STEM OPT Programmer Analyst Jobs
Programmer Analyst roles in software development, systems integration, and data engineering qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of F-1 work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must fall under an eligible STEM CIP code to qualify.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Axle is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad. With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with some of the top research organizations and facilities in the country including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Axle is seeking a Computer Programmer to join our vibrant team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, MD.
BENEFITS WE OFFER:
- 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
- Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
- 401K match up to 5%
- Educational Benefits for Career Growth
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Flexible Spending Accounts:
- Healthcare (FSA)
- Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
- Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
- Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)
Responsibilities
- Maintain, enhance, secure, and modernize NCI’s Scientific Coding System (SCS), Scientific Managers Analysis and Reporting Tool (SMART), and NCI Funded Research Portfolio (NFRP).
- Troubleshoot production issues, application errors, performance problems, and system outages.
- Develop, test, debug, and deploy software fixes, upgrades, and system enhancements.
- Support web applications, databases, servers, interfaces, backup environments, and third-party components.
- Integrate, validate, import, export, and migrate data across NIH and NCI systems.
- Customize data downloads and reporting processes supporting scientific portfolio analysis, grant reporting, and year-end activities.
- Maintain and modify IRDB and NCI I2E process scripts in response to changes within eRA, IMPAC II, and related data structures.
- Monitor application logs, alerts, and performance metrics and recommend improvements.
- Support configuration, change, release, backup, recovery, and continuity-of-operations processes.
- Remediate vulnerabilities identified through HHS and NCI security scans and ensure changes comply with federal security requirements and FIPS standards.
- Develop scripts and automation to improve system reliability, data processing, and administrative workflows.
- Provide elevated support during production deployments, year-end reporting, and other critical operational periods.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- Extensive experience developing, testing, debugging, and maintaining complex software applications using multiple programming languages.
- Advanced experience with data management, database analysis, system integration, and data validation.
- Experience supporting production applications in a multi-user environment.
- Functional knowledge of NIH grants management and budget-reporting processes.
- Knowledge of NIH IMPAC II and NCI I2E DM database structures, including extramural grant and funding data.
- Experience configuring and maintaining IRDB and NCI I2E scripts used for Institute- or Center-specific grant-data downloads.
- Experience with application upgrades, configuration management, testing, deployment, and release management.
- Knowledge of federal information-security requirements, FIPS standards, secure software-development practices, and vulnerability remediation.
- Ability to work onsite at NCI Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, approximately one to two days per week.
- Availability for occasional after-hours support during deployments and year-end reporting.
DISCLAIMER
The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individuals assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job description or responsibilities as needed. The diversity of Axle’s employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.
Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact: careers@axleinfo.com
This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location.
SALARY RANGE:
- Salary Range: $125,000 USD - $135,000 USD
INTRODUCTION
Axle is a bioscience and information technology company that offers advancements in translational research, biomedical informatics, and data science applications to research centers and healthcare organizations nationally and abroad. With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on developing and applying research tools and techniques to empower decision-making and accelerate research discoveries. We work with some of the top research organizations and facilities in the country including multiple institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Axle is seeking a Computer Programmer to join our vibrant team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, MD.
BENEFITS WE OFFER:
- 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
- Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
- 401K match up to 5%
- Educational Benefits for Career Growth
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Flexible Spending Accounts:
- Healthcare (FSA)
- Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
- Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
- Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)
Responsibilities
- Maintain, enhance, secure, and modernize NCI’s Scientific Coding System (SCS), Scientific Managers Analysis and Reporting Tool (SMART), and NCI Funded Research Portfolio (NFRP).
- Troubleshoot production issues, application errors, performance problems, and system outages.
- Develop, test, debug, and deploy software fixes, upgrades, and system enhancements.
- Support web applications, databases, servers, interfaces, backup environments, and third-party components.
- Integrate, validate, import, export, and migrate data across NIH and NCI systems.
- Customize data downloads and reporting processes supporting scientific portfolio analysis, grant reporting, and year-end activities.
- Maintain and modify IRDB and NCI I2E process scripts in response to changes within eRA, IMPAC II, and related data structures.
- Monitor application logs, alerts, and performance metrics and recommend improvements.
- Support configuration, change, release, backup, recovery, and continuity-of-operations processes.
- Remediate vulnerabilities identified through HHS and NCI security scans and ensure changes comply with federal security requirements and FIPS standards.
- Develop scripts and automation to improve system reliability, data processing, and administrative workflows.
- Provide elevated support during production deployments, year-end reporting, and other critical operational periods.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- Extensive experience developing, testing, debugging, and maintaining complex software applications using multiple programming languages.
- Advanced experience with data management, database analysis, system integration, and data validation.
- Experience supporting production applications in a multi-user environment.
- Functional knowledge of NIH grants management and budget-reporting processes.
- Knowledge of NIH IMPAC II and NCI I2E DM database structures, including extramural grant and funding data.
- Experience configuring and maintaining IRDB and NCI I2E scripts used for Institute- or Center-specific grant-data downloads.
- Experience with application upgrades, configuration management, testing, deployment, and release management.
- Knowledge of federal information-security requirements, FIPS standards, secure software-development practices, and vulnerability remediation.
- Ability to work onsite at NCI Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, approximately one to two days per week.
- Availability for occasional after-hours support during deployments and year-end reporting.
DISCLAIMER
The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individuals assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job description or responsibilities as needed. The diversity of Axle’s employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.
Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact: careers@axleinfo.com
This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location.
SALARY RANGE:
- Salary Range: $125,000 USD - $135,000 USD
See all 1,950+ STEM OPT Programmer Analyst Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Programmer Analyst
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code appears on the STEM OPT eligible fields list. Computer science, information systems, and software engineering degrees typically qualify, but applied IT or interdisciplinary programs sometimes don't.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter or HR contact to confirm the company's E-Verify company ID before signing. Employers can self-verify enrollment through the E-Verify portal, and your DSO will need proof before signing your I-983 training plan.
File your I-983 training plan early
Work with your hiring manager to complete the I-983 before your current OPT expires. The plan must map specific Programmer Analyst duties to your STEM degree's learning objectives, not just list job responsibilities generically.
Target employers with active LCA filings for your role
Use Migrate Mate to identify employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for Programmer Analyst or related Software Developer positions. Active LCA history signals that a company already understands OPT-to-H-1B visa transitions and has infrastructure to support them.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Look up the Programmer Analyst wage level for your metro area using the OFLC Wage Search. Your offer must meet or exceed the prevailing wage for that location and skill level, which directly affects your LCA and any future H-1B filing.
Apply during H-1B cap season to protect your status
If your 36-month STEM OPT authorization spans an H-1B cap filing window, cap-gap rules extend your OPT automatically if your employer files by April 1. Time your job search so an offer is in place before your OPT end date approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Programmer Analyst role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your employer assigns you to duties involving systems analysis, software development, or data engineering and your degree is in a STEM-eligible field. The role's SOC code matters too. USCIS evaluates whether the position directly applies your STEM degree, not just whether the job title contains a technical term.
Which degrees make me eligible for STEM OPT as a Programmer Analyst?
Degrees with CIP codes in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, software engineering, and applied mathematics are commonly approved. Check your degree's exact CIP code against the Department of Homeland Security's STEM designated degree program list. Degrees in general business technology or non-STEM interdisciplinary programs may not qualify even if the coursework was technical.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for a Programmer Analyst position?
Your I-983 must map specific job duties, such as designing algorithms, debugging code, or analyzing system requirements, to concrete learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. Vague descriptions like 'assist with software projects' are insufficient. Your supervisor signs the plan and USCIS can audit it, so the connection between your degree field and daily tasks must be explicit and defensible.
How do I find Programmer Analyst employers who are enrolled in E-Verify?
Migrate Mate filters Programmer Analyst listings by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment, so you aren't wasting applications on companies that can't legally hire STEM OPT workers. You can also ask recruiters directly for the company's E-Verify employer ID number, which any enrolled employer can provide from their E-Verify account dashboard.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my H-1B petition is filed but not yet approved?
Cap-gap protection extends your STEM OPT work authorization automatically if your employer files a timely H-1B cap-subject petition and you're in a valid OPT period on April 1. Your authorization continues through September 30 of that fiscal year. USCIS issues a cap-gap I-20 through your DSO, which you'll need to show employers as proof of continued authorization during the gap period.