STEM OPT Data Scientist Jobs
Data Scientist roles in machine learning, statistical modeling, and data engineering qualify for the STEM OPT extension when your degree is in a STEM-designated field. The 24-month extension gives you up to 36 months of work authorization, but your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you can start.
See All Data Scientist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 898+ Data Scientist jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 898+ Data Scientist jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Data Scientist roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Lyft, our purpose is to serve and connect. We aim to achieve this by cultivating a work environment where all team members belong and have the opportunity to thrive. Data Science is central to Lyft's products and decision-making. As a Data Scientist on the cross-functional team, you will work in a dynamic environment, tackling a variety of problems from shaping critical business decisions to building algorithms that power our products. We seek passionate, driven Data Scientists to address some of the most interesting and impactful problems in ridesharing. As a Data Scientist specializing in Algorithms, you will develop mathematical models for the platform's core services, addressing diverse problems in optimization, prediction, machine learning, and inference. On the Fulfillment team, you will collaborate with cross-functional teammates and stakeholders to enhance algorithms for matching rideshare supply and demand in real time and develop product offerings to improve the experiences of Lyft Riders and Drivers.
Responsibilities:
- Leverage data and analytic frameworks to direct creations and improvements of algorithms and models underpinning the team’s systems and products
- Partner with Engineers, Product Managers, and Business Partners to frame problems, both mathematically and within the business context
- Perform exploratory data analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the problem
- Construct and fit statistical, machine learning, or optimization models
- Write production modeling code; collaborate with Software Engineers to implement algorithms in production
- Design and implement both simulated and live traffic experiments
- Analyze experimental and observational data; communicate findings; facilitate launch decisions
- Develop measurement methodologies to monitor the health of our products, as well as the impacts on user outcomes and marketplace outcomes
- Drive collaboration and coordination with cross-functional teams
Experience:
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Statistics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Mathematics, or other quantitative fields
- 2+ years professional experience in a technology company setting
- Proven experience with building and evaluating machine learning models
- Proficiency with Python and working in a production coding environment
- Passion for solving unstructured and non-standard mathematical problems
- End-to-end experience with data, including querying, aggregation, analysis, and visualization
- Strong oral and written communication skills, and ability to collaborate and communicate with others to solve a problem
BENEFITS:
- Great medical, dental, and vision insurance options with additional programs available when enrolled
- Mental health benefits
- Family building benefits
- Child care and pet benefits
- 401(k) plan to help save for your future
- In addition to 12 observed holidays, salaried team members have discretionary paid time off, hourly team members have 15 days paid time off
- 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Biological, adoptive, and foster parents are all eligible
- Subsidized commuter benefits
- Lyft Pink - Lyft team members get an exclusive opportunity to test new benefits of our Ridership Program
Lyft is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace that fosters belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.
Lyft highly values having employees working in-office to foster a collaborative work environment and company culture. This role will be in-office on a hybrid schedule — Team Members will be expected to work in the office 3 days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Lyft considers working in the office at least 3 days per week to be an essential function of this hybrid role. Your recruiter can share more information about the various in-office perks Lyft offers. Additionally, hybrid roles have the flexibility to work from anywhere for up to 4 weeks per year. #Hybrid
COMPENSATION
- The expected base pay range for this position in the San Francisco area is $128,000 - $160,000. Salary ranges are dependent on a variety of factors, including qualifications, experience and geographic location. Range is not inclusive of potential equity offering, bonus or benefits. Your recruiter can share more information about the salary range specific to your working location and other factors during the hiring process.
INTRODUCTION
At Lyft, our purpose is to serve and connect. We aim to achieve this by cultivating a work environment where all team members belong and have the opportunity to thrive. Data Science is central to Lyft's products and decision-making. As a Data Scientist on the cross-functional team, you will work in a dynamic environment, tackling a variety of problems from shaping critical business decisions to building algorithms that power our products. We seek passionate, driven Data Scientists to address some of the most interesting and impactful problems in ridesharing. As a Data Scientist specializing in Algorithms, you will develop mathematical models for the platform's core services, addressing diverse problems in optimization, prediction, machine learning, and inference. On the Fulfillment team, you will collaborate with cross-functional teammates and stakeholders to enhance algorithms for matching rideshare supply and demand in real time and develop product offerings to improve the experiences of Lyft Riders and Drivers.
Responsibilities:
- Leverage data and analytic frameworks to direct creations and improvements of algorithms and models underpinning the team’s systems and products
- Partner with Engineers, Product Managers, and Business Partners to frame problems, both mathematically and within the business context
- Perform exploratory data analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the problem
- Construct and fit statistical, machine learning, or optimization models
- Write production modeling code; collaborate with Software Engineers to implement algorithms in production
- Design and implement both simulated and live traffic experiments
- Analyze experimental and observational data; communicate findings; facilitate launch decisions
- Develop measurement methodologies to monitor the health of our products, as well as the impacts on user outcomes and marketplace outcomes
- Drive collaboration and coordination with cross-functional teams
Experience:
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Statistics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Mathematics, or other quantitative fields
- 2+ years professional experience in a technology company setting
- Proven experience with building and evaluating machine learning models
- Proficiency with Python and working in a production coding environment
- Passion for solving unstructured and non-standard mathematical problems
- End-to-end experience with data, including querying, aggregation, analysis, and visualization
- Strong oral and written communication skills, and ability to collaborate and communicate with others to solve a problem
BENEFITS:
- Great medical, dental, and vision insurance options with additional programs available when enrolled
- Mental health benefits
- Family building benefits
- Child care and pet benefits
- 401(k) plan to help save for your future
- In addition to 12 observed holidays, salaried team members have discretionary paid time off, hourly team members have 15 days paid time off
- 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Biological, adoptive, and foster parents are all eligible
- Subsidized commuter benefits
- Lyft Pink - Lyft team members get an exclusive opportunity to test new benefits of our Ridership Program
Lyft is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace that fosters belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.
Lyft highly values having employees working in-office to foster a collaborative work environment and company culture. This role will be in-office on a hybrid schedule — Team Members will be expected to work in the office 3 days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Lyft considers working in the office at least 3 days per week to be an essential function of this hybrid role. Your recruiter can share more information about the various in-office perks Lyft offers. Additionally, hybrid roles have the flexibility to work from anywhere for up to 4 weeks per year. #Hybrid
COMPENSATION
- The expected base pay range for this position in the San Francisco area is $128,000 - $160,000. Salary ranges are dependent on a variety of factors, including qualifications, experience and geographic location. Range is not inclusive of potential equity offering, bonus or benefits. Your recruiter can share more information about the salary range specific to your working location and other factors during the hiring process.
See all 898+ Data Scientist jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Data Scientist roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Data Scientist
Confirm your CIP code before applying
Not every data-related degree qualifies for STEM OPT. Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Statistics, computer science, and applied mathematics all qualify; general business analytics often does not.
Verify E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension begins. Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name and location before signing. A company that intends to enroll but hasn't yet cannot legally employ you under STEM OPT.
Target employers with active data science LCA filings
Companies that have filed Labor Condition Applications for data scientist or machine learning engineer roles have already navigated the DOL process for STEM workers. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with verified STEM OPT hiring history in your field.
Build your I-983 training plan before day one
Your I-983 must map specific job duties to the STEM learning objectives USCIS requires. For data scientists, tie modeling and pipeline work to measurable outcomes. DSOs routinely flag vague plans, so draft it with your hiring manager during the offer negotiation stage.
Apply 90 days before your OPT end date
USCIS requires your STEM OPT extension application to be filed at least 90 days before your current EAD expires. Late filing forfeits the extension window and breaks your work authorization, so align your job search timeline to that deadline.
Check prevailing wage levels for your target metro
Data scientist prevailing wages vary significantly by geography and experience level. Use the OFLC Wage Search to see DOL wage levels for your SOC code before negotiating an offer. An employer offering below Level I wages may face LCA compliance problems later.
Data Scientist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Data Scientist JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension as a data scientist?
Your degree must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List by its Classification of Instructional Programs code. Degrees in statistics, computer science, mathematics, and most engineering fields qualify. Applied data analytics or business intelligence degrees may not, depending on how your institution classified the program. Confirm the CIP code on your transcript or with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
Does my data scientist employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT, not a preference. Your employer must be enrolled before your extension period starts, not at some point during your employment. You can verify enrollment through the E-Verify employer search. If your employer is a staffing agency placing you at a client site, both entities may need to be enrolled depending on who controls your day-to-day work.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a data scientist role?
The I-983 must describe how your specific job duties produce practical training in your STEM field. For data scientists, that means documenting how work on model development, data pipelines, or statistical analysis connects to learning objectives tied to your degree. Vague descriptions like 'analyze data' get flagged. Your manager signs off, your DSO reviews it, and USCIS can audit it, so specificity matters from the start.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm waiting for H-1B approval?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your OPT EAD expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a data scientist during this period without a new EAD. USCIS publishes cap-gap guidance each spring confirming the extension rules for that cycle.
Where can I find data scientist jobs at employers that hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters data scientist listings by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT hiring history, so you're not applying to companies that can't legally bring you on. This matters because many job postings don't disclose E-Verify status upfront, and finding out after an offer wastes weeks of your authorization window.
See which Data Scientist employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Data Scientist Jobs