STEM OPT Staff Engineer Jobs
Staff Engineer roles in software, systems, and hardware engineering qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months of F-1 work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must fall under an eligible STEM CIP code. Most Staff Engineer positions at tech and engineering firms meet both requirements.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Looking for a place that values your unique talents? Discover Stryker's award-winning culture.
We are proud to offer you our total rewards package which includes bonuses, healthcare, insurance benefits, retirement programs, wellness programs, as well as service and performance awards – not to mention various social and recreational activities, all of which are location specific.
JOB DESCRIPTION
We are excited to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces by Fortune Magazine! We are proud to offer you 12 paid holidays annually. For an overview of our benefits and time off, please follow this link to learn more: US Stryker employee benefits.
Staff Engineer – R& D
Irvine, CA
The Staff Engineer – R&D leads technical design activities for complex medical device development programs, from early concept through final product design. This role focuses on translating user and clinical requirements into system-level designs, developing and evaluating components and assemblies, and ensuring alignment with manufacturing and regulatory expectations.
What You Will Do
- Lead design and development of components, subassemblies, and full medical device systems from concept through validation
- Translate user needs and clinical requirements into system-level engineering designs and detailed specifications
- Evaluate and select prototyping and testing methods to verify product performance and reliability
- Design and review injection-molded components for functionality, manufacturability, and cost efficiency
- Develop engineering drawings, CAD models, and design documentation aligned with design control requirements
- Drive innovation by generating invention disclosures, patents, or trade secrets based on technical developments
- Collaborate with Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Clinical, Marketing, and Project Management to meet project milestones
- Mentor engineers and contribute to the development of engineering processes, tools, and best practices
What You Will Need
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline
- Minimum 4 years of experience working in a regulated environment
- Experience in medical device development processes
- Experience designing injection-molded components
- Experience developing mechanical assemblies using DFM principles and CAD tools (SolidWorks or equivalent)
- Knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and product development technologies
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline
- Experience in cardiovascular or vascular medical device development
United States of America Pay Ranges:
- Puerto Rico: $77,700 - $129,500 USD Annual
- USN: $89,300 - $148,800 USD Annual
- US5: $93,800 - $156,200 USD Annual
- US10: $98,200 - $163,700 USD Annual
- US15: $102,700 - $171,100 USD Annual
- US20: $107,200 - $178,600 USD Annual
- US30: $116,100 - $193,400 USD Annual
View the U.S. work location and transparency guide to find the pay range for your location.
Health benefits include: Medical and prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, personalized healthcare support, wellbeing program and tobacco cessation program. Financial benefits include: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), basic life and AD&D insurance, and short-term disability insurance. Stryker offers innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 150 million patients annually. Depending on customer requirements employees and new hires in sales and field roles that require access to customer accounts as a function of the job may be required to obtain various vaccinations as an essential function of their role.
INTRODUCTION
Looking for a place that values your unique talents? Discover Stryker's award-winning culture.
We are proud to offer you our total rewards package which includes bonuses, healthcare, insurance benefits, retirement programs, wellness programs, as well as service and performance awards – not to mention various social and recreational activities, all of which are location specific.
JOB DESCRIPTION
We are excited to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces by Fortune Magazine! We are proud to offer you 12 paid holidays annually. For an overview of our benefits and time off, please follow this link to learn more: US Stryker employee benefits.
Staff Engineer – R& D
Irvine, CA
The Staff Engineer – R&D leads technical design activities for complex medical device development programs, from early concept through final product design. This role focuses on translating user and clinical requirements into system-level designs, developing and evaluating components and assemblies, and ensuring alignment with manufacturing and regulatory expectations.
What You Will Do
- Lead design and development of components, subassemblies, and full medical device systems from concept through validation
- Translate user needs and clinical requirements into system-level engineering designs and detailed specifications
- Evaluate and select prototyping and testing methods to verify product performance and reliability
- Design and review injection-molded components for functionality, manufacturability, and cost efficiency
- Develop engineering drawings, CAD models, and design documentation aligned with design control requirements
- Drive innovation by generating invention disclosures, patents, or trade secrets based on technical developments
- Collaborate with Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Clinical, Marketing, and Project Management to meet project milestones
- Mentor engineers and contribute to the development of engineering processes, tools, and best practices
What You Will Need
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline
- Minimum 4 years of experience working in a regulated environment
- Experience in medical device development processes
- Experience designing injection-molded components
- Experience developing mechanical assemblies using DFM principles and CAD tools (SolidWorks or equivalent)
- Knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and product development technologies
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline
- Experience in cardiovascular or vascular medical device development
United States of America Pay Ranges:
- Puerto Rico: $77,700 - $129,500 USD Annual
- USN: $89,300 - $148,800 USD Annual
- US5: $93,800 - $156,200 USD Annual
- US10: $98,200 - $163,700 USD Annual
- US15: $102,700 - $171,100 USD Annual
- US20: $107,200 - $178,600 USD Annual
- US30: $116,100 - $193,400 USD Annual
View the U.S. work location and transparency guide to find the pay range for your location.
Health benefits include: Medical and prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, personalized healthcare support, wellbeing program and tobacco cessation program. Financial benefits include: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), basic life and AD&D insurance, and short-term disability insurance. Stryker offers innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 150 million patients annually. Depending on customer requirements employees and new hires in sales and field roles that require access to customer accounts as a function of the job may be required to obtain various vaccinations as an essential function of their role.
See all 576+ STEM OPT Staff Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Staff Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Staff Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull up your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code and cross-check it against the DHS STEM OPT designated degree list before you apply. Degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, and systems engineering typically qualify, but interdisciplinary programs sometimes don't.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Staff Engineer hiring managers at mid-size companies often don't know their firm's E-Verify status offhand. Search the E-Verify employer database directly and confirm enrollment before your first interview to avoid offers that can't legally proceed.
Target companies with active LCA filings for engineering roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter Staff Engineer openings by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for engineering positions, showing they've already navigated the DOL process and are equipped to support your STEM OPT training plan.
Draft your I-983 training plan before receiving an offer
Prepare a working draft of your I-983 that maps Staff Engineer responsibilities to your STEM degree's learning objectives. Arriving at the offer stage with a draft ready shortens the DSO review cycle and signals professionalism to the hiring team.
Benchmark your offer against the OFLC Wage Search
STEM OPT regulations require that your compensation not adversely affect similarly situated U.S. workers. Run your job title and location through the OFLC Wage Search to confirm your offered compensation meets the prevailing wage level before you sign.
Understand cap-gap coverage if your employer files for H-1B
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your STEM OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. Talk to your DSO as soon as your employer confirms intent to file so your I-20 reflects the extension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Staff Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
Yes, if two conditions are met: your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree falls under a DHS-designated STEM CIP code. Staff Engineer positions in software, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering consistently qualify because they require a directly related STEM degree. Confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before applying, since interdisciplinary or professionally focused degrees occasionally fall outside the eligible list.
What does the I-983 training plan require for a Staff Engineer position?
The I-983 must describe how your Staff Engineer duties directly relate to your STEM degree's goals, identify a supervising employee who will oversee your training, and confirm that your compensation is commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers. Both you and your employer sign it, and your DSO must authorize it before your STEM OPT extension begins. USCIS expects updates if your role or employer changes materially during the extension period.
How do I confirm that a Staff Engineer employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Search the E-Verify employer database by company name or FEIN to confirm active enrollment before you reach the offer stage. Some large companies enroll only certain subsidiaries or locations, so verify the specific legal entity that will appear on your employment contract. An employer who is not enrolled cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT, and retroactive enrollment after the fact doesn't resolve the compliance gap.
How do I find Staff Engineer jobs that support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate filters Staff Engineer openings by employers with documented LCA filing histories, so you can focus on companies that have already engaged with DOL's labor certification process and are structured to support F-1 work authorization. That's a more reliable signal than asking recruiters cold whether the company is E-Verify enrolled.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my employer initiates an H-1B petition before my extension expires?
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition on your behalf and you are selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your F-1 status and employment authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. If the petition is denied or withdrawn, your authorization ends and you enter the standard 60-day grace period. Notify your DSO as soon as your employer confirms they'll file so your I-20 end date is updated before any gap appears.