STEM OPT IT Support Specialist Jobs
IT Support Specialist roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in computer science, information technology, or a related field. The 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to work for an E-Verify enrolled employer while building toward long-term sponsorship.
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The IT Support Specialist serves as the primary onsite IT support resource for an assigned Highline Warren facility. This position provides hands-on technology support, maintains local IT equipment, supports employees onboarding and offboarding, and helps ensure reliable technology for facility operations.
After addressing the needs of the assigned facility, the position participates in broader Highline Warren Service Desk, endpoint management, security remediation, and technology deployment activities.
Essential Functions
Onsite Facility Support
- Serve as the first point of contact and primary onsite IT resource for the assigned facility.
- Support employees working in offices, warehouses, manufacturing, shipping, receiving, and other operational areas.
- Troubleshoot Windows computers, Microsoft 365 applications, mobile devices, printers, scanners, label printers, conference room technology, and approved peripherals.
- Resolve hardware, software, authentication, MFA, VPN, printing, and basic network connectivity issues.
- Prepare, configure, deploy, move, replace, and recover computers and related equipment.
- Support employee onboarding, transfers, and separations, including equipment deployment, initial sign-in, application access, and asset recovery.
- Maintain accurate asset records and an appropriate inventory of computers, peripherals, accessories, and spare equipment.
- Coordinate warranty repairs, equipment replacements, and vendor support.
- Perform basic onsite network troubleshooting and assist Infrastructure teams with approved physical activities and information gathering.
- Communicate significant outages, recurring issues, risks, and unresolved problems to IT management and facility leadership.
- Provide onsite support during critical incidents affecting facility operations.
- Maintain regular and punctual attendance at the assigned facility.
Broader IT Activities
- Manage assigned incidents and service requests through Jira Service Management, including documentation, communication, escalation, and closure.
- Assist remote employees and other Highline Warren facilities based on workload and business priorities.
- Participate in workstation imaging, deployment, refresh, patching, application updates, endpoint management, and security remediation.
- Support approved iOS and Android devices accessing Highline Warren Microsoft 365 applications.
- Participate in facility openings, technology upgrades, company-wide deployments, and other assigned IT projects.
- Create and maintain technical documentation, support procedures, knowledge articles, and site-specific instructions.
- Identify recurring issues and recommend improvements to reliability, security, standardization, and employee support.
- Collaborate with the Service Desk, Network Engineering, Systems Administration, IT Security, Enterprise Applications, and approved vendors.
- Participate in the assigned on-call and critical-incident escalation process.
- Follow Highline Warren IT policies, security requirements, documentation standards, and escalation procedures.
Required Qualifications
- Associate degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 3 to 5 years of desktop, Service Desk, field, or onsite IT support experience.
- Experience supporting Windows 11, Mac IOS, Microsoft 365, computers, printers, mobile devices, and common business peripherals.
- Familiarity with workstation imaging, software installation, patching, endpoint management, MFA, VPN, and basic network troubleshooting.
- Experience managing incidents and requests through an IT service-management platform.
- Strong troubleshooting, customer service, communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently as the primary onsite IT resource while collaborating with a geographically distributed IT team.
- Ability to work in offices, warehouses, manufacturing, and other operational areas.
- Ability to deploy, move, connect, retrieve, and inventory standard workplace technology.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Jira Service Management, Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft 365 administration.
- Experience supporting a multi-site, distribution, warehouse, or manufacturing organization.
- CompTIA A+, Microsoft, ITIL, or equivalent technical certification.
Summary
The IT Support Specialist serves as the primary onsite IT support resource for an assigned Highline Warren facility. This position provides hands-on technology support, maintains local IT equipment, supports employees onboarding and offboarding, and helps ensure reliable technology for facility operations.
After addressing the needs of the assigned facility, the position participates in broader Highline Warren Service Desk, endpoint management, security remediation, and technology deployment activities.
Essential Functions
Onsite Facility Support
- Serve as the first point of contact and primary onsite IT resource for the assigned facility.
- Support employees working in offices, warehouses, manufacturing, shipping, receiving, and other operational areas.
- Troubleshoot Windows computers, Microsoft 365 applications, mobile devices, printers, scanners, label printers, conference room technology, and approved peripherals.
- Resolve hardware, software, authentication, MFA, VPN, printing, and basic network connectivity issues.
- Prepare, configure, deploy, move, replace, and recover computers and related equipment.
- Support employee onboarding, transfers, and separations, including equipment deployment, initial sign-in, application access, and asset recovery.
- Maintain accurate asset records and an appropriate inventory of computers, peripherals, accessories, and spare equipment.
- Coordinate warranty repairs, equipment replacements, and vendor support.
- Perform basic onsite network troubleshooting and assist Infrastructure teams with approved physical activities and information gathering.
- Communicate significant outages, recurring issues, risks, and unresolved problems to IT management and facility leadership.
- Provide onsite support during critical incidents affecting facility operations.
- Maintain regular and punctual attendance at the assigned facility.
Broader IT Activities
- Manage assigned incidents and service requests through Jira Service Management, including documentation, communication, escalation, and closure.
- Assist remote employees and other Highline Warren facilities based on workload and business priorities.
- Participate in workstation imaging, deployment, refresh, patching, application updates, endpoint management, and security remediation.
- Support approved iOS and Android devices accessing Highline Warren Microsoft 365 applications.
- Participate in facility openings, technology upgrades, company-wide deployments, and other assigned IT projects.
- Create and maintain technical documentation, support procedures, knowledge articles, and site-specific instructions.
- Identify recurring issues and recommend improvements to reliability, security, standardization, and employee support.
- Collaborate with the Service Desk, Network Engineering, Systems Administration, IT Security, Enterprise Applications, and approved vendors.
- Participate in the assigned on-call and critical-incident escalation process.
- Follow Highline Warren IT policies, security requirements, documentation standards, and escalation procedures.
Required Qualifications
- Associate degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 3 to 5 years of desktop, Service Desk, field, or onsite IT support experience.
- Experience supporting Windows 11, Mac IOS, Microsoft 365, computers, printers, mobile devices, and common business peripherals.
- Familiarity with workstation imaging, software installation, patching, endpoint management, MFA, VPN, and basic network troubleshooting.
- Experience managing incidents and requests through an IT service-management platform.
- Strong troubleshooting, customer service, communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently as the primary onsite IT resource while collaborating with a geographically distributed IT team.
- Ability to work in offices, warehouses, manufacturing, and other operational areas.
- Ability to deploy, move, connect, retrieve, and inventory standard workplace technology.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Jira Service Management, Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft 365 administration.
- Experience supporting a multi-site, distribution, warehouse, or manufacturing organization.
- CompTIA A+, Microsoft, ITIL, or equivalent technical certification.
See all 363+ STEM OPT IT Support Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an IT Support Specialist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check your degree's CIP code against the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List before targeting roles. Information Technology degrees under CIP 11.x and Computer Science under 11.07 typically qualify, but your DSO confirms the match.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Only E-Verify enrolled employers can extend your OPT by 24 months. Search the E-Verify employer search tool to confirm enrollment before applying, not after you receive an offer. Many small IT shops aren't enrolled.
Target help desk roles at E-Verify heavy industries
Federal contractors, healthcare networks, and financial institutions are legally required to use E-Verify, making them reliable STEM OPT employers. IT support is a core function at all three. Focus your search on Migrate Mate, which filters listings to E-Verify enrolled employers.
Build a training plan before your offer letter arrives
Your I-983 training plan must connect IT Support Specialist duties directly to your STEM degree. Draft the learning objectives section in advance using O*NET's task list for SOC code 15-1232, so you're ready to complete it within ten days of starting.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during the offer stage
IT Support Specialist roles fall under specialty occupation scrutiny because the H-1B visa requires a directly related bachelor's degree. Raise the sponsorship question before signing an offer, not at year two, to confirm the employer files I-129 petitions for this role type.
Understand cap-gap coverage if your H-1B is selected
If an employer files your H-1B by April 1 and USCIS selects it, cap-gap extends your STEM OPT authorization through September 30 automatically. Your EAD card expiring before October 1 doesn't interrupt your ability to keep working in the IT support role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an IT Support Specialist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on both your degree and how the role is classified. The position must be directly related to your STEM degree, and your degree must appear on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List. IT Support Specialist roles are typically filed under SOC code 15-1232. Your DSO confirms eligibility by matching your degree's CIP code to that SOC classification before approving the I-20 extension.
What STEM degrees make you eligible for STEM OPT as an IT Support Specialist?
Degrees in Computer and Information Sciences (CIP 11.x), Computer Engineering (CIP 14.09), and Management Information Systems (CIP 11.04) are commonly approved. A general business degree won't qualify even if you've worked in IT for years. Check your transcript for the exact CIP code and cross-reference it against the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List before your DSO files the extension request.
How do I confirm an employer is enrolled in E-Verify before accepting an IT support offer?
Use the E-Verify employer search tool to look up the company by name or FEIN before you accept. Enrollment status can lapse, so verify at the time of the offer, not when you researched the company six months earlier. If the employer isn't listed, they can enroll before your start date, but the enrollment must be active when you begin working.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for an IT Support Specialist?
Your I-983 must map specific job duties to learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. For IT support roles, that means connecting tasks like network troubleshooting, systems administration, or hardware diagnostics to coursework in your degree program. Use O*NET's task descriptions for SOC 15-1232 to draft the duties section. Both you and your supervisor sign the plan, and your DSO must receive it within ten days of your start date.
Where can I find IT Support Specialist jobs that are already verified for STEM OPT eligibility?
Migrate Mate lists IT Support Specialist roles filtered for E-Verify enrolled employers, which is the baseline requirement for your STEM OPT extension. Searching there saves you from applying to companies that can't legally authorize your 24-month extension, which is the most common reason STEM OPT students accept offers that later fall through at onboarding.