STEM OPT Quality Assurance Specialist Jobs
Quality Assurance Specialist roles in testing, process validation, and regulatory compliance qualify for STEM OPT authorization when your degree aligns with an approved CIP code. The 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and you file a compliant I-983 training plan.
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Get Access To All JobsIf you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.
Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.
At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
Grade: Professional 307
Pay Range: $66,300.00 - $99,500.00
Job Description
The senior quality assurance analyst (senior QA analyst) requires strong attention to detail, solid critical thinking skills, and collaborative teamwork skills. The senior QA analyst is responsible for gathering and analyzing data from WGU course development and limited release initiatives. This work includes facilitating established QA processes, monitoring the completion of QA feedback action items, and collating data to confirm courses are ready for student engagement.
A successful candidate must have the ability to work independently and be self-motivated. The QA analyst works closely with internal and external stakeholders, researching and incorporating current industry trends, proven instructional strategies, and quality measures into the development process. In addition, the QA analyst collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the quality of course competencies and objectives. The senior QA analyst will ensure best practices are utilized across the QA team along with providing general mentorship of QA analysts and associate QA analysts. The QA analyst is responsible for the success of a number of simultaneous projects, assessing risk, reporting progress, and communicating effectively with stakeholders in an effort to promote collaboration and accountability.
What You'll Do:
- Mentors and develops colleagues within the QA team
- Tracks the QA process throughout the development cycle for all new courses and major course redevelopment
- Communicates step-by-step QA requirements to multilevel stakeholders, including providing detailed access instructions and credentials
- Acts as the point of contact for reviewers and stakeholders during QA process, providing training and support as needed
- Liaises with the subject matter expert (SME) recruitment team and external SMEs, facilitates SME introduction to working with WGU QA team, and acts as a resource throughout their engagement with QA projects
- Facilitates the development team’s review and implementation of QA feedback, and maintains a record of QA feedback history, including actions taken and resolutions, in an accessible database
- Assists in planning and delivering limited release courses for student testing
- Monitors student and mentor feedback from limited release for final course approval
- Cultivates the following Essential skills: professionalism, quality control, adaptability, positive attitude, dependability, courteous and timely communication
- Ensures quality standards and WGU’s vision and mission are reflected in all aspects of the student experience
- Develops and maintains a collaborative relationship with all appropriate internal and external stakeholders involved in the QA process
- Trains on and helps SMEs with the processes and tasks associated with quality evaluation
Minimum Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree
Experience:
- 3 years of experience in tech related field
- Demonstrated knowledge of quality assurance principles and testing frameworks used to evaluate online learning content, front-end web components (HTML, JavaScript), and course assets for quality, functionality, and compliance with established standards
Experience in Lieu of Education:
- Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience using Python
- Experience with Python testing modules like Playwright
- Experience building testing automations
- Experience with an LMS
This position requires occasional travel of up to 10%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.
LI-BS1
Position & Application Details
Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.
How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.
Additional Information
Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.
Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.
If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.
Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.
At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
Grade: Professional 307
Pay Range: $66,300.00 - $99,500.00
Job Description
The senior quality assurance analyst (senior QA analyst) requires strong attention to detail, solid critical thinking skills, and collaborative teamwork skills. The senior QA analyst is responsible for gathering and analyzing data from WGU course development and limited release initiatives. This work includes facilitating established QA processes, monitoring the completion of QA feedback action items, and collating data to confirm courses are ready for student engagement.
A successful candidate must have the ability to work independently and be self-motivated. The QA analyst works closely with internal and external stakeholders, researching and incorporating current industry trends, proven instructional strategies, and quality measures into the development process. In addition, the QA analyst collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the quality of course competencies and objectives. The senior QA analyst will ensure best practices are utilized across the QA team along with providing general mentorship of QA analysts and associate QA analysts. The QA analyst is responsible for the success of a number of simultaneous projects, assessing risk, reporting progress, and communicating effectively with stakeholders in an effort to promote collaboration and accountability.
What You'll Do:
- Mentors and develops colleagues within the QA team
- Tracks the QA process throughout the development cycle for all new courses and major course redevelopment
- Communicates step-by-step QA requirements to multilevel stakeholders, including providing detailed access instructions and credentials
- Acts as the point of contact for reviewers and stakeholders during QA process, providing training and support as needed
- Liaises with the subject matter expert (SME) recruitment team and external SMEs, facilitates SME introduction to working with WGU QA team, and acts as a resource throughout their engagement with QA projects
- Facilitates the development team’s review and implementation of QA feedback, and maintains a record of QA feedback history, including actions taken and resolutions, in an accessible database
- Assists in planning and delivering limited release courses for student testing
- Monitors student and mentor feedback from limited release for final course approval
- Cultivates the following Essential skills: professionalism, quality control, adaptability, positive attitude, dependability, courteous and timely communication
- Ensures quality standards and WGU’s vision and mission are reflected in all aspects of the student experience
- Develops and maintains a collaborative relationship with all appropriate internal and external stakeholders involved in the QA process
- Trains on and helps SMEs with the processes and tasks associated with quality evaluation
Minimum Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree
Experience:
- 3 years of experience in tech related field
- Demonstrated knowledge of quality assurance principles and testing frameworks used to evaluate online learning content, front-end web components (HTML, JavaScript), and course assets for quality, functionality, and compliance with established standards
Experience in Lieu of Education:
- Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience using Python
- Experience with Python testing modules like Playwright
- Experience building testing automations
- Experience with an LMS
This position requires occasional travel of up to 10%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.
LI-BS1
Position & Application Details
Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.
How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.
Additional Information
Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.
Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.
See all 77+ STEM OPT Quality Assurance Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Quality Assurance Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Quality Assurance Specialist
Verify your CIP code covers QA
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against STEM OPT's approved CIP code list. Engineering technology, industrial engineering, and computer science codes commonly support Quality Assurance Specialist roles, but applied biology or chemistry degrees also qualify if the job involves process validation or lab quality systems.
Build an I-983 that reflects QA work
Your training plan must map specific QA tasks, such as defect tracking, root cause analysis, or ISO audit participation, to learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. Generic descriptions get flagged by DSOs. Align each objective to a measurable outcome so your DSO can approve the plan without revision.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Before applying, confirm the employer is enrolled in E-Verify by searching the E-Verify employer search tool. Many mid-size QA employers in manufacturing and medical devices aren't enrolled, which disqualifies them from hiring STEM OPT students regardless of their willingness to sponsor.
Target QA roles in regulated industries
Pharmaceutical, aerospace, and semiconductor employers file LCAs consistently for Quality Assurance Specialist positions because FDA and FAA compliance requirements create permanent QA headcount. Search DOL's OFLC disclosure data to identify which employers filed for this occupation in your target metro area.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified QA openings
Migrate Mate filters Quality Assurance Specialist jobs by employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history, so you're not wasting applications on companies that can't legally hire STEM OPT students. Narrow by industry and location to match your degree's qualifying CIP code to the actual role requirements.
Negotiate your start date around OPT filing windows
USCIS recommends filing your STEM OPT extension application up to 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Confirm with your DSO that your I-20 update and I-765 are submitted before your EAD expires so there's no gap between your initial OPT period and the approved 24-month extension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Quality Assurance Specialist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on whether your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM OPT designated degree list and whether the QA role directly applies that field of study. Engineering technology, industrial engineering, chemistry, and computer science degrees commonly support QA positions in manufacturing and software. Review the O*NET profile for Quality Assurance Specialists to confirm the degree alignment before filing your extension request with your DSO.
Does my employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify before I start a QA job on STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT employers, not a recommendation. Your employer must be actively enrolled before you begin working, and enrollment must remain current throughout your 24-month extension period. You can verify enrollment status using the E-Verify employer search. If the employer isn't enrolled, they cannot legally employ you under STEM OPT regardless of their intent to sponsor future visas.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a Quality Assurance Specialist position?
Your I-983 must outline specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree and connect them to the actual QA tasks you'll perform, such as failure mode analysis, statistical process control, audit preparation, or regulatory documentation. Generic descriptions aren't sufficient. Both you and your employer's authorized representative must sign the plan, and your DSO must approve it before USCIS processes your extension. Update the plan if your role or responsibilities change materially.
How do I find Quality Assurance Specialist jobs where the employer can legally hire STEM OPT students?
Search Migrate Mate, which filters job listings by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history for Quality Assurance Specialist roles. This saves time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that an employer isn't enrolled in E-Verify or has never filed an LCA for this occupation, which would prevent you from starting work on your STEM OPT EAD.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my employer loses E-Verify enrollment mid-extension?
If your employer's E-Verify participation is terminated during your 24-month extension, your authorization to work for that employer under STEM OPT ends. You have a 180-day cap-gap or grace period window to find a new compliant employer, update your training plan, and continue authorized employment. USCIS treats this as a material change to your training conditions, so notify your DSO immediately and document the transition to protect your status.