STEM OPT Release Engineer Jobs
Release Engineer roles in CI/CD pipeline management, build automation, and infrastructure tooling qualify for STEM OPT when your degree is in computer science, software engineering, or a related STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and the 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months of total work authorization to grow in the role.
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INTRODUCTION
The Siri team is looking for a Release Engineering Program Manager (EPM) who is passionate about shipping high-quality software products to millions of customers. In this role, you will partner closely with Siri Program leadership and drive coordination across several teams at Apple to ensure Siri features and updates are delivered on schedule and to the standard our customers have come to expect from all our products. You'll work on both current and future releases to ensure we maintain the rigor and quality built into every stage of our software development lifecycle.
You need experience with system software fundamentals, release management, and strong leadership and interpersonal skills. A strong executive presence with the ability to influence leadership is preferred.
DESCRIPTION
We are looking for someone with a passion and track record for helping ship complex new technologies. This is a hands-on Release EPM position working with some of the most talented engineers in the world. The Release EPM guides teams through the product development lifecycle - we ensure everyone knows the right priorities at every stage, help them frame critical decisions, and highlight risks early. You should demonstrate high integrity and high energy, and feel comfortable in a dynamic, fast-moving environment. As an experienced change leader navigating uncharted technology advancements, you will build strong collaborative relationships and manage any associated conflicts calmly along the way. You will be responsible for successful outcomes and delivery with laser focus on execution and a keen eye for important details.
Responsibilities
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Work with our project management, engineering, and leadership teams to help define, schedule, track, and communicate the status of releases.
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Communicate effectively at all levels - from informal drop-ins to formal announcements - often serving as the face of the Siri release team inside Apple.
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Serve as a go-to resource for querying data to understand bug status, program status, and other key release metrics - helping leadership at all levels understand program health.
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Coordinate and run program-wide bug reviews with program leadership, engineering, program management, quality and other cross-functional partners.
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Track and prioritize tasks across multiple product releases and efforts simultaneously.
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Track and communicate release critical, seed-blocking and other high-priority issues effectively and in a timely manner.
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Develop and automate reports to help manage the entire bug lifecycle and identify areas for improvement.
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Lead release-related efforts across multiple teams across multiple layers of the software stack as needed, identify the right technical DRIs for issues impacting releases and drive them to resolution.
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Understand and enforce our integration and build processes end to end, from seeds to release; provide frequent updates, with the right sense of urgency and priority, to build and integration teams on upcoming releases.
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Identify and implement opportunities to improve how programs are run and executed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
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3+ years of experience project managing complex, multi-functional projects.
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BS/MS in Computer Science / Engineering or equivalent.
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Experience partnering directly with engineering and program leadership to navigate release trade-offs, drive alignment, and communicate risk in high-stakes environments.
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Self-motivated, proactive, and enthusiastic with demonstrated creative and critical thinking capabilities.
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Concise, well-structured written communication including status and summary of issues.
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Articulate and facilitative in meetings and demonstrates the ability to reshape messaging for each audience.
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Ability to deliver hard news clearly and escalate appropriately across teams.
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Strong collaboration skills - ability to work well within a team, understand capabilities, and discern priorities.
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Devise and communicates plans in ambiguous settings with attention to detail.
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A deeply curious mindset about new ideas.
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Ability to filter and distill relevant information for the right audience.
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Solid understanding of software development practices with the proven ability to navigate ambiguity, distinguish urgent from important and defend tradeoffs.
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Experience developing and releasing a consumer product.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
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Prior experience in a hands-on technical role in software engineering and project management.
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Experience working in a cross-functional project role spanning multiple software stack layers such as, but not limited to, firmware, OS, rendering, applications, machine learning, deep learning, or toolkits and SDKs.
PAY & BENEFITS
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $144,600 and $263,800, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Release Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to a DHS-designated STEM field. A degree in information systems or computer engineering typically qualifies, but a general business technology degree may not. Confirm with your DSO before submitting the I-983.
Search for E-Verify enrollment before interviewing
Ask your recruiter whether the employer has an active E-Verify company ID before you reach the offer stage. Employers not enrolled in E-Verify cannot legally employ STEM OPT students, so confirming this early saves you from chasing roles that can't be authorized.
Tailor your resume to DevOps toolchains employers post
Release Engineer job postings routinely list Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Terraform, and Kubernetes. Match your resume language to the exact tools in each posting so applicant tracking systems surface you for roles where the employer's build environment aligns with your documented OPT training plan.
Use Migrate Mate to target companies with STEM OPT hiring history
Filter by employers who have previously hired STEM OPT students in software and systems roles. Migrate Mate surfaces this data so you spend time on companies already familiar with the E-Verify requirement and the I-983 process, not educating employers from scratch.
Draft your I-983 training plan around release engineering tasks
USCIS requires the I-983 to document specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. List concrete deliverables: automating deployment pipelines, reducing release cycle time, or implementing infrastructure-as-code. Vague descriptions risk a DSO rejection before your extension is even filed.
Time your STEM OPT application to protect cap-gap eligibility
If you plan to transition to H-1B visa, file your STEM OPT extension at least 90 days before your initial OPT EAD expires. A timely filing maintains your work authorization during the cap-gap period, letting you continue in your Release Engineer role without an employment gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Release Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a DHS-designated STEM field such as computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, or information technology. The role itself must involve applying STEM knowledge directly, which Release Engineering does through build automation, CI/CD pipeline development, and systems reliability work. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO before filing the I-983 with USCIS.
Is my employer required to be on E-Verify for STEM OPT?
Yes, E-Verify enrollment is a federal requirement for any employer hiring a STEM OPT student. Without an active E-Verify company ID, the employer cannot sign your I-983 training plan, and USCIS will not approve your extension. Ask the recruiter or HR team for their E-Verify company ID number before you reach the offer stage to avoid wasted time on ineligible companies.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a Release Engineer position?
The I-983 must document specific learning objectives that connect your STEM degree to your Release Engineer duties. Include measurable goals such as automating deployment pipelines, implementing infrastructure-as-code practices, reducing build failure rates, or integrating security scanning into CI/CD workflows. Vague descriptions like 'gaining work experience' are insufficient. Your employer's supervisor must co-sign the plan, and your DSO reviews it before submission.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm in a Release Engineer role?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a Release Engineer during this period without a new EAD. Filing your STEM OPT extension at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires is essential to maintain continuous authorization.
Where can I find Release Engineer jobs that accept STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Release Engineer openings filtered for employers with E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT hiring experience. This matters because Release Engineer roles at smaller startups often lack HR teams familiar with the I-983 process, and targeting employers who already understand STEM OPT significantly reduces the time from offer to authorization. Search Migrate Mate to find roles where the employer infrastructure matches your work authorization timeline.