STEM OPT Data Infrastructure Engineer Jobs
Data Infrastructure Engineer roles in cloud platforms, distributed systems, and data pipeline architecture qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. With 36 months of total OPT work authorization, you have real runway to grow into senior engineering roles while pursuing H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout HeyGen
At HeyGen, our mission is to make visual storytelling accessible to all. Over the last decade, visual content has become the preferred method of information creation, consumption, and retention. But the ability to create such content, in particular videos, continues to be costly and challenging to scale. Our ambition is to build technology that equips more people with the power to reach, captivate, and inspire audiences. Learn more at www.heygen.com. Visit our Mission and Culture doc here.
Position Summary:
At HeyGen, we are at the forefront of developing applications powered by our cutting-edge AI research. As a Data Infrastructure Engineer, you will lead the development of fundamental data systems and infrastructure. These systems are essential for powering our innovative applications, including Avatar IV, Photo Avatar, Instant Avatar, Interactive Avatar, and Video Translation. Your role will be crucial in enhancing the efficiency and scalability of these systems, which are vital to HeyGen's success.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, build, and maintain the data infrastructure and systems needed to support our AI applications. Examples include
- Large scale data acquisition
- Multi-modal data processing framework and applications
- Storage and computation efficiency
- AI model evaluation and productionization infrastructure
- Collaborate with data scientists and machine learning engineers to understand their computational and data needs and provide efficient solutions.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends in data infrastructure technologies and advocate for best practices and continuous improvement.
- Assist in budget planning and management of cloud resources and other infrastructure expenses.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
- Proven experience in managing infrastructure for large-scale AI or machine learning projects
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.
- Proficiency in Python
- Experience optimizing computational workflows
- Familiarity with AI and machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with GPU computing
- Experience with distributed data processing system
- Experience building large scale batch inference system
- Prior experience in a startup or fast-paced tech environment.
What HeyGen Offers
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Dynamic and inclusive work environment.
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
- Collaborative culture that values innovation and creativity.
- Access to the latest technologies and tools.
HeyGen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
About HeyGen
At HeyGen, our mission is to make visual storytelling accessible to all. Over the last decade, visual content has become the preferred method of information creation, consumption, and retention. But the ability to create such content, in particular videos, continues to be costly and challenging to scale. Our ambition is to build technology that equips more people with the power to reach, captivate, and inspire audiences. Learn more at www.heygen.com. Visit our Mission and Culture doc here.
Position Summary:
At HeyGen, we are at the forefront of developing applications powered by our cutting-edge AI research. As a Data Infrastructure Engineer, you will lead the development of fundamental data systems and infrastructure. These systems are essential for powering our innovative applications, including Avatar IV, Photo Avatar, Instant Avatar, Interactive Avatar, and Video Translation. Your role will be crucial in enhancing the efficiency and scalability of these systems, which are vital to HeyGen's success.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, build, and maintain the data infrastructure and systems needed to support our AI applications. Examples include
- Large scale data acquisition
- Multi-modal data processing framework and applications
- Storage and computation efficiency
- AI model evaluation and productionization infrastructure
- Collaborate with data scientists and machine learning engineers to understand their computational and data needs and provide efficient solutions.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends in data infrastructure technologies and advocate for best practices and continuous improvement.
- Assist in budget planning and management of cloud resources and other infrastructure expenses.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
- Proven experience in managing infrastructure for large-scale AI or machine learning projects
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.
- Proficiency in Python
- Experience optimizing computational workflows
- Familiarity with AI and machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with GPU computing
- Experience with distributed data processing system
- Experience building large scale batch inference system
- Prior experience in a startup or fast-paced tech environment.
What HeyGen Offers
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Dynamic and inclusive work environment.
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
- Collaborative culture that values innovation and creativity.
- Access to the latest technologies and tools.
HeyGen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
See all STEM OPT Data Infrastructure Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Data Infrastructure Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code maps to an eligible STEM field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer science, information systems, and electrical engineering codes commonly support Data Infrastructure Engineer roles, but your DSO confirms the match before you file Form I-983.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment during interviews
Ask recruiters directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before you accept an offer. If they're unsure, look up the employer in the E-Verify employer search tool. Hiring a STEM OPT student without E-Verify enrollment puts your status at risk.
Build your I-983 training plan around measurable engineering goals
Your I-983 must show a genuine learning relationship between your work and your STEM degree. For data infrastructure roles, document specific skills you'll develop, such as distributed query optimization or container orchestration, rather than listing generic job duties.
Use Migrate Mate to target employers with STEM OPT hiring history
Filter your job search on Migrate Mate to surface Data Infrastructure Engineer roles at companies that have actively hired STEM OPT students. This saves time over cold-applying to employers who haven't navigated the E-Verify and I-983 process before.
Understand cap-gap protection before your OPT expires
If your employer files an H-1B petition before your STEM OPT end date and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. USCIS grants this protection without any additional action on your part, so filing timing matters.
Benchmark your offer against OFLC prevailing-wage data
Run your job title and location through the OFLC Wage Search before negotiating. For data infrastructure roles, the wage level your employer selects on the LCA affects your H-1B petition later, so verify the offered salary meets at least Level I or Level II rates for your metro area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Infrastructure Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title alone. Your degree's CIP code must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer science, computer engineering, information technology, and electrical engineering degrees commonly support this role. Your DSO reviews your academic transcript and confirms eligibility before endorsing your I-20 for the extension. The job itself must also provide practical training directly related to your STEM field.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my STEM OPT employer?
Every employer who hires you on a STEM OPT extension must be enrolled in E-Verify and remain enrolled for the duration of your authorization period. This is a federal requirement under the STEM OPT rule, not an optional step. If your employer loses E-Verify access or withdraws from the program after you start, you and your DSO must be notified within five business days, and your authorization is at risk.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a data infrastructure role?
Your I-983 must describe specific technical skills you'll develop that connect to your STEM degree, not just your daily job duties. For a Data Infrastructure Engineer, this means naming technologies, learning objectives, and mentorship structures, such as designing fault-tolerant pipelines, implementing data lake architectures, or mastering infrastructure-as-code tools. Both you and your employer sign the form, and your DSO must endorse it before your extension begins.
How does cap-gap work if my STEM OPT is expiring during H-1B season?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT end date and USCIS selects you in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You don't file separately for cap-gap. If your petition isn't selected, your STEM OPT end date controls, so confirm your employer's filing timeline well before the April 1 registration window.
Where can I find Data Infrastructure Engineer jobs at employers that support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate surfaces Data Infrastructure Engineer roles filtered for employers with active STEM OPT and E-Verify hiring history. This is more efficient than applying broadly and discovering after an offer that the employer isn't enrolled in E-Verify or hasn't navigated the I-983 process. You can also cross-reference O*NET to understand which skills and degree fields align with this occupation code when assessing whether a role supports your extension.