STEM OPT Hardware Engineer Jobs
Hardware Engineer roles in semiconductors, embedded systems, and PCB design are strong matches for STEM OPT. Your STEM degree qualifies you for the 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and you maintain a valid I-983 training plan.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Description: No BR Flex
5 days onsite in New Albany only
Chance of extension
Conversion Eligibility Required
Responsibilities
- Independently accountable for identifying and responding to onsite risks and high-priority issues rapidly and effectively, troubleshooting incidents, shift turnover, incident queues, media processing, and escorting vendors. 40%
- Working with the Product Owner, Service Owner and Subject Matter Experts, validates the context of requirements and executes individual user stories relating to onsite data center systems including critical system installs, data room moves, decommissions, reconfigurations, and onsite data center/data room power down events. 20%
- Independently executes a variety of user stories with different contexts. Actively contributes opinions to design decisions and gains experience in understanding the design trade-offs relating to OSI Model Layer 1 Infrastructure design/implementation/documentation, system automation via CI/CD pipelines and APIs, capacity planning, inventory planning, etc. 20%
- Demonstrates the ability to identify the basic building blocks and components of data centers and OSI Model Layer 1 Infrastructure. Identifies how data center infrastructure moves/adds/changes to software/hardware functionality will impact on-prem data center infrastructure services or components. Applies knowledge of the various facilities and security components in the data center. 10%
- Defines and evaluates team documentation for process improvement. 5%
- Regularly contributes to team agile ceremonies, leads demos and presentations, helps new engineers learn established team norms and participates in technology communities. 5%
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 1-3+ years’ experience deploying and maintaining complex data center environments (new facility, major facility renovations/expansions)
- Understanding of indoor/outdoor cable plants, including copper cabling, long range/short range fiber optic cabling
- Knowledge of information technology infrastructure components (LAN/WAN/SAN, firewalls, Wintel/Lintel/UNIX servers, storage, roll-on equipment, wireless, DAS)
- Knowledge of EIA/TIA, IEEE, NEC, and ISO standards relating to data centers and structured cabling
- Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with internal team members and external vendors
- Must be a team player and self-starter
- Strong documentation skills to capture architecture details, procedures, and other relevant data
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Bachelor’s degree in CS/CIS/Network/Telecommunications or related field or equivalent work experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Data center and/or networking industry certifications preferred
- 3-5+ years’ experience designing, deploying and maintaining complex data center environments (new facility, major facility renovations/expansions)
- Understanding of indoor/outdoor cable plants, including copper cabling, long range/short range fiber optic cabling
- Knowledge of information technology infrastructure components (LAN/WAN/SAN, firewalls, Wintel/Lintel/UNIX servers, storage, roll-on equipment, wireless, DAS)
- Knowledge of EIA/TIA, IEEE, NEC, and ISO standards relating to data centers and structured cabling
- Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with internal team members and external vendors
- Must be a team player and self-starter
- Strong documentation skills to capture architecture details, procedures, and other relevant data
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
Layer 1 Technologies
- Layer 1 Technologies (Single Mode, Multimode, Cat 5e, 6, 6A, Direct Attach Cable Assemblies, Optical Transceivers and Transceiver Compatibility, Connectors, Performance Specifications, Deployment Topologies and Methods)
- TIA-568 (Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard), TIA-942 (Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers)
Data Center Hardware
- Hardware Platforms (Network, Compute, IoT, AV, End User)
- Common Network Topologies/Common Carrier Infrastructure and Deployment Methods
- Power and Cooling infrastructure layout from generation to rack level
- Rack standards, properties, and selection criteria
Testing & Verification
- Data Center Software Installations & Upgrades
- APIs and System Integration
- OS Platforms
- Preventative Network Security Hardening Administration & Configuration
- Installation Instructions
- Configuration Standards
Network Configuration and Troubleshooting
- Knowledge of the different types of communication protocols used in a computer network
- Network Monitoring (SNMP, CDP, ICMP)
- LAN/WAN/VLANs
System Automation
- Programming Frameworks
- Automation-First Mindset
Data Center Operations
- Operational Support / Process Management
- Data Center and Physical Site Infrastructure
- Power and Cooling Infrastructure/Fire Suppression/Physical Security/Facility Maintenance
Technical Writing
- Writing Skills – Writes clearly, concisely, and precisely
- Editing Skills – Visual needs and Tools of the trade
- Engineering Base – network knowledge and technical jargon
Job Description: No BR Flex
5 days onsite in New Albany only
Chance of extension
Conversion Eligibility Required
Responsibilities
- Independently accountable for identifying and responding to onsite risks and high-priority issues rapidly and effectively, troubleshooting incidents, shift turnover, incident queues, media processing, and escorting vendors. 40%
- Working with the Product Owner, Service Owner and Subject Matter Experts, validates the context of requirements and executes individual user stories relating to onsite data center systems including critical system installs, data room moves, decommissions, reconfigurations, and onsite data center/data room power down events. 20%
- Independently executes a variety of user stories with different contexts. Actively contributes opinions to design decisions and gains experience in understanding the design trade-offs relating to OSI Model Layer 1 Infrastructure design/implementation/documentation, system automation via CI/CD pipelines and APIs, capacity planning, inventory planning, etc. 20%
- Demonstrates the ability to identify the basic building blocks and components of data centers and OSI Model Layer 1 Infrastructure. Identifies how data center infrastructure moves/adds/changes to software/hardware functionality will impact on-prem data center infrastructure services or components. Applies knowledge of the various facilities and security components in the data center. 10%
- Defines and evaluates team documentation for process improvement. 5%
- Regularly contributes to team agile ceremonies, leads demos and presentations, helps new engineers learn established team norms and participates in technology communities. 5%
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 1-3+ years’ experience deploying and maintaining complex data center environments (new facility, major facility renovations/expansions)
- Understanding of indoor/outdoor cable plants, including copper cabling, long range/short range fiber optic cabling
- Knowledge of information technology infrastructure components (LAN/WAN/SAN, firewalls, Wintel/Lintel/UNIX servers, storage, roll-on equipment, wireless, DAS)
- Knowledge of EIA/TIA, IEEE, NEC, and ISO standards relating to data centers and structured cabling
- Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with internal team members and external vendors
- Must be a team player and self-starter
- Strong documentation skills to capture architecture details, procedures, and other relevant data
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Bachelor’s degree in CS/CIS/Network/Telecommunications or related field or equivalent work experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Data center and/or networking industry certifications preferred
- 3-5+ years’ experience designing, deploying and maintaining complex data center environments (new facility, major facility renovations/expansions)
- Understanding of indoor/outdoor cable plants, including copper cabling, long range/short range fiber optic cabling
- Knowledge of information technology infrastructure components (LAN/WAN/SAN, firewalls, Wintel/Lintel/UNIX servers, storage, roll-on equipment, wireless, DAS)
- Knowledge of EIA/TIA, IEEE, NEC, and ISO standards relating to data centers and structured cabling
- Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with internal team members and external vendors
- Must be a team player and self-starter
- Strong documentation skills to capture architecture details, procedures, and other relevant data
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
Layer 1 Technologies
- Layer 1 Technologies (Single Mode, Multimode, Cat 5e, 6, 6A, Direct Attach Cable Assemblies, Optical Transceivers and Transceiver Compatibility, Connectors, Performance Specifications, Deployment Topologies and Methods)
- TIA-568 (Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard), TIA-942 (Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers)
Data Center Hardware
- Hardware Platforms (Network, Compute, IoT, AV, End User)
- Common Network Topologies/Common Carrier Infrastructure and Deployment Methods
- Power and Cooling infrastructure layout from generation to rack level
- Rack standards, properties, and selection criteria
Testing & Verification
- Data Center Software Installations & Upgrades
- APIs and System Integration
- OS Platforms
- Preventative Network Security Hardening Administration & Configuration
- Installation Instructions
- Configuration Standards
Network Configuration and Troubleshooting
- Knowledge of the different types of communication protocols used in a computer network
- Network Monitoring (SNMP, CDP, ICMP)
- LAN/WAN/VLANs
System Automation
- Programming Frameworks
- Automation-First Mindset
Data Center Operations
- Operational Support / Process Management
- Data Center and Physical Site Infrastructure
- Power and Cooling Infrastructure/Fire Suppression/Physical Security/Facility Maintenance
Technical Writing
- Writing Skills – Writes clearly, concisely, and precisely
- Editing Skills – Visual needs and Tools of the trade
- Engineering Base – network knowledge and technical jargon
See all 163+ STEM OPT Hardware Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Hardware Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Hardware Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code maps to an approved STEM field in the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and materials science all qualify, but interdisciplinary degrees sometimes require a closer review with your DSO.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment during interviews
Ask the recruiter directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before accepting an offer. Hardware teams at defense contractors, semiconductor fabs, and ASIC design firms are typically enrolled, but smaller embedded-systems consultancies often are not.
Align your I-983 to actual hardware deliverables
Your training plan must connect your daily tasks, such as FPGA validation, signal integrity testing, or PCB bring-up, to specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. Vague plans describing 'general engineering tasks' get rejected by DSOs and complicate renewals.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark hardware roles
Look up prevailing wages for hardware engineer positions by SOC code and location using OFLC Wage Search before negotiations. Your employer's LCA wage commitment must meet the DOL prevailing wage, and knowing the floor strengthens your position when discussing compensation.
Target employers with STEM OPT extension history on Migrate Mate
Search for Hardware Engineer openings on Migrate Mate, which filters for E-Verify-enrolled employers with documented STEM OPT hiring history. This cuts the time you'd otherwise spend manually screening postings where OPT authorization is unconfirmed.
File your extension request 90 days before OPT expires
Submit your STEM OPT extension application to USCIS no later than 90 days before your current OPT end date. A timely filing triggers automatic cap-gap protection, keeping your work authorization intact while USCIS adjudicates the I-765.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my engineering degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension as a hardware engineer?
Your degree qualifies if its CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and materials science are all eligible. If your degree is in an adjacent field like applied physics or mechatronics, confirm the exact CIP code with your DSO before relying on it for the extension. Interdisciplinary programs sometimes carry non-STEM CIP codes that disqualify the extension even when the coursework is technical.
What E-Verify requirement applies to hardware engineer employers hiring STEM OPT students?
Any employer hiring you on a STEM OPT extension must be enrolled in E-Verify at the specific worksite where you'll be working, not just at the company's headquarters. If you're placed at a client site or a subsidiary, that location must also be enrolled. You can verify enrollment by asking HR for the company's E-Verify company ID or by confirming with your DSO, who is required to check enrollment before recommending the extension.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a hardware engineering role?
Your I-983 must document specific training goals tied to your STEM degree, the technical skills you'll develop, supervision arrangements, and how the role relates to your academic program. For hardware engineering, this means listing concrete objectives like designing and validating PCB layouts, characterizing analog circuits, or writing firmware for embedded systems. Generic descriptions of 'engineering duties' are insufficient. Your employer's supervisor signs the plan, and your DSO reviews it before the extension is recommended.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm transitioning from STEM OPT to H-1B as a hardware engineer?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your OPT work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working in your hardware engineering role during this period without interruption. If your petition isn't selected, your STEM OPT remains valid until its original end date, after which you'd need to depart or change status.
Where can I find hardware engineer jobs that are confirmed to accept STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Hardware Engineer openings filtered by employers enrolled in E-Verify, which is the threshold requirement for STEM OPT hiring. You can search by role, location, and industry to focus on semiconductor companies, defense contractors, and embedded systems firms that have demonstrated experience sponsoring OPT students. Checking E-Verify enrollment status before applying saves time and avoids offers you can't legally accept on a STEM OPT extension.