STEM OPT Lead Software Engineer Jobs
Lead Software Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree maps to an eligible CIP code in computer science, engineering, or a related STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and the 24-month extension gives you up to 36 months total to build seniority, negotiate equity, and work toward long-term sponsorship.
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Company Profile:
Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment, and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide, including corporations, governments, and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries.
In Technology, we leverage innovation to build the connections and capabilities that power our Firm, enabling our clients and colleagues to redefine markets and shape the future of our communities.
What you’ll do in the role:
Morgan Stanley Services Group Inc. is seeking a Vice President, Lead Software Engineer in Alpharetta, Georgia to design, implement and maintain build software infrastructure, including building software scripts, tools and systems. Design and develop software solutions to fix identified problems in the DevOps environment, utilizing existing tools/processes. Automate the build software process to ensure consistency, reliability, and efficiency. Create release software packages and documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Ensure compliance with security policies and regulations throughout the build and release process. Troubleshoot and resolve issues in software testing and production environments. Provide internal software support and scalability for our continuously evolving engineering environment. Collaborate with cross functional teams to ensure that software development follows established processes and functions efficiently. Telecommuting permitted up to 2 days per week.
What you’ll bring to the role:
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Requires a Master’s degree in Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
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Requires three (3) years of experience in the position offered or three (3) years as a DevOps Infrastructure Engineer, Associate, DevOps Engineer, or a related occupation.
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Requires three (3) years of experience with:
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Linux based infrastructure;
- automation scripting languages, including:
- Bash,
- Python,
- Perl,
- Groovy, and
- Java;
- building automation tools, including:
- Jenkins;
- version control systems and branching strategies;
- container platforms, including:
- container engines and
- container orchestrators;
- open source technologies; and
- cloud services.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:
At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.
Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $180,000 and $180,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.
Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.
Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Lead Software Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the official STEM OPT designated degree program list. A mismatch between your transcript field and the approved list is the most common reason DSOs deny extension requests before you ever reach an employer.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Before signing anything, ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify employer ID or look up their enrollment status directly through E-Verify. A company that isn't enrolled cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT, regardless of how willing they are to sponsor later.
Target engineering orgs with existing I-129 filing history
Lead Software Engineer roles almost always require H-1B visa sponsorship after OPT ends. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with active STEM OPT hiring and H-1B visa filing history, so you're joining teams already familiar with the extension and transition process.
Structure your I-983 around engineering deliverables
Your training plan must tie each learning objective to a specific technical goal, such as system design ownership or platform architecture decisions. Generic plans citing 'software development' without role-specific milestones draw scrutiny from USCIS during compliance checks.
Time your extension request against your OPT end date
File your STEM OPT extension application with USCIS at least 90 days before your current EAD expires. If your card expires while the application is pending, you're covered by a 180-day automatic cap-gap provision, but only if you filed on time.
Negotiate H-1B sponsorship terms before day one
Engineering offers at the lead level often include multi-year vesting and promotion tracks. Get written confirmation that your employer will file an H-1B petition during your STEM OPT window, and clarify which filing fees they cover versus what falls to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Lead Software Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, electrical engineering, or information systems, and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. The Lead Software Engineer role falls under SOC code 15-1252 (Software Developers) in O*NET, which consistently maps to STEM OPT eligible positions. Confirm your specific degree CIP code with your DSO before filing.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for a Lead Software Engineer?
Your I-983 must list specific learning objectives tied to your engineering responsibilities, such as leading system architecture reviews, mentoring junior engineers, or owning end-to-end delivery for a product area. Vague objectives like 'improve coding skills' won't satisfy USCIS compliance standards. Your employer's engineering manager typically co-signs the plan, and USCIS can audit it at any point during your 24-month extension.
How do I verify that a company is enrolled in E-Verify before accepting a Lead Software Engineer offer?
Ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify employer ID number directly. You can also search the public E-Verify employer search tool maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, which lists enrolled companies by name and location. If a company can't provide enrollment confirmation, they can't legally hire you on STEM OPT, and the offer isn't compatible with your status.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my Lead Software Engineer employer withdraws sponsorship mid-extension?
You have a 60-day grace period after your employment ends to find a new E-Verify enrolled employer, transfer your training plan to them, and update your DSO. If you can't secure a new position within that window, your STEM OPT authorization lapses. This is why targeting employers with strong H-1B filing history matters from the start. Migrate Mate lets you filter Lead Software Engineer roles by employers who have active sponsorship records.
Can I use my STEM OPT extension to bridge to H-1B sponsorship as a Lead Software Engineer?
Yes, and the math works in your favor at the lead level. The 24-month STEM OPT extension gives your employer two H-1B lottery cycles to get you selected. If you're in cap-gap status when your extension is pending and the H-1B is filed before your EAD expires, USCIS automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of the fiscal year. Confirm your employer will file during your first eligible cycle, not your second.