STEM OPT Staff Software Engineer Jobs
Staff Software Engineer roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, typically requiring a computer science, software engineering, or related STEM degree. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to build the sponsorship track record these senior roles demand, and every employer must be enrolled in E-Verify.
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The (USA) Staff, Software Engineer plays a critical role in delivering scalable platform capabilities and driving the full software development lifecycle, including design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. This position leads technical execution aligned with strategic roadmaps, applies cloud-native architecture principles, and integrates AI/ML components to enhance automation and product innovation. The role involves mentoring engineers, influencing architectural decisions, and collaborating across teams to translate complex requirements into actionable solutions. Commitment to engineering excellence, continuous improvement, and effective stakeholder engagement is essential to support business objectives and platform goals.
About the team
The team delivers secure and scalable platform solutions that enable safe access to datastores while maintaining application and database health. They apply cloud-native architecture principles and drive the full software development lifecycle, including design reviews, API development, and debugging. Focused on engineering excellence, the team fosters continuous improvement through data-driven decision making and problem solving. Collaborating across functions, they ensure alignment with technical goals and business priorities. Their work supports robust infrastructure, tooling, and automation to enhance productivity and system resilience, contributing to the overall success of Walmart’s technology platforms.
What you'll do:
- Deliver platform capabilities including infrastructure, tooling, and ML frameworks aligned with roadmap milestones and domain priorities.
- Drive full software development lifecycle activities such as coding, testing, deployment, monitoring, and maintenance.
- Apply cloud-native architecture principles to ensure scalable, resilient, and agile systems.
- Conduct system design reviews to validate quality and alignment with architectural standards.
- Build AI-driven applications and integrate ML components to enhance automation and intelligence.
- Mentor engineers, influence technical decisions, and promote engineering excellence through documentation and knowledge sharing.
- Collaborate across teams to define technical requirements and optimize development processes using data-driven practices.
What you'll bring:
- Proven experience in software development lifecycle including coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
- Strong proficiency in cloud-native architecture principles such as microservices, containers, and automation.
- Expertise in API design, software prototyping, and applying software design patterns.
- Ability to conduct system design reviews ensuring quality and alignment with architectural standards.
- Skilled in debugging, problem solving, and requirements analysis to deliver scalable and maintainable solutions.
- Experience integrating AI/ML components and building intelligent automation features.
- Demonstrated capability in mentoring engineers and influencing technical decisions.
- Data-driven mindset with strong decision-making and collaboration skills.
At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00. Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include:
- Stock
Minimum Qualifications
Option 1: Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 4 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Option 2: 6 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Software Engineering, or related area and 2 years' experience in software engineering or related area. We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart’s accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.
Primary Location
1345 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1114, United States of America
Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.
Position Summary
The (USA) Staff, Software Engineer plays a critical role in delivering scalable platform capabilities and driving the full software development lifecycle, including design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. This position leads technical execution aligned with strategic roadmaps, applies cloud-native architecture principles, and integrates AI/ML components to enhance automation and product innovation. The role involves mentoring engineers, influencing architectural decisions, and collaborating across teams to translate complex requirements into actionable solutions. Commitment to engineering excellence, continuous improvement, and effective stakeholder engagement is essential to support business objectives and platform goals.
About the team
The team delivers secure and scalable platform solutions that enable safe access to datastores while maintaining application and database health. They apply cloud-native architecture principles and drive the full software development lifecycle, including design reviews, API development, and debugging. Focused on engineering excellence, the team fosters continuous improvement through data-driven decision making and problem solving. Collaborating across functions, they ensure alignment with technical goals and business priorities. Their work supports robust infrastructure, tooling, and automation to enhance productivity and system resilience, contributing to the overall success of Walmart’s technology platforms.
What you'll do:
- Deliver platform capabilities including infrastructure, tooling, and ML frameworks aligned with roadmap milestones and domain priorities.
- Drive full software development lifecycle activities such as coding, testing, deployment, monitoring, and maintenance.
- Apply cloud-native architecture principles to ensure scalable, resilient, and agile systems.
- Conduct system design reviews to validate quality and alignment with architectural standards.
- Build AI-driven applications and integrate ML components to enhance automation and intelligence.
- Mentor engineers, influence technical decisions, and promote engineering excellence through documentation and knowledge sharing.
- Collaborate across teams to define technical requirements and optimize development processes using data-driven practices.
What you'll bring:
- Proven experience in software development lifecycle including coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
- Strong proficiency in cloud-native architecture principles such as microservices, containers, and automation.
- Expertise in API design, software prototyping, and applying software design patterns.
- Ability to conduct system design reviews ensuring quality and alignment with architectural standards.
- Skilled in debugging, problem solving, and requirements analysis to deliver scalable and maintainable solutions.
- Experience integrating AI/ML components and building intelligent automation features.
- Demonstrated capability in mentoring engineers and influencing technical decisions.
- Data-driven mindset with strong decision-making and collaboration skills.
At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00. Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include:
- Stock
Minimum Qualifications
Option 1: Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 4 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Option 2: 6 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Software Engineering, or related area and 2 years' experience in software engineering or related area. We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart’s accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.
Primary Location
1345 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1114, United States of America
Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.
See all 381+ STEM OPT Staff Software Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Staff Software Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to an approved STEM field through USCIS. Computer science, software engineering, and information systems degrees typically qualify, but interdisciplinary or business-adjacent STEM degrees sometimes require your DSO to confirm eligibility before you submit your STEM OPT extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify company ID or have HR pull their enrollment status directly from the E-Verify portal. A verbal assurance isn't enough. Staff-level roles often involve longer offer-to-start timelines, so catching a non-enrolled employer early prevents delays that could jeopardize your authorization window.
Benchmark your offer against prevailing wage data
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level III or Level IV prevailing wage for software developer roles in your metro area before negotiating. Staff Engineer titles frequently correspond to Level III or IV wage tiers, and understanding the DOL benchmark strengthens your position and signals H-1B visa readiness to future-focused employers.
Target employers with structured I-983 processes
Ask during interviews whether the company has filed training plans for OPT students before. Employers unfamiliar with the I-983 often delay or incorrectly complete it, which can create compliance gaps. Larger engineering organizations with dedicated HR immigration teams are more likely to have a repeatable process already in place.
Search Migrate Mate to filter Staff Engineer roles by E-Verify status
Filter your Staff Software Engineer job search on Migrate Mate to surface only employers already enrolled in E-Verify. This removes the manual verification step from hundreds of applications and lets you focus interview energy on companies structurally ready to support your STEM OPT authorization from day one.
File your STEM OPT extension at least 90 days early
USCIS allows you to apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension up to 90 days before your initial OPT expires. Submitting early gives you a cap-gap buffer if you're transitioning into an H-1B sponsorship cycle and protects continuous work authorization during USCIS processing at senior-level offer timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Staff Software Engineer role qualify for STEM OPT?
Yes, Staff Software Engineer is a STEM-designated occupation under DOL's Standard Occupational Classification system. Your eligibility depends on your degree's CIP code, not just the job title. Computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, and related STEM degrees qualify. Your DSO confirms your specific degree's eligibility and updates your I-20 before USCIS approves the 24-month extension.
What does the I-983 training plan require for a Staff Software Engineer?
The I-983 must document specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, a supervision structure, and how the role advances your technical training. For Staff Engineers, this typically means outlining system design responsibilities, mentorship of junior engineers, and technical domains covered. Your employer signs and retains the I-983, and your DSO must also sign before you begin the extension period.
How does cap-gap work if I'm a Staff Software Engineer on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and USCIS receives it by April 1, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. You can continue working at the Staff Engineer level during this period without any gap in authorization, as long as you remain with the same E-Verify-enrolled employer that filed the petition.
How do I find Staff Software Engineer employers enrolled in E-Verify?
Migrate Mate filters Staff Software Engineer job listings by E-Verify enrollment status, so you can focus on employers who are already structured to support STEM OPT authorization. E-Verify enrollment is a legal prerequisite for any employer hiring on STEM OPT, and verifying it before applying saves significant time late in the offer process.
Can I work at a startup as a Staff Software Engineer on STEM OPT?
Yes, but the startup must be enrolled in E-Verify before you begin working. Startups that have never sponsored a STEM OPT employee may not yet be enrolled. Confirm enrollment status directly with the hiring manager or HR contact, and build extra lead time into your offer negotiation so the company can complete E-Verify registration before your start date if needed.