STEM OPT Engineering Jobs
Engineering roles in software, electrical, mechanical, and civil disciplines qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree's CIP code maps to an approved STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Get Access To All JobsApple Services Engineering (ASE) designs, builds, and operates the cloud infrastructure, server systems, and platform technologies that power many of Apple's most beloved experiences. Within ASE, the Storage Platforms organization develops the systems that store, protect, and serve Apple's data at massive scale, with a mission to deliver storage that is durable, secure, highly available, and operated with excellence. Engineers on this team will have the rare opportunity to work on storage device-optimized low-level storage, large-scale distributed systems, and high-performance IO stacks operating at mission-critical levels of availability and durability. Each component is being built using first principles from the ground up to unlock optimization opportunities at every layer of the stack. Being part of Apple Services Engineering organization opens the door to exerting cross-functional influence and making a more significant organizational impact. If you are passionate about large scale distributed systems, operational excellence, and creating resilient platforms that enable innovation across Apple, we would love to hear from you.
Description
We are looking for collaborative, curious, and pragmatic Software Engineers to be part of this innovative team. In this role, you will:
- Shape the product's features and architecture as it scales orders of magnitude
- Demonstrate passion for large-scale distributed systems and creating robust storage solutions.
Responsibilities:
- Build systems that simply work, empowering billions of meaningful moments for people around the world
- Design storage device-optimized low-level storage solutions from first principles
- Develop and maintain large-scale distributed systems with mission-critical reliability
- Optimize high-performance IO stacks for maximum availability and durability
- Drive operational excellence across storage platform infrastructure
- Collaborate cross-functionally to deliver resilient platforms that enable innovation across Apple
Minimum Qualifications
- 3 years of professional software development experience
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
- Experience in building storage systems
- 2+ years of coding in one or more of these programming languages: Rust, C++, Java or C#
- Experience with scripting languages (Bash, Python, Perl)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, an engineering-related field, or equivalent related experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Excellent knowledge of software testing methodologies & practices
- Deep understanding of core computer science concepts, including data structures, algorithms, and concurrency.
- Solid grasp of distributed systems fundamentals such as fault tolerance, consistency, and distributed rate limiting.
- Experience designing and operating large-scale distributed systems such as databases or storage platforms.
- Proficient with UNIX/Linux
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $142,300 and $214,300, 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. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple Services Engineering (ASE) designs, builds, and operates the cloud infrastructure, server systems, and platform technologies that power many of Apple's most beloved experiences. Within ASE, the Storage Platforms organization develops the systems that store, protect, and serve Apple's data at massive scale, with a mission to deliver storage that is durable, secure, highly available, and operated with excellence. Engineers on this team will have the rare opportunity to work on storage device-optimized low-level storage, large-scale distributed systems, and high-performance IO stacks operating at mission-critical levels of availability and durability. Each component is being built using first principles from the ground up to unlock optimization opportunities at every layer of the stack. Being part of Apple Services Engineering organization opens the door to exerting cross-functional influence and making a more significant organizational impact. If you are passionate about large scale distributed systems, operational excellence, and creating resilient platforms that enable innovation across Apple, we would love to hear from you.
Description
We are looking for collaborative, curious, and pragmatic Software Engineers to be part of this innovative team. In this role, you will:
- Shape the product's features and architecture as it scales orders of magnitude
- Demonstrate passion for large-scale distributed systems and creating robust storage solutions.
Responsibilities:
- Build systems that simply work, empowering billions of meaningful moments for people around the world
- Design storage device-optimized low-level storage solutions from first principles
- Develop and maintain large-scale distributed systems with mission-critical reliability
- Optimize high-performance IO stacks for maximum availability and durability
- Drive operational excellence across storage platform infrastructure
- Collaborate cross-functionally to deliver resilient platforms that enable innovation across Apple
Minimum Qualifications
- 3 years of professional software development experience
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
- Experience in building storage systems
- 2+ years of coding in one or more of these programming languages: Rust, C++, Java or C#
- Experience with scripting languages (Bash, Python, Perl)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, an engineering-related field, or equivalent related experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Excellent knowledge of software testing methodologies & practices
- Deep understanding of core computer science concepts, including data structures, algorithms, and concurrency.
- Solid grasp of distributed systems fundamentals such as fault tolerance, consistency, and distributed rate limiting.
- Experience designing and operating large-scale distributed systems such as databases or storage platforms.
- Proficient with UNIX/Linux
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $142,300 and $214,300, 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. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
See all 969+ STEM OPT Engineering Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Engineering
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's CIP code from your DSO and cross-reference it against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Some engineering subfields, like engineering technology or applied engineering, have codes that don't appear on the list, which disqualifies the extension.
Filter job postings by E-Verify status
Ask recruiters directly whether their company is enrolled in E-Verify before your first interview. Many engineering employers, especially smaller firms and startups, aren't enrolled and can't legally employ STEM OPT workers, even if they're willing to hire you.
Negotiate your I-983 training plan early
Bring a draft I-983 outline to your offer negotiation. Engineering hiring managers rarely know what the form requires. Defining your learning objectives, supervision structure, and performance evaluation cycle before you sign prevents delays after your start date.
Check prevailing wage before evaluating offers
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for your engineering role by SOC code and location. STEM OPT itself has no wage floor, but offers significantly below prevailing wage can complicate a future H-1B visa petition with the same employer.
Search Migrate Mate for E-Verify engineering employers
Migrate Mate surfaces engineering roles at employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active sponsorship history. You can filter by engineering discipline and location to focus your applications on companies that have already hired STEM OPT workers.
Start your cap-gap timeline before lottery results
If your OPT end date falls before October 1 and you're selected in the H-1B lottery, USCIS cap-gap rules automatically extend your work authorization. File your H-1B petition with your employer before your OPT expires so cap-gap coverage activates without a gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which engineering degrees qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Your degree qualifies if its CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Most accredited engineering degrees do, including computer, electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, and biomedical engineering. Engineering technology and engineering management degrees sometimes use CIP codes that are not on the list, so confirm with your DSO before assuming eligibility. Your DSO updates your I-20 to reflect STEM designation once confirmed.
Does my engineering employer have to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a strict STEM OPT requirement with no exceptions. Your employer must be actively enrolled, not just registered, before your extension can be authorized. E-Verify participation is searchable through the E-Verify employer search tool. If your employer isn't enrolled, they cannot hire you on STEM OPT, and enrolling typically takes one to three weeks, so raise this during the offer stage, not after you've accepted.
What does the I-983 training plan require for engineering roles?
The I-983 documents how your engineering role provides practical training directly related to your degree field. It must name a specific supervisor, describe your learning objectives in terms tied to engineering competencies, and outline how your employer will evaluate your progress at least every six months. Both you and your employer sign it before your DSO can update your I-20 and authorize the extension. Your employer must also report any material changes in your role or supervision to your DSO within five business days.
How does cap-gap work for STEM OPT engineers in the H-1B lottery?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your OPT EAD expires and USCIS selects you in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. Your F-1 status and employment authorization continue uninterrupted. If you're not selected and your OPT has already expired, you must stop working immediately. USCIS issues cap-gap notices on your I-20 through your DSO once a timely petition is on file.
How do I find engineering employers who hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters engineering job listings by employers with active E-Verify enrollment and documented sponsorship history, which removes the guesswork of cold-applying to companies that can't legally employ STEM OPT workers. You can also use O*NET to identify the SOC code for your engineering specialty and cross-reference it with DOL Labor Condition Application disclosure data to see which employers have filed for similar roles in recent years.