OPT Software Quality Engineer Jobs
Software Quality Engineer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in this space regularly sponsor H-1B visas for strong performers.
Find OPT Software Quality Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 272+ Software Quality Engineer jobs
See all 272+ Software Quality Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Software Quality Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTitle: Software Quality & Process Architect - Emerging PM
Location: Wabtec (formerly GE Transportation), Erie, PA
Job Description:
Are you a Software Engineer or QA Engineer looking to step out of the isolated code silo and into an operational leadership and project management trajectory?
Our company is seeking a high-caliber Software Quality & Process Architect to drive software process engineering, framework design, and quality governance support across our global Controls Software teams. In this role, you won't just test code—you will design the blueprints for how our global engineering teams build world-class products. This role is a perfect launchpad for a highly technical professional looking to master data-driven quality systems, cross-functional leadership, and entry-level project management while maintaining a deep connection to software engineering lifecycle methodologies.
Key Responsibilities:
- Technical Project Management: Act as an entry-level PM/Scrum Master to support cross-functional optimization projects of varying size and complexity; systematically track milestones, manage timelines, and maintain the continuous process improvement project report.
- Process Architecture & Governance: Oversee, tailor, and architect the documentation/standardization workflows within a large-scale, matrixed Quality Management System (QMS), protecting the integrity of our global Documents Inventory List.
- Metrics, Python & Automation: Define, deploy, and track complex software engineering metrics. Convert performance data into actionable, executive-level Software Quality Governance Reports (with opportunities to build in-house automation dashboards using Python, Power BI, or PowerApps).
- Systemic Engineering Diagnostics (RCA): Facilitate and lead technical risk assessments and process gap analyses utilizing professional quality control toolsets (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa diagrams) to solve systemic development bottlenecks.
- Cross-Methodology Leadership: Coach and align global software teams spanning diverse development cultures (Agile/Scrum, Waterfall, and Iterative) to balance engineering priorities and protect high-velocity product release timelines.
Required Qualifications:
- Education: Degree in Engineering, Software Development, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
- Software/QA Baseline: 1-3 years of overall experience working within Software Development, DevOps, or Software Quality Assurance environments.
- Governance Experience: At least 1+ years of dedicated experience focused strictly on Software Quality Assurance, software process auditing, or quality governance.
- Methodology Expertise: Practical familiarity navigating and implementing diverse development frameworks (Waterfall, Iterative, Agile/Scrum, etc.).
- Organizational Change: A proven track record of deploying industry-leading development techniques and driving process adoption across varying team cultures and complex environments.
- Analytical & Planning Tools: Proficiency, practical experience using traditional QC problem-solving toolsets along with strong day-to-day proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Visio for mapping and data organization.
- Emerging Leadership: Strong written and verbal communication skills with a natural aptitude for training, coaching, and influencing technical engineering teams without direct authority.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Matrix Environment: Experience managing engineering process workflows in large-scale, matrixed enterprise settings.
- In-House Tooling: Desirable background or familiarity with building in-house automation, monitoring tools, or automated metrics dashboards using PowerApps, Power BI, or Python.
Core Deliverables Expected in Role:
- Process Improvement Project Reports: Complete, compliant, and up-to-date process standard inventories.
- Process Improvement Project Reports: Active, audited project schedules tracking engineering efficiency and visible first-time yield enhancements.
- Quality Governance Reports: Regular, data-driven analytical insights mapping code parameters to real-world performance metrics.
- Process Gap Analysis Reports: Formally documented process deployment gaps matched with systemic, engineering-driven root-cause corrections.
- Documents & Training Assets: Complete, compliant, and up-to-date process standard inventories alongside verifiable compliance training log records.
Benefits:
Phoenix Technical Solutions offers an attractive compensation and benefits package; including health, dental, vision, STD, LTD, Life, IRA with generous company match, paid holidays, vacation and more. Our global commitment to technological advancement offers opportunities for personal growth and development in a stable, supportive work environment.
Title: Software Quality & Process Architect - Emerging PM
Location: Wabtec (formerly GE Transportation), Erie, PA
Job Description:
Are you a Software Engineer or QA Engineer looking to step out of the isolated code silo and into an operational leadership and project management trajectory?
Our company is seeking a high-caliber Software Quality & Process Architect to drive software process engineering, framework design, and quality governance support across our global Controls Software teams. In this role, you won't just test code—you will design the blueprints for how our global engineering teams build world-class products. This role is a perfect launchpad for a highly technical professional looking to master data-driven quality systems, cross-functional leadership, and entry-level project management while maintaining a deep connection to software engineering lifecycle methodologies.
Key Responsibilities:
- Technical Project Management: Act as an entry-level PM/Scrum Master to support cross-functional optimization projects of varying size and complexity; systematically track milestones, manage timelines, and maintain the continuous process improvement project report.
- Process Architecture & Governance: Oversee, tailor, and architect the documentation/standardization workflows within a large-scale, matrixed Quality Management System (QMS), protecting the integrity of our global Documents Inventory List.
- Metrics, Python & Automation: Define, deploy, and track complex software engineering metrics. Convert performance data into actionable, executive-level Software Quality Governance Reports (with opportunities to build in-house automation dashboards using Python, Power BI, or PowerApps).
- Systemic Engineering Diagnostics (RCA): Facilitate and lead technical risk assessments and process gap analyses utilizing professional quality control toolsets (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa diagrams) to solve systemic development bottlenecks.
- Cross-Methodology Leadership: Coach and align global software teams spanning diverse development cultures (Agile/Scrum, Waterfall, and Iterative) to balance engineering priorities and protect high-velocity product release timelines.
Required Qualifications:
- Education: Degree in Engineering, Software Development, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
- Software/QA Baseline: 1-3 years of overall experience working within Software Development, DevOps, or Software Quality Assurance environments.
- Governance Experience: At least 1+ years of dedicated experience focused strictly on Software Quality Assurance, software process auditing, or quality governance.
- Methodology Expertise: Practical familiarity navigating and implementing diverse development frameworks (Waterfall, Iterative, Agile/Scrum, etc.).
- Organizational Change: A proven track record of deploying industry-leading development techniques and driving process adoption across varying team cultures and complex environments.
- Analytical & Planning Tools: Proficiency, practical experience using traditional QC problem-solving toolsets along with strong day-to-day proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Visio for mapping and data organization.
- Emerging Leadership: Strong written and verbal communication skills with a natural aptitude for training, coaching, and influencing technical engineering teams without direct authority.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Matrix Environment: Experience managing engineering process workflows in large-scale, matrixed enterprise settings.
- In-House Tooling: Desirable background or familiarity with building in-house automation, monitoring tools, or automated metrics dashboards using PowerApps, Power BI, or Python.
Core Deliverables Expected in Role:
- Process Improvement Project Reports: Complete, compliant, and up-to-date process standard inventories.
- Process Improvement Project Reports: Active, audited project schedules tracking engineering efficiency and visible first-time yield enhancements.
- Quality Governance Reports: Regular, data-driven analytical insights mapping code parameters to real-world performance metrics.
- Process Gap Analysis Reports: Formally documented process deployment gaps matched with systemic, engineering-driven root-cause corrections.
- Documents & Training Assets: Complete, compliant, and up-to-date process standard inventories alongside verifiable compliance training log records.
Benefits:
Phoenix Technical Solutions offers an attractive compensation and benefits package; including health, dental, vision, STD, LTD, Life, IRA with generous company match, paid holidays, vacation and more. Our global commitment to technological advancement offers opportunities for personal growth and development in a stable, supportive work environment.
See all 272+ OPT Software Quality Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Software Quality Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Software Quality Engineer
Filter for STEM-designated employers
Software Quality Engineer roles almost always fall under STEM OPT eligibility, but confirm your employer has a valid E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer. STEM extension applications require E-Verify participation from day one.
Frame your testing skills around business impact
Hiring managers respond to candidates who connect QA work to product reliability and reduced defect costs. Quantify your contributions in interviews and on your resume to stand out from other OPT candidates competing for the same roles.
Prioritize companies with established H-1B sponsorship history
Look for employers who have sponsored software engineers for H-1B visas in previous years. A history of sponsorship signals the company has immigration counsel in place and understands the process for transitioning OPT employees.
Get comfortable with automation testing frameworks
Proficiency in Selenium, Cypress, or similar automation tools significantly expands your job options and negotiating leverage. Employers hiring for automation-heavy QA roles are often more willing to sponsor because the skill set is harder to fill quickly.
Raise OPT authorization early in the process
Bring up your work authorization status before the final offer stage, not after. Most companies that sponsor have a defined process, and surfacing this early prevents surprises and gives HR time to confirm sponsorship eligibility with their legal team.
Target mid-size and enterprise tech employers
Larger engineering organizations typically have dedicated HR and immigration infrastructure. Companies with 500 or more employees are more likely to have navigated OPT-to-H-1B transitions before and can move faster when your OPT end date approaches.
Software Quality Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Software Quality Engineer jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. Software Quality Engineer roles typically fall under CIP codes linked to computer science or information technology, which qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of your initial 12 months. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before applying, since the extension is tied to your program of study, not the job title itself.
How do I find Software Quality Engineer jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers that sponsor work visas. Searching there gives you a much faster path to relevant opportunities than sorting through general job boards where sponsorship status is rarely disclosed upfront. Focus your outreach on companies in software, fintech, and enterprise technology, where QA hiring is consistent and visa sponsorship is more common.
Will my OPT authorization cover both manual and automation QA roles?
Yes. OPT work authorization is tied to your degree field, not the specific type of QA work you perform. Whether you are doing exploratory testing, writing automated test scripts, or managing a QA pipeline, the work authorization rules apply the same way. What matters is that the role is directly related to your field of study, which most Software Quality Engineer positions are.
Can I work as a contract or W-2 QA engineer on OPT?
You can work as a W-2 contract employee on OPT, provided the work is related to your degree and you maintain the required 20 hours per week minimum. Self-employment and independent contractor arrangements on a 1099 basis are generally not permitted under OPT. If a recruiter offers a 1099 contract role, consult your DSO before accepting to confirm it does not jeopardize your status.
What happens to my OPT if my Software Quality Engineer role is eliminated or I am laid off?
F-1 OPT students have a 90-day unemployment allowance across the full OPT period, or 150 days if you are on a STEM extension. If you lose your Software Quality Engineer job, that clock starts immediately. Use Migrate Mate to search for new roles quickly and notify your DSO as soon as your employment ends so your records stay current and your status is protected.