STEM OPT Search Analyst Jobs
Search Analyst roles in SEO, paid search, and data analytics sit squarely within STEM-designated degree fields, making them strong fits for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and co-sign your I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: 8901 - Corp Office West Crk - 12800 Tuckahoe Creek Parkway, Richmond, Virginia, 23238
About The Team
The Personalization data science team builds and maintains search algorithms and recommender systems that are at the forefront of creating a modern, engaging, digital shopping experience for our customers. We see millions of customers every week across web and mobile. We deploy custom deep learning embedding models, ranking and segmentation algorithms, and are constantly testing new approaches. Our systems are used in dozens of product use cases across the retail and wholesale businesses, which means we partner with many diverse teams throughout the organization.
About The Role
Understanding our business - the used vehicle market, our customers, and our digital products - is at the heart of what we do on this team. Our data is massive, rich, and often challenging to work with. In this role you will develop deep expertise about our business through data: via ad-hoc analysis, supporting ML model development and management, and especially through the design and execution of rigorous statistical tests that help us understand what's actually working and what’s not. You'll be embedded with data scientists and ML engineers, which means you'll see how models are built, not just how they perform. You'll help shape what we test, how we measure success, and what we learn. If you love data, get excited about the mechanics of search and recommendations, and want to see your analysis directly influence product decisions, this role is for you.
What You Will Do – Essential Responsibilities
- Analyze large-scale behavioral data (search queries, click-through rates, purchase patterns, inventory turnover) to surface insights about customer preferences and system performance
- Design, execute, and interpret statistical tests (A/B tests, holdout experiments, pre/post analyses) to measure the impact of algorithm changes and new features
- Partner with data scientists on model development, validation, and ongoing monitoring - acting as a bridge between model performance metrics and business outcomes
- Translate complex findings into clear narratives for technical and non-technical stakeholders alike
- Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting that help the team and partners track key metrics over time
- Partner closely with cross functional teams in Product, Strategy, Technology, and Operations
Qualifications And Requirements
- 3+ years of experience in an analytical role, preferably in e-commerce, marketplace, or another data-rich environment
- Strong SQL skills and experience with Python (e.g. pandas, matplotlib) for data manipulation and analysis
- Solid foundation in statistics, including hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and experimental design - you should be comfortable explaining why a test result is or isn't significant
- Experience working with large datasets using tools like Spark, Databricks, or similar is preferred
- Ability to build and maintain reports in BI tools (Tableau, PowerBI, Looker, etc.), or interest in learning
- Clear communication skills - you can explain a complex analysis to a product manager or executive without losing them
- Genuine enthusiasm for how search and recommendation systems work, even if you haven't built them yourself
- Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (statistics, economics, math, engineering, or similar)
Upon an applicant's request, CarMax will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the CarMax Job Application.
Location: 8901 - Corp Office West Crk - 12800 Tuckahoe Creek Parkway, Richmond, Virginia, 23238
About The Team
The Personalization data science team builds and maintains search algorithms and recommender systems that are at the forefront of creating a modern, engaging, digital shopping experience for our customers. We see millions of customers every week across web and mobile. We deploy custom deep learning embedding models, ranking and segmentation algorithms, and are constantly testing new approaches. Our systems are used in dozens of product use cases across the retail and wholesale businesses, which means we partner with many diverse teams throughout the organization.
About The Role
Understanding our business - the used vehicle market, our customers, and our digital products - is at the heart of what we do on this team. Our data is massive, rich, and often challenging to work with. In this role you will develop deep expertise about our business through data: via ad-hoc analysis, supporting ML model development and management, and especially through the design and execution of rigorous statistical tests that help us understand what's actually working and what’s not. You'll be embedded with data scientists and ML engineers, which means you'll see how models are built, not just how they perform. You'll help shape what we test, how we measure success, and what we learn. If you love data, get excited about the mechanics of search and recommendations, and want to see your analysis directly influence product decisions, this role is for you.
What You Will Do – Essential Responsibilities
- Analyze large-scale behavioral data (search queries, click-through rates, purchase patterns, inventory turnover) to surface insights about customer preferences and system performance
- Design, execute, and interpret statistical tests (A/B tests, holdout experiments, pre/post analyses) to measure the impact of algorithm changes and new features
- Partner with data scientists on model development, validation, and ongoing monitoring - acting as a bridge between model performance metrics and business outcomes
- Translate complex findings into clear narratives for technical and non-technical stakeholders alike
- Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting that help the team and partners track key metrics over time
- Partner closely with cross functional teams in Product, Strategy, Technology, and Operations
Qualifications And Requirements
- 3+ years of experience in an analytical role, preferably in e-commerce, marketplace, or another data-rich environment
- Strong SQL skills and experience with Python (e.g. pandas, matplotlib) for data manipulation and analysis
- Solid foundation in statistics, including hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and experimental design - you should be comfortable explaining why a test result is or isn't significant
- Experience working with large datasets using tools like Spark, Databricks, or similar is preferred
- Ability to build and maintain reports in BI tools (Tableau, PowerBI, Looker, etc.), or interest in learning
- Clear communication skills - you can explain a complex analysis to a product manager or executive without losing them
- Genuine enthusiasm for how search and recommendation systems work, even if you haven't built them yourself
- Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (statistics, economics, math, engineering, or similar)
Upon an applicant's request, CarMax will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the CarMax Job Application.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Search Analyst
Verify your CIP code before applying
Not every analytics or marketing degree carries a STEM CIP code. Check with your DSO that your specific program qualifies before targeting Search Analyst roles, since your extension eligibility depends entirely on that designation.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting
Ask hiring managers directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before you reach the offer stage. An offer from a non-enrolled employer means you can't activate your STEM OPT extension, regardless of how strong the role is.
Frame your I-983 around measurable search goals
Your training plan must tie your daily work to STEM learning objectives. For Search Analyst roles, document specific skills like query analysis, A/B test design, and algorithmic ranking evaluation so the I-983 reflects real on-the-job development.
Target employers with dedicated search teams
Use Migrate Mate to filter for companies with verified E-Verify enrollment and active STEM OPT hiring history in search and analytics roles, so you're spending time on employers who've already cleared the compliance baseline.
Use OFLC Wage Search to anchor your salary ask
Search Analyst prevailing wages vary by metro area and experience level. Run the OFLC Wage Search for SOC code 15-2051 before negotiations so you know the DOL wage floor and can position your ask relative to local market data.
Search Analyst jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Search Analyst JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Search Analyst role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not just the job title. Search Analyst roles typically draw on statistics, computer science, information systems, or applied mathematics degrees, all of which carry STEM CIP codes. Confirm with your DSO that your specific program is on the STEM-designated degree program list before applying. The role itself doesn't trigger the extension; your qualifying degree does.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my STEM OPT employer?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension can be authorized. This is a hard requirement under ICE regulations, not a preference. Ask the recruiter or HR contact for the company's E-Verify Employer ID as part of your offer evaluation. If they can't provide it, the extension isn't available at that company regardless of role fit.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a Search Analyst position?
Your I-983 must describe a structured connection between your daily work and your STEM degree. For a Search Analyst, that means documenting learning objectives around data analysis, statistical modeling, search algorithm evaluation, or performance measurement. Both you and your employer supervisor sign the form, and it must be updated every 12 months or whenever your role changes materially. Vague descriptions increase the risk of a USCIS request for additional evidence.
How does cap-gap protection work if my employer files an H-1B while I'm on STEM OPT?
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition on your behalf and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year, even if your STEM OPT EAD expires before then. You can continue working as a Search Analyst during this period without a new EAD. USCIS provides cap-gap guidance for F-1 students in the STEM OPT context.
Where can I find Search Analyst jobs at E-Verify enrolled employers?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for STEM OPT eligibility, surfacing Search Analyst roles at employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment. That removes the manual step of vetting each company separately, which matters when your extension depends entirely on the employer clearing that compliance requirement before your start date.
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