What happens to my OPT status if an AI company acquires my employer?
An acquisition doesn't automatically invalidate your OPT, but it requires immediate attention. If the new entity changes your job title, scope, or employment terms materially, you must report the update to your DSO within 10 days. If the acquiring company isn't an E-Verify employer and you're on STEM OPT extension, your authorization could be at risk.
Are AI engineering internships on CPT a good path toward full-time OPT sponsorship?
They can be, especially at companies with established AI teams. A CPT internship gives the employer direct evidence of your technical output before committing to full-time sponsorship. The risk is over-using CPT: 12 or more months of full-time CPT eliminates your OPT eligibility entirely, so track your CPT usage carefully with your DSO.