OPT Systems Programmer Jobs
Systems Programmer jobs on OPT typically fall under computer science or electrical engineering degree requirements, making them a strong fit for F-1 students in those fields. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers range from enterprise software firms to government contractors and embedded systems companies.
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Get Access To All JobsPOSITION TITLE: Research Programmer III (Software Engineer)
Position Summary:
The Kennedy laboratory is involved in numerous projects to track, quantify, and forecast individual and group behavior and relate it to recorded neural activity. We develop new computational methods to understand how agents (animals, humans, virtual) gather information about their sensory environment, integrate this with internal motivational needs, and execute goal-directed actions in complex, naturalistic environments. We also develop machine learning and computer vision platforms for high-throughput animal phenotyping, with the goal of accelerating drug screening and repurposing efforts at Scripps.
We seek motivated individuals interested in gaining hands-on experience in scientific research projects, with a goal of contributing to scientific papers and participating in an active lab environment. You will also have the opportunity to lead independent research projects on existing datasets from our collaborators (U Penn, UCLA, Harvard, U Utah, Northwestern, and others). This is an ideal position for applicants interested in building their scientific CV ahead of applying to graduate programs in Computational Neuroscience or Machine Learning, or those looking for a longer term position where they can contribute to original scientific research and model development.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Math, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Other STEM degrees may be accepted if accompanied with programming education, training, and/or experience.
- Minimum of four years experience in software application development or research programming.
- Experience with software development in Python.
- Experience building and training deep neural networks for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems.
- A demonstrated ability to apply the fundamentals of software application development.
- Experience with version control, including git and github.
Please include code samples and/or a link to a public code repository with examples of your work.
PREFERRED SKILLSET:
Prior experience with the one or more of the following is preferred:
- Experience with sequence/time series data, control/reinforcement learning problems and environments, time series forecasting.
- An understanding of generative modeling (hidden Markov models, diffusion models, etc).
- Familiarity with topics in motor control, robotics, and neuroscience.
As a member of a computational lab working in team projects, the following general skills are also preferred:
- Experience developing scalable system architectures that adhere to good software engineering principles.
- Ability to tackle large, open-ended research questions independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to be an active participant in a computational lab environment, including taking part in lab meetings, journal clubs, and hackathons.
- Experience working within a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience contributing to open source software projects.
LOCATION: La Jolla, California.
Physical Requirements: This position works in an office environment, and it is expected that work will be primarily performed in-person.
COMPENSATION:
The expected hiring range for this position is $75,000 to $100,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Employer Contributed Retirement Plan – Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
- Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
- Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
- Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
- Free, on-site parking
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
POSITION TITLE: Research Programmer III (Software Engineer)
Position Summary:
The Kennedy laboratory is involved in numerous projects to track, quantify, and forecast individual and group behavior and relate it to recorded neural activity. We develop new computational methods to understand how agents (animals, humans, virtual) gather information about their sensory environment, integrate this with internal motivational needs, and execute goal-directed actions in complex, naturalistic environments. We also develop machine learning and computer vision platforms for high-throughput animal phenotyping, with the goal of accelerating drug screening and repurposing efforts at Scripps.
We seek motivated individuals interested in gaining hands-on experience in scientific research projects, with a goal of contributing to scientific papers and participating in an active lab environment. You will also have the opportunity to lead independent research projects on existing datasets from our collaborators (U Penn, UCLA, Harvard, U Utah, Northwestern, and others). This is an ideal position for applicants interested in building their scientific CV ahead of applying to graduate programs in Computational Neuroscience or Machine Learning, or those looking for a longer term position where they can contribute to original scientific research and model development.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Math, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Other STEM degrees may be accepted if accompanied with programming education, training, and/or experience.
- Minimum of four years experience in software application development or research programming.
- Experience with software development in Python.
- Experience building and training deep neural networks for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems.
- A demonstrated ability to apply the fundamentals of software application development.
- Experience with version control, including git and github.
Please include code samples and/or a link to a public code repository with examples of your work.
PREFERRED SKILLSET:
Prior experience with the one or more of the following is preferred:
- Experience with sequence/time series data, control/reinforcement learning problems and environments, time series forecasting.
- An understanding of generative modeling (hidden Markov models, diffusion models, etc).
- Familiarity with topics in motor control, robotics, and neuroscience.
As a member of a computational lab working in team projects, the following general skills are also preferred:
- Experience developing scalable system architectures that adhere to good software engineering principles.
- Ability to tackle large, open-ended research questions independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to be an active participant in a computational lab environment, including taking part in lab meetings, journal clubs, and hackathons.
- Experience working within a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience contributing to open source software projects.
LOCATION: La Jolla, California.
Physical Requirements: This position works in an office environment, and it is expected that work will be primarily performed in-person.
COMPENSATION:
The expected hiring range for this position is $75,000 to $100,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Employer Contributed Retirement Plan – Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
- Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
- Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
- Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
- Free, on-site parking
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See all 2,121+ OPT Systems Programmer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Systems Programmer
Confirm your degree aligns with the role
Systems Programmer roles typically require a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related field. Verify your degree matches the job description before applying, since misalignment is the most common reason OPT applications get flagged during onboarding.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Hiring timelines for systems roles often involve technical screens, take-home assignments, and multiple interview rounds. Starting your job search at least three months before your OPT begins gives you enough runway to complete the process without authorization gaps.
Address your work authorization status upfront
Proactively mention that you have OPT work authorization and are eligible for STEM OPT extension in your cover letter or initial outreach. This removes ambiguity early and helps employers understand they can hire you without an immediate visa sponsorship decision.
Target employers with a history of hiring international talent
Companies that have previously sponsored H-1B visas are far more likely to understand OPT and STEM extension timelines. Focusing your applications on these employers significantly increases the chance of a smooth hiring process and longer-term sponsorship discussions.
Highlight systems-level technical skills prominently
Roles in systems programming are highly competitive. Emphasizing low-level experience such as kernel development, memory management, or embedded systems work sets you apart from general software engineers and signals the specialized background these employers expect to see.
Understand your STEM OPT reporting obligations before you start
STEM OPT requires a formal training plan, regular check-ins with your DSO, and employer validation every six months. Knowing these requirements in advance lets you brief prospective employers accurately, which builds trust and avoids compliance surprises after you're hired.
Systems Programmer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Systems Programmer jobs qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Most Systems Programmer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because they fall under CIP codes tied to computer science or computer engineering. The job must require a degree in a STEM field and involve work directly related to that field. Confirm with your DSO that your specific role and employer meet the requirements before applying for the extension.
How do I find Systems Programmer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters Systems Programmer listings by sponsorship openness, so you're not wasting applications on roles that won't consider your work authorization status. Searching there is more efficient than general job boards, which rarely surface that information clearly.
Can I work as a Systems Programmer on post-completion OPT before my STEM extension is approved?
Yes. If you apply for the STEM OPT extension before your initial OPT expires, you receive an automatic 180-day cap-gap that lets you continue working while USCIS processes your application. You must remain employed in a role directly related to your STEM degree throughout this period to stay in compliance.
What does a Systems Programmer employer need to do to support my STEM OPT?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, sign a formal training plan (Form I-983) outlining your learning goals and supervision, and submit evaluation reports every six months. The employer does not file anything with USCIS directly, but their participation in this process is mandatory. Most established tech employers are already familiar with these obligations.
Is Systems Programmer work eligible for CPT before graduation?
Curricular Practical Training can authorize Systems Programmer internships or co-ops if the work is an integral part of your academic program and your university approves it. Full-time CPT used for 12 or more months eliminates your OPT eligibility entirely, so students planning to use OPT after graduation should limit full-time CPT carefully and consult their DSO before accepting any offer.