STEM OPT Software Consultant Jobs
Software Consultant roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. With 36 months of total OPT authorization, you have a realistic runway to build consulting experience and pursue H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition: Consulting Power Engineer (Primetals Technologies USA LLC; Alpharetta, GA)
Duties:
- Participate in the engineering, design and integration of High Voltage (HV) Substation, Static VAR Compensator (SVC), Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) projects.
- Apply advanced principles of power systems engineering and power electronics to control system voltage, improve power quality, and to mitigate electrical flicker.
- Perform SVC sizing, SVC design calculations and Arc Furnace compatibility studies to evaluate the feasibility of SVC systems.
- Engineering responsibilities include power system design & analysis to develop comprehensive basic and detailed engineering packages for HV Substations, Single Line Diagrams (SLD), Three Line Diagrams (TLD), Equipment layouts, and Bill of Materials (BOM).
- Review of installation & civil drawings to ensure seamless integration with electrical system designs.
- Perform advanced power system analysis in the field of steady state and transient state of the power system.
- Provide relay settings of substation protection equipment, TCRs, Filters and other SVC associated equipment.
- Perform SVC and STATCOM Preventive Maintenance based on industry standards and company standards.
- Provide expert level engineering support and troubleshooting during site commissioning, installation and equipment testing phase.
- Analyze complex fault data to determine root cause and engineer technical resolutions during planned and unplanned SVC and STATCOM outages.
- This job includes several discussions with proposals team, customers and vendors to freeze the technical requirements based on customer’s need at the beginning of project.
- Negotiate technical terms with sub-vendors and collaborate with project managers to ensure equipment meets stringent quality and technical standards while maintaining project budgets and schedules.
- Knowledge and application of NESC, NEC, IEEE and ANSI standards to specify and evaluate the power system equipment and for integration into the specific substation solutions for customers.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in Electrical Engineering or related field plus 7 years of post-bachelor’s, progressively responsible experience in electrical engineering or related experience; OR Master’s degree or the equivalent in Electrical Engineering or related field plus 5 years of experience in electrical engineering or related field.
Skills Required:
- Leading and supporting SVC and STATCOM system projects
- Substation products, equipment, and engineering concepts/practices
- Creating detailed engineering drawings, design calculations, BOM & Cable schedule
- Power Electronics, SVC, STATCOM technologies
- Performing SVC and STATCOM Preventive Maintenance and service works
- Supporting SVC, STATCOM and high voltage substation project commissioning
- Preparation of equipment specification and technical discussion during equipment ordering
- Engineering software like AutoCAD, SKM, E Plan
- Protection and control design including panel arrangements, one lines/single lines, three lines, AC schematics, DC elementaries, equipment wiring and relay panel wiring
- Power system, power electronics and High voltage engineering
- National Electrical Safety Code and IEEE / ANSI Standard
Employer will accept any amount of experience with the required skills.
Position: Consulting Power Engineer (Primetals Technologies USA LLC; Alpharetta, GA)
Duties:
- Participate in the engineering, design and integration of High Voltage (HV) Substation, Static VAR Compensator (SVC), Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) projects.
- Apply advanced principles of power systems engineering and power electronics to control system voltage, improve power quality, and to mitigate electrical flicker.
- Perform SVC sizing, SVC design calculations and Arc Furnace compatibility studies to evaluate the feasibility of SVC systems.
- Engineering responsibilities include power system design & analysis to develop comprehensive basic and detailed engineering packages for HV Substations, Single Line Diagrams (SLD), Three Line Diagrams (TLD), Equipment layouts, and Bill of Materials (BOM).
- Review of installation & civil drawings to ensure seamless integration with electrical system designs.
- Perform advanced power system analysis in the field of steady state and transient state of the power system.
- Provide relay settings of substation protection equipment, TCRs, Filters and other SVC associated equipment.
- Perform SVC and STATCOM Preventive Maintenance based on industry standards and company standards.
- Provide expert level engineering support and troubleshooting during site commissioning, installation and equipment testing phase.
- Analyze complex fault data to determine root cause and engineer technical resolutions during planned and unplanned SVC and STATCOM outages.
- This job includes several discussions with proposals team, customers and vendors to freeze the technical requirements based on customer’s need at the beginning of project.
- Negotiate technical terms with sub-vendors and collaborate with project managers to ensure equipment meets stringent quality and technical standards while maintaining project budgets and schedules.
- Knowledge and application of NESC, NEC, IEEE and ANSI standards to specify and evaluate the power system equipment and for integration into the specific substation solutions for customers.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in Electrical Engineering or related field plus 7 years of post-bachelor’s, progressively responsible experience in electrical engineering or related experience; OR Master’s degree or the equivalent in Electrical Engineering or related field plus 5 years of experience in electrical engineering or related field.
Skills Required:
- Leading and supporting SVC and STATCOM system projects
- Substation products, equipment, and engineering concepts/practices
- Creating detailed engineering drawings, design calculations, BOM & Cable schedule
- Power Electronics, SVC, STATCOM technologies
- Performing SVC and STATCOM Preventive Maintenance and service works
- Supporting SVC, STATCOM and high voltage substation project commissioning
- Preparation of equipment specification and technical discussion during equipment ordering
- Engineering software like AutoCAD, SKM, E Plan
- Protection and control design including panel arrangements, one lines/single lines, three lines, AC schematics, DC elementaries, equipment wiring and relay panel wiring
- Power system, power electronics and High voltage engineering
- National Electrical Safety Code and IEEE / ANSI Standard
Employer will accept any amount of experience with the required skills.
See all 39+ STEM OPT Software Consultant Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Software Consultant
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to an approved STEM field in USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer science, information systems, and software engineering degrees typically qualify, but your DSO confirms the match.
Filter job postings by E-Verify enrollment status
STEM OPT is only valid with an E-Verify employer, so confirm enrollment before accepting any offer. Ask recruiters directly or search the E-Verify employer database to avoid offers that fall through at onboarding.
Benchmark consulting wages using OFLC Wage Search
Software Consultant roles span multiple SOC codes, which affects prevailing wage levels on the LCA your employer files. Run your target job title and location through the OFLC Wage Search to know what wage tier your role falls under before negotiating.
Start the I-983 training plan before your OPT end date
Your employer must sign a formal I-983 training plan outlining how the Software Consultant role connects to your STEM degree. Get this drafted and signed before your initial OPT expires so USCIS can process the extension without a gap in authorization.
Target consulting firms with active H-1B filing history
Use Migrate Mate to identify consulting employers who have sponsored H-1B petitions for roles matching your background. Filing history signals that the employer understands the sponsorship process and won't stall when your OPT runway shortens.
Understand specialty occupation framing for your specific role
Not every Software Consultant posting is written to satisfy USCIS's specialty occupation standard. Review the O*NET profile for your SOC code and confirm the job description requires a directly related bachelor's degree, not just a general technical background.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Software Consultant role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It can, but two conditions must both be met. Your degree must appear on USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List under an approved CIP code, and the Software Consultant role must genuinely require that degree. Roles coded under Computer Systems Analysts or Software Developers in the SOC system typically satisfy the requirement, but your DSO reviews the specifics before authorizing the extension.
What E-Verify obligation does my employer have for STEM OPT?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you can start working on the STEM OPT extension. USCIS requires this enrollment as a condition of the program, and your DSO confirms it when authorizing your I-20 endorsement. If a company isn't enrolled, they must complete E-Verify enrollment before your extension start date or you can't legally begin. Browse STEM OPT-ready employers on Migrate Mate to find companies already meeting this requirement.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for a Software Consultant role?
The I-983 must explain how the day-to-day work of your Software Consultant position directly relates to your STEM degree. That means naming specific technical competencies from the role, mapping them to coursework or degree objectives, and having both you and a company supervisor sign off. Vague descriptions like 'applies technical skills' won't satisfy the STEM OPT program's practical training requirement.
How does cap-gap protection apply if I'm on STEM OPT and selected in the H-1B lottery?
If your STEM OPT authorization is still valid when you're selected in the H-1B lottery and your employer files Form I-129 before the extension expires, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You don't file separately for cap-gap. Your EAD's cap-gap extension is confirmed through your updated I-20, which your DSO issues after USCIS receives the petition.
Can I work as a Software Consultant for a staffing firm or client-site placement on STEM OPT?
Yes, but the staffing firm itself must be your employer of record and enrolled in E-Verify, not the end client where you're placed. The I-983 training plan must reflect the work you actually perform at the client site, and the staffing firm's supervisor takes responsibility for signing and maintaining it. USCIS expects a direct employment relationship, so contract-to-hire arrangements require careful documentation.