STEM OPT Infrastructure Engineer Jobs
Infrastructure Engineer roles in cloud platforms, network architecture, and systems reliability qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. Employers must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign your I-983 training plan, making employer selection as important as the job offer itself.
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Get Access To All JobsSoftware Engineer III – Data Infrastructure
The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.
The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) drives computational and technological innovation across the Allen Institute by advancing engineering excellence, developing scalable technology solutions, and enabling scientific discovery. Through strategic partnerships and technical leadership, OCTO accelerates research, enhances operational efficiency, and fosters collaboration in support of the Institute's mission.
The Allen Institute Scientific Computing team is focused on driving open science by building data management tools that enable rapid, high-quality sharing of data. The team develops scalable data management infrastructure that supports the full data lifecycle, from acquisition and metadata capture through processing, storage, discovery, and reuse. By partnering closely with scientists and engineering teams across the Institute, Scientific Computing helps ensure that complex biological datasets are reliable, accessible, and ready to accelerate discovery.
We are seeking a Software Engineer to serve as a technical contributor responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robust, scalable data management infrastructure that supports large-scale scientific data collection and sharing across the Allen Institute. This role will focus on the reliable transfer of data and metadata to cloud storage systems, execution of standard processing pipelines, and development of infrastructure that facilitates data sharing and discovery in the public cloud. The ideal candidate is facile with the complexities of large-scale biology, comfortable with modern cloud-native tools and technologies for data management, and sets high standards for code quality, sustainability, and operational reliability.
At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.
We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.
Essential Functions
- Collaborate with product management, leadership, and scientists to manage a cloud-based data collaboration platform
- Develop databases and APIs that standardize metadata and scripts that migrate data rapidly to the cloud
- Develop infrastructure to facilitate monitoring and analysis of complex, varied biological data
- Provide technical mentorship to engineers through design reviews, code reviews, documentation, and shared engineering standards
- Establish and maintain industry software development best practices at the institute - develop unit and integration tests, participate in code reviews, version code, track issues, and write documentation
Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in computer science, computer engineering, or relevant field; or equivalent combination of degree and experience
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role
- Experience providing technical leadership for complex software systems, including architecture, code review, and cross-functional collaboration
- Extensive programming experience in Python
Preferred Education and Experience
- Ph.D. in computer science, computational biology, or relevant field
- Modern, working knowledge of cloud services in AWS and GCP
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Working knowledge of agentic software development best practices
Physical Demands
- Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
- This role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite for the majority of working hours. The primary work location for this role is 615 Westlake Ave N., with the flexibility to work remotely on a limited basis.
Travel
- Attendance and participation in national and international conferences as appropriate
Additional Comments
- Please note, this opportunity does offer relocation assistance
- Please note, this opportunity may offer work visa sponsorship
Annualized Salary Range
- $146,600 - $183,250 *
Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.
Benefits
Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.
It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Software Engineer III – Data Infrastructure
The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.
The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) drives computational and technological innovation across the Allen Institute by advancing engineering excellence, developing scalable technology solutions, and enabling scientific discovery. Through strategic partnerships and technical leadership, OCTO accelerates research, enhances operational efficiency, and fosters collaboration in support of the Institute's mission.
The Allen Institute Scientific Computing team is focused on driving open science by building data management tools that enable rapid, high-quality sharing of data. The team develops scalable data management infrastructure that supports the full data lifecycle, from acquisition and metadata capture through processing, storage, discovery, and reuse. By partnering closely with scientists and engineering teams across the Institute, Scientific Computing helps ensure that complex biological datasets are reliable, accessible, and ready to accelerate discovery.
We are seeking a Software Engineer to serve as a technical contributor responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robust, scalable data management infrastructure that supports large-scale scientific data collection and sharing across the Allen Institute. This role will focus on the reliable transfer of data and metadata to cloud storage systems, execution of standard processing pipelines, and development of infrastructure that facilitates data sharing and discovery in the public cloud. The ideal candidate is facile with the complexities of large-scale biology, comfortable with modern cloud-native tools and technologies for data management, and sets high standards for code quality, sustainability, and operational reliability.
At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.
We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.
Essential Functions
- Collaborate with product management, leadership, and scientists to manage a cloud-based data collaboration platform
- Develop databases and APIs that standardize metadata and scripts that migrate data rapidly to the cloud
- Develop infrastructure to facilitate monitoring and analysis of complex, varied biological data
- Provide technical mentorship to engineers through design reviews, code reviews, documentation, and shared engineering standards
- Establish and maintain industry software development best practices at the institute - develop unit and integration tests, participate in code reviews, version code, track issues, and write documentation
Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in computer science, computer engineering, or relevant field; or equivalent combination of degree and experience
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role
- Experience providing technical leadership for complex software systems, including architecture, code review, and cross-functional collaboration
- Extensive programming experience in Python
Preferred Education and Experience
- Ph.D. in computer science, computational biology, or relevant field
- Modern, working knowledge of cloud services in AWS and GCP
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Working knowledge of agentic software development best practices
Physical Demands
- Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
- This role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite for the majority of working hours. The primary work location for this role is 615 Westlake Ave N., with the flexibility to work remotely on a limited basis.
Travel
- Attendance and participation in national and international conferences as appropriate
Additional Comments
- Please note, this opportunity does offer relocation assistance
- Please note, this opportunity may offer work visa sponsorship
Annualized Salary Range
- $146,600 - $183,250 *
Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.
Benefits
Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.
It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
See all 466+ STEM OPT Infrastructure Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an Infrastructure Engineer
Verify your degree's CIP code eligibility
Check whether your computer science, electrical engineering, or information systems degree maps to an approved STEM CIP code on the official DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Mismatches between your transcript and the list are the most common reason STEM OPT extension applications get rejected.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify employer ID or verify enrollment directly through the E-Verify employer search. Many infrastructure teams at staffing agencies or smaller managed-service providers aren't enrolled, which disqualifies them from supervising your STEM OPT training.
Align your I-983 training goals to infrastructure competencies
Your I-983 training plan must list specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. For infrastructure roles, map goals to systems design, network security protocols, or cloud architecture frameworks so your DSO can certify the plan without revision requests.
Target employers with active H-1B petition histories
Infrastructure engineers on STEM OPT typically need H-1B visa sponsorship before their 36 months expire. Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by verified DOL Labor Condition Application filings for infrastructure and systems roles, showing which companies have sponsored similar positions.
File your STEM OPT extension 90 days before OPT ends
USCIS requires you to apply within the 90-day window before your initial OPT expires. Late applications void cap-gap protection, which means a gap in work authorization if your H-1B is pending during the October 1 start date transition.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark infrastructure role wages
Your employer's offered salary must meet the DOL prevailing wage for your infrastructure job title and work location. Run the OFLC Wage Search using the relevant SOC code before signing an offer to confirm the compensation qualifies and won't trigger a wage violation on your I-983.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Infrastructure Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not just the job title. Infrastructure Engineer positions qualify if your employer can connect the role to a STEM degree on the DHS designated list, such as computer science, electrical engineering, or information technology. Your I-983 training plan must document how the day-to-day work, whether managing cloud infrastructure, configuring networks, or building CI/CD pipelines, directly applies the technical knowledge from your degree field.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my employer loses E-Verify enrollment?
Your work authorization becomes invalid if your employer's E-Verify enrollment lapses or is terminated. E-Verify enrollment is a continuous requirement, not a one-time checkbox at hiring. If your employer loses enrollment mid-employment, you must stop working and either find a new E-Verify-enrolled employer or risk falling out of status. Check your employer's enrollment status periodically through the E-Verify employer search and notify your DSO immediately if enrollment changes.
How does cap-gap work if I'm on STEM OPT when my H-1B is selected?
Cap-gap automatically extends your STEM OPT work authorization from April 1 through September 30 if your H-1B petition is filed before your STEM OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery. Your employment authorization document isn't reissued; your original EAD combined with your H-1B receipt notice serves as proof. Infrastructure roles at large tech employers often process H-1B cap-gap situations routinely, but confirm your HR team understands which documents are required.
What should my I-983 training plan include for an Infrastructure Engineer position?
Your I-983 must identify specific technical skills you'll develop that connect directly to your STEM degree. For infrastructure roles, list objectives such as designing fault-tolerant network architectures, implementing infrastructure-as-code using tools like Terraform, or managing Kubernetes clusters for containerized workloads. Vague goals like 'gain industry experience' are routinely flagged by DSOs. Your supervisor must co-sign the plan and participate in evaluations every six months, confirming you're progressing against the documented learning objectives.
How do I find Infrastructure Engineer employers who are already set up for STEM OPT students?
Search Migrate Mate to filter infrastructure roles by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active DOL Labor Condition Application filing histories. Employers who have previously sponsored infrastructure engineers through OPT and into H-1B status already understand the I-983 co-signing process, the six-month evaluation requirement, and the E-Verify reporting obligations, which significantly reduces onboarding friction compared to employers encountering STEM OPT requirements for the first time.