STEM OPT Principal Devops Engineer Jobs
Principal DevOps Engineer roles fall squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, letting you work up to 36 months total on your F-1 authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related STEM field must align with the role's technical requirements.
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Company and benefits
Job ID
SOFTW020467
Employment Type
Regular
Work Style
hybrid
Location
Atlanta,GA,United States, Alpharetta,GA,United States, Lowell,MA,United States
Role
Software Engineer III - DevOps
Why UKG:
At UKG, the work you do matters. The code you ship, the decisions you make, and the care you show a customer all add up to real impact. Today, tens of millions of workers start and end their days with our workforce operating platform. Helping people get paid, grow in their careers, and shape the future of their industries. That’s what we do.
We never stop learning. We never stop challenging the norm. We push for better, and we celebrate the wins along the way. Here, you’ll get flexibility that’s real, benefits you can count on, and a team that succeeds together. Because at UKG, your work matters—and so do you.
About the team:
The team builds and operates cloud platforms, infrastructure automation, deployment pipelines, and related services that support reliable application delivery. Engineers collaborate across development, security, and operations to improve platform scalability, security, observability, and operational efficiency.
About the role:
We are looking for a cloud and platform engineer to design, automate, and operate secure, scalable, and reliable cloud infrastructure, primarily on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). You will develop infrastructure as code, build continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) workflows, manage container platforms, and create automation that improves developer productivity and operational efficiency.
You will work across development, security, and operations teams to deliver reliable cloud platforms. You will also contribute to technical design decisions, review infrastructure and automation code, mentor team members, and support platform services throughout their lifecycle.
Key responsibilities:
Cloud platform engineering
- Design, build, automate, and maintain secure, scalable, and reliable cloud infrastructure on GCP.
- Develop infrastructure as code (IaC) solutions using Terraform and Ansible to provision and manage cloud resources.
- Build reusable platform capabilities that improve developer productivity and operational efficiency.
CI/CD and automation
- Design, implement, and maintain GitHub Actions workflows and enterprise CI/CD pipelines.
- Automate build, test, deployment, and release processes for cloud-native applications and platform services.
- Improve deployment reliability, reduce manual effort, and optimize delivery pipelines.
Platform operations
- Monitor platform health, availability, and performance using modern observability tools.
- Troubleshoot production issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement preventive measures.
- Maintain high availability and operational excellence across cloud environments.
Infrastructure and reliability
- Manage Kubernetes clusters, container platforms, and cloud infrastructure.
- Implement scalable, resilient, and cost-effective cloud solutions following industry best practices.
- Continuously improve infrastructure through automation and standardization.
Software development and automation
- Develop automation tools and scripts using Python and Bash to eliminate repetitive operational tasks.
- Build reusable internal tools and services that enhance platform capabilities.
Technical leadership
- Participate in architecture discussions and technical design reviews.
- Review infrastructure and automation code for quality, maintainability, security, and adherence to best practices.
- Mentor team members on DevOps, cloud technologies, and platform engineering practices.
DevOps ownership
- Take end-to-end ownership of platform services from design and implementation through deployment, monitoring, and production support.
- Collaborate closely with development, security, and operations teams to deliver reliable cloud platforms.
Documentation
- Create and maintain documentation for platform architecture, automation workflows, deployment processes, and operational runbooks.
About you:
Basic qualifications:
- 4+ years of professional software development experience.
- Deep expertise in one or more programming languages, such as Python, Java, C#, .NET or JavaScript.
- Experience with Terraform, Ansible, Docker, Kubernetes, Python, Bash, REST APIs, or comparable technologies.
- Extensive experience with software development practices and design patterns.
- Proficiency with version control systems such as GitHub and bug or work tracking systems such as Jira.
- Understanding of cloud technologies and DevOps principles.
- Experience with GitHub Actions, CI/CD pipeline design, implementation, and optimization.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience with cloud platforms, cloud operations, monitoring, logging, and troubleshooting.
- Experience with cloud platforms such as GCP, AWS, or Azure.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience designing and operating cloud-native infrastructure and platform services.
- Familiarity with Helm charts and Kubernetes resource management.
- Experience with test automation frameworks and tools.
- Knowledge of Agile development methodologies.
- Familiarity with developing accessible technologies.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
Company Overview:
UKG is the Workforce Operating Platform that puts workforce understanding to work. With the world's largest collection of workforce insights, and people-first AI, our ability to reveal unseen ways to build trust, amplify productivity, and empower talent, is unmatched. It's this expertise that equips our customers with the intelligence to solve any challenge in any industry — because great organizations know their workforce is their competitive edge.
Equal Opportunity Employer
UKG is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.
UKG participates in E-Verify.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Disability Accommodation in the Application and Interview Process
For individuals with disabilities that need additional assistance at any point in the application and interview process, please email UKGCareers@ukg.com.
The pay range for this position is $102,300 to $147,050. The actual base pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge and work location. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible to participate in a performance-based bonus plan and to receive restricted stock unit awards as part of total compensation.
NOTICE ON HIRING SCAMS
UKG will never ask you for a copy of your driver’s license, social security card, or passport during a job interview.
ABOUT OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS
All job descriptions are written to accurately reflect the open job and include general work responsibilities. They do not present a comprehensive, detailed inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required for the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require that other or different tasks be performed if or when circumstances change.
Job description
Company and benefits
Job ID
SOFTW020467
Employment Type
Regular
Work Style
hybrid
Location
Atlanta,GA,United States, Alpharetta,GA,United States, Lowell,MA,United States
Role
Software Engineer III - DevOps
Why UKG:
At UKG, the work you do matters. The code you ship, the decisions you make, and the care you show a customer all add up to real impact. Today, tens of millions of workers start and end their days with our workforce operating platform. Helping people get paid, grow in their careers, and shape the future of their industries. That’s what we do.
We never stop learning. We never stop challenging the norm. We push for better, and we celebrate the wins along the way. Here, you’ll get flexibility that’s real, benefits you can count on, and a team that succeeds together. Because at UKG, your work matters—and so do you.
About the team:
The team builds and operates cloud platforms, infrastructure automation, deployment pipelines, and related services that support reliable application delivery. Engineers collaborate across development, security, and operations to improve platform scalability, security, observability, and operational efficiency.
About the role:
We are looking for a cloud and platform engineer to design, automate, and operate secure, scalable, and reliable cloud infrastructure, primarily on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). You will develop infrastructure as code, build continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) workflows, manage container platforms, and create automation that improves developer productivity and operational efficiency.
You will work across development, security, and operations teams to deliver reliable cloud platforms. You will also contribute to technical design decisions, review infrastructure and automation code, mentor team members, and support platform services throughout their lifecycle.
Key responsibilities:
Cloud platform engineering
- Design, build, automate, and maintain secure, scalable, and reliable cloud infrastructure on GCP.
- Develop infrastructure as code (IaC) solutions using Terraform and Ansible to provision and manage cloud resources.
- Build reusable platform capabilities that improve developer productivity and operational efficiency.
CI/CD and automation
- Design, implement, and maintain GitHub Actions workflows and enterprise CI/CD pipelines.
- Automate build, test, deployment, and release processes for cloud-native applications and platform services.
- Improve deployment reliability, reduce manual effort, and optimize delivery pipelines.
Platform operations
- Monitor platform health, availability, and performance using modern observability tools.
- Troubleshoot production issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement preventive measures.
- Maintain high availability and operational excellence across cloud environments.
Infrastructure and reliability
- Manage Kubernetes clusters, container platforms, and cloud infrastructure.
- Implement scalable, resilient, and cost-effective cloud solutions following industry best practices.
- Continuously improve infrastructure through automation and standardization.
Software development and automation
- Develop automation tools and scripts using Python and Bash to eliminate repetitive operational tasks.
- Build reusable internal tools and services that enhance platform capabilities.
Technical leadership
- Participate in architecture discussions and technical design reviews.
- Review infrastructure and automation code for quality, maintainability, security, and adherence to best practices.
- Mentor team members on DevOps, cloud technologies, and platform engineering practices.
DevOps ownership
- Take end-to-end ownership of platform services from design and implementation through deployment, monitoring, and production support.
- Collaborate closely with development, security, and operations teams to deliver reliable cloud platforms.
Documentation
- Create and maintain documentation for platform architecture, automation workflows, deployment processes, and operational runbooks.
About you:
Basic qualifications:
- 4+ years of professional software development experience.
- Deep expertise in one or more programming languages, such as Python, Java, C#, .NET or JavaScript.
- Experience with Terraform, Ansible, Docker, Kubernetes, Python, Bash, REST APIs, or comparable technologies.
- Extensive experience with software development practices and design patterns.
- Proficiency with version control systems such as GitHub and bug or work tracking systems such as Jira.
- Understanding of cloud technologies and DevOps principles.
- Experience with GitHub Actions, CI/CD pipeline design, implementation, and optimization.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience with cloud platforms, cloud operations, monitoring, logging, and troubleshooting.
- Experience with cloud platforms such as GCP, AWS, or Azure.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience designing and operating cloud-native infrastructure and platform services.
- Familiarity with Helm charts and Kubernetes resource management.
- Experience with test automation frameworks and tools.
- Knowledge of Agile development methodologies.
- Familiarity with developing accessible technologies.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
Company Overview:
UKG is the Workforce Operating Platform that puts workforce understanding to work. With the world's largest collection of workforce insights, and people-first AI, our ability to reveal unseen ways to build trust, amplify productivity, and empower talent, is unmatched. It's this expertise that equips our customers with the intelligence to solve any challenge in any industry — because great organizations know their workforce is their competitive edge.
Equal Opportunity Employer
UKG is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.
UKG participates in E-Verify.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Disability Accommodation in the Application and Interview Process
For individuals with disabilities that need additional assistance at any point in the application and interview process, please email UKGCareers@ukg.com.
The pay range for this position is $102,300 to $147,050. The actual base pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge and work location. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible to participate in a performance-based bonus plan and to receive restricted stock unit awards as part of total compensation.
NOTICE ON HIRING SCAMS
UKG will never ask you for a copy of your driver’s license, social security card, or passport during a job interview.
ABOUT OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS
All job descriptions are written to accurately reflect the open job and include general work responsibilities. They do not present a comprehensive, detailed inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required for the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require that other or different tasks be performed if or when circumstances change.
See all 79+ STEM OPT Principal Devops Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Principal Devops Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Principal Devops Engineer
Verify your CIP code matches DevOps
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code appears on USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer science, information systems, and systems engineering CIP codes typically qualify, but your DSO confirms the match before you file the I-983.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the E-Verify Company ID or look up the employer in the E-Verify search tool. Principal-level roles often involve smaller or mid-stage companies that haven't enrolled, which disqualifies them as STEM OPT sponsors regardless of their willingness to hire.
Build an I-983 training plan around DevOps deliverables
Your I-983 must connect your daily work to your STEM degree's learning objectives. Map infrastructure automation, CI/CD pipeline ownership, and site reliability goals to specific engineering competencies from your program so the plan withstands DSO and USCIS review.
Target companies with active infrastructure engineering teams
Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and a history of hiring senior-level engineers on OPT. Principal DevOps roles concentrate in cloud-heavy fintech, SaaS, and enterprise software companies where infrastructure headcount justifies a dedicated principal-level hire.
Benchmark your offer against DOL prevailing wage data
Run the job's SOC code through OFLC Wage Search before negotiating. Principal DevOps roles typically map to a Level III or IV wage tier, and accepting a below-prevailing offer complicates any future H-1B visa LCA your employer files on your behalf.
Start your extension paperwork 90 days before OPT ends
File the STEM OPT extension application with USCIS at least 90 days before your current EAD expires. A timely-filed application automatically extends your work authorization by 180 days, keeping you authorized while USCIS adjudicates, so your start date at a new employer isn't disrupted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Principal DevOps Engineer role qualify for STEM OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, computer engineering, information systems, or a related discipline listed on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List. The role itself must also be directly related to your degree. Your DSO reviews the connection between your DevOps responsibilities and your academic program before authorizing the extension.
How do I know if a Principal DevOps Engineer employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Ask the recruiter or HR contact directly for the company's E-Verify Company ID before you accept an offer. You can also search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT. If the employer isn't enrolled, they can't legally employ you on a STEM OPT extension, even if they want to hire you. Use Migrate Mate to find Principal DevOps Engineer roles already filtered for E-Verify compliance.
What goes into an I-983 training plan for a Principal DevOps Engineer?
Your I-983 must document specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, not just a job description. For a Principal DevOps role, this means articulating how owning CI/CD pipelines, building infrastructure-as-code systems, or leading SRE practices develops engineering competencies from your academic program. Your employer's supervisor and your DSO both sign off, and USCIS can audit the plan at any point during your extension period.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my employer is acquired or restructures?
If your employer is acquired, merged, or significantly restructures, E-Verify enrollment may need to be re-established under the new legal entity. You must notify your DSO within five days of any material change to your employment. USCIS requires that your training plan remain valid and that your employer of record still holds active E-Verify enrollment throughout your entire 24-month STEM OPT extension period.
How does cap-gap work if I'm on STEM OPT and get an H-1B selection?
If your STEM OPT EAD expires before October 1 of the fiscal year your H-1B takes effect, the cap-gap provision automatically extends your F-1 work authorization through September 30. This protection only applies if your H-1B petition was filed before your OPT EAD expired. You don't need a new EAD during cap-gap, but your employer's E-Verify record should reflect your continued authorized status.