STEM OPT Senior Test Engineer Jobs
Senior Test Engineer roles in software quality, embedded systems, and hardware validation qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension when your degree aligns with an approved CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
Find STEM OPT Senior Test Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 28+ Senior Test Engineer jobs
See all Senior Test Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Senior Test Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsAbout us
Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
- Review and interpret product specifications and technical documentation for fiber optic modules.
- Design, develop, and implement comprehensive test schemes for new and existing products.
- Perform calibration, functional testing, and validation of fiber optic modules and subsystems.
- Analyze test data to assess product performance, identify trends, and flag deviations.
- Document testing procedures, setups, and results with a high level of accuracy and clarity.
- Generate thorough test reports to support engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams.
Education & Experience
- BS, MS or PhD in optics, physics, engineering or related technical fields.
- Related industrial experience will be a plus.
Skills & Other Requirements
- Having experience with related test instruments and communication interfaces.
- Ability to use some programming languages (Python, Visual Basic, LabView, etc.)
- Ability to work with little supervision and to manage assigned tasks and projects effectively.
- Ability to read, learn and analyze complex test methods, search for solutions in the public domain as well as create/develop innovative solutions.
- Ability to leverage knowledge and experience and apply them to solve problems resourcefully.
- Effectively manages multiple priorities and projects.
- Ability to teach and train others within work group.
- Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills.
Working Conditions
Good office working conditions. Sometime, may need to work in a Class 10,000 clean-room environment, wearing smock with mask and gloves.
Physical Requirements
Able to move light equipment and tooling (<25lbs) as needed when setting up manufacturing stations.
Safety Requirements
All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Quality and Environmental Responsibilities
Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.
Culture Commitment
Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:
Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust
Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas
Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome
Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone
Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work
JOB INFO
Job Identification: 2012909
Posting Date: 06/11/2026, 11:36 AM
Degree Level: Bachelor's Degree
Job Schedule: Full time
Locations: 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, US (On-site)
Pay Scale: $80,500 - $131,813 per year
Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at talentacquisition@coherent.com.
Note to recruiters and employment agencies: We will not pay for unsolicited resumes from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have required assistance, in writing, for a specific opening.
About us
Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
- Review and interpret product specifications and technical documentation for fiber optic modules.
- Design, develop, and implement comprehensive test schemes for new and existing products.
- Perform calibration, functional testing, and validation of fiber optic modules and subsystems.
- Analyze test data to assess product performance, identify trends, and flag deviations.
- Document testing procedures, setups, and results with a high level of accuracy and clarity.
- Generate thorough test reports to support engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams.
Education & Experience
- BS, MS or PhD in optics, physics, engineering or related technical fields.
- Related industrial experience will be a plus.
Skills & Other Requirements
- Having experience with related test instruments and communication interfaces.
- Ability to use some programming languages (Python, Visual Basic, LabView, etc.)
- Ability to work with little supervision and to manage assigned tasks and projects effectively.
- Ability to read, learn and analyze complex test methods, search for solutions in the public domain as well as create/develop innovative solutions.
- Ability to leverage knowledge and experience and apply them to solve problems resourcefully.
- Effectively manages multiple priorities and projects.
- Ability to teach and train others within work group.
- Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills.
Working Conditions
Good office working conditions. Sometime, may need to work in a Class 10,000 clean-room environment, wearing smock with mask and gloves.
Physical Requirements
Able to move light equipment and tooling (<25lbs) as needed when setting up manufacturing stations.
Safety Requirements
All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Quality and Environmental Responsibilities
Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.
Culture Commitment
Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:
Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust
Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas
Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome
Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone
Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work
JOB INFO
Job Identification: 2012909
Posting Date: 06/11/2026, 11:36 AM
Degree Level: Bachelor's Degree
Job Schedule: Full time
Locations: 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, US (On-site)
Pay Scale: $80,500 - $131,813 per year
Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at talentacquisition@coherent.com.
Note to recruiters and employment agencies: We will not pay for unsolicited resumes from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have required assistance, in writing, for a specific opening.
See all STEM OPT Senior Test Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Senior Test Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Test Engineer
Verify your degree's CIP code eligibility
Cross-reference your degree program against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before applying. Computer science, electrical engineering, and systems engineering CIP codes all commonly support Senior Test Engineer roles, but software technology variants sometimes don't.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Check a company's E-Verify participation status through the E-Verify employer search tool before signing anything. Employers who aren't enrolled can't legally employ STEM OPT workers, and re-negotiating after an offer is awkward and delays your start date.
Align your I-983 training plan to the role
Draft your I-983 training plan with learning objectives tied specifically to test architecture, defect lifecycle management, or automation frameworks you'll use on the job. Generic plans draw DSO scrutiny and can delay your OPT extension approval.
Target employers with active quality engineering LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for test engineering or quality assurance roles. Employers with LCA history in this occupation already understand STEM OPT onboarding and are less likely to stall on compliance paperwork.
Use O*NET to validate your role qualifies
Pull the O*NET occupation profile for Senior Quality Engineers or Software Test Engineers and confirm the listed entry requirements specify a STEM bachelor's degree. If your job description diverges significantly from O*NET, your training plan justification becomes harder to defend.
File your extension request 90 days before OPT expires
USCIS requires your STEM OPT extension application to be submitted before your current EAD expires. File through your DSO at least 90 days out so processing delays don't create an unauthorized work gap between your initial 12 months and the 24-month extension period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Test Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree field, not just the job title. Senior Test Engineer roles in software quality assurance, embedded systems, and hardware validation typically qualify when paired with a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related STEM field on the DHS Designated Degree Program List. Review your degree's CIP code with your DSO to confirm eligibility before applying for the extension.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my STEM OPT employer?
Every employer who hires you on a STEM OPT extension must be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the work site where you'll perform your duties. Enrollment at the company's headquarters doesn't automatically cover a separate location. Confirm site-specific enrollment with HR before your start date, and check E-Verify's employer search to verify the enrollment independently.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a test engineering role?
Your I-983 training plan must describe specific goals and skills you'll develop, tied directly to your test engineering duties. For this role, that means detailing objectives around test strategy design, automation tooling, defect analysis, or systems validation. Both you and your employer must sign the plan before your DSO can recommend the extension, and it must be updated if your role changes materially.
How does cap-gap protection work if I'm transitioning from STEM OPT to H-1B?
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. Your STEM OPT status and employment authorization remain valid during this gap without any additional filing. Confirm the petition was filed and receipted before your EAD end date to activate cap-gap coverage.
Where can I find Senior Test Engineer jobs with employers who hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters Senior Test Engineer openings by employers who have E-Verify enrollment and a history of filing for engineering roles, so you're not cold-applying to companies that have never hired on OPT. You can search by role, location, and employer filing activity to focus your time on opportunities where the compliance infrastructure is already in place.