STEM OPT IT Operations Specialist Jobs
IT Operations Specialist roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, drawing on degrees in computer science, information systems, and related fields. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, giving you up to 36 months total, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and you file a completed I-983 training plan.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Fluor, we are proud to design and build projects and careers. We are committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative work environment that encourages big-picture thinking, brings out the best in our employees, and helps us develop innovative solutions that contribute to building a better world together. If this sounds like a culture you would like to work in, you’re invited to apply for this role.
Fluor is a leading government contractor with a proven track record of delivering high-value technical solutions around the world to U.S. government agencies such as the DOE, NNSA, the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.
Job Description
Responsible for maintaining and strengthening the security posture of Azure cloud deployments across our organization. This includes designing, implementing, and maintaining secure baselines for a range of Azure services, including OpenAI, Machine Learning, AKS, App Service, Functions, Storage, Key Vault, Cosmos, and Databricks, ensuring that these services operate within established security standards and best practices.
- Develop, own, and maintain secure baselines for Azure services, such as OpenAI, ML, AKS, App Service, Functions, Storage, Key Vault, Cosmos, and Databricks.
- Enforce security controls and policies, including private endpoints and VNET integration for network isolation.
- Implementation of managed identity throughout deployments and use of Key Vault for secure secrets management.
- Apply Defender for Cloud policies and Azure Policy guardrails to enforce compliance and security standards.
- Enhance robust logging and monitoring using Sentinel and Log Analytics.
- Develop and maintain incident response playbooks.
The ideal candidate will possess deep technical knowledge of Azure security tools and services, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cloud resources are securely configured and monitored, proactively identifying and mitigating risks.
Basic Job Requirements
- Accredited four (4) year degree or global equivalent in applicable field of study and five (5) years of work-related experience or a combination of education and directly related experience equal to nine (9) years if non-degreed; some locations may have additional or different qualifications in order to comply with local requirements
- Ability to communicate effectively with audiences that include but are not limited to management, coworkers, clients, vendors, contractors, and visitors
- Job related technical knowledge necessary to complete the job
- Ability to learn and apply knowledge of applicable local, state/province, and federal/national statutes and guidelines
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
- Relevant industry certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or similar
- Proven experience (5 years) as an IT Security Analyst or similar role, with a focus on application security, Azure Active Directory, conditional access policies, and single sign-on (SSO) configurations
- Strong technical knowledge of Azure cloud security tools and services, including OpenAI, Machine Learning, AKS, App Service, Functions, Storage, Key Vault, Cosmos, and Databricks.
- Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining secure baselines for Azure services.
- Ability to enforce security controls and policies, such as private endpoints and VNET integration for network isolation.
- Proficiency in implementing managed identities and using Key Vault for secure secrets management.
- Experience applying Defender for Cloud policies and Azure Policy guardrails to enforce compliance and security standards.
- Ability to communicate effectively with management, coworkers, clients, vendors, contractors, and visitors.
- Ability to learn and apply knowledge of applicable local, state/province, and federal/national statutes and guidelines.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work efficiently in a time-conscious and fast-paced environment.
- Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure secure cloud configurations and proactive risk mitigation.
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, especially concerning note taking when evaluating applications and attending meetings
- Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner, set priorities, and meet deadlines
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other criteria protected by governing law.
Benefits Statement: Fluor is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote employee health, wellness, and financial security. Our offerings include medical, dental and vision plans, EAP, disability coverage, life insurance, AD&D, voluntary benefit plans, 401(k) with a company match, paid time off (personal, bereavement, sick, holidays) for salaried employees, paid sick leave per state requirement for craft employees, parental leave, and training and development courses.
Market Rate Statement: The market rate for the role is typically at the mid-point of the salary range; however, variations in final salary are determined by additional factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, relevant years of experience, geographic location, internal pay equity, and prevailing market conditions for the specific role.
Notice to Candidates: Background checks are carried out as part of any conditional offer made, including (but not limited to & role dependent) education, professional registration, employment, references, passport verifications and Global Watchlist screening.
To be Considered Candidates: Must be authorized to work in the country where the position is located.
Salary Range: $83,000.00 - $154,000.00
At Fluor, we are proud to design and build projects and careers. We are committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative work environment that encourages big-picture thinking, brings out the best in our employees, and helps us develop innovative solutions that contribute to building a better world together. If this sounds like a culture you would like to work in, you’re invited to apply for this role.
Fluor is a leading government contractor with a proven track record of delivering high-value technical solutions around the world to U.S. government agencies such as the DOE, NNSA, the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.
Job Description
Responsible for maintaining and strengthening the security posture of Azure cloud deployments across our organization. This includes designing, implementing, and maintaining secure baselines for a range of Azure services, including OpenAI, Machine Learning, AKS, App Service, Functions, Storage, Key Vault, Cosmos, and Databricks, ensuring that these services operate within established security standards and best practices.
- Develop, own, and maintain secure baselines for Azure services, such as OpenAI, ML, AKS, App Service, Functions, Storage, Key Vault, Cosmos, and Databricks.
- Enforce security controls and policies, including private endpoints and VNET integration for network isolation.
- Implementation of managed identity throughout deployments and use of Key Vault for secure secrets management.
- Apply Defender for Cloud policies and Azure Policy guardrails to enforce compliance and security standards.
- Enhance robust logging and monitoring using Sentinel and Log Analytics.
- Develop and maintain incident response playbooks.
The ideal candidate will possess deep technical knowledge of Azure security tools and services, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cloud resources are securely configured and monitored, proactively identifying and mitigating risks.
Basic Job Requirements
- Accredited four (4) year degree or global equivalent in applicable field of study and five (5) years of work-related experience or a combination of education and directly related experience equal to nine (9) years if non-degreed; some locations may have additional or different qualifications in order to comply with local requirements
- Ability to communicate effectively with audiences that include but are not limited to management, coworkers, clients, vendors, contractors, and visitors
- Job related technical knowledge necessary to complete the job
- Ability to learn and apply knowledge of applicable local, state/province, and federal/national statutes and guidelines
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
- Relevant industry certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or similar
- Proven experience (5 years) as an IT Security Analyst or similar role, with a focus on application security, Azure Active Directory, conditional access policies, and single sign-on (SSO) configurations
- Strong technical knowledge of Azure cloud security tools and services, including OpenAI, Machine Learning, AKS, App Service, Functions, Storage, Key Vault, Cosmos, and Databricks.
- Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining secure baselines for Azure services.
- Ability to enforce security controls and policies, such as private endpoints and VNET integration for network isolation.
- Proficiency in implementing managed identities and using Key Vault for secure secrets management.
- Experience applying Defender for Cloud policies and Azure Policy guardrails to enforce compliance and security standards.
- Ability to communicate effectively with management, coworkers, clients, vendors, contractors, and visitors.
- Ability to learn and apply knowledge of applicable local, state/province, and federal/national statutes and guidelines.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work efficiently in a time-conscious and fast-paced environment.
- Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure secure cloud configurations and proactive risk mitigation.
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, especially concerning note taking when evaluating applications and attending meetings
- Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner, set priorities, and meet deadlines
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other criteria protected by governing law.
Benefits Statement: Fluor is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote employee health, wellness, and financial security. Our offerings include medical, dental and vision plans, EAP, disability coverage, life insurance, AD&D, voluntary benefit plans, 401(k) with a company match, paid time off (personal, bereavement, sick, holidays) for salaried employees, paid sick leave per state requirement for craft employees, parental leave, and training and development courses.
Market Rate Statement: The market rate for the role is typically at the mid-point of the salary range; however, variations in final salary are determined by additional factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, relevant years of experience, geographic location, internal pay equity, and prevailing market conditions for the specific role.
Notice to Candidates: Background checks are carried out as part of any conditional offer made, including (but not limited to & role dependent) education, professional registration, employment, references, passport verifications and Global Watchlist screening.
To be Considered Candidates: Must be authorized to work in the country where the position is located.
Salary Range: $83,000.00 - $154,000.00
See all IT Operations Specialist jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an IT Operations Specialist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to a STEM-designated field recognized by ICE. IT operations roles typically align with CIP codes under computer science or information technology, but your DSO confirms the exact match.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether their company is enrolled in E-Verify before you advance past the first interview. An employer without active E-Verify enrollment cannot legally employ you on a STEM OPT extension, regardless of role or offer terms.
Target employers with active H-1B LCA filings
IT operations teams that have filed Labor Condition Applications with DOL for H-1B workers already have internal processes for sponsoring work authorization. Use Migrate Mate to filter for these employers and prioritize outreach to companies with demonstrated filing history in operations and infrastructure roles.
Build your I-983 training plan around the job description
Draft specific learning objectives tied to the actual IT operations duties in the job posting, such as incident response, system monitoring, or network administration. USCIS reviewers look for a direct connection between your STEM degree and the practical skills being developed on the job.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark your offer
Look up the prevailing wage for IT Operations Specialist using the OFLC Wage Search before salary discussions. If an employer's offer falls below the DOL wage level for your metro area, that gap can create complications when the employer later files an LCA for your H-1B transition.
Track your cap-gap window if your OPT expires near October
If your STEM OPT end date falls before October 1 and your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf, the cap-gap rule automatically extends your work authorization. Confirm with your DSO that your I-20 reflects the cap-gap extension so your employment record stays clean.
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Find IT Operations Specialist JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does an IT Operations Specialist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, information technology, or information systems. The role itself must also provide practical training directly related to your degree. Your DSO will verify that your degree's CIP code appears on the SEVP STEM Designated Degree Program List before authorizing the extension on your I-20.
How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify for my STEM OPT extension?
Ask your HR contact for the company's E-Verify Company ID or request a screenshot of their active enrollment status. E-Verify participation is a hard legal requirement for STEM OPT employers, and your DSO will need written confirmation before signing off on the I-983. Employers can self-verify their status through the E-Verify employer search tool maintained by DHS.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for an IT operations role?
The I-983 requires a detailed description of the specific skills, knowledge, and competencies you'll develop, along with how each connects to your STEM degree. For IT operations, that means documenting learning objectives around areas like systems administration, network infrastructure, incident management, or cloud operations, not just listing job duties. USCIS expects a clear and direct relationship between your coursework and your on-the-job training.
How do I find IT Operations Specialist jobs where employers already understand STEM OPT requirements?
Search Migrate Mate for IT operations roles filtered by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and prior work authorization sponsorship history. Companies that have previously filed Labor Condition Applications for similar technical roles typically have HR teams that already understand the I-983 process, the 24-month extension timeline, and the employer reporting obligations under STEM OPT.
What are the employer reporting obligations during my STEM OPT period in this role?
Your employer must report material changes to your training plan, a reduction in your salary or hours that affects your practical training, and any termination or departure from the role to your DSO within five business days. You and your employer must also conduct formal I-983 evaluations at the midpoint and end of the authorized training period, which USCIS may audit.
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