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.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Looking for a place that values your unique talents? Discover Stryker's award-winning culture.
We are proud to offer you our total rewards package which includes bonuses, healthcare, insurance benefits, retirement programs, wellness programs, as well as service and performance awards – not to mention various social and recreational activities, all of which are location specific.
We are excited to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces by Fortune Magazine! We are proud to offer you 12 paid holidays annually. For an overview of our benefits and time off, please follow this link to learn more: US Stryker employee benefits.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Senior Software Quality Engineer, you will drive execution of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for products developed by the Ortho Tech Orthopaedic Instruments (OI) business. As a member of a cross-functional design team, you will partner closely with engineering, product, and regulatory stakeholders to ensure the efficient delivery of secure, safe, and effective software through disciplined application of our software quality processes.
Workplace flexibility: This role is hybrid in Portage, MI with the expectation to be in office 3-4 days a week.
What You Will Do:
- Guide New Product Development (NPD) teams through quality system requirements, ensuring compliance with internal procedures, FDA, ISO, and other regulatory standards.
- Partner with cross-functional project teams to lead product and/or process planning, design, and development activities.
- Provide quality and engineering input throughout the SDLC, with primary focus on requirements definition, test planning/execution, security, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
- Partner with cross-functional engineering teams (software, electrical, mechanical, and industrial design) to ensure embedded software meets product and system design requirements.
- Manage and oversee software builds, release, change control, and configuration management ensuring traceability and compliance.
- Lead software defect management activities across all phases of the software development lifecycle, including tracking, root cause analysis, and resolution.
- Perform requirements analysis, design review, code review, threat modeling, and cybersecurity and safety risk assessments aligned with design controls.
- Plan, drive, and document verification and validation activities, including test strategies, test cases, and quality metrics.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience working in a highly regulated environment, software development, or software quality.
- Proficiency in risk analysis, software architecture and design, and software verification.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in medical device development and Software in a Medical Device (SiMD) Design History Files (DHFs).
- Proficiency in programming embedded systems and related technologies (C/C++, Python, Yocto, device drivers, SPI, I2C).
- Knowledge of FDA QSRs, ISO 13485 Design Control Procedures, IEC 62304 and ISO 14971.
- Experience with tooling for SDLC automation such as Jira, Gitlab, Ansible, Ketryx, Jama, and Artifactory.
- Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CSSLP, SSCP) or demonstrated experience in secure software development, threat modeling, or security risk analysis.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $89,300 - $148,800 USD Annual
Health benefits include: Medical and prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, personalized healthcare support, wellbeing program and tobacco cessation program. Financial benefits include: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), basic life and AD&D insurance, and short-term disability insurance. Stryker offers innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 150 million patients annually. Depending on customer requirements employees and new hires in sales and field roles that require access to customer accounts as a function of the job may be required to obtain various vaccinations as an essential function of their role.
INTRODUCTION
Looking for a place that values your unique talents? Discover Stryker's award-winning culture.
We are proud to offer you our total rewards package which includes bonuses, healthcare, insurance benefits, retirement programs, wellness programs, as well as service and performance awards – not to mention various social and recreational activities, all of which are location specific.
We are excited to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces by Fortune Magazine! We are proud to offer you 12 paid holidays annually. For an overview of our benefits and time off, please follow this link to learn more: US Stryker employee benefits.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Senior Software Quality Engineer, you will drive execution of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for products developed by the Ortho Tech Orthopaedic Instruments (OI) business. As a member of a cross-functional design team, you will partner closely with engineering, product, and regulatory stakeholders to ensure the efficient delivery of secure, safe, and effective software through disciplined application of our software quality processes.
Workplace flexibility: This role is hybrid in Portage, MI with the expectation to be in office 3-4 days a week.
What You Will Do:
- Guide New Product Development (NPD) teams through quality system requirements, ensuring compliance with internal procedures, FDA, ISO, and other regulatory standards.
- Partner with cross-functional project teams to lead product and/or process planning, design, and development activities.
- Provide quality and engineering input throughout the SDLC, with primary focus on requirements definition, test planning/execution, security, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
- Partner with cross-functional engineering teams (software, electrical, mechanical, and industrial design) to ensure embedded software meets product and system design requirements.
- Manage and oversee software builds, release, change control, and configuration management ensuring traceability and compliance.
- Lead software defect management activities across all phases of the software development lifecycle, including tracking, root cause analysis, and resolution.
- Perform requirements analysis, design review, code review, threat modeling, and cybersecurity and safety risk assessments aligned with design controls.
- Plan, drive, and document verification and validation activities, including test strategies, test cases, and quality metrics.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience working in a highly regulated environment, software development, or software quality.
- Proficiency in risk analysis, software architecture and design, and software verification.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in medical device development and Software in a Medical Device (SiMD) Design History Files (DHFs).
- Proficiency in programming embedded systems and related technologies (C/C++, Python, Yocto, device drivers, SPI, I2C).
- Knowledge of FDA QSRs, ISO 13485 Design Control Procedures, IEC 62304 and ISO 14971.
- Experience with tooling for SDLC automation such as Jira, Gitlab, Ansible, Ketryx, Jama, and Artifactory.
- Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CSSLP, SSCP) or demonstrated experience in secure software development, threat modeling, or security risk analysis.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $89,300 - $148,800 USD Annual
Health benefits include: Medical and prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, personalized healthcare support, wellbeing program and tobacco cessation program. Financial benefits include: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), basic life and AD&D insurance, and short-term disability insurance. Stryker offers innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 150 million patients annually. Depending on customer requirements employees and new hires in sales and field roles that require access to customer accounts as a function of the job may be required to obtain various vaccinations as an essential function of their role.
See all 2,186+ 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.