OPT Systems Architect Jobs
Systems Architect roles qualify for OPT work authorization when tied to a degree in computer science, information systems, or a related engineering field. Most positions require STEM OPT extension eligibility, giving you up to 36 months to build enterprise architecture experience with a sponsoring employer.
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Job Posting Title:
Full Stack Cloud Architect / Systems Engineering Lead
Hiring Department:
Applied Research Laboratories
Position Open To:
All Applicants
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
FLSA Status:
Exempt from FLSA
Earliest Start Date:
Immediately
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
Location:
PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS
Job Details:
Purpose
The Space and Geophysics Laboratory (SGL) delivers capabilities to government customers for various applications, from real-time data-intensive network operations to standalone remote field systems.
We are seeking a full stack architect to oversee the implementation of mission-critical web applications. The implementations exist both on-prem and partially in Amazon Web Services with the goal of complete migration to AWS. They will serve as a technical leader within the laboratory in the areas of web and cloud systems architecture, development, decomposition, and design.
As a key member of a team of engineers, you will be responsible for eliciting systems scope from stakeholders, guiding the development of requirements, translating requirements into systems designs, guiding the decomposition of those systems into components of actionable units of work, and advising all stakeholders throughout the life-cycle, from systems definition to implementation.
Responsibilities
- Elicit system scope and requirements from stakeholders for use in systems designs
- Lead the development and evaluation of the systems architecture and design, including scope, requirements, components, interactions, and interfaces
- Communication of work process, products, and results, including documentation, written reports, and briefs presented to stakeholders
- Participate in Agile process, backlog management, and project decomposition into components and actionable units of work
- Coordinate with and provide support to stakeholders throughout the life-cycle of the systems definition, design, implementation, integration, and deployment
- Perform engineering estimates, guide project schedules, and identify dependencies
- Conduct engineering evaluations, such as trade studies, reliability analysis, functional analysis, risk analysis assessments
- Mentoring of junior developers and students
- Other related functions as assigned
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in science, applied science, or engineering
- Three years of relevant professional work experience
- Three years of experience architecting with Amazon Web Services
- Experience designing migrating applications from on-premises environment to cloud
- Experience developing or architecting full-stack web applications
- Experience in designing/maintaining formal APIs and Interface Specifications
- Experience with modern web stacks including frontend frameworks (e.g. React, Angular, Vue); server-side frameworks (e.g. Flask, Django, Express; WebSockets); web servers (e.g. Apache, nginx)
- Demonstrated ability to design, develop, evaluate, and support the development of large and complex systems.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate technical detail to staff and stakeholders of varying backgrounds and experiences.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively, both independently and collaboratively, with a strong commitment to contribution and enabling the entire team.
- Demonstrated ability to make security-related architectural and implementation decisions for web applications throughout the stack
US Citizen. Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information at the level appropriate to the project requirements of the position.
Preferred Qualifications
- Post-graduate degree in systems engineering, engineering management, engineering mechanics, operations research, industrial engineering, or related field
- Experience with JavaScript, Python
- Security design of CAC (or other PIV)-authenticated web applications protecting CUI in compliance with IL Level 4 and NIST 800 -171, -53, and CMMC guidelines
- Immediate or previous eligibility to classified information
- More than 12 years relevant professional work experience
- Eight or more years in the architecting and/or design of web applications
- Work experience specific to GNSS observation and navigation data
- Experience with multiple clouds (e.g., AWS, Azure)
- Demonstrated experience participating in an Agile project management using Jira or similar Agile management tools
- Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and techniques (experience with Structurizr is a plus)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0
General Notes
An agency designated by the federal government handles the investigation as to the requirement for eligibility for access to classified information. Factors considered during this investigation include but are not limited to allegiance to the United States, foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations, drug involvement, the likelihood of continuation of such conduct, etc.
Please mark "yes" on the application question that asks if additional materials are required. Failure to attach all additional materials listed below may result in a delay in application processing.
UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage
- Retirement contributions
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Paid holidays
Salary Range
$104,000-$174,000+/negotiable depending on qualifications
Working Conditions
- Standard office conditions
- Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
- Use of manual dexterity
- Possible weekend, evening and holiday work
- Possible interstate/intrastate travel
Required Materials
- Resume/CV
- 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
- Letter of interest
- Unofficial college transcript
Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
- E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
- Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
- Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified as a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Systems Architect
Target employers with established H-1B sponsorship records
Large technology firms and enterprise software companies file H-1B visa petitions for Systems Architects regularly. Prioritize companies with a documented history of sponsoring this specific role, not just technical roles generally. Sponsorship patterns predict future willingness.
Lead with your architecture specialization in applications
Cloud architecture, enterprise integration, and microservices expertise are in high demand. Naming your specific domain upfront helps hiring managers see immediate value beyond your visa status, making sponsorship conversations easier to initiate later in the process.
Highlight your STEM OPT timeline early with recruiters
A 36-month STEM OPT window gives employers meaningful runway before H-1B sponsorship is required. Mentioning this early reframes the conversation from a cost concern into a multi-year hiring opportunity with time to evaluate fit before committing.
Obtain certifications that close the experience gap
AWS Solutions Architect, Google Cloud Professional, or Azure Solutions Architect certifications signal readiness for senior responsibilities. Employers sponsoring Systems Architects want confidence in technical leadership ability, and certifications provide verifiable evidence independent of work history length.
Build a portfolio of architecture diagrams and design decisions
Systems Architect roles require demonstrating systems thinking across complex environments. A documented portfolio showing design tradeoffs, scalability decisions, and infrastructure choices is more compelling than a resume alone and directly supports sponsorship justification for employers.
Negotiate your start date to align with your OPT authorization window
Your OPT employment authorization has a fixed start date. Confirm your EAD card arrival timeline before accepting an offer, and ensure your start date falls within your authorized period. Starting before authorization is issued creates serious compliance problems.
Systems Architect OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Systems Architect role qualify as a STEM OPT position?
Yes, Systems Architect roles qualify for STEM OPT extension when your underlying degree is in computer science, information systems, electrical engineering, or a closely related STEM field. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify, which most large technology and enterprise employers already are. The 24-month extension brings your total OPT period to 36 months.
What types of employers hire Systems Architects on OPT?
Enterprise technology companies, cloud service providers, financial institutions, and large consulting firms are the most active hirers of Systems Architects on OPT. These organizations have established immigration teams and recurring H-1B sponsorship budgets. Startups occasionally hire for this role but are less likely to have the infrastructure to support sponsorship. Browse Systems Architect openings on Migrate Mate to find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Can I work as a Systems Architect through a staffing agency on OPT?
Yes, but with important limitations. STEM OPT requires a formal training plan and a bona fide employer-employee relationship. Staffing agency arrangements often place you at a third-party client site, which can complicate compliance with STEM OPT reporting requirements. Your designated school official must approve the employer, and the agency itself, not the end client, is typically listed as your employer of record.
How does the 90-day unemployment rule affect Systems Architect job searches?
OPT allows a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during your authorization period, or 150 days if you receive a STEM OPT extension. Systems Architect searches can run long given the seniority of the role, so tracking your unemployment days carefully matters. Starting your search before graduation and targeting employers with shorter hiring cycles helps you stay within the allowable limit.
Does my Systems Architect work need to be directly related to my degree?
Yes. OPT employment must be directly related to your major field of study. For a Systems Architect role, your degree should connect to the core responsibilities: designing technical infrastructure, evaluating system tradeoffs, and integrating complex software and hardware components. A computer science or engineering degree maps cleanly. If your degree is in a peripheral field, your DSO can help assess whether the connection is sufficient.