OPT Staff Software Engineer Jobs
Staff Software Engineer roles qualify for OPT work authorization, including the 24-month STEM OPT extension for graduates in computer science, software engineering, and related fields. These senior-level positions typically require seven or more years of experience and involve leading technical architecture, mentoring engineers, and driving large-scale system design.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. Our novel wafer-scale architecture provides the AI compute power of dozens of GPUs on a single chip, with the programming simplicity of a single device. This approach allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds and empowers machine learning users to effortlessly run large-scale ML applications, without the hassle of managing hundreds of GPUs or TPUs.
Cerebras' current customers include top model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.
Thanks to the groundbreaking wafer-scale architecture, Cerebras Inference offers the fastest Generative AI inference solution in the world, over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services. This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.
Cerebras Systems Inc. has multiple openings for Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer).
TITLE: Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer)
JOB DUTIES
- Implement infrastructure to support high-performance, low-latency inference service.
- Deploy and configure Kubernetes services to ensure scalability and reliability of inference workloads.
- Optimize resource allocation and auto-scaling policies to handle variable inference demand while minimizing operational costs.
- Integrate inference services with containerized environments using Docker and Kubernetes for orchestration.
- Ensure high availability and fault tolerance by implementing multi-region deployments and disaster recovery strategies.
- Develop Python-based scripts and APIs to streamline data preprocessing, inference execution, and post-processing for real-time inference tasks.
- Collaborate with machine learning engineers to validate inference accuracy and performance against functional and latency requirements.
- Triage and resolve defects in the service by analyzing logs, metrics, and distributed traces.
- Debug issues related to model deployment, container orchestration, or networking configurations, documenting steps to reproduce and root-cause defects.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address performance regressions, scalability issues, or integration failures in the inference pipeline.
- Develop automated scripts to detect and mitigate common failure modes, improving system reliability.
- Author detailed technical documentation for infrastructure configurations, inference workflows, and APIs, ensuring clarity for internal teams and external customers.
- Work with product management and user experience teams to define requirements for inference service interfaces, including configuration, monitoring, and event logging.
- Document and track defects, enhancements, and release notes using tools like Jira and Git, ensuring version control and traceability.
- Participate in release planning and prioritization discussions to align infrastructure development with customer needs and business objectives.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Master’s degree or foreign equivalent degree in Computer Science, or a related field and 1 year of experience as Software Developer, Student/Intern (Software Developer), Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer), Software Engineer, or a related occupation required. Employer accepts full-time or equivalent part-time experience gained before, during or after graduate studies.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Docker and Kubernetes;
- Java or C++;
- ActiveMQ and Kafka;
- Python or Groovy;
- JavaScript or TypeScript;
- Linux;
- SQL, OracleDB, and Redis; and
- Git
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Employer’s name: Cerebras Systems Inc.
Job site: 1237 E Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Telecommuting permitted
Salary Range: $169,600.00 per year to $175,000.00 per year
If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply online on this web page or mail resume to HR at Cerebras Systems Inc., 1237 E Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085. Please reference Job # 146 on resume or cover letter.
WHY JOIN CEREBRAS
People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we’ve reached an inflection point in our business. Members of our team tell us there are five main reasons they joined Cerebras:
- Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.
- Publish and open source their cutting-edge AI research.
- Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.
- Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.
- Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.
INTRODUCTION
Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. Our novel wafer-scale architecture provides the AI compute power of dozens of GPUs on a single chip, with the programming simplicity of a single device. This approach allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds and empowers machine learning users to effortlessly run large-scale ML applications, without the hassle of managing hundreds of GPUs or TPUs.
Cerebras' current customers include top model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.
Thanks to the groundbreaking wafer-scale architecture, Cerebras Inference offers the fastest Generative AI inference solution in the world, over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services. This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.
Cerebras Systems Inc. has multiple openings for Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer).
TITLE: Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer)
JOB DUTIES
- Implement infrastructure to support high-performance, low-latency inference service.
- Deploy and configure Kubernetes services to ensure scalability and reliability of inference workloads.
- Optimize resource allocation and auto-scaling policies to handle variable inference demand while minimizing operational costs.
- Integrate inference services with containerized environments using Docker and Kubernetes for orchestration.
- Ensure high availability and fault tolerance by implementing multi-region deployments and disaster recovery strategies.
- Develop Python-based scripts and APIs to streamline data preprocessing, inference execution, and post-processing for real-time inference tasks.
- Collaborate with machine learning engineers to validate inference accuracy and performance against functional and latency requirements.
- Triage and resolve defects in the service by analyzing logs, metrics, and distributed traces.
- Debug issues related to model deployment, container orchestration, or networking configurations, documenting steps to reproduce and root-cause defects.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address performance regressions, scalability issues, or integration failures in the inference pipeline.
- Develop automated scripts to detect and mitigate common failure modes, improving system reliability.
- Author detailed technical documentation for infrastructure configurations, inference workflows, and APIs, ensuring clarity for internal teams and external customers.
- Work with product management and user experience teams to define requirements for inference service interfaces, including configuration, monitoring, and event logging.
- Document and track defects, enhancements, and release notes using tools like Jira and Git, ensuring version control and traceability.
- Participate in release planning and prioritization discussions to align infrastructure development with customer needs and business objectives.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Master’s degree or foreign equivalent degree in Computer Science, or a related field and 1 year of experience as Software Developer, Student/Intern (Software Developer), Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer), Software Engineer, or a related occupation required. Employer accepts full-time or equivalent part-time experience gained before, during or after graduate studies.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Docker and Kubernetes;
- Java or C++;
- ActiveMQ and Kafka;
- Python or Groovy;
- JavaScript or TypeScript;
- Linux;
- SQL, OracleDB, and Redis; and
- Git
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Employer’s name: Cerebras Systems Inc.
Job site: 1237 E Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Telecommuting permitted
Salary Range: $169,600.00 per year to $175,000.00 per year
If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply online on this web page or mail resume to HR at Cerebras Systems Inc., 1237 E Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085. Please reference Job # 146 on resume or cover letter.
WHY JOIN CEREBRAS
People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we’ve reached an inflection point in our business. Members of our team tell us there are five main reasons they joined Cerebras:
- Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.
- Publish and open source their cutting-edge AI research.
- Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.
- Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.
- Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.
See all 554+ OPT Staff Software Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Staff Software Engineer
Target STEM-designated degree holders first
Confirm your degree appears on the official STEM OPT eligible CIP code list before applying. Computer science, electrical engineering, and information systems degrees qualify. This maximizes your authorized work period and makes you more attractive to employers weighing sponsorship timelines.
Emphasize technical scope and ownership
Staff-level roles require demonstrated ownership of large systems, not just task completion. Quantify impact: services you architected, uptime improvements you drove, or team size you influenced. Employers at this level expect candidates who operate with minimal direction and set technical direction.
Address OPT timing proactively in applications
Recruiters screening Staff candidates often assume immigration is complicated. A brief note clarifying your current OPT authorization period and STEM extension eligibility removes hesitation early. Framing it factually and confidently signals you understand the process and have planned accordingly.
Prioritize companies with established H-1B sponsorship history
Large technology companies and well-funded startups that have sponsored H-1B visa petitions before have legal and HR infrastructure already in place. They're far less likely to decline a strong Staff candidate over visa concerns than companies encountering sponsorship for the first time.
Use your technical network to access unadvertised roles
Many Staff Software Engineer positions are filled through referrals before any job listing is published. Reconnect with former colleagues, contribute to open-source projects, and engage engineering communities where principal and staff engineers are active. A warm introduction bypasses early screening filters entirely.
Time your job search around your OPT expiration window
Start applying at least four to five months before your OPT authorization ends. Staff-level hiring processes involve multiple interview rounds and can take six to ten weeks. Beginning early gives you room to negotiate without the pressure of an imminent work authorization gap.
Staff Software Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Staff Software Engineer on OPT without H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. OPT authorizes full-time employment in a role directly related to your field of study, and Staff Software Engineer positions qualify for graduates with degrees in computer science, software engineering, or related STEM fields. You can work for the duration of your OPT period without your employer needing to file any petition on your behalf, though most Staff candidates pursue H-1B sponsorship before OPT expires.
Does the STEM OPT extension apply to Staff Software Engineer roles?
Yes, provided your degree is in a STEM-designated field and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. The 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to three years of total post-graduation work authorization. Staff Software Engineer roles at companies using E-Verify satisfy the employer requirement, which makes this one of the more straightforward job categories for STEM OPT students to navigate.
How hard is it to find Staff Software Engineer jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Staff-level engineering roles are senior enough that employers genuinely compete for qualified candidates, which improves your leverage on visa-related conversations. Companies that have hired at this level before typically have the legal infrastructure to sponsor. Migrate Mate filters specifically for OPT-friendly employers, so you can focus your search on companies that have already demonstrated willingness to work with international candidates rather than guessing from a general job listing.
What happens if I'm on OPT and my Staff Software Engineer contract ends before H-1B is approved?
If your OPT authorization expires and your H-1B petition is pending under cap-gap protection, you may continue working through September 30 of the lottery year if your petition was properly filed on time. If there's no pending petition, you enter the 60-day grace period and cannot work during that window. Planning your contract timeline and H-1B filing schedule carefully with your employer's immigration counsel is critical at the Staff level.
Do Staff Software Engineer roles require any special OPT reporting compared to junior roles?
The reporting obligations are the same regardless of seniority. You must report your employer, job title, start date, and any changes in employment to your DSO within 10 days through your school's system. For Staff roles, the job title and duties should closely align with your degree field in your OPT documentation. Role misalignment is a common audit issue, so keeping your DSO records current and accurate matters.