STEM OPT Senior Backend Developer Jobs
Senior Backend Developer roles in systems architecture, API design, and distributed computing 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 your 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to build your U.S. career in backend engineering.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Senior Backend Developer is responsible for developing a robust collection of connected and complementary technical solutions that deliver an enterprise scale framework that serves hundred-thousands of clients and millions of web requests every day. The platform establishes an interconnected experience for both internal and external users by seamlessly integrating existing applications.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Senior Backend Developer, you will be a hands-on technical contributor responsible for the design, architecture, and implementation of critical backend services within this integrated digital experience platform. Your expertise will contribute to the development of highly scalable, secure, and resilient solutions.
- Hands-on Development: Design, develop, and maintain high-performance, fault-tolerant backend services and APIs using modern programming languages and frameworks. This includes core components for user authentication, authorization, content routing, and data integration.
- Security: Implement and enforce robust security measures, including single sign-on (SSO), centralized entitlements, and adherence to cyber defense standards across all backend components.
- Performance Engineering: Optimize backend systems for speed and efficiency, incorporating caching strategies, asynchronous processing, and efficient data access patterns.
- Integration Design: Design and implement solutions for integrating diverse Content Provider applications into the unified platform via HTTPS-based interfaces.
- Troubleshooting & Problem Solving: Serve as a subject matter expert for complex production issues, leading root cause analysis and resolution efforts for critical backend services.
- Collaboration: Partner closely with product management, front-end teams, architects, and infrastructure teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions and deliver features end-to-end.
- Compliance: Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3-6 years of extensive experience in backend software development, with significant experience in architecting and contributing to complex, large-scale enterprise platforms.
- Demonstrated experience in a Senior Developer role, with a strong track record of technical contribution.
- Proficiency in modern Java backend programming language and associated frameworks.
- Understanding and practical experience with distributed systems, microservices architectures, and RESTful API design.
- Proven experience with identity and access management (IAM) solutions, including SSO protocols (e.g., OAuth2, OpenID Connect) and fine-grained authorization.
- Experience with cloud-native development principles, containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes), and Cloud Adoption (GCP and AWS).
- Good knowledge of database technologies.
- Good problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to tackle ambiguous problems and drive solutions.
- Good communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing technical decisions and collaborating effectively across diverse teams.
- Hands-on experience with the other Backend technologies: Unix, Oracle, Any caching solutions and any AI adoption.
- Good knowledge on the Frontend integration is a plus: ReactJS, Content Security Policy, Adopting Corporate Design System, ADA Compliance.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree/University degree or equivalent experience
JOB FAMILY GROUP
Technology
JOB FAMILY
Applications Development
TIME TYPE
Full time
PRIMARY LOCATION
Irving Texas United States
PRIMARY LOCATION FULL TIME SALARY RANGE
$107,120.00 - $160,680.00 In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.
MOST RELEVANT SKILLS
Please see the requirements listed above.
OTHER RELEVANT SKILLS
For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.
ANTICIPATED POSTING CLOSE DATE
Jul 18, 2026
AUTOMATED PROCESSING AND AI
We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi. Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details. Illinois residents – AI Notice and Right
Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi. View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.
INTRODUCTION
The Senior Backend Developer is responsible for developing a robust collection of connected and complementary technical solutions that deliver an enterprise scale framework that serves hundred-thousands of clients and millions of web requests every day. The platform establishes an interconnected experience for both internal and external users by seamlessly integrating existing applications.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Senior Backend Developer, you will be a hands-on technical contributor responsible for the design, architecture, and implementation of critical backend services within this integrated digital experience platform. Your expertise will contribute to the development of highly scalable, secure, and resilient solutions.
- Hands-on Development: Design, develop, and maintain high-performance, fault-tolerant backend services and APIs using modern programming languages and frameworks. This includes core components for user authentication, authorization, content routing, and data integration.
- Security: Implement and enforce robust security measures, including single sign-on (SSO), centralized entitlements, and adherence to cyber defense standards across all backend components.
- Performance Engineering: Optimize backend systems for speed and efficiency, incorporating caching strategies, asynchronous processing, and efficient data access patterns.
- Integration Design: Design and implement solutions for integrating diverse Content Provider applications into the unified platform via HTTPS-based interfaces.
- Troubleshooting & Problem Solving: Serve as a subject matter expert for complex production issues, leading root cause analysis and resolution efforts for critical backend services.
- Collaboration: Partner closely with product management, front-end teams, architects, and infrastructure teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions and deliver features end-to-end.
- Compliance: Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3-6 years of extensive experience in backend software development, with significant experience in architecting and contributing to complex, large-scale enterprise platforms.
- Demonstrated experience in a Senior Developer role, with a strong track record of technical contribution.
- Proficiency in modern Java backend programming language and associated frameworks.
- Understanding and practical experience with distributed systems, microservices architectures, and RESTful API design.
- Proven experience with identity and access management (IAM) solutions, including SSO protocols (e.g., OAuth2, OpenID Connect) and fine-grained authorization.
- Experience with cloud-native development principles, containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes), and Cloud Adoption (GCP and AWS).
- Good knowledge of database technologies.
- Good problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to tackle ambiguous problems and drive solutions.
- Good communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing technical decisions and collaborating effectively across diverse teams.
- Hands-on experience with the other Backend technologies: Unix, Oracle, Any caching solutions and any AI adoption.
- Good knowledge on the Frontend integration is a plus: ReactJS, Content Security Policy, Adopting Corporate Design System, ADA Compliance.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree/University degree or equivalent experience
JOB FAMILY GROUP
Technology
JOB FAMILY
Applications Development
TIME TYPE
Full time
PRIMARY LOCATION
Irving Texas United States
PRIMARY LOCATION FULL TIME SALARY RANGE
$107,120.00 - $160,680.00 In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.
MOST RELEVANT SKILLS
Please see the requirements listed above.
OTHER RELEVANT SKILLS
For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.
ANTICIPATED POSTING CLOSE DATE
Jul 18, 2026
AUTOMATED PROCESSING AND AI
We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi. Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details. Illinois residents – AI Notice and Right
Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi. View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.
See all 60+ STEM OPT Senior Backend Developer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Backend Developer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code from your university's registrar and cross-reference it against STEM-designated fields. Computer science, software engineering, and information systems all qualify, but some interdisciplinary programs use codes that don't appear on the STEM OPT list.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify employer ID number before signing anything. Many startups and mid-size engineering shops haven't enrolled, which disqualifies them from hiring you on STEM OPT regardless of how strong the role is.
Target backend roles with direct degree alignment
USCIS requires your job to be directly related to your STEM degree. A senior backend role focused on distributed systems or database architecture maps cleanly to a computer science degree. Roles leaning heavily into product management or UX may trigger I-983 scrutiny from your DSO.
File your I-983 training plan before your OPT end date
Your employer and DSO must co-sign the I-983 before your initial OPT expires. Senior backend positions typically require documenting specific learning goals around system design, scalability, or API infrastructure. Vague plans get sent back, so draft concrete, measurable objectives tied to your actual job duties.
Search for backend roles through Migrate Mate
Filter for Senior Backend Developer positions on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers already verified to hire STEM OPT students. You can identify which companies have active E-Verify enrollment without having to ask recruiters cold, which saves time early in your job search.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level III or Level IV wage for your SOC code and work location. Your STEM OPT training plan salary must meet or exceed the DOL prevailing wage, and senior backend roles in major tech markets often carry higher wage floors than candidates expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my degree qualify me for STEM OPT as a Senior Backend Developer?
Your degree qualifies if its CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list published by the Department of Homeland Security. Degrees in computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, and information systems typically qualify. The job itself must also be directly related to your degree field, which USCIS and your DSO evaluate when approving your I-983 training plan.
What E-Verify requirements apply to my employer for STEM OPT?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the specific worksite where you'll be working, not just at the company's headquarters. This is a federal requirement for all STEM OPT extensions, enforced by USCIS. Employers who hire you through a staffing agency or third-party placement must also meet E-Verify requirements at the end client's location.
What goes into an I-983 training plan for a Senior Backend Developer?
Your I-983 must document specific, measurable learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. For a Senior Backend Developer, that typically means goals around distributed systems design, API development methodologies, database optimization, or cloud infrastructure. Generic descriptions like 'gain work experience' are rejected. Your employer's engineering manager and your DSO both sign off before submission.
How does cap-gap protection apply if my H-1B petition is filed during STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires, cap-gap protection extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a Senior Backend Developer during this period without a gap in status. USCIS provides guidance on cap-gap eligibility requirements and documentation on its website.
Where can I find Senior Backend Developer jobs that accept STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters Senior Backend Developer listings by employers who meet STEM OPT requirements, including E-Verify enrollment. Searching by role and location on Migrate Mate helps you avoid wasting time on companies that haven't enrolled in E-Verify or haven't hired STEM OPT students before, so you can focus your applications on employers already set up to hire you.