STEM OPT Senior Systems Administrator Jobs

Senior Systems Administrator roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree is in computer science, information technology, or a related CIP-coded field. The 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to work for an E-Verify-enrolled employer while building the infrastructure experience that supports long-term sponsorship.

Find STEM OPT Senior Systems Administrator Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs268+
Work Type84% On-site
Top LocationAtlanta, GA
Most JobsCVS Health

Showing 5 of 268+ Senior Systems Administrator jobs

Pacific Life
Senior Systems Administrator
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Pacific Life
Added 2w ago
Senior Systems Administrator
Pacific Life
Omaha, Nebraska
IT Support & Systems Administration
Cybersecurity
Technical Product & Program Management
IT Support
Systems Administration
$98k - $120k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Shield AI
Senior Systems Administrator
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Shield AI
Added 1mo ago
Senior Systems Administrator
Shield AI
Washington, Washington DC
IT Support & Systems Administration
Cybersecurity
IT Support
Systems Administration
Cybersecurity Operations
$97k - $140k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
11-50

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Intellibee Inc
Sr System Administrator
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Intellibee Inc
Added 2w ago
Sr System Administrator
Intellibee Inc
Detroit, Michigan
IT Support & Systems Administration
Cloud & DevOps
Technical Product & Program Management
IT Support
Systems Administration
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Senior GitLab System Administrator
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Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Added 2d ago
Senior GitLab System Administrator
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Seattle, Washington
IT Support & Systems Administration
Cloud & DevOps
Data Engineering
IT Support
Systems Administration
DevOps
Database Administration (DBA)
$110k - $120k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Boston College
Senior Collaboration Systems Administrator
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Boston College
Added 3d ago
Senior Collaboration Systems Administrator
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
IT Support & Systems Administration
IT Support
Systems Administration
$78k - $138k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Tips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Systems Administrator

Verify your CIP code before applying

Cross-check your degree's CIP code against the official STEM OPT designated degree list at USCIS before targeting roles. Computer science, information systems, and network engineering codes qualify, but a mismatch can invalidate your extension eligibility entirely.

Filter job postings for E-Verify enrollment

Run prospective employers through the E-Verify employer search tool before investing time in an application. Systems administrator roles at many staffing agencies and smaller managed service providers look appealing but fall outside the E-Verify requirement, disqualifying them for STEM OPT.

Target infrastructure-heavy employers with H-1B history

Use Migrate Mate to identify employers with active STEM OPT hiring and H-1B visa filing history for systems administrator roles. Companies that have filed for this SOC code before understand the training plan requirement and won't stall on I-983 paperwork.

Map your I-983 training goals to real infrastructure projects

Draft your I-983 training plan around concrete deliverables: server migrations, Active Directory deployments, or cloud infrastructure buildouts. Vague goals like 'gain systems experience' trigger DSO rejections. Tie each learning objective to a specific project your employer is already running.

Negotiate your offer letter to reflect STEM OPT terms

Ask for explicit confirmation that your employment agreement acknowledges E-Verify participation and STEM OPT reporting obligations before signing. Some employers agree verbally but haven't updated their onboarding process, which creates compliance problems at the 6-month and 12-month self-evaluation checkpoints.

Check prevailing wage before discussing compensation

Look up the wage level for your target metro area using the OFLC Wage Search before salary conversations. The DOL prevailing wage for Senior Systems Administrators varies significantly by region and level, and knowing the floor protects you from offers that undercut what future H-1B sponsorship would legally require.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Senior Systems Administrator role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?

Yes, if your underlying degree carries an eligible CIP code, such as computer science, information systems, computer engineering, or a closely related STEM field. The role itself must also involve the direct application of that STEM knowledge. Confirm your CIP code against the STEM Designated Degree Program List published by USCIS before filing your STEM OPT extension application with your DSO.

What does the I-983 training plan require for a systems administrator position?

Your I-983 must describe how the role applies your STEM degree, list specific learning objectives tied to infrastructure or systems work, and include your employer's signature. For a Senior Systems Administrator, that means documenting hands-on projects like network architecture, server administration, or security operations, not generic job duties. Your employer must also submit 6-month and 12-month evaluations confirming your progress against those stated goals.

How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify?

Use the E-Verify employer search tool maintained by the Department of Homeland Security to look up the company by name or location before accepting an offer. Enrollment status is public. Note that some large employers operate multiple E-Verify accounts by subsidiary or location, so confirm the specific hiring entity, not just the parent company, is enrolled and active at the time you begin work.

Does cap-gap protection apply if my employer files for H-1B while I'm on STEM OPT?

Yes. If your STEM OPT authorization expires between April 1 and October 1 and your employer has filed a timely H-1B cap-subject petition, cap-gap automatically extends your EAD and F-1 status until October 1 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a Senior Systems Administrator without interruption during that window, provided the petition remains pending or approved and your employer maintains E-Verify enrollment throughout.

Where can I find Senior Systems Administrator jobs at employers who hire STEM OPT students?

Migrate Mate filters Senior Systems Administrator listings by employers with E-Verify enrollment and prior STEM OPT and H-1B filing activity, so you're not wasting applications on companies unfamiliar with the training plan process. This is particularly useful for this role because many systems administrator openings come through staffing firms or smaller IT shops that aren't E-Verify enrolled and can't legally employ STEM OPT workers.