STEM OPT Software QA Engineer Jobs
Software QA Engineer roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 24 additional months of work authorization beyond your initial OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related STEM field makes you eligible to apply.
Find STEM OPT Software QA Engineer JobsOverview
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Under minimal supervision, this role performs a wide range of Quality Assurance activities to ensure compliance across manufacturing, facilities, utilities, environmental programs, and quality systems. Responsibilities include review and approval of critical GMP documentation, leading investigations, supporting audits, and providing lot disposition for product release.
Responsibilities
- Review and approve product master records (MPs).
- Approve process validation protocols and reports for manufacturing processes.
- Approve Environmental Characterization reports.
- Approve planned incidents and support incident triage activities.
- Review and approve Work Orders and EMS/BMS alarms.
- Approve nonconformance investigations and CAPA records.
- Approve change controls.
- Provide lot disposition and authorize lots for shipment.
- Own and maintain site quality program procedures.
- Review and assess risk assessments.
- Lead investigations and ensure timely, compliant closure.
- Lead site audits and support internal/external inspections.
- Evaluate compliance issues using advanced data trending and analysis.
- Serve as designee for QA management on local change control review boards (CCRB).
- Support automation, facilities, and environmental programs.
- Represent QA on New Product Introduction (NPI) teams.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Process Development, Validation, Quality Control, Engineering, Facilities, Utilities, and Contractors.
- Coordinate with external resources when higher‑level expertise is required.
- Interact effectively with regulatory agencies.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctorate OR
- Master’s + 2 years of directly related experience OR
- Bachelor’s + 4 years of directly related experience OR
- Associate’s + 8 years of directly related experience OR
- High School/GED + 10 years of directly related experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience performing on‑the‑floor Plant Quality Assurance (PQA) activities, including review, approval, and tracking of cGMP processes, procedures, testing methods, batch records, MES/EBR, SAP, EDMQ, DQMS, and TrackWise.
- Expertise in deviations, CAPAs, change controls, and validation activities.
- Experience with procedural compliance and initiate deviation records during on‑the‑floor triage.
- Experience supporting audits and inspections as part of the audit/inspection management team.
- Experience with computer systems validation or computer systems quality assurance (medical device or consulting background preferred).
- Experience with validation of GxP applications (VMP, IQ, RA/GxP assessment, OQ, PQ, test scripts, summary reports).
- Experience serving as Quality Contact for complex new‑product projects.
- Experience in commissioning and qualification.
- Project management and organizational skills.
BENEFITS
- Non‑Standard Shift
- 6‑month contract with possible extension
INTRODUCTION
Under minimal supervision, this role performs a wide range of Quality Assurance activities to ensure compliance across manufacturing, facilities, utilities, environmental programs, and quality systems. Responsibilities include review and approval of critical GMP documentation, leading investigations, supporting audits, and providing lot disposition for product release.
Responsibilities
- Review and approve product master records (MPs).
- Approve process validation protocols and reports for manufacturing processes.
- Approve Environmental Characterization reports.
- Approve planned incidents and support incident triage activities.
- Review and approve Work Orders and EMS/BMS alarms.
- Approve nonconformance investigations and CAPA records.
- Approve change controls.
- Provide lot disposition and authorize lots for shipment.
- Own and maintain site quality program procedures.
- Review and assess risk assessments.
- Lead investigations and ensure timely, compliant closure.
- Lead site audits and support internal/external inspections.
- Evaluate compliance issues using advanced data trending and analysis.
- Serve as designee for QA management on local change control review boards (CCRB).
- Support automation, facilities, and environmental programs.
- Represent QA on New Product Introduction (NPI) teams.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Process Development, Validation, Quality Control, Engineering, Facilities, Utilities, and Contractors.
- Coordinate with external resources when higher‑level expertise is required.
- Interact effectively with regulatory agencies.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctorate OR
- Master’s + 2 years of directly related experience OR
- Bachelor’s + 4 years of directly related experience OR
- Associate’s + 8 years of directly related experience OR
- High School/GED + 10 years of directly related experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience performing on‑the‑floor Plant Quality Assurance (PQA) activities, including review, approval, and tracking of cGMP processes, procedures, testing methods, batch records, MES/EBR, SAP, EDMQ, DQMS, and TrackWise.
- Expertise in deviations, CAPAs, change controls, and validation activities.
- Experience with procedural compliance and initiate deviation records during on‑the‑floor triage.
- Experience supporting audits and inspections as part of the audit/inspection management team.
- Experience with computer systems validation or computer systems quality assurance (medical device or consulting background preferred).
- Experience with validation of GxP applications (VMP, IQ, RA/GxP assessment, OQ, PQ, test scripts, summary reports).
- Experience serving as Quality Contact for complex new‑product projects.
- Experience in commissioning and qualification.
- Project management and organizational skills.
BENEFITS
- Non‑Standard Shift
- 6‑month contract with possible extension
See all 185+ STEM OPT Software QA Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Software QA Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Cross-check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. QA engineering roles often require a computer science or information systems degree, and a mismatched CIP code disqualifies your extension before you file.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before you sign anything. E-Verify participation is a hard legal requirement for STEM OPT employers, and onboarding with an unenrolled company invalidates your extension authorization.
Use O*NET to frame your QA qualifications
Pull the Software Quality Assurance Analyst occupation profile from O*NET to identify the exact knowledge areas and skills USCIS expects this role to require. Framing your resume and training plan around these criteria strengthens your I-983 documentation.
Draft your I-983 training plan with QA specifics
Your training plan must map QA engineering tasks, such as test case design, automation scripting, and defect tracking, to your STEM degree learning outcomes. Generic training plans draw scrutiny; role-specific goals tied to your coursework hold up under DSO review.
Search Migrate Mate to target verified STEM OPT employers
Filter your Software QA Engineer job search on Migrate Mate to surface employers with documented E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT hiring history. This cuts the time you'd otherwise spend cold-screening companies that can't legally support your extension.
Track your cap-gap window if H-1B is next
If you file an H-1B visa petition before your STEM OPT expires, cap-gap rules extend your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. Submit your I-983 training plan renewal with your DSO well before your EAD end date to stay continuously authorized during this period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Software QA Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your degree falls under a DHS-designated STEM field such as computer science, software engineering, or information systems. The role itself must also involve training directly related to that degree. USCIS evaluates both the job duties and the degree match, so confirm both criteria with your DSO before filing.
What STEM degrees are eligible for a Software QA Engineer STEM OPT extension?
Degrees in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, software engineering, and closely related fields typically qualify because their CIP codes appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Degrees in business information systems or management information systems may qualify depending on the specific CIP code. Your DSO can verify whether your exact degree program is listed before you submit your extension application.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Software QA Engineer position?
Your I-983 must describe how your QA engineering duties, such as writing automated test scripts, executing regression cycles, and analyzing defect patterns, connect to your STEM degree's academic goals. It should include measurable learning objectives, supervisor oversight details, and a timeline tied to your 24-month extension period. Both you and your employer's authorized representative must sign the form before your DSO can recommend the extension in SEVIS.
How do I confirm that a Software QA Engineer employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
You can ask the recruiter or HR contact directly for the company's E-Verify employer ID or confirmation of current enrollment status. E-Verify enrollment is a public record for federal contractors, but private employers aren't listed in a searchable public directory. Migrate Mate surfaces employers with verified STEM OPT hiring history so you can identify E-Verify-enrolled companies before you apply.
How does cap-gap protection work if my STEM OPT ends while an H-1B petition is pending?
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires, cap-gap rules automatically extend your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working in your Software QA Engineer role during this period without any gap in authorization. Confirm with your DSO that your SEVIS record reflects the cap-gap extension and that your employer's petition receipt notice is on file.