STEM OPT Senior Staff Data Engineer Jobs
Senior Staff Data Engineer roles in distributed systems, data platform architecture, and ML infrastructure qualify for STEM OPT. Your STEM degree in computer science, data science, or a related field unlocks the 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months total to work for any E-Verify-enrolled employer.
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INTRODUCTION
GE Vernova's Gas Power Data Science organization is building an enterprise ontology and knowledge graph capability to give AI agents, GenAI applications, and advanced analytics a shared, governed representation of the business. We're looking for a Senior Ontology & Knowledge Graph modeling to own the ontology and knowledge graph strategy across all of Gas Power including services, engineering, and commercial domains, ensuring they interoperate as one coherent semantic layer rather than a set of individually correct but disconnected models. You'll build the semantic "connective tissue" that lets Gas Power derive intelligence from its industrial data, leading the shift from traditional data management to an AI-ready semantic ecosystem that enables advanced diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and strategic decision-making.
This is a program level role. You remain technically hands on enough to build and debug models when it matters, but your time is weighted toward setting modeling standards, resolving cross-domain conflicts, and acting as the final technical authority on ontology. You own how the organization scales its model-building capability training approach, and delivery process for contractors, FDEs (Forward Deployed Engineers), and SMEs across the entire program, and you are accountable for the organization's overall ontology capability, not just the output of any single domain.
You will define and own the semantic model governance framework end to end, versioning policy, lifecycle, access model, and how governance holds up as adoption scales, and you will own the platform selection decision and long-term roadmap.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the ontology and knowledge graph strategy across all Gas Power domains: services, engineering, and commercial, ensuring domain models interoperate as one coherent semantic layer.
- Set enterprise-wide modeling standards and patterns (OWL 2, RDF/RDFS, SHACL, SPARQL) that all domain models must follow.
- Resolve cross-domain modeling conflicts and serve as the final technical authority when domain models compete or overlap.
- Design and own the organization's model for scaling ontology work: how contractors, FDEs, and SMEs are staffed, trained, and deployed across the full program.
- Build and evolve the training curriculum that brings SMEs to self-sufficiency in building and maintaining their own domain models.
- Own the organization's overall ontology building capability, measured not by any single domain's output, but by how well the program scales without bottlenecking on any one person.
- Define the model approval framework: review criteria, review board/process, and escalation path for contested or high-risk models.
- Serve as final arbiter on contested or high-risk model approvals, while delegating day-to-day approvals within the defined framework.
- Own the semantic model governance framework end to end: versioning policy, model lifecycle, access model, and metadata/lineage management.
- Ensure governance scales as the knowledge graph grows, auditing for drift, inconsistency, and standards erosion across domains.
- Partner with the GenAI/ML and AI platform teams to ensure the knowledge graph is the grounding layer for RAG and agentic workflows program-wide.
- Communicate modeling trade-offs, and delivery progress clearly to technical teams and senior stakeholders.
- Contribute reusable standards, reference documentation, and mentoring that strengthen ontology and semantic modeling capability across the team.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information science, data science, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 4-6 years of professional experience in data modeling, semantic technologies, or knowledge engineering, including at least 1-2 years working directly with ontologies.
- Professional experience delivering data models, semantic technologies, or knowledge engineering solutions, including direct work with ontologies or knowledge graphs.
- Hands-on proficiency with OWL 2, RDF/RDFS, SHACL, and SPARQL.
- Experience with at least one ontology, graph, or semantic modeling platform or tool, such as Neo4j, Protégé, Palantir Foundry, or Atlan.
- Working knowledge of modern cloud data environments and the integration patterns required to connect semantic layers to enterprise data products.
- Demonstrated ability to independently deliver a defined technical scope within a broader architecture and product roadmap.
- Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to convert ambiguous requirements into clear semantic models and recommendations.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently on a defined scope while collaborating within a broader technical roadmap.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in an industrial, energy, or manufacturing environment (services demand, asset performance, or engineering data domains a plus).
- Exposure to GenAI/LLM applications, particularly RAG architectures grounded in structured knowledge.
- Familiarity with MCP (Model Context Protocol) or similar agent-to-data integration patterns.
- Experience contributing to platform evaluation or architecture decision documents for executive audiences.
- Knowledge of data governance, metadata management, or MLOps practices (MLflow or similar).
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 $119,200.00 and $198,600.00. 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 October 08, 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.
See all 110+ STEM OPT Senior Staff Data Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Staff Data Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to an approved STEM field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Data engineering roles often require computer science or information systems CIP codes, and a mismatch can disqualify your extension request.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask the recruiter for the company's E-Verify company ID or have HR confirm active enrollment in writing. Not every employer knows their own status off the top of their head, and a company that isn't enrolled cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT.
Target companies with active data engineering LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by verified DOL Labor Condition Application filings for data engineering roles. This surfaces companies that have already navigated the STEM OPT and H-1B visa pipeline, not just companies that say they sponsor.
Negotiate your I-983 training plan before your start date
The I-983 must detail the specific technical skills, tools, and learning objectives tied to your Senior Staff Data Engineer responsibilities. Push for sign-off before day one so your DSO can update your SEVIS record without delaying your authorization.
Understand cap-gap if your H-1B is selected
If you're in your final OPT months when USCIS selects your H-1B registration, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of the fiscal year. You can keep working in your data engineering role without interruption if your employer files a timely petition.
Cross-reference wage levels using OFLC Wage Search
Senior Staff Data Engineer is a Level III or IV wage position in most metro areas. Run the OFLC Wage Search to confirm your offer aligns with the prevailing wage for your SOC code and location before signing, since underpayment can trigger compliance issues during H-1B filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Staff Data Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your underlying degree is in a DHS-designated STEM field such as computer science, electrical engineering, statistics, or information systems, and the role itself requires that technical foundation. Senior Staff Data Engineer positions typically involve distributed systems design, data pipeline architecture, or ML platform work, all of which align with STEM degree requirements. Confirm your degree's CIP code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before filing.
What E-Verify obligation does my employer have for STEM OPT?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension begins, and they must run your employment verification through the system within three business days of your start date. E-Verify enrollment is a hard legal requirement under ICE SEVIS regulations, not optional. Ask your HR contact to confirm the company's E-Verify company ID in writing before accepting any offer.
What goes into an I-983 training plan for a Senior Staff Data Engineer?
The I-983 must document your specific learning objectives tied to the role, the technical skills and tools you'll develop such as Apache Spark, Kafka, or cloud data platform architecture, how those skills connect to your STEM degree, and how your employer will supervise and evaluate your progress. Vague job descriptions get rejected by DSOs. Work with your hiring manager to draft measurable goals before submitting the form.
How do I find Senior Staff Data Engineer employers who are enrolled in E-Verify?
Migrate Mate filters data engineering roles by verified E-Verify enrollment and active DOL Labor Condition Application filings, so you're only looking at employers who have already cleared the compliance bar. This saves you from applying broadly and discovering E-Verify gaps only after an offer, which is a common and frustrating outcome for STEM OPT students targeting senior-level engineering roles.
How does cap-gap affect me as a Senior Staff Data Engineer on STEM OPT?
If USCIS selects your H-1B registration during your STEM OPT period and your employer files your petition before your OPT expires, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. You can continue working in your Senior Staff Data Engineer role without a gap in employment. USCIS requires a timely-filed petition for cap-gap to apply, so coordinate closely with your employer on the filing timeline.