OPT Verification Engineer Jobs
Verification Engineer roles sit squarely within specialty occupation territory, making them a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science. STEM OPT extensions apply, giving you up to three years of authorized work experience in a field where employer demand for sponsored talent is consistent.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
NVIDIA is growing its SDK Verification team and looking for engineers early in their careers who want to go deep on verification, automation, and networking technology. You'll work alongside SDK development and architecture teams, with mentorship from senior engineers, while building expertise in networking protocols and NVIDIA networking technologies. This is an exceptionally outstanding opportunity to be part of a world-class team and work on ambitious projects that build the future of technology. Join us and help successfully implement innovative solutions that have a lasting impact on the world!
The role is based in Austin and requires two days in the office per week.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Develop and maintain automated tests for SDK Interfaces, development tools, and software libraries
- Contribute to our OS verification infrastructure and help keep it healthy
- Build and improve automation workflows that support fast, reliable SDK releases
- Work within our CI/CD pipelines, adding coverage and improving stability
- Collaborate with hardware, firmware, DevOps, and software teams to reproduce, isolate, and debug issues
- Participate in building and code reviews, and grow into ownership of verification areas over time
- We are AI native and use AI in all stages - search, build, agents, and automation.
What We Need to See:
- B.S or higher in Computer Science / Software / Electrical Engineering (or similar), or equivalent experience
- 2+ years of hands-on experience in software development, automation, or verification
- Very Strong Python skills — you've written and maintained real automation code, not just scripts
- Solid understanding of Linux (command line, debugging, basic system concepts)
- Familiarity with Git and at least one CI tool (Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar)
- Curiosity, strong communication, and the ability to work across teams around the world.
Ways to Stand Out from the Crowd:
- Understanding of networking fundamentals (L2 / L3) — coursework, personal projects, or on-the-job exposure all count
- Experience with the latest Test & Automation Frameworks (pytest, Robot Framework, or in-house equivalents)
- Exposure to Docker, Gerrit, or infrastructure-as-code tooling
- Crafting reports/dashboards with Grafana or PowerBI
- Curiosity about networking and Embedded System Architecture is important. Having a track record of teaching yourself new technical domains or contributing to open-source projects on GitHub is a huge boost.
COMPENSATION
- Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 124,000 USD - 195,500 USD for Level 2, and 152,000 USD - 241,500 USD for Level 3.
- You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.
Applications for this job will be accepted at least until August 10, 2026.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.
NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.
INTRODUCTION
NVIDIA is growing its SDK Verification team and looking for engineers early in their careers who want to go deep on verification, automation, and networking technology. You'll work alongside SDK development and architecture teams, with mentorship from senior engineers, while building expertise in networking protocols and NVIDIA networking technologies. This is an exceptionally outstanding opportunity to be part of a world-class team and work on ambitious projects that build the future of technology. Join us and help successfully implement innovative solutions that have a lasting impact on the world!
The role is based in Austin and requires two days in the office per week.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Develop and maintain automated tests for SDK Interfaces, development tools, and software libraries
- Contribute to our OS verification infrastructure and help keep it healthy
- Build and improve automation workflows that support fast, reliable SDK releases
- Work within our CI/CD pipelines, adding coverage and improving stability
- Collaborate with hardware, firmware, DevOps, and software teams to reproduce, isolate, and debug issues
- Participate in building and code reviews, and grow into ownership of verification areas over time
- We are AI native and use AI in all stages - search, build, agents, and automation.
What We Need to See:
- B.S or higher in Computer Science / Software / Electrical Engineering (or similar), or equivalent experience
- 2+ years of hands-on experience in software development, automation, or verification
- Very Strong Python skills — you've written and maintained real automation code, not just scripts
- Solid understanding of Linux (command line, debugging, basic system concepts)
- Familiarity with Git and at least one CI tool (Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar)
- Curiosity, strong communication, and the ability to work across teams around the world.
Ways to Stand Out from the Crowd:
- Understanding of networking fundamentals (L2 / L3) — coursework, personal projects, or on-the-job exposure all count
- Experience with the latest Test & Automation Frameworks (pytest, Robot Framework, or in-house equivalents)
- Exposure to Docker, Gerrit, or infrastructure-as-code tooling
- Crafting reports/dashboards with Grafana or PowerBI
- Curiosity about networking and Embedded System Architecture is important. Having a track record of teaching yourself new technical domains or contributing to open-source projects on GitHub is a huge boost.
COMPENSATION
- Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 124,000 USD - 195,500 USD for Level 2, and 152,000 USD - 241,500 USD for Level 3.
- You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.
Applications for this job will be accepted at least until August 10, 2026.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.
NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Verification Engineer
Target semiconductor and EDA companies first
Companies like Intel, Qualcomm, and Synopsys file H-1B visa and E-3 visa petitions regularly for verification roles. Their established immigration infrastructure means fewer delays and more experience handling OPT-to-visa transitions than smaller hardware startups.
Lead with your verification methodology experience
Employers screening OPT candidates want proof of hands-on UVM, SystemVerilog, or formal verification work. Quantify your contributions, coverage closure percentages, bug escape rates, or testbench components built, to stand out from candidates with only coursework exposure.
Apply before your OPT start date, not after
Verification hiring cycles run long. Starting your search three to four months before your current authorization expires gives employers enough runway to complete the interview process and file an H-1B or STEM extension before your status gaps.
Confirm your degree field aligns with the job description
Specialty occupation status requires a direct connection between your degree and the role. An EE or CE degree supporting a Verification Engineer title is clean. A business degree is not. Misalignment can complicate both OPT approval and future H-1B petitions.
Ask about STEM OPT mentorship program requirements upfront
STEM OPT extensions require a formal training plan and a qualifying employer. Raise this in late-stage interviews, not after an offer. Most established semiconductor and tech firms have the compliance infrastructure; smaller companies sometimes do not.
Highlight domain-specific simulation and debugging tools
Proficiency in tools like Cadence Xcelium, Synopsys VCS, or QuestaSim signals job-ready skill to hiring managers. Listing these specifically, rather than generic EDA experience, shortens the technical screening process and demonstrates verification depth employers value.
Verification Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Verification Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT purposes?
Yes. Verification Engineer positions typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science, which satisfies the specialty occupation standard. This makes the role eligible for both standard 12-month OPT and the 24-month STEM OPT extension, provided your degree is on the STEM designated degree list and your employer meets E-Verify requirements.
Which visa is most common for Verification Engineers after OPT?
The H-1B is the most common transition path. Semiconductor and hardware companies with established immigration programs file H-1B cap-subject petitions annually in March for October starts. Australian citizens working as Verification Engineers have access to the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and allows biennial renewals. Your employer's legal team will guide the specific filing, but knowing the timeline helps you plan your OPT accordingly.
How can I find Verification Engineer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists Verification Engineer roles filtered for OPT and visa sponsorship eligibility, so you're not manually screening job descriptions for authorization language. Searching there saves significant time compared to general job boards where sponsorship willingness is rarely stated upfront. Filter by STEM-eligible roles to surface positions where the 24-month extension pathway is most likely.
Can I work as a contract or staffing agency Verification Engineer on OPT?
Contract arrangements are permitted under standard OPT, but the work must directly relate to your degree. The more important constraint applies to STEM OPT: your employer must be a qualifying E-Verify employer who signs your training plan. Staffing agencies that place you at a third-party client site create compliance complexity because USCIS scrutinizes whether the agency or the client is the actual employer of record.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my Verification Engineer job ends before the authorization period expires?
F-1 OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment within the 12-month authorization period. STEM OPT reduces this to 150 cumulative days across the combined 36-month period. If your Verification Engineer role ends, you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days and actively pursue reemployment in a qualifying role. Exceeding the unemployment limit puts your F-1 status at risk.