OPT Systems Security Engineer Jobs
Systems Security Engineer jobs are among the most OPT-friendly roles in tech. Employers across defense contracting, finance, and cloud infrastructure regularly sponsor H-1B visa and O-1 visas. STEM OPT extension eligibility applies, giving you up to three years of authorized work to build your security career.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Description
Work Schedule
This is a full-time position scheduled to work Monday through Friday, with core hours between the hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Applicants hired into this position will work hybrid coming onsite regularly at various UW Health locations. Hours and hybrid work may vary based on the operational needs of the department.
Be part of something remarkable
Join the #1 hospital in Wisconsin! We are seeking a Systems Security Manager who can bring calm, clarity, and decisive leadership when the stakes are high. This is an opportunity to lead a talented cybersecurity team, navigate complex incidents, and make UW Health stronger and more resilient with every challenge. You’ll thrive in this role if you can:
- Lead through a crisis, establishing command, priorities, ownership, and direction.
- Make smart, risk-based decisions with incomplete information while balancing security, operations, and patient care.
- Bring technical credibility across incident response, forensics, identity, endpoint, cloud, network, detection, and threat response.
- Communicate with confidence and clarity, translating complex cyber risks into what leaders and stakeholders need to know.
- Build and develop strong teams, creating accountability and reducing reliance on individual heroics.
- Operate with urgency and discipline, strengthening playbooks, escalation processes, exercises, and after-action reviews.
- Turn incidents into improvement, using lessons learned to strengthen controls, processes, detection, and preparedness.
- Build strong partnerships across technical, operational, clinical, Legal, Privacy, and Communications teams.
- Be a thoughtful financial steward, making smart investments while identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary spend.
If you’re the kind of leader people want in the room when things get complicated, we want to hear from you.
Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree Required
- Four (4) years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree in addition to experience below
- Bachelor's Degree or Master’s Degree in Healthcare, Information Technology, Business, or related field Preferred
Work Experience
- 3 years of experience in planning and implementing mid to large scale security or technical projects Required
- 3 years of supervisory or management experience Required
- Extensive project management experience Preferred
- 5 years of supervisory or management experience Preferred
- Experience developing and supporting applications deployed in a 24x7 healthcare setting Preferred
Licenses & Certifications
- CISSP Preferred
- Other security and/or technical certifications Preferred
Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging
UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
Job Description
Work Schedule
This is a full-time position scheduled to work Monday through Friday, with core hours between the hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Applicants hired into this position will work hybrid coming onsite regularly at various UW Health locations. Hours and hybrid work may vary based on the operational needs of the department.
Be part of something remarkable
Join the #1 hospital in Wisconsin! We are seeking a Systems Security Manager who can bring calm, clarity, and decisive leadership when the stakes are high. This is an opportunity to lead a talented cybersecurity team, navigate complex incidents, and make UW Health stronger and more resilient with every challenge. You’ll thrive in this role if you can:
- Lead through a crisis, establishing command, priorities, ownership, and direction.
- Make smart, risk-based decisions with incomplete information while balancing security, operations, and patient care.
- Bring technical credibility across incident response, forensics, identity, endpoint, cloud, network, detection, and threat response.
- Communicate with confidence and clarity, translating complex cyber risks into what leaders and stakeholders need to know.
- Build and develop strong teams, creating accountability and reducing reliance on individual heroics.
- Operate with urgency and discipline, strengthening playbooks, escalation processes, exercises, and after-action reviews.
- Turn incidents into improvement, using lessons learned to strengthen controls, processes, detection, and preparedness.
- Build strong partnerships across technical, operational, clinical, Legal, Privacy, and Communications teams.
- Be a thoughtful financial steward, making smart investments while identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary spend.
If you’re the kind of leader people want in the room when things get complicated, we want to hear from you.
Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree Required
- Four (4) years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree in addition to experience below
- Bachelor's Degree or Master’s Degree in Healthcare, Information Technology, Business, or related field Preferred
Work Experience
- 3 years of experience in planning and implementing mid to large scale security or technical projects Required
- 3 years of supervisory or management experience Required
- Extensive project management experience Preferred
- 5 years of supervisory or management experience Preferred
- Experience developing and supporting applications deployed in a 24x7 healthcare setting Preferred
Licenses & Certifications
- CISSP Preferred
- Other security and/or technical certifications Preferred
Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging
UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
See all 54+ OPT Systems Security Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Systems Security Engineer
Target STEM OPT-eligible employers first
Systems Security Engineering falls under CIP codes tied to computer science and information security, qualifying for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Prioritize employers enrolled in E-Verify, which is required to sponsor STEM OPT extensions.
Lead with certifications, not just your degree
Security clearance eligibility, CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ certifications signal job-readiness to hiring managers. Employers weighing visa sponsorship costs want evidence you can contribute immediately. Certifications reduce perceived risk and accelerate hiring decisions.
Address clearance eligibility proactively
Many Systems Security Engineer roles require or prefer security clearances. As an F-1 student, clarify your clearance eligibility early. Some roles accept non-citizens for lower-tier clearances. Avoiding clearance-required roles entirely cuts your market unnecessarily.
Frame your OPT timeline as an asset
Three years of STEM OPT gives employers a long runway before H-1B visa sponsorship is needed. Present this explicitly in interviews. Employers who understand the timeline are far more likely to proceed with candidates who explain it clearly upfront.
Target industries with established sponsorship pipelines
Finance, healthcare IT, cloud providers, and federal contractors sponsor Systems Security Engineers at higher rates than most industries. These sectors have legal teams experienced with OPT and H-1B processes, making sponsorship conversations significantly less complicated.
Quantify your impact in security terms
Employers sponsoring visas expect measurable contributions. Frame resume achievements around incidents prevented, vulnerabilities remediated, or compliance frameworks implemented. Numbers tied to security outcomes are far more compelling than generic descriptions of responsibilities.
Systems Security Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Systems Security Engineer on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Systems Security Engineering is a STEM-designated field, meaning your F-1 OPT authorization covers this role directly. If your degree is in computer science, information security, or a related field, you also qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12-month OPT period, giving you up to three years of total work authorization.
Do Systems Security Engineer roles commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes, more consistently than most engineering roles. Cybersecurity talent is in short supply, and employers in finance, cloud infrastructure, defense contracting, and healthcare IT regularly file H-1B petitions for Systems Security Engineers. Migrate Mate filters job listings by sponsorship willingness, so you can focus on employers who have sponsored these roles before.
Does my employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify for STEM OPT?
Yes. To authorize your 24-month STEM OPT extension, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify at the time of your extension request. This is a federal requirement with no exceptions. Before accepting an offer, confirm E-Verify enrollment directly with the employer's HR team, as not all companies maintain active enrollment.
Will a security clearance requirement disqualify me as an OPT student?
Not automatically. Many Systems Security Engineer roles require eligibility for a clearance rather than an active one. Some agencies and contractors can sponsor non-citizens for lower-tier clearances depending on role, contract type, and nationality. Roles requiring Top Secret or SCI access are generally not viable on F-1 OPT, so filter accordingly when applying.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I switch employers as a Systems Security Engineer?
Your OPT authorization remains valid when you change employers, but you must report the change to your DSO within ten days and update your SEVIS record. The new employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify if you are on a STEM OPT extension. Gaps in employment exceeding 90 days can jeopardize your OPT status, so plan transitions carefully.