STEM OPT C Software Engineer Jobs
C Software Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT because the work maps directly to Computer Science and Computer Engineering CIP codes. Your F-1 status gives you up to 36 months of work authorization total, with the 24-month extension requiring your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify and sign your I-983 training plan.
Find STEM OPT C Software Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 55+ C Software Engineer jobs
See all 55+ C Software Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new C Software Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Mesa seeks a Substation P&C Engineer Associate I for our Power Delivery Substation engineering design team based out of Lakewood, CO. The successful candidate has 1-2 years of experience in P&C substation design for 69kV to 500kV substations. They will work with a small team to complete substation P&C design projects to meet client standards and practices. They will be responsible for maintaining good quality and efficiency while developing deliverables such as: single line diagrams, control house layouts & elevations, panel front views, elementary and/or schematic diagrams, wiring diagrams, nameplate drawings, bills of materials, cable schedules, etc.
Substations support large electric utility clients as well as renewable projects. Primarily, renewable projects are connecting utility scale solar farms, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and large wind farms to the connecting utility through substations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience/Licensure:
- A minimum of a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering, from an ABET accredited college or university is required.
- Minimum of 1-2 years of progressively responsible experience in 69kV to 500kV substation Physical design is required.
- EIT is preferred.
Responsibilities
- On a task basis, is responsible for preparation and completion of engineering designs and supporting documentation such as calculations.
- Prepares calculations, specifications, reports, and drawings within assigned task areas.
- Interfaces with other disciplines on multi-discipline projects as required.
- Responsible for adhering to project scope, schedule, and budget on all assigned projects.
- Establish, promote, and assure quality on all project work.
- Works under the direction of Senior Engineers, Professional Engineers (PEs) and Project Engineers.
- Work with Engineering Supervisor or Engineering Manager to follow up on construction issues with field engineers to help resolve problems and concerns in a timely manner.
- Ensures deliverables comply with NEC, IEEE and/or client standards and meet applicable design requirements.
- Attend group meetings with staff as required.
- Incorporate safe work practices into all activities.
- Work with Engineering Supervisor or Engineering Manager and team to assist with project execution, work processes, and procedures to help continually improve quality, productivity, and efficiency.
- Use strong verbal and written communication skills with team members and clients.
- Use interpersonal skills to build relationships with team members and clients.
- Possess knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite and AutoCAD.
The successful candidate will be required to report to our Lakewood, CO office on a hybrid basis. The entire team works in the office twice per week.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
- Preferred 1-2 years: Substation P&C design experience
Education
- Required Bachelors or better in Electrical Engineering
Licenses & Certifications
- Preferred Engineer in Training
Skills
- Preferred Autodesk
- CAD
- Engineering Design
- Microsoft Office
Behaviors
- Required Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
- Preferred Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them
- Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
- Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
- Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity
Motivations
- Preferred Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
- Work-Life Balance: Inspired to perform well by having ample time to pursue work and interests outside of work
- Growth Opportunities: Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility
BENEFITS
- Paid Time Off
- Holiday Pay – 10 Annually
- Group Medical/Dental Insurance
- Life Insurance (Company Paid)
- Disability Insurance (Company Paid)
- 401(K) Retirement Savings Plan
- 401(K) Matching Contribution
- Section 125 / Cafeteria Plan
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Fitness Center Reimbursement
- Annual Performance Bonus
- 9/80 Work Schedule
- FSA and HSA Options
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE
$73,920.82 - $92,557.52
The expected compensation is a range determined by factors including but not limited to education, experience, and qualifications of the candidate, internal equity, work location, and hiring department’s fiscal resources.
NOTICE TO EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRMS: Mesa Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Mesa Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisition engages with approved search firms directly for specific hiring needs.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
INTRODUCTION
Mesa seeks a Substation P&C Engineer Associate I for our Power Delivery Substation engineering design team based out of Lakewood, CO. The successful candidate has 1-2 years of experience in P&C substation design for 69kV to 500kV substations. They will work with a small team to complete substation P&C design projects to meet client standards and practices. They will be responsible for maintaining good quality and efficiency while developing deliverables such as: single line diagrams, control house layouts & elevations, panel front views, elementary and/or schematic diagrams, wiring diagrams, nameplate drawings, bills of materials, cable schedules, etc.
Substations support large electric utility clients as well as renewable projects. Primarily, renewable projects are connecting utility scale solar farms, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and large wind farms to the connecting utility through substations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience/Licensure:
- A minimum of a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering, from an ABET accredited college or university is required.
- Minimum of 1-2 years of progressively responsible experience in 69kV to 500kV substation Physical design is required.
- EIT is preferred.
Responsibilities
- On a task basis, is responsible for preparation and completion of engineering designs and supporting documentation such as calculations.
- Prepares calculations, specifications, reports, and drawings within assigned task areas.
- Interfaces with other disciplines on multi-discipline projects as required.
- Responsible for adhering to project scope, schedule, and budget on all assigned projects.
- Establish, promote, and assure quality on all project work.
- Works under the direction of Senior Engineers, Professional Engineers (PEs) and Project Engineers.
- Work with Engineering Supervisor or Engineering Manager to follow up on construction issues with field engineers to help resolve problems and concerns in a timely manner.
- Ensures deliverables comply with NEC, IEEE and/or client standards and meet applicable design requirements.
- Attend group meetings with staff as required.
- Incorporate safe work practices into all activities.
- Work with Engineering Supervisor or Engineering Manager and team to assist with project execution, work processes, and procedures to help continually improve quality, productivity, and efficiency.
- Use strong verbal and written communication skills with team members and clients.
- Use interpersonal skills to build relationships with team members and clients.
- Possess knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite and AutoCAD.
The successful candidate will be required to report to our Lakewood, CO office on a hybrid basis. The entire team works in the office twice per week.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
- Preferred 1-2 years: Substation P&C design experience
Education
- Required Bachelors or better in Electrical Engineering
Licenses & Certifications
- Preferred Engineer in Training
Skills
- Preferred Autodesk
- CAD
- Engineering Design
- Microsoft Office
Behaviors
- Required Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
- Preferred Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them
- Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
- Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
- Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity
Motivations
- Preferred Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
- Work-Life Balance: Inspired to perform well by having ample time to pursue work and interests outside of work
- Growth Opportunities: Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility
BENEFITS
- Paid Time Off
- Holiday Pay – 10 Annually
- Group Medical/Dental Insurance
- Life Insurance (Company Paid)
- Disability Insurance (Company Paid)
- 401(K) Retirement Savings Plan
- 401(K) Matching Contribution
- Section 125 / Cafeteria Plan
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Fitness Center Reimbursement
- Annual Performance Bonus
- 9/80 Work Schedule
- FSA and HSA Options
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE
$73,920.82 - $92,557.52
The expected compensation is a range determined by factors including but not limited to education, experience, and qualifications of the candidate, internal equity, work location, and hiring department’s fiscal resources.
NOTICE TO EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRMS: Mesa Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Mesa Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisition engages with approved search firms directly for specific hiring needs.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See all 55+ STEM OPT C Software Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT C Software Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a C Software Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check O*NET for the official SOC code tied to C Software Engineer roles, then confirm your degree's CIP code qualifies for STEM OPT through USCIS. A mismatch between your degree field and the role's classification can block your extension before it starts.
Filter job listings by E-Verify status
Before sending any application, confirm the employer is actively enrolled in E-Verify, not just registered. Use Migrate Mate to search C Software Engineer openings filtered for E-Verify employers so you're not chasing roles that can't sponsor your extension.
Target embedded systems and systems-level teams
C developer roles in firmware, OS kernels, and real-time systems sit in engineering orgs that file far more STEM OPT training plans than product teams. Prioritizing these groups inside larger companies puts you in front of managers familiar with the I-983 process.
Draft your I-983 training plan before the offer
Prepare a draft training plan that maps C programming projects, performance benchmarks, and mentorship structures to your STEM degree objectives. Arriving with a near-complete I-983 removes friction for hiring managers who have never supervised an OPT student before.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during the offer stage
Your 24-month STEM OPT extension ends, and you'll need H-1B visa sponsorship to stay. Raise this directly when negotiating your offer so both sides are aligned before you start, not six months before your extension expires.
Cross-reference DOL wage data before negotiating
Pull the prevailing wage for your specific C Software Engineer SOC code and geographic area using the OFLC Wage Search. Your offered salary must meet this threshold for your employer's E-Verify and any future LCA filing to hold up under DOL review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a C Software Engineer role qualify for STEM OPT?
Yes, provided your degree falls under a qualifying STEM CIP code and the role's responsibilities align with that field. C Software Engineer positions typically map to Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering degree programs. USCIS evaluates the connection between your specific degree and the job duties described in your I-983 training plan, so the role description matters as much as the job title.
What does my employer need to do to support my STEM OPT extension?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, not just registered. They also need to co-sign your I-983 training plan, which documents your learning objectives, supervision structure, and how the C Software Engineer role relates to your STEM degree. USCIS requires your Designated School Official to approve the I-983 before your extension takes effect, so the employer's cooperation is required at the start, not optional.
What happens to my work authorization if my H-1B is selected but not yet effective?
If your H-1B is selected in the lottery and your STEM OPT is still active on April 1, cap-gap protection automatically extends your OPT authorization through September 30 of that year. Your employer does not need to take additional action for cap-gap to apply, but your EAD must still be valid on the date your H-1B petition is filed. Confirm the timeline with your DSO to avoid a gap.
How do I find C Software Engineer employers who are actually enrolled in E-Verify?
Use Migrate Mate to search C Software Engineer roles filtered for employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment. E-Verify status is a binary requirement for STEM OPT, and many smaller embedded systems and firmware shops are not enrolled despite hiring engineers regularly. Verifying enrollment before you apply saves significant time during the offer stage.
Can I work on a contract or third-party placement as a STEM OPT C Software Engineer?
USCIS requires that STEM OPT employers maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with you, which means direct oversight and supervision. Third-party staffing arrangements where a client company controls your day-to-day work can put your extension at risk if the entity signing your I-983 is not the entity supervising you. Clarify the employment structure with your DSO before accepting any contract role.