STEM OPT Backend Engineer Jobs
Backend Engineer roles in server infrastructure, APIs, and distributed systems directly align with STEM degrees in computer science, software engineering, and information technology. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, giving you up to 36 months total to work for any employer enrolled in E-Verify while you pursue long-term sponsorship.
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Soar with us at Wawa. We believe we can make life a little better every day – one smile, hoagie, or experience at a time. And there’s one secret ingredient that truly sets Wawa apart: Our Associates. At Wawa, you’ll be part of a caring team that’s dedicated to helping all of us fly high – together. We’re team players, day-brighteners, and go-getters: and we know that Wawa is a place where we can build skills to thrive and open doors to new career opportunities. We’re proud to be a part of a winning team of Associate owners who shape our success. We’re committed to helping our communities and one another at every turn, because we know that when we fly together, there’s no limit to how far we can go. Ready to be part of a team that helps you reach new heights? Join our flock and get ready to soar.
Job Description
Job Title: Lead Backend Engineer
Department: Information Technology
Location: Red Roof
Pay Band: Specialist
Job Summary: The Lead Backend Engineer will build the next generation technologies that handle increasing amounts of information at a massive scale in real-time. The Lead Backend Engineer will bring fresh ideas from all areas, including information retrieval, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking, data storage, security, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, UI design and mobile. The Lead Backend Engineer shall work on specific projects critical to Wawa’s needs.
Principal Duties:
- Provide leadership on projects, technical assistance, and strategic vision and facilitate the definition of project deliverables. Complete project deliverables or provide consulting work efforts based on the agreed scope; estimates work effort, duration, resources and requirements. Ensure that requirements are being met. Research, identify and develop solutions to business challenges and opportunities. Develop project plans to design, install, and upgrade and manage systems and utility software.
- Define tracking mechanisms and ensure IT standards and methodology are met. Manage expectations and project scope. Appropriately report status and deliver quality results. Develop and maintain support documentation with up to date processes and procedures.
- Translate complex functional specifications to detail technical designs regarding Test Case, Testing Automation, User Interfaces (UI), Custom Software Applications, middleware technologies, API, API orchestration/choreography, deployment artifacts, artifact packaging, and application monitoring automation, logging and performance metrics. Provide input, guidance and recommendations on technical designs developed by other team members. Develop creative solutions for complex enhancements.
- Follow standard development processes and transport process including Agile, SDLC methodologies, DevOps, Source Code Management, etc. Ability to apply IT security standards and practices as well as adhere to these standards in the development and design of new and existing technologies within our corporate and store infrastructure.
- Technical consultant for the team and internal business teams. Serve as an expert in technical field of knowledge.
- Develop unit test plans, test cases/scripts, UI components, application source code, and application packaging configuration scripts, deployment scripts, configuration of API infrastructure, artifact packaging configurations, all automation configurations and performance monitoring and debugging component configurations where applicable.
- Create and establish performance baselines via performance testing and application profiling. Monitor system performance and tune for peak performance of application/system components built or procured from vendors.
- Research technology related products and make objective recommendations based on business or operational requirements. Anticipate potential problem situations/risks and address with effective objective responses.
- Maintain a very high degree of decision impact due to system privileges and responsibilities.
- Integrate enterprise-wide tools for automating, monitoring, and managing the current and future technology environments in a proactive manner.
- Develop, document, implement and maintain system management strategies, policies and procedures, including security, support, training and installation procedures.
- Recommend, design, implement and support infrastructure integration into business solutions, while meeting the business goals and objectives. This includes supporting documentation and diagrams detailing the specific infrastructure.
- Engage with Engineering team and other ITPS departments to establish appropriate security models for enhancements and changes as well as training downstream support personnel on technology components around custom API Middle Tier services.
- Drive issue resolution associated with the implementation and testing of new system management software (i.e., Communication Services, APIs). Support and deploy Mid-tier APIs and App. Services based processes for system servers within the Enterprise.
- Work with IT and outside vendors to resolve technology issues. Develop and maintain processes and procedures as appropriate.
- Coordinate with other IT departments in the execution of system reboots, maintenance, upgrades/implementations, system and data restorations, mass data changes and system cleanup. Investigate and remedy the root cause of service delivery incidents.
- Coach and mentor other team members in their development of IT Applications. Serve as a resource and knowledge expert to Applications Development Manager in the project areas.
Essential Functions:
- Ability to work well individually as well as in a team environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, customer service skills
- Detail oriented and excellent organizational, time and stress management skills
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
- Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and independently
- Proven self-starter with leadership skills and demonstrated ability to make decisions
- Proven Project Management skills. Lead large cross-functional projects
- Ability to be on-call 24/7 when required
- Demonstrate consistency in continuous learning and develop other technical Associates
- Ability to learn new technologies quickly and independently
- When prioritizing work, considers the bigger picture, ensuring alignment with department objectives
- Able to effectively utilize multiple tactics based on situational variables
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a technical discipline preferred (e.g., engineering) or equivalent.
- Proficient in programming languages and concepts around API services and Interfaces: Java SE and EE, JavaScript, API development concepts and abstracts (JSON, XML, WADL, RAML, Swagger, RESTful).
- General knowledge around endpoint protocols and security components (SFTP/FTP, File, OAuth2, SSL, SSH, LDAP etc.)
- Fluent in multiple technologies (Frameworks, Java, JavaScript, SpringBoot, REST API, Graph QL, SQL, NoSQL, Graph DB’s, etc.).
- Test Driven development or Behavior Driven development with a clear understanding of the tool stack. Expertise in unit test, building Integration, smoke and regression testing suite, code coverage process, and pipeline setup.
- Understanding of common design patterns, data structures and algorithms and experience in cloud computing with expertise on at least one cloud infrastructure.
- Experience with statistics and data processing algorithms.
- Experience with securing real-time data pipelines (e.g. Kafka, Storm, Flink, etc.) and batch processing (Spark, Hadoop, etc.).
Wawa will provide reasonable accommodation to complete an application upon request, consistent with applicable law. If you require an accommodation, please contact our Associate Service Center at asc@wawa.com.
Wawa, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Wawa maintains a work environment in which Associates are treated fairly and with respect and in which discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. In accordance with federal, state and local laws, we recruit, hire, promote and evaluate all applicants and Associates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination will not be a factor in any employment decision.
See all 36+ STEM OPT Backend Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Backend Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Your STEM OPT extension depends on your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code matching a STEM-designated field. Check your DSO's records to confirm your computer science, software engineering, or IT degree qualifies before targeting Backend Engineer roles.
Screen employers for E-Verify enrollment early
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension begins. Ask recruiters directly during the screening call, or look up the company in the E-Verify employer search tool before investing time in their process.
Align your I-983 training plan to backend engineering work
Your I-983 must list specific learning objectives tied to your role, not a generic job description. Connect backend responsibilities like API design, database architecture, or distributed systems to the technical skills from your STEM degree program.
Use Migrate Mate to find Backend Engineer roles at E-Verify employers
Search Migrate Mate to filter Backend Engineer openings at companies already enrolled in E-Verify and with documented sponsorship history, so you're applying where your STEM OPT authorization is actually usable from day one.
Target companies with active H-1B filing patterns
Backend Engineer roles at companies with consistent H-1B visa LCA filings signal a real sponsorship pipeline for when your OPT authorization ends. Cross-reference DOL Labor Condition Application disclosure data to identify employers who regularly sponsor software engineering roles.
Understand cap-gap protection before your OPT expires
If your employer files an H-1B petition before your STEM OPT end date and it's selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. Confirm the filing timeline with your employer's HR team well before your EAD expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension as a Backend Engineer?
Your degree must fall under a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code recognized by the Department of Homeland Security. Degrees in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, and information technology commonly qualify. Your DSO can confirm your specific CIP code. The Backend Engineer role itself doesn't determine eligibility, your degree field does, so verify this before you start applying.
Does every company hiring Backend Engineers accept STEM OPT authorization?
No. To employ you on a STEM OPT extension, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, a federal online verification system. Not every tech company, startup, or contractor is enrolled. Ask HR directly whether the company is an active E-Verify participant before you accept an offer. You can also search the E-Verify employer database to confirm enrollment status independently.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Backend Engineer role?
The I-983 must describe how your Backend Engineer position provides practical training related to your STEM degree. It should list specific goals such as building RESTful APIs, designing relational database schemas, or implementing microservices architectures, and connect each to coursework or skills from your program. Your employer signs it, your DSO endorses it, and USCIS can review it at any time during your extension.
How does cap-gap work if I'm a Backend Engineer on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through October 1 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a Backend Engineer during this period without interruption. If your petition isn't selected, your authorization ends when your EAD expires, so have a contingency plan ready.
Where can I find Backend Engineer jobs that are open to STEM OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists Backend Engineer roles at employers enrolled in E-Verify and with documented H-1B sponsorship history, so you can filter for companies where your STEM OPT authorization is actually viable. Targeting employers with active Labor Condition Application filings through DOL disclosure data also helps you identify companies with established hiring pipelines for international engineers on work authorization.