STEM OPT Principal Software Engineer Jobs
Principal Software Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT if your degree maps to an approved CIP code in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to authorize your 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months total to build senior-level experience before pursuing H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsAlly and Your Career
Ally Financial only succeeds when its people do - and that’s more than some cliché people put on job postings. We love this stuff! We see our people as, well, people - with interests, families, friends, dreams, and causes that are all important to them. Our focus is on the health and safety of our teammates as well as work-life balance and diversity and inclusion. From generous benefits to a variety of employee resource groups, we strive to build paths that encourage employees to stretch themselves professionally. We want to help you grow, develop, and learn new things. You’re constantly evolving, so shouldn’t your opportunities be, too?
Work Schedule: Ally designates roles as (1) fully on-site, (2) hybrid, or (3) fully remote. Hybrid roles are generally expected to be in the office a certain number of days per week as indicated by your manager. Your hiring manager will discuss this role's specific work requirements with you during the hiring process. All work requirements are subject to change at any time based on leader discretion and/or business need.
Duties
Ally Bank seeks a Principal – Software Test based out of our headquarter U.S. office in Detroit, MI
- Define and own the end-to-end testing strategy to support timely delivery and reduce post-release defects.
- Design, develop and execute automated test scripts using Python and JavaScript for Mobile and Web applications.
- Implement and maintain test automation frameworks for Mobile and Web using tools such as Appium/Maestro/Cypress to support continuous integration and delivery process.
- Utilize device clouds (e.g. Browserstack, Perfecto) for testing across various mobile devices and browsers.
- Drive the adoption for best practices in software testing, including agile methodologies and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Perform hands-on testing including functional, regression, accessibility, performance and security testing.
The Qualifications We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s degree or foreign academic equivalent in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a closely related field and Four (4) years of experience in position offered or related occupation.
Skills:
Experience must include:
- 4 yrs. exp. of software testing for web and mobile applications.
- 4 yrs. exp. of software testing in an Agile development environment.
- 2 yrs. exp. of software testing in the financial-services industry, including banking or investment products.
- 2 yrs. exp. Using test-automation frameworks, including Appium, Maestro, or Cypress.
- 2 yrs. exp. using Python and JavaScript to develop automated test scripts.
- 1 yr. exp. leading QA initiatives and mentoring QA team members.
- Experience using mobile-device cloud platforms, including BrowserStack or Perfecto.
- Experience performing accessibility testing using aTalkBack, VoiceOver, or accessibility-scanning tools.
Other:
This is a purely telecommuting/work-from-home position whereby the employee may reside anywhere within the U.S. This position does not require travel.
Who We Are:
Ally Financial is a customer-centric, leading digital financial services company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions. We are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers.
Ally is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic disposition or any other reason protected by law.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if after review of the position expectations, you believe that you may need a medical accommodation to fulfill the duties of this role, please email hrpolicy@ally.com with details of your accommodation request.
Ally and Your Career
Ally Financial only succeeds when its people do - and that’s more than some cliché people put on job postings. We love this stuff! We see our people as, well, people - with interests, families, friends, dreams, and causes that are all important to them. Our focus is on the health and safety of our teammates as well as work-life balance and diversity and inclusion. From generous benefits to a variety of employee resource groups, we strive to build paths that encourage employees to stretch themselves professionally. We want to help you grow, develop, and learn new things. You’re constantly evolving, so shouldn’t your opportunities be, too?
Work Schedule: Ally designates roles as (1) fully on-site, (2) hybrid, or (3) fully remote. Hybrid roles are generally expected to be in the office a certain number of days per week as indicated by your manager. Your hiring manager will discuss this role's specific work requirements with you during the hiring process. All work requirements are subject to change at any time based on leader discretion and/or business need.
Duties
Ally Bank seeks a Principal – Software Test based out of our headquarter U.S. office in Detroit, MI
- Define and own the end-to-end testing strategy to support timely delivery and reduce post-release defects.
- Design, develop and execute automated test scripts using Python and JavaScript for Mobile and Web applications.
- Implement and maintain test automation frameworks for Mobile and Web using tools such as Appium/Maestro/Cypress to support continuous integration and delivery process.
- Utilize device clouds (e.g. Browserstack, Perfecto) for testing across various mobile devices and browsers.
- Drive the adoption for best practices in software testing, including agile methodologies and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Perform hands-on testing including functional, regression, accessibility, performance and security testing.
The Qualifications We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s degree or foreign academic equivalent in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a closely related field and Four (4) years of experience in position offered or related occupation.
Skills:
Experience must include:
- 4 yrs. exp. of software testing for web and mobile applications.
- 4 yrs. exp. of software testing in an Agile development environment.
- 2 yrs. exp. of software testing in the financial-services industry, including banking or investment products.
- 2 yrs. exp. Using test-automation frameworks, including Appium, Maestro, or Cypress.
- 2 yrs. exp. using Python and JavaScript to develop automated test scripts.
- 1 yr. exp. leading QA initiatives and mentoring QA team members.
- Experience using mobile-device cloud platforms, including BrowserStack or Perfecto.
- Experience performing accessibility testing using aTalkBack, VoiceOver, or accessibility-scanning tools.
Other:
This is a purely telecommuting/work-from-home position whereby the employee may reside anywhere within the U.S. This position does not require travel.
Who We Are:
Ally Financial is a customer-centric, leading digital financial services company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions. We are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers.
Ally is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic disposition or any other reason protected by law.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if after review of the position expectations, you believe that you may need a medical accommodation to fulfill the duties of this role, please email hrpolicy@ally.com with details of your accommodation request.
See all 231+ STEM OPT Principal Software Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Principal Software Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your STEM degree's CIP code appears on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List. A mismatch between your transcript's listed field and an approved code will disqualify you from the 24-month extension, regardless of your job title.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask the recruiter for the company's E-Verify Company ID or search the E-Verify employer database directly. A Principal Engineer offer from a non-enrolled employer means you can't activate your STEM OPT extension, even if the role and degree match perfectly.
Use O*NET to frame your training plan
The I-983 requires specific learning objectives tied to your role. Pull the Principal Software Engineer occupation profile from O*NET to identify the core tasks and skills DOL expects, then map your planned work assignments to those categories when completing Section 3.
Target employers with structured H-1B sponsorship pipelines
Principal-level roles often come with longer hiring cycles. Prioritize companies whose job postings explicitly reference visa sponsorship or whose engineering leadership tracks have a history of filing LCAs, since your 36-month window still requires eventual H-1B selection to maintain status.
Search for verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Filter for Principal Software Engineer openings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers verified against E-Verify enrollment and DOL Labor Condition Application filing history, so you're applying to companies already set up to support your STEM OPT authorization.
File your STEM OPT extension well before OPT expires
USCIS recommends filing Form I-765 at least 90 days before your initial OPT end date. If your extension application is pending when OPT expires, a timely-filed application gives you up to 180 days of continued authorization while USCIS adjudicates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Principal Software Engineer role qualify for STEM OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in an approved STEM field such as computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline with an eligible CIP code. The job itself must also constitute practical training in that field. Principal Software Engineer roles typically qualify because they require and directly apply a STEM degree's core competencies, but your DSO confirms the match before endorsing the I-20.
How do I verify that a hiring employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
You can search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name or E-Verify Company ID to confirm enrollment status before you sign an offer. Enrollment must be active at the time your STEM OPT extension begins. If a company is not enrolled, your extension cannot be authorized regardless of how well the role aligns with your degree, so confirm this before the offer stage, not after.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Principal Software Engineer?
The I-983 requires you and your employer to document the specific duties, learning objectives, and supervision structure for your role. For a Principal Software Engineer, this typically covers system architecture responsibilities, technical leadership activities, and the engineering competencies you'll develop. Your employer's supervising engineer signs the plan, and your DSO must approve it before your extension is authorized. USCIS may audit the plan, so objectives should be concrete and tied to your degree field.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my H-1B petition is selected in the lottery?
If your H-1B petition is selected and filed for an October 1 start date, the cap-gap rule extends your STEM OPT authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working under cap-gap status if your employer filed before your STEM OPT end date. USCIS issues an updated I-20 reflecting the cap-gap extension period, which serves as your work authorization documentation during that time.
Where can I find Principal Software Engineer jobs that support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Principal Software Engineer openings filtered for employers with E-Verify enrollment and active LCA filing history, which are the two baseline requirements for STEM OPT authorization. Searching there reduces the risk of pursuing roles at companies that can't legally support your extension, saving time during a period when your authorization timeline is fixed and non-negotiable.