STEM OPT Application Development Lead Jobs
Application Development Lead roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in computer science, software engineering, or a related STEM field. The 24-month extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify and to file a signed I-983 training plan before your initial OPT expires.
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KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using our technologies. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world’s leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow’s electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.
Group/Division
With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. First to deliver the best imaging and classification data for every defect or point on any layer at any time. EBeam’s mission encapsulates its role as the “eyes” of KLA’s product line, providing timely information on defects and critical locations on the wafer at the highest spatial resolution possible. Customers use EBeam products alongside KLA patterned and bare wafer inspectors to quickly understand the nature of defects and other imperfections on product wafers and take action to correct the manufacturing process.
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
KLA has openings for Regional Development Applications Engineer roles in its product divisions, which designs and manufactures inspection & review equipment for semiconductor manufacturing industry. Based in Austin, Texas, the Regional Development Applications Engineer will be responsible for:
- Characterization of new systems and features. This includes designing and conducting experiments, collecting data, publishing results and recommendations in the form of applications notes, best known methods or characterization studies.
- Product penetration/adoption and process optimization at customer facilities in fabs. This includes gaining expertise on KLA equipment and customers semiconductor fabrication processes and applying them to solve mission critical production problems.
- Apps engineering roles also includes training customers and other apps engineers, handling/driving local Apps escalation process, investigating customer technical needs/problems and providing solutions, conducting final acceptance, demonstrating products, and understanding competitive situations, methodology, and performance group analysis.
- Report technology development and new applications to Marketing.
- Support pre-sale and post-sale activities.
Work experience in semiconductor processing or equipment industry preferred. These roles require to travel up to 50% on short notice. Trips could be 4-8 weeks long. Team work is critical, so having a good balance between technical skills and people skills is essential.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's Level Degree and 0 years related work experience; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 2 years
Base Pay Range
$83,100.00 - $141,300.00 Annually
Primary Location
USA-TX-Austin-KLA
KLA’s total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed.
Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at talent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.
Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.
Company Overview
KLA is a global leader in diversified electronics for the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using our technologies. No laptop, smartphone, wearable device, voice-controlled gadget, flexible screen, VR device or smart car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the manufacturing of wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. The innovative ideas and devices that are advancing humanity all begin with inspiration, research and development. KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with the world’s leading technology providers to accelerate the delivery of tomorrow’s electronic devices. Life here is exciting and our teams thrive on tackling really hard problems. There is never a dull moment with us.
Group/Division
With over 40 years of semiconductor process control experience, chipmakers around the globe rely on KLA to ensure that their fabs ramp next-generation devices to volume production quickly and cost-effectively. Enabling the movement towards advanced chip design, KLA's Global Products Group (GPG), which is responsible for creating all of KLA’s metrology and inspection products, is looking for the best and the brightest research scientist, software engineers, application development engineers, and senior product technology process engineers. First to deliver the best imaging and classification data for every defect or point on any layer at any time. EBeam’s mission encapsulates its role as the “eyes” of KLA’s product line, providing timely information on defects and critical locations on the wafer at the highest spatial resolution possible. Customers use EBeam products alongside KLA patterned and bare wafer inspectors to quickly understand the nature of defects and other imperfections on product wafers and take action to correct the manufacturing process.
Job Description/Preferred Qualifications
KLA has openings for Regional Development Applications Engineer roles in its product divisions, which designs and manufactures inspection & review equipment for semiconductor manufacturing industry. Based in Austin, Texas, the Regional Development Applications Engineer will be responsible for:
- Characterization of new systems and features. This includes designing and conducting experiments, collecting data, publishing results and recommendations in the form of applications notes, best known methods or characterization studies.
- Product penetration/adoption and process optimization at customer facilities in fabs. This includes gaining expertise on KLA equipment and customers semiconductor fabrication processes and applying them to solve mission critical production problems.
- Apps engineering roles also includes training customers and other apps engineers, handling/driving local Apps escalation process, investigating customer technical needs/problems and providing solutions, conducting final acceptance, demonstrating products, and understanding competitive situations, methodology, and performance group analysis.
- Report technology development and new applications to Marketing.
- Support pre-sale and post-sale activities.
Work experience in semiconductor processing or equipment industry preferred. These roles require to travel up to 50% on short notice. Trips could be 4-8 weeks long. Team work is critical, so having a good balance between technical skills and people skills is essential.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's Level Degree and 0 years related work experience; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 2 years
Base Pay Range
$83,100.00 - $141,300.00 Annually
Primary Location
USA-TX-Austin-KLA
KLA’s total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave. Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed.
Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at talent.acquisition@kla.com or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.
Be aware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as KLA employees. KLA never asks for any financial compensation to be considered for an interview, to become an employee, or for equipment. Further, KLA does not work with any recruiters or third parties who charge such fees either directly or on behalf of KLA. Please ensure that you have searched KLA’s Careers website for legitimate job postings. KLA follows a recruiting process that involves multiple interviews in person or on video conferencing with our hiring managers. If you are concerned that a communication, an interview, an offer of employment, or that an employee is not legitimate, please send an email to talent.acquisition@kla.com to confirm the person you are communicating with is an employee. We take your privacy very seriously and confidentially handle your information.
See all 37+ STEM OPT Application Development Lead Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Application Development Lead Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Application Development Lead
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Information Systems codes qualify, but interdisciplinary or business-adjacent degrees sometimes don't, so confirm before targeting roles.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Use the E-Verify employer search tool to confirm enrollment before submitting applications. Lead-level roles often sit at companies that have E-Verify but haven't hired STEM OPT students at this seniority, so asking early saves weeks of back-and-forth.
Tailor your I-983 to reflect lead-level responsibilities
Your training plan must connect the role's mentorship, architecture decisions, and cross-functional coordination to your STEM degree's learning objectives. Generic plans get rejected. Work with your DSO to document how leading development cycles advances your technical competencies.
Search for Application Development Lead roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters for employers with active STEM OPT hiring history, so you spend time on companies already set up to sponsor rather than cold-calling HR teams about E-Verify enrollment.
Request cap-gap documentation before your OPT expires
If an employer files an H-1B visa petition for you before your OPT ends and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. Ask your employer to confirm the filing timeline and get your receipt notice from USCIS promptly.
Benchmark your offer against the OFLC Wage Search
Application Development Lead roles carry a Level III or IV prevailing wage under DOL classifications. Cross-check your offer against the OFLC Wage Search for your metropolitan area to confirm the employer can support future LCA filings without triggering a wage compliance issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension in an Application Development Lead role?
Your degree must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List by its CIP code. Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Information Systems degrees typically qualify. The role itself must also align with your degree field. Your DSO verifies eligibility and recommends the extension in SEVIS before USCIS approves your updated EAD.
Is E-Verify enrollment required for every employer hiring me on STEM OPT?
Yes. Every employer hiring you under the 24-month STEM OPT extension must be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the specific worksite where you work, not just at the company level. Before accepting an offer, confirm enrollment using the E-Verify employer search. A company that drops enrollment while you're working there triggers a status violation.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for an Application Development Lead position?
The I-983 must document how the role's practical training relates to your STEM degree. For a lead position, that includes how guiding development cycles, making architectural decisions, and mentoring junior engineers builds on your degree's technical foundations. Both you and your employer sign it, and your DSO must receive it before your extension begins. USCIS can audit it at any time.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm in an Application Development Lead role when the H-1B lottery runs?
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition before your OPT EAD expires and USCIS selects you in the lottery, cap-gap extends your STEM OPT work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can keep working in your lead role throughout. If you're not selected, your authorization ends with your EAD, so you and your employer should have a contingency plan.
Where can I find Application Development Lead jobs where the employer is already set up for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Application Development Lead openings filtered for employers with verified STEM OPT hiring history, so you can focus on companies that already understand E-Verify enrollment, I-983 requirements, and the extension timeline rather than explaining the process from scratch at every interview.