OPT Technical Program Manager Jobs
Technical Program Manager jobs are strong candidates for OPT work authorization. TPMs operate at the intersection of engineering and product, requiring a technical degree that satisfies STEM OPT extension eligibility. Most roles at mid-to-large tech companies involve active H-1B visa sponsorship pipelines, giving OPT students a realistic path beyond the initial 12-month period.
Find OPT Technical Program Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 2,398+ Technical Program Manager jobs
See all 2,398+ Technical Program Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Technical Program Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsLocation: Santa Clara, CA
About the Company
We are building the data infrastructure powering the next generation of Embodied AI and robotics foundation models.
Our platform enables robotics companies and AI labs to access large-scale, high-quality multimodal training data through advanced data collection, simulation, annotation, and delivery systems.
The Role
We are looking for a Technical Program Manager who can own complex AI data projects from customer requirements through final delivery.
You will serve as the central coordinator between customers, engineering teams, data operations, and global teams to ensure successful execution of robotics data projects.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving ambiguous problems, managing cross-functional teams, and building scalable processes in a fast-growing AI startup.
Responsibilities
Program Ownership:
- Own end-to-end delivery of robotics AI data projects.
- Manage project scope, timeline, quality, and customer expectations.
- Build project plans, milestones, and execution frameworks.
Technical Coordination:
- Translate customer AI model requirements into actionable data specifications.
- Work with engineering, algorithm, and data teams to define solutions.
- Understand data pipelines, sensor data, annotation workflows, and ML training requirements.
Quality & Operations Management:
- Establish project tracking systems and quality control processes.
- Monitor production progress and identify execution risks.
- Drive continuous improvement of data workflows.
Cross-functional Collaboration:
- Coordinate teams across US, China, and Southeast Asia.
- Communicate project status and resolve operational challenges.
- Build repeatable processes for scaling AI data delivery.
Qualifications
- 2-5 years of experience in Technical Program Management, Program Management, Operations, or Engineering Project Management.
- Experience working with engineering teams and technical products.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills in English.
- Ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a fast-moving environment.
Preferred
- Experience in AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, cloud infrastructure, or data platforms.
- Experience managing large-scale data operations.
- Startup experience.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation package.
- Opportunity to work directly with leading AI and robotics companies.
- High ownership role with significant growth opportunities.
- Build foundational infrastructure for the future of robotics.
Location: Santa Clara, CA
About the Company
We are developing next-generation AI infrastructure for robotics companies by providing high-quality multimodal data solutions for embodied intelligence.
Our mission is to accelerate the development of intelligent robots by solving one of the biggest challenges in AI today: scalable, high-quality training data.
The Role
We are looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) who will act as the technical bridge between customers and our engineering teams.
You will work directly with robotics and AI teams to understand their data requirements, design solutions, generate customized datasets, and ensure successful deployment into customer workflows.
This role combines software engineering, AI data, robotics understanding, and customer collaboration.
Responsibilities
Customer Technical Engagement:
- Work directly with robotics and AI research teams to understand data requirements.
- Translate customer needs into detailed technical specifications.
- Support solution design and implementation.
Data Engineering & Production:
- Build scripts and tools for multimodal data processing.
- Develop workflows for dataset generation, validation, and quality control.
- Support large-scale data production pipelines.
Robotics AI Collaboration:
- Work with engineering and research teams on embodied AI data challenges.
- Analyze dataset quality and provide feedback for model improvement.
- Support continuous iteration between data generation and model performance.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Robotics, or related fields.
- Strong Python programming skills.
- Experience working with data pipelines, ML workflows, or software engineering.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
- Comfortable working directly with customers and technical teams.
Preferred
- Experience with robotics, autonomous driving, computer vision, or AI infrastructure.
- Knowledge of: 3D geometry
- Simulation tools (Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, PyBullet)
- Multimodal data processing
- ML training workflows
- Experience in customer-facing technical roles.
What We Offer
- Work on cutting-edge Embodied AI technology.
- Direct collaboration with leading robotics companies and AI researchers.
- High ownership role in a rapidly growing startup.
- Competitive compensation and equity opportunities.
Location: Santa Clara, CA
About the Company
We are building the data infrastructure powering the next generation of Embodied AI and robotics foundation models.
Our platform enables robotics companies and AI labs to access large-scale, high-quality multimodal training data through advanced data collection, simulation, annotation, and delivery systems.
The Role
We are looking for a Technical Program Manager who can own complex AI data projects from customer requirements through final delivery.
You will serve as the central coordinator between customers, engineering teams, data operations, and global teams to ensure successful execution of robotics data projects.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving ambiguous problems, managing cross-functional teams, and building scalable processes in a fast-growing AI startup.
Responsibilities
Program Ownership:
- Own end-to-end delivery of robotics AI data projects.
- Manage project scope, timeline, quality, and customer expectations.
- Build project plans, milestones, and execution frameworks.
Technical Coordination:
- Translate customer AI model requirements into actionable data specifications.
- Work with engineering, algorithm, and data teams to define solutions.
- Understand data pipelines, sensor data, annotation workflows, and ML training requirements.
Quality & Operations Management:
- Establish project tracking systems and quality control processes.
- Monitor production progress and identify execution risks.
- Drive continuous improvement of data workflows.
Cross-functional Collaboration:
- Coordinate teams across US, China, and Southeast Asia.
- Communicate project status and resolve operational challenges.
- Build repeatable processes for scaling AI data delivery.
Qualifications
- 2-5 years of experience in Technical Program Management, Program Management, Operations, or Engineering Project Management.
- Experience working with engineering teams and technical products.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills in English.
- Ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a fast-moving environment.
Preferred
- Experience in AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, cloud infrastructure, or data platforms.
- Experience managing large-scale data operations.
- Startup experience.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation package.
- Opportunity to work directly with leading AI and robotics companies.
- High ownership role with significant growth opportunities.
- Build foundational infrastructure for the future of robotics.
Location: Santa Clara, CA
About the Company
We are developing next-generation AI infrastructure for robotics companies by providing high-quality multimodal data solutions for embodied intelligence.
Our mission is to accelerate the development of intelligent robots by solving one of the biggest challenges in AI today: scalable, high-quality training data.
The Role
We are looking for a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) who will act as the technical bridge between customers and our engineering teams.
You will work directly with robotics and AI teams to understand their data requirements, design solutions, generate customized datasets, and ensure successful deployment into customer workflows.
This role combines software engineering, AI data, robotics understanding, and customer collaboration.
Responsibilities
Customer Technical Engagement:
- Work directly with robotics and AI research teams to understand data requirements.
- Translate customer needs into detailed technical specifications.
- Support solution design and implementation.
Data Engineering & Production:
- Build scripts and tools for multimodal data processing.
- Develop workflows for dataset generation, validation, and quality control.
- Support large-scale data production pipelines.
Robotics AI Collaboration:
- Work with engineering and research teams on embodied AI data challenges.
- Analyze dataset quality and provide feedback for model improvement.
- Support continuous iteration between data generation and model performance.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Robotics, or related fields.
- Strong Python programming skills.
- Experience working with data pipelines, ML workflows, or software engineering.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
- Comfortable working directly with customers and technical teams.
Preferred
- Experience with robotics, autonomous driving, computer vision, or AI infrastructure.
- Knowledge of: 3D geometry
- Simulation tools (Isaac Sim, MuJoCo, PyBullet)
- Multimodal data processing
- ML training workflows
- Experience in customer-facing technical roles.
What We Offer
- Work on cutting-edge Embodied AI technology.
- Direct collaboration with leading robotics companies and AI researchers.
- High ownership role in a rapidly growing startup.
- Competitive compensation and equity opportunities.
See all 2,398+ OPT Technical Program Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Technical Program Manager Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Technical Program Manager
Target engineering-led companies, not just tech-adjacent ones
Companies where engineering drives the product roadmap sponsor TPM visas far more consistently. Look for organizations with large infrastructure, platform, or machine learning teams where program management requires genuine technical depth, not just coordination.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
A degree in computer science, engineering, or information systems typically qualifies for the 24-month STEM extension. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before applying so you can tell employers you have up to three years of OPT authorization.
Quantify technical scope in your resume
TPM roles are specialty occupation eligible when the technical complexity is evident. Highlight system scale, engineering team size, and infrastructure scope. Vague program management language makes sponsorship harder to justify to USCIS reviewers assessing specialty occupation status.
Ask about sponsorship during the recruiter screen, not the offer stage
Raise visa sponsorship in the first recruiter conversation. Experienced TPM recruiters at sponsoring companies handle this routinely. Waiting until the offer stage wastes time for both parties and signals you weren't transparent about your authorization status.
Prioritize employers with established H-1B filing histories
Companies that have filed H-1B visa petitions for TPM roles in prior years have legal processes, vendor relationships, and institutional knowledge in place. This significantly reduces the friction of sponsoring you compared to first-time sponsors navigating the process from scratch.
Use your OPT period to build cross-functional leadership evidence
USCIS evaluates specialty occupation based on role complexity, not just job title. Use your OPT period to lead technically demanding initiatives across engineering teams. Documented ownership of roadmaps, architecture decisions, and incident response strengthens any future sponsorship petition.
Technical Program Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Technical Program Manager role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your bachelor's or master's is in computer science, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related STEM field, your DSO can authorize the 24-month STEM extension. The TPM role itself does not independently trigger eligibility. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your international student office before assuming you qualify.
Do employers routinely sponsor H-1B visas for Technical Program Managers?
Yes, at mid-to-large technology companies, H-1B sponsorship for TPMs is relatively common. The role typically meets the specialty occupation threshold because it requires applying a body of theoretical and practical knowledge in engineering or computer science. Smaller companies and consulting firms are less consistent. Migrate Mate filters specifically for OPT-friendly and H-1B-sponsoring employers, which makes identifying the right targets faster.
Can I work as a Technical Program Manager on Day 1 OPT before finishing my degree?
No. OPT must be authorized by USCIS before you begin working, and post-completion OPT cannot start until your program end date. You can apply up to 90 days before graduation, but your work cannot begin before both your OPT start date and your degree completion. Working before authorization is granted is a serious status violation with long-term immigration consequences.
What happens to my OPT if I switch TPM roles during my authorized period?
You can change employers during OPT, but every new job must directly relate to your degree field and be reported to your DSO within 10 days of the change. There is no grace period for unemployment beyond 90 cumulative days across your entire OPT period. If a TPM contract ends unexpectedly, your 90-day unemployment clock resumes immediately, so having a transition plan matters.
How should I explain my OPT timeline to a hiring manager for a TPM role?
Be direct and specific. Tell them your OPT end date, whether you qualify for the STEM extension, and when H-1B sponsorship would need to begin. For most STEM OPT holders, you are presenting a two-to-three year window before sponsorship becomes necessary. Hiring managers at companies with sponsorship programs understand this structure. Vague answers about authorization create more uncertainty than the actual timeline does.