STEM OPT Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs
Senior Software Development Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in computer science, software engineering, or a related STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll work under a structured I-983 training plan tied directly to your engineering responsibilities.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Exceptional Hospitality Starts with You
This is your chance to be a part of an in-house Technology team that's creating consumer-facing, cutting-edge technologies revolutionizing the hospitality industry around the world! As a Senior Software Engineer, you will join the Software Engineering Content team supporting Hilton.com and other customer-facing applications. This is a Java-focused full-stack development role, with the majority of your development work focused on Java, APIs, and backend services, along with some front-end development using React.
You will work across the application stack to build scalable solutions and connect Hilton's customer-facing experiences with the services and systems that support them.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What you'll do during a typical day:
- Design, develop, and maintain applications with a strong focus on Java development.
- Build and maintain APIs and backend services using Java.
- Develop and deliver features that support Hilton.com and other customer-facing applications.
- Work across the full stack, including some front-end development using React, HTML, and CSS.
- Customize and extend the built-in capabilities of the Content Management System.
- Work with databases such as Couchbase to support application functionality.
- Participate in code reviews, write unit tests, and troubleshoot application issues.
- Debug and resolve production issues.
- Optimize applications for performance, scalability, security, and reliability.
- Work within an established Agile framework to deliver high-quality solutions.
How you'll collaborate with others:
- Collaborate with architects, product owners, delivery managers, quality engineers, designers, and other developers to design and implement solutions supporting Hilton's digital experiences.
- Partner with front-end and backend developers to integrate applications and services.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies including grooming sessions, daily stand-ups, retrospectives, and code reviews.
Deliverables you'll take ownership of:
- Deliver high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented Java code.
- Design, develop, and maintain APIs and application services.
- Contribute to both backend and front-end application development as needed.
- Create and maintain unit tests, integration tests, and automated test suites.
- Ensure applications meet established performance, security, scalability, and reliability standards.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
You have these minimum qualifications:
- Three (3) years of professional experience in Technology or a related field.
- Three (3) years of hands-on experience developing applications using Java.
- Experience building large-scale applications using Java, APIs, and microservices.
- Experience designing, building, or integrating RESTful APIs.
- Experience working with databases. Experience with Couchbase or another NoSQL/database technology is welcome.
- Experience with full-stack application development and exposure to front-end technologies such as React, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Understanding of web application design patterns and scalable application development.
- Experience using Git for version control within a development team.
- Knowledge of tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Docker.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools to improve development efficiency and quality.
- Willingness to work a hybrid schedule near one of our three U.S. corporate office locations in McLean, Dallas, or Memphis.
- Willing to travel up to 10%.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
It would be useful if you have:
- Bachelor's Degree, or Associate's Degree plus 5+ years of Technology-related experience, or High School Degree/GED plus 12+ years of Technology-related experience.
- Five (5) + years of experience in software engineering or a related field.
- Experience developing applications within a Content Management System.
- Content Management System professional certifications.
- Experience with Couchbase, MongoDB, or other database technologies.
- Experience with messaging technologies such as Kafka or Redis.
- Experience developing user interfaces with React.
- Experience with Docker and containerized applications.
COMPENSATION
The pay range for this role is $85,000 – $120,000 and is determined based on applicable and specialized experience and location. Subject to plan terms and conditions, you will be eligible to participate in the Hilton Annual Incentive (Bonus) Plan, consistent with other team members at the same level and/or position within the Company.
BENEFITS
At Hilton, the hospitality we're known for doesn't end with our guests. We proudly invest in our Team Members' wellbeing, supporting you through all of life's moments. When you join Hilton, our exceptional care extends to you with unmatched perks and benefits, including:
- Incredible travel perks – Enjoy 110 nights of deeply discounted travel, with room rates as low as $40/night at our world-class hotels through our Go Hilton travel program.
- Own a piece of Hilton – Through our employee stock purchase program (ESPP), you can invest in Hilton shares at a 15% discount to help build your financial future.
- Paid parental leave – Because family matters. We offer paid leave for eligible Team Members, including partners and adoptive parents.
- Personalized caregiving support – Access dedicated caregiving concierge services to help navigate caregiving for yourself and your loved ones.
- Crisis concierge – In times of loss, our Crisis Concierge offers a single, compassionate point of contact for both practical support and emotional care.
- Mental health resources – Your wellbeing comes first. Eligible Team Members can access free counseling and support through our best-in-class Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Generous paid time off (PTO) – Recharge, relax, and take time for what matters most.
- Health & welfare benefits – From checkups to dental cleanings to new glasses, we offer a variety of health plans that keep you and your family covered.
- Financial security for your future – Our retirement plans make it easier to save for what's next.
Benefits availability may vary depending on Team Member's location as well as terms and conditions of employment and are subject to the terms and conditions of each specific program/plan.
Join an Award-Winning Workplace Culture
At Hilton, we don’t just deliver exceptional experiences for our guests—we build an exceptional workplace for the Team Members who make it all possible. As a global leader in hospitality, we’ve welcomed more than 3 billion guests worldwide, all while staying true to our founding vision: to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.
Our award-winning culture has earned us repeated recognition on the World’s Best Workplaces list by Great Place to Work and Fortune. With our suite of world-class brands, and a company-wide commitment to providing the best stay for every guest, we’re setting new standards for the future of travel.
Whether you’re starting your career or exploring something new, Hilton supports your journey every step of the way. Come for the job, stay for the career—and help us make every stay a little more magical. Curious about life at Hilton? Explore our Careers Blog to see why we’re more than a great place to stay—we’re a great place to work.
INTRODUCTION
Exceptional Hospitality Starts with You
This is your chance to be a part of an in-house Technology team that's creating consumer-facing, cutting-edge technologies revolutionizing the hospitality industry around the world! As a Senior Software Engineer, you will join the Software Engineering Content team supporting Hilton.com and other customer-facing applications. This is a Java-focused full-stack development role, with the majority of your development work focused on Java, APIs, and backend services, along with some front-end development using React.
You will work across the application stack to build scalable solutions and connect Hilton's customer-facing experiences with the services and systems that support them.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What you'll do during a typical day:
- Design, develop, and maintain applications with a strong focus on Java development.
- Build and maintain APIs and backend services using Java.
- Develop and deliver features that support Hilton.com and other customer-facing applications.
- Work across the full stack, including some front-end development using React, HTML, and CSS.
- Customize and extend the built-in capabilities of the Content Management System.
- Work with databases such as Couchbase to support application functionality.
- Participate in code reviews, write unit tests, and troubleshoot application issues.
- Debug and resolve production issues.
- Optimize applications for performance, scalability, security, and reliability.
- Work within an established Agile framework to deliver high-quality solutions.
How you'll collaborate with others:
- Collaborate with architects, product owners, delivery managers, quality engineers, designers, and other developers to design and implement solutions supporting Hilton's digital experiences.
- Partner with front-end and backend developers to integrate applications and services.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies including grooming sessions, daily stand-ups, retrospectives, and code reviews.
Deliverables you'll take ownership of:
- Deliver high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented Java code.
- Design, develop, and maintain APIs and application services.
- Contribute to both backend and front-end application development as needed.
- Create and maintain unit tests, integration tests, and automated test suites.
- Ensure applications meet established performance, security, scalability, and reliability standards.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
You have these minimum qualifications:
- Three (3) years of professional experience in Technology or a related field.
- Three (3) years of hands-on experience developing applications using Java.
- Experience building large-scale applications using Java, APIs, and microservices.
- Experience designing, building, or integrating RESTful APIs.
- Experience working with databases. Experience with Couchbase or another NoSQL/database technology is welcome.
- Experience with full-stack application development and exposure to front-end technologies such as React, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Understanding of web application design patterns and scalable application development.
- Experience using Git for version control within a development team.
- Knowledge of tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Docker.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools to improve development efficiency and quality.
- Willingness to work a hybrid schedule near one of our three U.S. corporate office locations in McLean, Dallas, or Memphis.
- Willing to travel up to 10%.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
It would be useful if you have:
- Bachelor's Degree, or Associate's Degree plus 5+ years of Technology-related experience, or High School Degree/GED plus 12+ years of Technology-related experience.
- Five (5) + years of experience in software engineering or a related field.
- Experience developing applications within a Content Management System.
- Content Management System professional certifications.
- Experience with Couchbase, MongoDB, or other database technologies.
- Experience with messaging technologies such as Kafka or Redis.
- Experience developing user interfaces with React.
- Experience with Docker and containerized applications.
COMPENSATION
The pay range for this role is $85,000 – $120,000 and is determined based on applicable and specialized experience and location. Subject to plan terms and conditions, you will be eligible to participate in the Hilton Annual Incentive (Bonus) Plan, consistent with other team members at the same level and/or position within the Company.
BENEFITS
At Hilton, the hospitality we're known for doesn't end with our guests. We proudly invest in our Team Members' wellbeing, supporting you through all of life's moments. When you join Hilton, our exceptional care extends to you with unmatched perks and benefits, including:
- Incredible travel perks – Enjoy 110 nights of deeply discounted travel, with room rates as low as $40/night at our world-class hotels through our Go Hilton travel program.
- Own a piece of Hilton – Through our employee stock purchase program (ESPP), you can invest in Hilton shares at a 15% discount to help build your financial future.
- Paid parental leave – Because family matters. We offer paid leave for eligible Team Members, including partners and adoptive parents.
- Personalized caregiving support – Access dedicated caregiving concierge services to help navigate caregiving for yourself and your loved ones.
- Crisis concierge – In times of loss, our Crisis Concierge offers a single, compassionate point of contact for both practical support and emotional care.
- Mental health resources – Your wellbeing comes first. Eligible Team Members can access free counseling and support through our best-in-class Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Generous paid time off (PTO) – Recharge, relax, and take time for what matters most.
- Health & welfare benefits – From checkups to dental cleanings to new glasses, we offer a variety of health plans that keep you and your family covered.
- Financial security for your future – Our retirement plans make it easier to save for what's next.
Benefits availability may vary depending on Team Member's location as well as terms and conditions of employment and are subject to the terms and conditions of each specific program/plan.
Join an Award-Winning Workplace Culture
At Hilton, we don’t just deliver exceptional experiences for our guests—we build an exceptional workplace for the Team Members who make it all possible. As a global leader in hospitality, we’ve welcomed more than 3 billion guests worldwide, all while staying true to our founding vision: to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.
Our award-winning culture has earned us repeated recognition on the World’s Best Workplaces list by Great Place to Work and Fortune. With our suite of world-class brands, and a company-wide commitment to providing the best stay for every guest, we’re setting new standards for the future of travel.
Whether you’re starting your career or exploring something new, Hilton supports your journey every step of the way. Come for the job, stay for the career—and help us make every stay a little more magical. Curious about life at Hilton? Explore our Careers Blog to see why we’re more than a great place to stay—we’re a great place to work.
See all 1,524+ STEM OPT Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Senior Software Development Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Software Development Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code appears on the STEM OPT eligible fields list. Software engineering, computer science, and information systems degrees typically qualify, but interdisciplinary degrees need a DSO confirmation before you file.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Before signing an offer letter, check the employer's E-Verify enrollment status directly through the E-Verify employer search. Companies not enrolled cannot legally employ you on a STEM OPT extension, regardless of role seniority or team size.
Build your I-983 training plan around engineering deliverables
Your I-983 must list specific learning objectives tied to the Senior Software Development Engineer role, not generic job duties. Frame it around technical competencies your degree prepared you for, such as system design, distributed architecture, or performance engineering.
Target employers with active H-1B filing histories
Use Migrate Mate to filter Senior Software Development Engineer roles by employers with verified DOL Labor Condition Application data, so you're applying to companies that already understand and support long-term work authorization beyond your OPT period.
Benchmark your offer against prevailing wage tiers
Run your expected title and location through the OFLC Wage Search to confirm your offer meets at least the Level II prevailing wage for software development engineers. Underpaid offers can complicate your employer's future H-1B visa or PERM filings on your behalf.
File your STEM OPT extension 90 days before OPT expires
USCIS allows you to apply up to 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Filing early protects your work authorization if processing delays occur and keeps your employment continuous without a gap that affects your senior-level project commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Software Development Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your underlying degree is in an eligible STEM field such as computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline with an approved CIP code. The role itself must also provide practical training directly related to your degree field. Your DSO verifies CIP code eligibility on your updated I-20 before you file the extension with USCIS.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for this role?
Your I-983 must identify specific learning objectives aligned with your STEM degree and the Senior Software Development Engineer position. For this role, that typically means documenting goals around system architecture, software design principles, or engineering methodologies. Both you and your employer's authorized representative sign it, and USCIS or ICE can request it during compliance reviews. Generic job descriptions are not sufficient.
How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
You can search the employer's E-Verify enrollment status through the official E-Verify employer search tool maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. Enrollment must be active at the time your STEM OPT extension begins, not just at the point of hiring. If an employer is not enrolled, they cannot legally authorize your STEM OPT extension, even if the role fully qualifies.
What happens to my work authorization if my employer files an H-1B petition before my STEM OPT expires?
If your employer files a cap-subject H-1B petition before your STEM OPT end date and it's selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection extends your OPT authorization automatically through September 30 of that fiscal year, or until USCIS adjudicates the petition. You can continue working in your Senior Software Development Engineer role during this period without interruption, as long as your I-20 reflects the cap-gap extension.
Where can I find Senior Software Development Engineer jobs where employers are prepared to support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Senior Software Development Engineer roles filtered for employers with documented visa sponsorship histories, so you're not spending time on companies that have never navigated OPT or work authorization paperwork. Searching by role and authorization type helps you reach hiring managers who already understand the E-Verify requirement and the I-983 process.