STEM OPT R D Engineer Jobs
R&D Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree aligns with the position's CIP code and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. With up to 36 months of total OPT authorization, you have a realistic runway to contribute to research cycles and transition to long-term sponsorship.
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INTRODUCTION
The R&D Engineer is responsible for the design of new fluid & mechanical accessories systems and equipment of the gas turbine (GT) power plant for R&D programs.
The R&D Engineer works with a broad network of engineers within GE Vernova, including technical experts, Platform, Configuration and Product Management teams, and also with critical suppliers, to develop innovative and sustainable designs solutions in adherence to the R&D process. The Engineer creates and uses tools, sizes, designs and analyses the product to meet its requirements. The Engineer also responds to project-driven R&D programs through the support of the tendering bid packages for early preliminary assessment and up to the development of the solution through the project execution phase. This position offers a broad, cross-functional, and variable work scope for a driven, self-motivated engineer.
What impact you’ll make
As an Engineer, R&D, in Plant Mechanical Engineering organization, you will be an active contributor of the development of new products focused on delivering a more sustainable power and with flawless quality.
What you’ll do
- Design next generation products of the gas turbine power plant and accessories from the engineering launch to the field validation, with focus on highest safety, quality, delivery and cost, in that order
- Comply with R&D process and manage milestones, design with a relative autonomy, get frequent validation from peers, Technical Leaders and Controlled Title Holders. Present design in front of the board of reviewers and close action items
- Develop and implement controlled design/analysis tools and methods as specified by leaders, to improve Standard Work and decrease cost of poor quality (CoPQ)
- Collaborate with internal engineering and program management teams, Chief Engineering Office, manufacturing engineering, and external suppliers to create cohesive design
- Support tendering bid packages for out of standard requests, by doing high level preliminary analysis under the guidance of technical leaders
- Support root cause analysis leader with high sense of urgency, to improve products and execute corrective actions on existing designs
- Work cross-functionally with partner organizations to improve variable cost and drive usage of standard product for enhanced quality and delivery
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor or Master of Science in Mechanical, Process, Chemical, or Aeronautical engineering
- 2+ years of experience in Mechanical & Fluids engineering and/or quality in Power, Aeronautics, Chemical or Automotive industry
- Lean and Quality oriented Culture
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- You have a passion for innovation, and product development in the gas turbine combined cycle space, comfortable to deal with unknowns and different perspectives from technical experts
- You have experience with mechanical, processes, thermal and fluid flow analysis tools; you can handle 3D models and read Schematics/Diagrams
- You are data-driven engineer with analytical skills able to design products with a focus on Safety and Quality, and able to lead Lean process continuous improvement
- You bring a clear-thinker mindset, you are able to break large, complex problems into an achievable timeline with individual deliverables and stakeholders/approvers driving to prompt resolution.
- You have excellent communications skills, good attitude, self-starter, well-balanced, team player able to work in a multi-cultural environment
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
GE Vernova offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Vernova is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
GE Vernova will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable).
Relocation Assistance Provided: No
For candidates applying to a U.S. based position, the pay range for this position is between $80,000.00 and $120,000.00. The Company pays a geographic differential of 110%, 120% or 130% of salary in certain areas. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set.
Bonus eligibility: discretionary annual bonus.
This posting is expected to remain open for at least seven days after it was posted on November 03, 2026.
Available benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to Health Coach from GE Vernova, a 24/7 nurse-based resource; and access to the Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Vernova Retirement Savings Plan, a tax-advantaged 401(k) savings opportunity with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability benefits, life insurance, 12 paid holidays, and permissive time off.
GE Vernova Inc. or its affiliates (collectively or individually, “GE Vernova”) sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs GE Vernova reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace, or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a GE Vernova welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a R D Engineer
Verify your CIP code matches the role
Pull your degree's CIP code from your I-20 and confirm it maps to the R&D Engineer occupation on O*NET before applying. A mismatch between your field of study and the job's STEM classification will get your extension denied.
Check E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Search the E-Verify employer database to confirm enrollment before any offer advances. R&D teams at subsidiaries and joint ventures sometimes operate under a separate EIN from the parent company, so verify the specific hiring entity.
Document your training plan with project milestones
Your I-983 must link training objectives to your STEM degree, not just list job duties. For R&D roles, map each research milestone to a learning outcome so your DSO and employer can sign off without revision requests.
Target labs with active H-1B filing history
Use the OFLC Wage Search to identify employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for R&D Engineer roles in your target metro. Consistent LCA filings signal that a company has the HR infrastructure to sponsor beyond OPT.
File your extension 90 days before OPT expires
USCIS requires the STEM OPT extension application to be submitted at least 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Missing that window means a gap in authorization, which R&D employers treat as a compliance liability.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified R&D sponsors
Search R&D Engineer roles on Migrate Mate to surface employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history. Filtering by those signals cuts the time you'd otherwise spend vetting each company's sponsorship capacity individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my STEM degree qualify me for the 24-month STEM OPT extension in an R&D Engineer role?
Your degree qualifies if its CIP code falls on the STEM Designated Degree Program List published by the Department of Homeland Security and if the R&D Engineer role is directly related to that field of study. Engineering degrees in mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer, and materials disciplines typically satisfy both conditions. Your DSO confirms the CIP code match when recommending the extension on your I-20.
What E-Verify requirement applies to employers hiring me for an R&D Engineer position?
Any employer who wants to employ you during the 24-month STEM OPT extension must be enrolled in E-Verify for every hiring site where you will work. This is a federal requirement under the STEM OPT regulations, not an optional step. If the R&D lab operates under a different EIN than the parent company, that specific entity must hold its own E-Verify enrollment. Confirm enrollment before signing an offer.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for an R&D Engineer on STEM OPT?
The I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, the supervisory structure at the R&D site, how the employer will evaluate your progress, and how the training relates to your long-term career goals. For R&D Engineer roles, this means naming research projects, lab methodologies, or product development stages you will contribute to, not just restating your job description. Your employer and DSO must both sign the form before your extension begins.
Can I keep working as an R&D Engineer if my H-1B is selected in the lottery but not yet approved?
Yes, the cap-gap provision automatically extends your OPT work authorization if your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your OPT expires and that petition is timely filed for the October 1 start date. Your STEM OPT authorization continues through September 30 of the fiscal year the H-1B takes effect, provided the petition remains pending or approved. USCIS issues updated I-20 documentation reflecting the cap-gap period.
Where can I find R&D Engineer jobs where the employer is already set up to hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters R&D Engineer listings by employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history, so you can see which companies have already sponsored STEM workers in similar roles. That data comes from DOL disclosure records, which means you're not relying on employer self-reporting. Start your search there to avoid spending application cycles on employers who haven't built out the compliance infrastructure STEM OPT requires.