STEM OPT Data Center Jobs
Data center roles in infrastructure engineering, network operations, and systems administration qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension when your degree aligns with an approved CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your I-983 training plan must map your daily work to measurable technical learning goals tied to your STEM field.
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Get Access To All JobsSUMMARY
Do you want to help build some of the largest and most consequential enterprise and customer technology systems in the world? Join Apple’s Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) organization. IS&T is the engine behind everything Apple does for customers and for the people who build for them. It’s Apple’s central nervous system. Supporting 2.5 billion active Apple devices, processing billions of secure transactions, and keeping the technology that defines modern life running flawlessly, IS&T makes the impossible feel effortless. Do you love building solutions to handle global complexity and immense scale? Imagine what you could do here. Infrastructure Services is part of IS&T and the foundation of Apple's global network operations — managing data center equipment and systems to deliver compute, storage, and networking services for teams across Apple, including its internal developer community. From individual facilities to a worldwide network, Infrastructure Services ensures the technology underneath everything works without question. The Data Center Deployment team is dedicated to driving the global infrastructure readiness to support the latest innovations in Apple’s product and service offerings. The team is seeking a driven and dynamic individual passionate in making Apple’s infrastructure goals a reality. You'll play a pivotal role in aligning Data Center team deliverables with critical timelines for the introduction of these new products and services.
DESCRIPTION
The Data Center Deployment Planner leads the end-to-end planning, allocation, and physical delivery of our global server and compute/storage fleet. In this role, you will bridge the gap between business demand, hardware supply chain, facilities, and on-site operations across multiple campuses and partner-operated facilities. Rather than turning wrenches on the floor, you will conceptualize, document, and orchestrate complex deployment programs to accelerate time-to-first-compute.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years of experience in data center, networking, or infrastructure fields, including capacity planning or deployment management for hyperscale enterprise fleets
- 3+ years of technical program or project management experience with a track record of delivering complex, large-scale data center programs
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Networking, or a related field; OR, equivalent job-related experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Understanding of both physical and logical networking fundamentals. Experience with different types of switches, connectors, patch panels and cables. Knowledge of basic network architecture such as TCP/IP and L2/L3 topologies and functions such as DHCP, DNS and kickstart.
- 5+ years of experience in a UNIX-based data center environment, with proficiency working in command line (CLI) shells on servers and network appliances, remote administration, and basic scripting with bash and/or perl.
- Teammate with the ability to build peer, and external relationships
- Able to provide detailed instructions for partners to follow and execute
- 5+ years experience in project management of infrastructure services or related technical domains with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Experience with GPU/accelerator or high-density liquid-cooled infrastructure.
- Effective collaborator with excellent communication skills; able to articulate complex ideas in a direct, concise way.
- Develop and seek process improvements and strategies to further automate and streamline deployment processes.
- Demonstrated ability to manage high-stakes customer expectations, negotiate deployment trade-offs during supply chain or site delays, and maintain customer confidence through proactive communication and milestone transparency.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $175,500 and $311,700, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
Do you want to help build some of the largest and most consequential enterprise and customer technology systems in the world? Join Apple’s Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) organization. IS&T is the engine behind everything Apple does for customers and for the people who build for them. It’s Apple’s central nervous system. Supporting 2.5 billion active Apple devices, processing billions of secure transactions, and keeping the technology that defines modern life running flawlessly, IS&T makes the impossible feel effortless. Do you love building solutions to handle global complexity and immense scale? Imagine what you could do here. Infrastructure Services is part of IS&T and the foundation of Apple's global network operations — managing data center equipment and systems to deliver compute, storage, and networking services for teams across Apple, including its internal developer community. From individual facilities to a worldwide network, Infrastructure Services ensures the technology underneath everything works without question. The Data Center Deployment team is dedicated to driving the global infrastructure readiness to support the latest innovations in Apple’s product and service offerings. The team is seeking a driven and dynamic individual passionate in making Apple’s infrastructure goals a reality. You'll play a pivotal role in aligning Data Center team deliverables with critical timelines for the introduction of these new products and services.
DESCRIPTION
The Data Center Deployment Planner leads the end-to-end planning, allocation, and physical delivery of our global server and compute/storage fleet. In this role, you will bridge the gap between business demand, hardware supply chain, facilities, and on-site operations across multiple campuses and partner-operated facilities. Rather than turning wrenches on the floor, you will conceptualize, document, and orchestrate complex deployment programs to accelerate time-to-first-compute.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years of experience in data center, networking, or infrastructure fields, including capacity planning or deployment management for hyperscale enterprise fleets
- 3+ years of technical program or project management experience with a track record of delivering complex, large-scale data center programs
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Networking, or a related field; OR, equivalent job-related experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Understanding of both physical and logical networking fundamentals. Experience with different types of switches, connectors, patch panels and cables. Knowledge of basic network architecture such as TCP/IP and L2/L3 topologies and functions such as DHCP, DNS and kickstart.
- 5+ years of experience in a UNIX-based data center environment, with proficiency working in command line (CLI) shells on servers and network appliances, remote administration, and basic scripting with bash and/or perl.
- Teammate with the ability to build peer, and external relationships
- Able to provide detailed instructions for partners to follow and execute
- 5+ years experience in project management of infrastructure services or related technical domains with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Experience with GPU/accelerator or high-density liquid-cooled infrastructure.
- Effective collaborator with excellent communication skills; able to articulate complex ideas in a direct, concise way.
- Develop and seek process improvements and strategies to further automate and streamline deployment processes.
- Demonstrated ability to manage high-stakes customer expectations, negotiate deployment trade-offs during supply chain or site delays, and maintain customer confidence through proactive communication and milestone transparency.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $175,500 and $311,700, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See all 84+ STEM OPT Data Center Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Data Center
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against ICE's STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer engineering, information technology, and systems engineering degrees commonly map to data center roles, but network administration programs vary by institution.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Before signing anything, ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify employer ID and cross-check it against the E-Verify employer search tool. Data center operators and colocation providers frequently use staffing intermediaries, which must also be separately enrolled.
Target employers with infrastructure engineering LCA history
Use the OFLC Wage Search to filter Labor Condition Application filings by SOC codes tied to network and computer systems occupations. Employers who have certified LCAs for these roles have already navigated the wage and E-Verify requirements that STEM OPT demands.
Build your I-983 training plan around operations rotations
Your I-983 must connect each work activity to a specific learning objective tied to your STEM degree. For data center roles, map duties like server provisioning, cooling systems monitoring, or network configuration to course competencies from your program's curriculum.
Search for STEM OPT data center roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters job listings to employers already enrolled in E-Verify, so you're not wasting applications on companies that can't legally onboard STEM OPT workers. Use it to find data center and infrastructure roles matched to your authorization timeline.
Use O*NET to strengthen your specialty occupation argument
Pull the O*NET occupation profile for your target role, such as Network and Computer Systems Administrators or Data Center Technicians, and confirm the listed education requirement is a bachelor's degree. This documentation supports your employer's case if USCIS scrutinizes your training plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do data center roles qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
Yes, if your degree falls under an approved STEM CIP code and the role involves applying technical knowledge from that field. Positions like data center engineer, network operations technician, and infrastructure analyst commonly qualify. Your DSO must authorize the extension, and the role must be structured as a paid position with an E-Verify enrolled employer. Check the ICE STEM Designated Degree Program List to confirm your specific degree program qualifies.
Does my data center employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for all STEM OPT employers, not optional. If a data center operator, colocation provider, or managed services company is not enrolled, they cannot legally employ you under STEM OPT. If the company uses a third-party staffing firm, that firm must also be enrolled in E-Verify separately. You can search for enrolled employers through the E-Verify employer search tool before accepting any offer.
What goes into an I-983 training plan for a data center position?
Your I-983 must connect your specific job duties to measurable learning goals tied to your STEM degree. For data center roles, that means mapping tasks like rack installation, network troubleshooting, capacity planning, or systems monitoring to technical competencies from your coursework. USCIS expects the plan to show a clear relationship between your degree field and what you're doing on the job, not just a generic job description. Your employer and DSO both sign the form, and you must update it if your role changes significantly.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my data center employer loses E-Verify enrollment?
Your work authorization is tied to your employer's continued E-Verify participation. If your employer loses enrollment or terminates their E-Verify account, you must stop working immediately and report the change to your DSO within five business days. You have a 60-day grace period to find a new qualifying employer, update your I-983, and have your DSO amend your SEVIS record. Staying in a role after your employer loses E-Verify status puts your F-1 status at risk.
How do I find data center employers that are already set up for STEM OPT workers?
Migrate Mate filters job listings to E-Verify enrolled employers, which eliminates the most common hiring barrier STEM OPT students face in data center job searches. You can browse infrastructure, network operations, and systems roles knowing the employer meets the baseline STEM OPT requirement. Beyond that, checking OFLC Wage Search for LCA filings in network and systems occupations helps you identify companies that have already sponsored international workers and understand the compliance process.