STEM OPT IT Engineer Jobs
IT Engineer roles in systems administration, network infrastructure, and cloud operations regularly qualify for STEM OPT. With a STEM degree and an E-Verify-enrolled employer, you can work up to 36 months on OPT total, giving you real runway to build U.S. experience and pursue long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsJOB PROFILE SUMMARY
The Engineer's role is to actively participate in designing and executing technology solutions. They work on configuring, coding, and developing components while troubleshooting issues. Junior Engineers document their work and provide support as part of a collaborative team effort.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Small project leadership, single project focused.
- Developing and implementing technology/software solutions, conducting system analysis, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
- Design and Development: Contribute to the design and development of engineering solutions, products, or systems under supervision.
- Testing and Prototyping: Conduct tests, experiments, and prototype development to validate engineering concepts and designs.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, communicate project status, and assist in project planning and scheduling.
- Engineer, design, configure, deploy and troubleshoot technologies.
- Research, document, and implement solutions.
- Monitor performance, correct mistakes, identify areas for improvement, and general debugging.
- Develop and maintain end-user documentation, manuals, guidelines, and run books.
- Liaise with vendors for prompt rectification of any problems or emergencies.
- Provide estimates on work effort.
- Address incidents and provide ongoing support.
MINIMUM EDUCATION OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED
- BS/BA in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Management, or other related area, or equivalent experience.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS REQUIRED
- 3+ years' experience with one or more technologies.
- Operates with limited supervision.
- Proficiency in cloud, network, and software methodologies, strong analytical skills.
- Hands-on experience troubleshooting issues.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Customer-focused mindset.
- Attention to detail.
- Able to learn, understand and apply new technologies.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
FIRST FOR A REASON:
At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.
In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request.
JOB PROFILE SUMMARY
The Engineer's role is to actively participate in designing and executing technology solutions. They work on configuring, coding, and developing components while troubleshooting issues. Junior Engineers document their work and provide support as part of a collaborative team effort.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Small project leadership, single project focused.
- Developing and implementing technology/software solutions, conducting system analysis, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
- Design and Development: Contribute to the design and development of engineering solutions, products, or systems under supervision.
- Testing and Prototyping: Conduct tests, experiments, and prototype development to validate engineering concepts and designs.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, communicate project status, and assist in project planning and scheduling.
- Engineer, design, configure, deploy and troubleshoot technologies.
- Research, document, and implement solutions.
- Monitor performance, correct mistakes, identify areas for improvement, and general debugging.
- Develop and maintain end-user documentation, manuals, guidelines, and run books.
- Liaise with vendors for prompt rectification of any problems or emergencies.
- Provide estimates on work effort.
- Address incidents and provide ongoing support.
MINIMUM EDUCATION OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED
- BS/BA in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Management, or other related area, or equivalent experience.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS REQUIRED
- 3+ years' experience with one or more technologies.
- Operates with limited supervision.
- Proficiency in cloud, network, and software methodologies, strong analytical skills.
- Hands-on experience troubleshooting issues.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Customer-focused mindset.
- Attention to detail.
- Able to learn, understand and apply new technologies.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
FIRST FOR A REASON:
At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.
In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request.
See all 980+ STEM OPT IT Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an IT Engineer
Confirm your degree CIP code qualifies
Not every computer science or engineering degree maps to a STEM-designated CIP code. Check your degree's CIP code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before applying, so you know whether your specific major supports the 24-month extension.
Filter job postings by E-Verify status
Before accepting an IT Engineer offer, verify the employer is actively enrolled in E-Verify, not just registered. Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name to confirm current enrollment, since lapsed enrollment disqualifies the employer for STEM OPT.
Use Migrate Mate to target STEM OPT-ready employers
Search IT Engineer roles on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and prior STEM OPT hiring history, so you spend time on companies already set up to onboard you without compliance delays.
Benchmark your offer against prevailing wage
Your employer's I-983 training plan must reflect pay commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers. Run your role's SOC code through the OFLC Wage Search before signing, so you can flag any gap between your offer and the applicable wage level.
File the I-983 before your OPT end date
Your DSO must receive a completed I-983 from your IT Engineer employer and update your SEVIS record before your initial OPT expires. Late submission creates an authorization gap USCIS treats as unlawful presence, so build in at least three weeks of buffer.
Position cap-gap coverage in your offer negotiation
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before April 1 and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. Confirm your employer's H-1B filing timeline during negotiations, not after you've accepted the offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my STEM degree qualify me for the 24-month STEM OPT extension as an IT Engineer?
It depends on your specific degree's CIP code, not just your field of study. Degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, information systems, and computer engineering typically appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Check your official transcript for the CIP code your institution assigned and cross-reference it against the DHS list, which USCIS uses to evaluate STEM OPT eligibility.
What E-Verify requirement does my IT Engineer employer need to meet?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the time you begin working, and must remain enrolled for the full duration of your STEM OPT authorization. Enrollment that has lapsed or was never completed disqualifies the employer, even if they were enrolled previously. Confirm active enrollment through the E-Verify employer search before accepting any offer, not after.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for an IT Engineer role?
The I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your IT Engineer responsibilities, your degree field, and measurable outcomes your employer will evaluate. Generic job descriptions don't satisfy USCIS requirements. Include concrete skills like network configuration, systems monitoring, or cloud infrastructure management, and document how those connect to your STEM coursework. Your DSO reviews and submits the form; the employer and you both sign it.
How does cap-gap work if my IT Engineer employer files an H-1B petition for me?
If your employer submits an H-1B petition on your behalf before April 1 and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your STEM OPT work authorization through September 30 of that year. You don't file anything separately to trigger cap-gap, but your DSO must annotate your I-20 to reflect the extension. If the petition is filed but not selected, your STEM OPT end date controls.
Where can I find IT Engineer jobs with employers already set up for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists IT Engineer roles filtered to employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and a track record of hiring STEM OPT students, which removes the most common compliance barrier upfront. You can also cross-reference any employer you find elsewhere against the E-Verify employer search and DOL LCA disclosure data to confirm they've filed for STEM-related roles before.