OPT Test Automation Engineer Jobs
Test Automation Engineer jobs are among the most actively sponsored roles for F-1 OPT students, with employers in tech, finance, and healthcare regularly filing H-1B visa petitions for qualified candidates. Your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies, gives you real time to land a role and convert to long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Many structural heart patients experience heart failure with limited treatment options. The Implantable Heart Failure Management (IHFM) team, part of the AI, Product and Platforms organization at Edwards Lifesciences, is focused on addressing these unmet needs through pioneering technology that enables earlier, more targeted therapeutic intervention. Our work helps clinicians deliver better care and supports patients in living longer, healthier lives.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As Director, Software Systems, Process & Delivery, you will lead the sub-function responsible for how IHFM’s regulated software and data products are planned, documented, orchestrated, and delivered. Through managers and senior individual contributors, you will own delivery execution, release readiness, process and traceability systems, and design control discipline that keeps products audit-ready and aligned to patient, clinician, quality, and regulatory needs.
Based in Irvine, California, this role is part of a high-impact medtech innovation hub in Orange County, where you will collaborate in person with cross-functional teams to shape patient-focused technology.
How you’ll make an impact
- Design and execute software test plans, protocols, and cases, and build the corresponding automated tests, for assigned features across the IHFM product suite: digital ecosystem applications (mobile and web), the application platform (microservices in .NET Core, Java, Python, GoLang, Rust), and the data platform (Databricks components and pipelines in Python, Scala).
- Develop and maintain automated tests (UI, API, and data-pipeline) and integrate them into CI/CD pipelines to grow reliable regression coverage.
- Perform functional, regression, and integration testing, including integrations with external systems such as EMR/EHR.
- Perform verification and validation (V&V) under established design controls, maintaining traceability from requirements through execution and defect closure.
- Manage software defects and software test artifacts in Azure DevOps (ADO); partner with developers to reproduce, root-cause, and confirm fixes.
- Produce software test documentation that meets FDA, IEC 62304, and ISO 13485 expectations and withstands audit scrutiny.
- Validate communication and interoperability between medical peripherals or IoT devices and Android/iOS devices using Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
- Validate interactions between embedded firmware and physical hardware components, including sensors, readers, communication interfaces, medical peripherals, and supporting hardware where applicable.
- Perform integration testing across the complete connected-device workflow: Medical Device/Peripheral, BLE, Android/iOS Application, API, Cloud/Microservices.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related scientific/technical field with 2+ years of relevant industry experience -or- Master’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
- Experience in software testing and/or test automation, including independently writing test cases and automated tests, and developing or executing test documentation.
- Working knowledge of the software development lifecycle, structured testing methodologies, and software risk management principles.
- Proficiency with at least one automation framework and language (e.g., Selenium, Appium, Python) and experience integrating tests into CI/CD (e.g., GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Hands-on experience testing web (Angular, React), mobile (iOS and Android), API, cloud, data-pipeline, or connected-device software.
- Experience with software lifecycle, requirements, defect, or test management tools such as Azure DevOps, Jira, Jama, Codebeamer, Helix ALM, or TestRail.
- Experience working in a regulated medical device or SaMD environment, including familiarity with FDA quality system requirements, IEC 62304, ISO 13485, or ISO 14971.
- Experience with Bluetooth/BLE-connected devices, embedded firmware, medical peripherals, or hardware/software integration.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, and maintain strong attention to detail.
- Exposure to EMR/EHR integrations or healthcare interoperability standards such as HL7 or FHIR.
- Familiarity with software languages or platforms such as .NET, Java, Python, GoLang, Rust, Scala, or Databricks.
- ISTQB, CSTE, or similar software testing certification.
- Experience with mobile automation (Appium, Espresso) and/or API automation.
- Exposure to cardiac, hemodynamic, or implantable device technologies.
COMPENSATION
- For California (CA), the base pay range for this position is $87,000 to $123,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.
Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.
Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.
INTRODUCTION
Many structural heart patients experience heart failure with limited treatment options. The Implantable Heart Failure Management (IHFM) team, part of the AI, Product and Platforms organization at Edwards Lifesciences, is focused on addressing these unmet needs through pioneering technology that enables earlier, more targeted therapeutic intervention. Our work helps clinicians deliver better care and supports patients in living longer, healthier lives.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As Director, Software Systems, Process & Delivery, you will lead the sub-function responsible for how IHFM’s regulated software and data products are planned, documented, orchestrated, and delivered. Through managers and senior individual contributors, you will own delivery execution, release readiness, process and traceability systems, and design control discipline that keeps products audit-ready and aligned to patient, clinician, quality, and regulatory needs.
Based in Irvine, California, this role is part of a high-impact medtech innovation hub in Orange County, where you will collaborate in person with cross-functional teams to shape patient-focused technology.
How you’ll make an impact
- Design and execute software test plans, protocols, and cases, and build the corresponding automated tests, for assigned features across the IHFM product suite: digital ecosystem applications (mobile and web), the application platform (microservices in .NET Core, Java, Python, GoLang, Rust), and the data platform (Databricks components and pipelines in Python, Scala).
- Develop and maintain automated tests (UI, API, and data-pipeline) and integrate them into CI/CD pipelines to grow reliable regression coverage.
- Perform functional, regression, and integration testing, including integrations with external systems such as EMR/EHR.
- Perform verification and validation (V&V) under established design controls, maintaining traceability from requirements through execution and defect closure.
- Manage software defects and software test artifacts in Azure DevOps (ADO); partner with developers to reproduce, root-cause, and confirm fixes.
- Produce software test documentation that meets FDA, IEC 62304, and ISO 13485 expectations and withstands audit scrutiny.
- Validate communication and interoperability between medical peripherals or IoT devices and Android/iOS devices using Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
- Validate interactions between embedded firmware and physical hardware components, including sensors, readers, communication interfaces, medical peripherals, and supporting hardware where applicable.
- Perform integration testing across the complete connected-device workflow: Medical Device/Peripheral, BLE, Android/iOS Application, API, Cloud/Microservices.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related scientific/technical field with 2+ years of relevant industry experience -or- Master’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
- Experience in software testing and/or test automation, including independently writing test cases and automated tests, and developing or executing test documentation.
- Working knowledge of the software development lifecycle, structured testing methodologies, and software risk management principles.
- Proficiency with at least one automation framework and language (e.g., Selenium, Appium, Python) and experience integrating tests into CI/CD (e.g., GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Hands-on experience testing web (Angular, React), mobile (iOS and Android), API, cloud, data-pipeline, or connected-device software.
- Experience with software lifecycle, requirements, defect, or test management tools such as Azure DevOps, Jira, Jama, Codebeamer, Helix ALM, or TestRail.
- Experience working in a regulated medical device or SaMD environment, including familiarity with FDA quality system requirements, IEC 62304, ISO 13485, or ISO 14971.
- Experience with Bluetooth/BLE-connected devices, embedded firmware, medical peripherals, or hardware/software integration.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, and maintain strong attention to detail.
- Exposure to EMR/EHR integrations or healthcare interoperability standards such as HL7 or FHIR.
- Familiarity with software languages or platforms such as .NET, Java, Python, GoLang, Rust, Scala, or Databricks.
- ISTQB, CSTE, or similar software testing certification.
- Experience with mobile automation (Appium, Espresso) and/or API automation.
- Exposure to cardiac, hemodynamic, or implantable device technologies.
COMPENSATION
- For California (CA), the base pay range for this position is $87,000 to $123,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.
Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.
Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.
See all 295+ OPT Test Automation Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Test Automation Engineer
Target companies with active H-1B filing histories
Employers who have sponsored test automation engineers before are far more likely to do it again. Look for mid-size to large tech and fintech companies with consistent H-1B visa filing records, not just startups without any sponsorship track record.
Lead with your automation stack, not just testing experience
Employers scanning OPT candidates want to see Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, or Appium front and center on your resume. A clearly listed tech stack signals you can contribute immediately and reduces the perceived risk of sponsoring an international hire.
Apply early in your OPT window, not at the end
Sponsors need enough runway to prepare an H-1B petition before your status expires. Applying with six or more months remaining on your OPT gives employers the confidence to move forward without feeling rushed into a tight compliance deadline.
Use your STEM OPT extension as a selling point
If your degree is in computer science, software engineering, or a related STEM field, you likely qualify for a 24-month extension. Mentioning this upfront tells employers they have three full years to sponsor you, which meaningfully reduces their urgency risk.
Highlight CI/CD and DevOps integration experience
Test automation roles that touch Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Docker pipelines are classified more clearly as specialty occupations. That distinction strengthens the employer's H-1B petition and makes your profile a more straightforward sponsorship case.
Get referrals inside engineering teams, not just HR
Engineering managers often have more direct influence over whether a role gets sponsored than recruiters do. A referral from someone inside the team who can vouch for your technical skills frequently unlocks sponsorship conversations that HR-level outreach never would.
Test Automation Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Test Automation Engineers in the United States?
Yes. Test Automation Engineer roles qualify as professional employment under F-1 OPT because they require a bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. You can work full time in this role during your post-completion OPT period, and if your degree is in a STEM-designated program, you may be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of your initial 12 months.
Do Test Automation Engineer employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
Test automation is one of the stronger roles for H-1B sponsorship because it clearly meets the specialty occupation standard, requiring specific technical expertise in tools, frameworks, and software development practices. Companies in tech, banking, insurance, and healthcare have consistent H-1B filing histories for this title. Migrate Mate lists Test Automation Engineer roles filtered by sponsorship willingness, so you can focus your applications where they're most likely to lead to long-term status.
Does a Test Automation Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your F-1 program was in a STEM-designated field, such as computer science, information systems, or electrical engineering, you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension regardless of your specific job title. The role itself supports the extension because automation engineering work is directly related to those degree fields. Your DSO at your university's international student office processes the extension request.
What technical skills make OPT candidates more competitive for Test Automation Engineer roles?
Employers prioritize hands-on experience with automation frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, or Appium alongside a programming language such as Python, Java, or JavaScript. Experience integrating automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or GitHub Actions is increasingly expected, not optional. Candidates who can demonstrate API testing with tools like Postman or RestAssured, and who understand performance testing concepts, consistently stand out in a competitive OPT applicant pool.
How much time should I leave on my OPT before starting a serious job search for Test Automation roles?
Starting your search with at least six months remaining on your OPT authorization gives employers realistic time to evaluate you, extend an offer, and begin H-1B preparation if needed. Waiting until you have two or three months left significantly reduces your options because most sponsors won't initiate a petition process under that timeline. If you're approaching the end of your initial OPT and haven't secured a role, check whether you qualify to apply for the STEM extension before your authorization expires.