STEM OPT Linux Engineer Jobs
Linux Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT because they fall under computer science and information technology CIP codes recognized by ICE. Your STEM degree gives you a 24-month OPT extension beyond the initial 12 months, but your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you can start.
Find STEM OPT Linux Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 15+ Linux Engineer jobs
See all Linux Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Linux Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsKey Challenges:
- Architect system management features across the i.MX portfolio and drive SoC hardware support for system control.
- Port system management firmware to new i.MX SoCs and development boards.
- Develop tests to improve system management code coverage and assess firmware performance metrics.
- Develop documentation and support collateral for system management firmware.
Cross functional aspects:
- Work with NXP SoC architecture team to ensure consistent and efficient support of system management firmware.
- Collaborate with i.MX BSP (System ROM, ELE ROM/firmware, U-Boot, ATF, Linux, MCU SDK) team to integrate and optimize system management functions.
- Work with internal support teams to port, debug, and optimize system management firmware on customer systems.
Your skills:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or similar disciplines.
- 2+ years of software development experience with embedded systems.
- Proficiency with C-programming on embedded systems.
- Proficiency with using Linux shell commands and tools (e.g. GIT, make, etc.) for embedded software development.
- Experience with ARM Cortex-M and Cortex-A architecture.
- Knowledge of ARM assembly language.
Would be a plus:
- Knowledge of embedded debug tools and probes (e.g. Lauterbach).
- Knowledge of power management (DVFS, CPUIdle, suspend-to-RAM) in embedded systems.
- Knowledge of HDL (e.g. Verilog, VHDL, etc.).
- Knowledge of the ARM System Control and Management Interface (SCMI) specification.
NXP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer regardless of age, color, national origin, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status as a disabled veteran and/or veteran of the Vietnam Era or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, NXP will provide reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.
Key Challenges:
- Architect system management features across the i.MX portfolio and drive SoC hardware support for system control.
- Port system management firmware to new i.MX SoCs and development boards.
- Develop tests to improve system management code coverage and assess firmware performance metrics.
- Develop documentation and support collateral for system management firmware.
Cross functional aspects:
- Work with NXP SoC architecture team to ensure consistent and efficient support of system management firmware.
- Collaborate with i.MX BSP (System ROM, ELE ROM/firmware, U-Boot, ATF, Linux, MCU SDK) team to integrate and optimize system management functions.
- Work with internal support teams to port, debug, and optimize system management firmware on customer systems.
Your skills:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or similar disciplines.
- 2+ years of software development experience with embedded systems.
- Proficiency with C-programming on embedded systems.
- Proficiency with using Linux shell commands and tools (e.g. GIT, make, etc.) for embedded software development.
- Experience with ARM Cortex-M and Cortex-A architecture.
- Knowledge of ARM assembly language.
Would be a plus:
- Knowledge of embedded debug tools and probes (e.g. Lauterbach).
- Knowledge of power management (DVFS, CPUIdle, suspend-to-RAM) in embedded systems.
- Knowledge of HDL (e.g. Verilog, VHDL, etc.).
- Knowledge of the ARM System Control and Management Interface (SCMI) specification.
NXP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer regardless of age, color, national origin, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status as a disabled veteran and/or veteran of the Vietnam Era or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, NXP will provide reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.
See all STEM OPT Linux Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Linux Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Linux Engineer
Verify your CIP code matches Linux engineering
Check your degree's CIP code against ICE's STEM-designated degree program list before applying. Degrees in computer science, computer engineering, and information technology typically qualify, but your DSO must confirm the match before recommending the extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask recruiting contacts directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before your first interview. Employers not enrolled cannot legally employ STEM OPT students, and switching employers after accepting an offer costs you weeks of job search time.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Linux roles by sponsorship history
Search Linux Engineer openings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with verified work authorization filing history. This cuts the time you spend screening companies that have never hired international students.
Target employers with existing Linux infrastructure teams
Companies running large-scale Linux environments in finance, cloud infrastructure, and defense contracting hire Linux Engineers in volume and already have E-Verify and international hiring workflows in place. Prioritize these over startups building their first DevOps pipeline.
File your I-983 training plan with role-specific learning goals
Your I-983 must list concrete Linux engineering skills you'll develop, such as kernel configuration, system hardening, or automation with Ansible. Generic objectives get flagged by DSOs. Align the plan directly to your offer letter's job duties.
Time your STEM OPT application around your OPT end date
USCIS recommends filing the STEM OPT extension application at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. If USCIS hasn't adjudicated by your expiration date, your work authorization automatically continues for up to 180 days while the application is pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Linux Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, provided your underlying degree carries a STEM-designated CIP code. Roles classified under computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related fields typically qualify. The O*NET occupation code for Linux and systems engineers maps to computer occupations that USCIS and ICE recognize as STEM-eligible. Your DSO confirms the match and recommends the extension on your I-20.
What does the E-Verify requirement mean for my Linux Engineer job search?
Every employer who hires you on STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify before your first day of work. E-Verify is a federal system that confirms work authorization electronically. If a company isn't enrolled, you cannot legally accept the role on STEM OPT. Migrate Mate filters Linux Engineer listings to show employers with relevant hiring history, which narrows your search to companies already familiar with this requirement.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Linux Engineer position?
Your I-983 must describe specific technical skills you'll develop on the job, the supervision structure, how the employer will evaluate your progress, and how the training connects to your STEM degree. For Linux Engineers, this typically includes skills like system administration, security hardening, network configuration, or infrastructure automation. Your employer's designated supervisor signs the form, and your DSO countersigns before USCIS reviews your application.
How does cap-gap protection apply if I'm a Linux Engineer waiting on H-1B approval?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a Linux Engineer in your current role under the same employer during this period. USCIS confirms cap-gap eligibility through the receipt notice on the I-129 petition.
Can I work as a Linux Engineer contractor or through a staffing agency on STEM OPT?
You can work through a staffing agency only if the agency itself is enrolled in E-Verify and is your employer of record, meaning they pay your wages and control your work. If the end client directs your day-to-day tasks but the agency pays you, the agency must be E-Verify enrolled. Your I-983 training plan must name the employer of record, not the end client, as the supervising organization.