STEM OPT Applications Specialist Jobs
Applications Specialist roles sit squarely in STEM-designated fields, making them eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension beyond your initial 12 months. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to authorize your training period. A STEM degree in a qualifying CIP code, typically computer science, engineering, or information systems, is required to extend.
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Get Access To All JobsReports To: Applications Engineering Manager
Work Location: Onsite - Eden Prairie, MN
Position Summary
The Applications Engineer is responsible for supporting customers throughout their journey with Third Wave Systems (TWS) solutions, from initial software evaluations through implementation, training, and ongoing success. This customer-facing role works closely with Sales, Product Management, Development, and Customer Success teams to provide technical expertise, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and identify opportunities for customer growth and adoption.
The ideal candidate is a motivated engineer who enjoys solving manufacturing challenges, working directly with customers, and helping organizations improve machining processes through software technology.
Requirements
Core Responsibilities
Customer Engagement & Technical Support
- Serve as a primary technical resource for customers throughout their lifecycle with TWS solutions.
- Support software evaluations, proof of concept projects, onboarding, and implementation activities.
- Respond to customer and distributor inquiries, troubleshoot technical issues, and coordinate solutions with internal teams.
- Build strong customer relationships to promote successful adoption and long-term satisfaction.
Training & Professional Services
- Deliver customer and distributor training through workshops, webinars, and one-on-one sessions.
- Develop application examples, training materials, and technical documentation.
- Support paid service engagements focused on process improvement, software application, and manufacturing optimization.
- Document project outcomes and provide recommendations to customers.
Business Development & Industry Support
- Partner with Sales to provide technical support for customer meetings, demonstrations, and evaluations.
- Represent TWS at trade shows, webinars, and industry events.
- Promote awareness and adoption of new software features, capabilities, and best practices.
- Identify opportunities for additional services, product expansion, and customer growth.
- Provide technical guidance that supports sales strategy and customer decision-making.
Product & Customer Feedback
- Capture and communicate customer feedback, enhancement requests, and support trends.
- Collaborate with Product Management, Development, and Quality teams to improve products and customer experience.
Knowledge, Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related Engineering field
- Ability to demonstrate Third Wave Systems Core Values: See the Big Picture, Take Action, Collaborate, Make an Impact
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Customer-focused mindset with a desire to help others succeed
- Ability to learn complex software applications and manufacturing processes
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with customers
- Experience with CAD/CAM/CAE software (NX, CATIA, MasterCAM Creo, Solidworks, etc.), CAE software (Ansys, Abaqus, COMSOL) as well as experience with CNC machines using Fanuc and Siemens controls, and hard-to-machine metals.
- Actively seeks opportunities to learn new technologies, tools, processes, and industry trends.
- Willingness to travel approximately 25%
Benefits
The salary range is $75,000-$85,000.
Third Wave Systems offers a comprehensive employee benefits program for full-time employees.
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- HSA
- 401 (k) + Employer Match
- Paid time off
- Holiday pay
Reports To: Applications Engineering Manager
Work Location: Onsite - Eden Prairie, MN
Position Summary
The Applications Engineer is responsible for supporting customers throughout their journey with Third Wave Systems (TWS) solutions, from initial software evaluations through implementation, training, and ongoing success. This customer-facing role works closely with Sales, Product Management, Development, and Customer Success teams to provide technical expertise, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and identify opportunities for customer growth and adoption.
The ideal candidate is a motivated engineer who enjoys solving manufacturing challenges, working directly with customers, and helping organizations improve machining processes through software technology.
Requirements
Core Responsibilities
Customer Engagement & Technical Support
- Serve as a primary technical resource for customers throughout their lifecycle with TWS solutions.
- Support software evaluations, proof of concept projects, onboarding, and implementation activities.
- Respond to customer and distributor inquiries, troubleshoot technical issues, and coordinate solutions with internal teams.
- Build strong customer relationships to promote successful adoption and long-term satisfaction.
Training & Professional Services
- Deliver customer and distributor training through workshops, webinars, and one-on-one sessions.
- Develop application examples, training materials, and technical documentation.
- Support paid service engagements focused on process improvement, software application, and manufacturing optimization.
- Document project outcomes and provide recommendations to customers.
Business Development & Industry Support
- Partner with Sales to provide technical support for customer meetings, demonstrations, and evaluations.
- Represent TWS at trade shows, webinars, and industry events.
- Promote awareness and adoption of new software features, capabilities, and best practices.
- Identify opportunities for additional services, product expansion, and customer growth.
- Provide technical guidance that supports sales strategy and customer decision-making.
Product & Customer Feedback
- Capture and communicate customer feedback, enhancement requests, and support trends.
- Collaborate with Product Management, Development, and Quality teams to improve products and customer experience.
Knowledge, Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related Engineering field
- Ability to demonstrate Third Wave Systems Core Values: See the Big Picture, Take Action, Collaborate, Make an Impact
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Customer-focused mindset with a desire to help others succeed
- Ability to learn complex software applications and manufacturing processes
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with customers
- Experience with CAD/CAM/CAE software (NX, CATIA, MasterCAM Creo, Solidworks, etc.), CAE software (Ansys, Abaqus, COMSOL) as well as experience with CNC machines using Fanuc and Siemens controls, and hard-to-machine metals.
- Actively seeks opportunities to learn new technologies, tools, processes, and industry trends.
- Willingness to travel approximately 25%
Benefits
The salary range is $75,000-$85,000.
Third Wave Systems offers a comprehensive employee benefits program for full-time employees.
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- HSA
- 401 (k) + Employer Match
- Paid time off
- Holiday pay
See all 209+ STEM OPT Applications Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an Applications Specialist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to a STEM-designated field on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Applications Specialist roles often require computer science or information systems backgrounds, so a mismatch in your CIP code can disqualify your extension before it starts.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the employer's E-Verify company ID or have HR confirm active enrollment status before signing. An employer not enrolled in E-Verify cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT, and switching employers mid-extension restarts your 60-day unemployment clock.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for STEM OPT employers
Search Applications Specialist roles on Migrate Mate to surface employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active STEM OPT hiring history, so you're not manually vetting each employer's compliance status before reaching the offer stage.
Draft your I-983 training plan around measurable outcomes
Your training plan must show a direct connection between your STEM degree and the Applications Specialist duties you'll perform. Frame goals around specific technical skills you'll develop, such as system integration testing or enterprise software configuration, not broad job responsibilities. Your DSO reviews this document, and vague plans get returned.
Target employers with enterprise software licensing agreements
Companies holding multi-year contracts with SAP, Salesforce, or Oracle consistently need Applications Specialists and plan hiring 12 to 18 months in advance. Targeting employers mid-contract renewal, when headcount decisions are being finalized, puts you in front of structured hiring timelines rather than reactive backfills.
Align your offer start date with your OPT end date
If your H-1B visa cap-gap petition is pending when your 12-month OPT expires, your work authorization continues automatically through September 30. Coordinate your Applications Specialist start date so your employer files the I-983 amendment with USCIS before your OPT EAD end date to avoid any gap in authorized employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Applications Specialist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, information systems, or software engineering, and the role involves applying that technical background directly. The job title alone doesn't determine eligibility, USCIS evaluates whether the duties of the Applications Specialist position connect to your specific degree field. Your DSO confirms this connection when approving your I-20 for the extension.
What does the E-Verify requirement mean for Applications Specialist job seekers?
Every employer who hires you on STEM OPT must be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the time you begin work. For Applications Specialist roles, which are common at mid-size software vendors and enterprise IT departments, enrollment status varies. Ask HR for the company's E-Verify employer ID before your final interview. Employers who aren't enrolled cannot be added to your I-983 training plan, and your DSO will not sign off on the extension.
What should the I-983 training plan include for an Applications Specialist position?
The I-983 must document specific goals that link your STEM degree to the daily responsibilities of the Applications Specialist role. Include measurable learning objectives such as configuring application modules, conducting user acceptance testing, or developing integration workflows. Generic descriptions like 'gain experience in software' are insufficient. Both you and your employer supervisor must sign, and your DSO reviews the plan for compliance before authorizing the STEM OPT extension.
How does cap-gap protection apply if I'm an Applications Specialist on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B cap-subject petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working in your Applications Specialist role without interruption while USCIS adjudicates the petition. If your petition is not selected or is denied, your authorization ends and you must stop working. Track your EAD expiration and H-1B filing timeline carefully with your DSO.
Where can I find Applications Specialist jobs from employers who support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Applications Specialist roles filtered by employers with E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT hiring experience, so you can focus your applications on companies already set up to support your work authorization. Searching by role title alongside STEM OPT eligibility filters saves time you'd otherwise spend researching each employer's compliance status independently before reaching the offer stage.