STEM OPT AI Data Specialist Jobs
AI Data Specialist roles in machine learning, data labeling, and AI pipeline management qualify for STEM OPT because they sit under STEM-designated CIP codes in computer science and data science. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to build experience in this field.
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Get Access To All JobsMust-Have Qualifications
- 3 years of hands-on experience building AI products/applications.
- 3 years of application development experience.
- End-to-end RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) implementation experience.
- Experience with LangGraph and LangChain.
- Strong Python development and querying experience.
- SQL and database experience.
- Snowflake experience required.
- AI/ML development experience.
Required Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Information Technology, or related field.
Experience
- 3–4 years of hands-on experience developing AI/ML solutions in enterprise environments.
- 2+ years of experience building solutions using Agentic AI technologies and Generative AI frameworks.
- Relevant experience delivering production-ready AI applications from concept through deployment.
Preferred Technical Skills
AI & Generative AI:
- Large Language Models (LLMs), Prompt Engineering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), AI Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, Semantic Search and Embeddings & AI Evaluation Frameworks.
- Experience with one or more: LangGraph, LangChain, Semantic Kernel, AutoGen, CrewAI, LlamaIndex.
Programming & Development:
- Python (required), SQL, REST APIs, Git/GitHub, FastAPI or equivalent backend frameworks.
Cloud & Data Platforms:
- Experience with one or more Microsoft Azure, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Foundry, AWS Bedrock & Google Cloud AI Services.
Data & Integration:
- Any of the below or more: Vector Databases, Azure AI Search, PostgreSQL, Snowflake.
Must-Have Qualifications
- 3 years of hands-on experience building AI products/applications.
- 3 years of application development experience.
- End-to-end RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) implementation experience.
- Experience with LangGraph and LangChain.
- Strong Python development and querying experience.
- SQL and database experience.
- Snowflake experience required.
- AI/ML development experience.
Required Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Information Technology, or related field.
Experience
- 3–4 years of hands-on experience developing AI/ML solutions in enterprise environments.
- 2+ years of experience building solutions using Agentic AI technologies and Generative AI frameworks.
- Relevant experience delivering production-ready AI applications from concept through deployment.
Preferred Technical Skills
AI & Generative AI:
- Large Language Models (LLMs), Prompt Engineering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), AI Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, Semantic Search and Embeddings & AI Evaluation Frameworks.
- Experience with one or more: LangGraph, LangChain, Semantic Kernel, AutoGen, CrewAI, LlamaIndex.
Programming & Development:
- Python (required), SQL, REST APIs, Git/GitHub, FastAPI or equivalent backend frameworks.
Cloud & Data Platforms:
- Experience with one or more Microsoft Azure, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Foundry, AWS Bedrock & Google Cloud AI Services.
Data & Integration:
- Any of the below or more: Vector Databases, Azure AI Search, PostgreSQL, Snowflake.
See all 317+ STEM OPT AI Data Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT AI Data Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an AI Data Specialist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by ICE. Computer science (11.07), data science (11.04), and statistics (27.05) all qualify, but interdisciplinary AI programs can vary by institution.
Screen job postings for E-Verify enrollment
Before sending any application, confirm the employer is enrolled in E-Verify through the E-Verify employer search. Sponsors who aren't enrolled cannot legally hire STEM OPT students, and postings rarely flag this gap upfront.
Align your I-983 training plan to AI Data Specialist duties
Your I-983 must tie your training objectives to specific role tasks, such as data annotation, model evaluation, or pipeline QA. Vague plans get flagged by DSOs, so map each objective to a concrete deliverable your manager can describe.
Target employers with active LCA filings in AI roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by Labor Condition Application filings under AI and data science job categories, so you're targeting companies that have already filed the DOL paperwork for roles matching your background.
Negotiate your start date around OPT cap-gap timing
If your initial 12-month OPT expires while an H-1B visa petition is pending, cap-gap rules let you keep working. Confirm your offer letter start date leaves enough lead time for your DSO to authorize the STEM OPT extension before your current EAD runs out.
Pull prevailing wage data before every offer evaluation
Run the AI Data Specialist SOC code through the OFLC Wage Search to see the Level I through Level IV prevailing wage for your metro area. Your offer must meet the prevailing wage for any future LCA your employer files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension as an AI Data Specialist?
Your degree qualifies if it carries a STEM-designated CIP code, such as computer science, data science, statistics, or a related engineering field. The role itself doesn't determine eligibility; your degree program does. Check the ICE STEM Designated Degree Program List against your transcript's CIP code, and confirm with your DSO before applying for positions.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my STEM OPT employer?
Every employer that hires a STEM OPT student must be enrolled in E-Verify at the specific worksite where you'll work. If your company uses a staffing agency or a third-party client site, the end client must also be enrolled. USCIS requires your DSO to confirm E-Verify enrollment before authorizing your STEM OPT extension, so verify this before accepting an offer.
What should the I-983 training plan include for an AI Data Specialist role?
Your I-983 must describe how the position provides practical training in your STEM field. For AI Data Specialist roles, that means listing specific learning objectives tied to tasks like data labeling methodologies, model performance evaluation, dataset quality assurance, or annotation pipeline management. Your supervisor must sign off on the plan, and your DSO reviews it for academic relevance before approving the extension.
How do I find AI Data Specialist jobs at companies enrolled in E-Verify?
Use Migrate Mate to search AI Data Specialist roles filtered for STEM OPT eligibility. The platform surfaces employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active Labor Condition Application filings, so you're not spending time applying to companies that can't legally hire STEM OPT students. Standard job boards don't filter for E-Verify status, which makes this the most direct approach.
What happens to my STEM OPT work authorization if I receive an H-1B and my EAD expires before October 1?
Cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization if your H-1B petition is filed before your OPT EAD expires and your petition is selected in the lottery. You can keep working under cap-gap until October 1, when the new H-1B fiscal year begins. USCIS confirms cap-gap eligibility on your I-20, which your DSO updates once your employer files the H-1B petition.