STEM OPT Quality Assurance Tester Jobs
Quality Assurance Tester roles in software and hardware testing qualify for the STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 24 additional months of work authorization beyond your initial OPT year. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree in computer science, engineering, or a related STEM field must align with the CIP code on your I-20.
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INTRODUCTION
This role is Hybrid, 3 days a week on-site at our Northbrook, IL Office.
As a Senior Penetration Tester, you will lead technical engagements responsible for evaluating and testing the security of embedded systems, cloud environments, web applications and mobile applications.
You will identify and responsibly exploit vulnerabilities, validate implemented security controls, and deliver actionable, high-value reports to clients. The role combines hands-on technical expertise with customer collaboration and contributions to internal R&D for advancing attack methodologies.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead end-to-end security assessment engagements for embedded products, IoT Medical & Industrial devices, Web/Mobile applications, and Cloud infrastructures.
- Perform comprehensive security evaluations, including vulnerability discovery, exploitation, code review, fuzzing, binary analysis, and validation of implemented security controls across all target environments.
- Interpret and apply cybersecurity compliance standards like EN18031, CRA, UK PSTI, UL Standards to diverse product types, translating requirements into effective test plans.
- Collaborate closely with clients to understand their security objectives, provide technical guidance, and deliver clear, professional reports with findings, risk ratings, and remediation recommendations.
- Provide high-level technical support in areas like test planning, methodology development, procedure updates, staff training, and resolution of complex quality or testing issues.
- Maintain/improve technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, obtaining applicable certifications, and participating in professional societies and cross-departmental task forces.
- Follow up with the latest technical developments in the physical attacks area that need to be contributed to the internal R&D developments in hardware (analogue and digital electronics) and software (C, C++, Assembly, and others) to enhance the level of our attacks and to explore new forms of attacks.
- Implement sophisticated attacks requiring multiple techniques such as vulnerability analysis, signal processing, FPGA, optical, and others.
- Undertake security evaluation attacks on smart cards or embedded systems. The main activity will be the real product analysis with the aim to highlight its strengths and weaknesses.
- Specialize in the realization of innovative physical attacks using laser or EM techniques, in-depth understanding on how the products work with the aim to stress them using complex hardware techniques.
- Conduct web application penetration testing (covering OWASP Top 10, API security, authentication/authorization flaws, business logic vulnerabilities, and modern web frameworks).
- Perform mobile application security assessments on iOS and Android platforms, including static analysis, dynamic analysis, reverse engineering, and platform-specific vulnerability testing.
- Execute cloud security testing and configuration reviews across AWS, Azure, GCP, or multi-cloud environments, focusing on identity and access management (IAM), network security, container/Kubernetes security, serverless architectures, storage security, and cloud misconfigurations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- University Degree (Equivalent to Bachelor’s Degree) in Electronic/Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Electrical Engineering or a related discipline plus 3-5 years of related experience. Good skills in Cloud security testing preferred.
- Proficiency in low-level programming (C, C++, Assembly) and scripting. Experience with FPGA, signal processing, or hardware debugging tools is a strong plus.
- Familiar with test equipment and working in a multi-skills environment mixing electronic, optical, security, mechanical, and IT.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- A self-motivated team player who can work independently and likes to bring new ideas for technical development.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
What you’ll experience working for ULS
UL Solutions has been pioneering change since 1894 and we’re still leading the way. From day one, we’ve blazed a trail protecting the planet and everyone on it. Our teams have influenced billions of products, plus services, software offerings and more. We break things, burn things and blow things up. All in the name of safety science.
That’s where you come in — because none of it could happen without you. It takes passion to protect people, problem-solving to safeguard personal data and conviction to make the world a more sustainable place. It takes bold ideas and brilliant minds to build a better world for future generations across the globe.
This is more than a job. It’s a calling. A passion to use our expertise and play our part in creating a more secure, sustainable world today — and tomorrow. As a member of our safety science community, you’ll use your ideas, your energy and your ambition to innovate, challenge and ultimately, help create a safer world.
Everyone here is unique. But we’re also a global community, working together to help create a safer world. Join UL Solutions and you can connect with the brightest minds in the business, all bringing their distinct perspectives and diverse backgrounds together to deliver real change.
Empowering our customers to keep the world safe means thinking ahead. It means investing in training and empowering our people to learn and innovate. At UL Solutions, we help build a better future — one where everyone benefits.
Join UL Solutions to be at the center of safety. To learn more about us and the work we do, visit UL.com
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $110,000 to $140,000 USD and is based on multiple factors, including job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, as well as other factors.
- This position is eligible for annual bonus compensation with a target payout of 10% of the base salary.
- This position also provides health benefits such as medical, dental and vision; wellness benefits such as mental and financial health; and retirement savings (401K) commensurate with the standard rewards offered in each individual location or country.
- We also provide full-time employees with paid time off including vacation (15 days), holiday and personal days (totaling 12 days) and sick time off (72 hours).
LI-SG2
LI-Hybrid
A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers’ product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers’ products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.
The world has never been more connected. Which means your skills as a cybersecurity expert have never been more essential. We hack for good, uncovering threats and understanding how bad actors operate. Whether it’s connected vehicles, medical devices or smart appliances, you’ll help keep products safe and secure in an increasingly threatened world. Join our team, collaborate with a global community of experts and use your skills to help shape a more secure future.
See all 286+ STEM OPT Quality Assurance Tester Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Quality Assurance Tester
Verify your CIP code matches QA roles
Pull your I-20 and confirm your CIP code maps to a STEM-designated field like computer science or information systems. A mismatch between your listed major and a QA Tester role can get your STEM OPT extension denied before it starts.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Search the E-Verify employer search tool to confirm any company you're targeting is actively enrolled before you apply. An unenrolled employer cannot legally hire you on STEM OPT, regardless of how willing they are to sponsor you.
Build a training plan tied to QA competencies
Your I-983 must list specific learning objectives your employer will supervise, so draft goals around test automation frameworks, defect lifecycle management, or SDLC participation. Vague objectives like 'gain experience' are the most common reason DSOs send training plans back for revision.
Target companies with active software testing LCAs
Use the OFLC Wage Search to identify employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications under QA or software testing job categories. Consistent LCA filings signal that a company has already built internal processes for hiring international workers in technical roles.
Find STEM OPT-ready QA roles on Migrate Mate
Search Quality Assurance Tester positions on Migrate Mate, which filters for employers verified against E-Verify enrollment and DOL LCA filing history. That saves you from applying to companies that have never navigated STEM OPT paperwork for technical roles.
Time your STEM OPT application around your offer letter
USCIS recommends filing your STEM OPT extension up to 90 days before your initial OPT expires. Get your I-983 signed by your employer before your DSO can issue a new I-20, so delays on the employer side don't compress your filing window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Quality Assurance Tester role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your employer classifies the role under a STEM-eligible occupation and your degree is in a STEM field listed on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. QA Tester positions in software development environments typically fall under computer and information science or engineering categories. Confirm the match with your DSO before filing, since your I-20 CIP code must support the extension.
What E-Verify requirement applies when I accept a QA Tester job on STEM OPT?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension is approved and must remain enrolled throughout your authorization period. E-Verify enrollment is a federal requirement, not a company preference. You can confirm enrollment using the E-Verify employer search tool before you sign an offer letter. If the company is not enrolled, your extension cannot be authorized regardless of the role.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a QA Tester position?
Your I-983 must describe the practical training goals your employer will supervise, including specific QA competencies like test case design, defect tracking, regression testing, or test automation. Both you and a company supervisor must sign the form. Your DSO will review it before issuing the updated I-20 needed for your STEM OPT extension application to USCIS. Generic objectives are the most common reason plans get rejected.
How does cap-gap protection apply if I'm a QA Tester awaiting an H-1B decision?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of the fiscal year the petition targets. You can continue working as a QA Tester in the same role during that period. USCIS guidance confirms this extension is automatic and does not require a separate filing.
Where can I find Quality Assurance Tester jobs that accept STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters QA Tester listings by employers verified against E-Verify enrollment and DOL Labor Condition Application history, so you're not sorting through postings from companies with no track record of hiring international candidates. The O*NET occupation profile for Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers can also help you identify whether a specific role description aligns with your STEM degree and training plan objectives.