STEM OPT Systems Development Engineer Jobs
Systems Development Engineer roles in infrastructure, automation, and distributed systems align directly with the STEM degrees that qualify for the 24-month OPT extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to sponsor your training plan. Degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, and related CIP-coded fields make you eligible to apply.
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Amazon.com’s Search org is looking for an engineer to join our team. Search Operations is a follow-the-sun team distributed over two worldwide locations and is responsible for running one of the Internet's largest search infrastructures that powers Amazon’s retail websites.
The team is responsible for operational support for search front-end services and mitigating high severity events. We actively lead efforts to improve the customer experience by maximizing availability, quality, and performance.
We use an Operational Excellence (OE) program to continuously improve our processes. We partner with teams across Amazon Search to achieve highly-resilient systems, share knowledge, and automate away operational burden. We are strong advocates of a healthy work-life harmony, and continually focus on ensuring happiness within our team.
Key job responsibilities
Operational Excellence: We protect the Search customer experience and eliminate operational load. We mitigate, resolve high severity events and prevent their recurrence by owning the post-incident analysis process. We have a well established OE program to identify and drive resolution of cross-service and inter-service issues, review operational metrics, and investigate Service Level Objective (SLO) breaches.
Systems Development: We develop and own innovative software solutions. We automate incident response workflows, assist engineers on call with root-causing of high severity events, and present mitigation options. We constantly automate processes through our operational excellence program, pager load budgeting system, and top root causes evaluation.
On-Call Responsibility: The team operates a follow the sun on-call rotation with a frequency of one week on-call in every four to five weeks. The rotation is daytime only with handoffs between the Tokyo (Japan), and US west coast teams. The on-call represents Search during large scale events in production, leads and co-ordinates calls to quickly mitigate customer impact.
Career Growth: We care about your career aspirations. We want you to grow and progress in Amazon. We will facilitate your growth through an increase in scope of the projects you work on over time, and that can also include working on projects for partner teams to experience new, and interesting challenges.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in automating, deploying, and supporting infrastructure
- Experience programming with at least one modern language such as Python, Ruby, Golang, Java, C++, C#, Rust
- Experience with Linux/Unix
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines build processes
- Bachelor's degree in a related field
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, WA, Seattle
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: 99,100.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Amazon.com’s Search org is looking for an engineer to join our team. Search Operations is a follow-the-sun team distributed over two worldwide locations and is responsible for running one of the Internet's largest search infrastructures that powers Amazon’s retail websites.
The team is responsible for operational support for search front-end services and mitigating high severity events. We actively lead efforts to improve the customer experience by maximizing availability, quality, and performance.
We use an Operational Excellence (OE) program to continuously improve our processes. We partner with teams across Amazon Search to achieve highly-resilient systems, share knowledge, and automate away operational burden. We are strong advocates of a healthy work-life harmony, and continually focus on ensuring happiness within our team.
Key job responsibilities
Operational Excellence: We protect the Search customer experience and eliminate operational load. We mitigate, resolve high severity events and prevent their recurrence by owning the post-incident analysis process. We have a well established OE program to identify and drive resolution of cross-service and inter-service issues, review operational metrics, and investigate Service Level Objective (SLO) breaches.
Systems Development: We develop and own innovative software solutions. We automate incident response workflows, assist engineers on call with root-causing of high severity events, and present mitigation options. We constantly automate processes through our operational excellence program, pager load budgeting system, and top root causes evaluation.
On-Call Responsibility: The team operates a follow the sun on-call rotation with a frequency of one week on-call in every four to five weeks. The rotation is daytime only with handoffs between the Tokyo (Japan), and US west coast teams. The on-call represents Search during large scale events in production, leads and co-ordinates calls to quickly mitigate customer impact.
Career Growth: We care about your career aspirations. We want you to grow and progress in Amazon. We will facilitate your growth through an increase in scope of the projects you work on over time, and that can also include working on projects for partner teams to experience new, and interesting challenges.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in automating, deploying, and supporting infrastructure
- Experience programming with at least one modern language such as Python, Ruby, Golang, Java, C++, C#, Rust
- Experience with Linux/Unix
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines build processes
- Bachelor's degree in a related field
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, WA, Seattle
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: 99,100.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually
See all 90+ STEM OPT Systems Development Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Systems Development Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Systems Development Engineer
Verify your CIP code matches STEM eligibility
Pull your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code from your DSO before applying. Systems Development Engineer roles typically require computer science or engineering degrees, and your CIP code must appear on the official STEM Designated Degree Program list to qualify for the 24-month extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify Company ID or check employer status through the E-Verify portal directly. A company that isn't enrolled can't legally serve as your STEM OPT employer, regardless of how far along you are in the hiring process.
Target teams running infrastructure or platform engineering
Systems Development Engineer openings concentrate in platform, reliability, and developer tooling teams at companies filing LCAs under SOC codes like 15-1252. Filter by these technical org types early so you're not chasing postings where the role scope won't satisfy your I-983 training plan objectives.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with active STEM OPT history
Search Migrate Mate to surface employers who have previously hired STEM OPT students into engineering roles. Targeting companies with that track record shortens the compliance conversation and reduces the risk of late-stage offer rescissions tied to unfamiliarity with the E-Verify requirement.
Draft your I-983 training plan before your start date
Work with your DSO and hiring manager to complete the I-983 before your STEM OPT extension is approved. Systems Development Engineer roles require specific learning objectives tied to your degree field. Vague training plans draw scrutiny from your DSO and can delay the I-20 update you need to begin work.
Negotiate your offer timeline around cap-gap protection
If your OPT expires while an H-1B visa petition is pending, cap-gap extends your work authorization through September 30 of the fiscal year. Align your Systems Development Engineer offer letter start date with this window so you don't face an unauthorized gap between your OPT end date and H-1B approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Systems Development Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM field with a qualifying CIP code and the role directly applies that field of study. Systems Development Engineer positions in infrastructure, automation, and distributed systems commonly satisfy this requirement when paired with degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, or software engineering. Your DSO confirms eligibility based on your specific degree and CIP code before issuing the updated I-20.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Systems Development Engineer employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify for the specific site where you'll work before your STEM OPT extension begins. This isn't optional. If the employer acquired your hiring entity through a merger or restructuring, verify that the employing legal entity, not just the parent company, holds E-Verify enrollment. You can confirm status directly through the E-Verify employer search tool before signing an offer.
How does the I-983 training plan work for a Systems Development Engineer?
The I-983 requires you and your employer to document specific learning goals tied to your STEM degree, your supervisor's qualifications, and a 12-month self-evaluation schedule. For Systems Development Engineer roles, training objectives should connect engineering tasks like system design, performance optimization, or reliability work to your degree field. USCIS can request this document during an audit, so vague or generic plans create real compliance risk.
What happens to my STEM OPT if I switch employers mid-extension?
You can change employers during your STEM OPT period, but you must stop working immediately if the new employer isn't E-Verify enrolled. Your DSO must update your I-20 with the new employer information, and you're required to report the change to SEVIS within 10 days. The new employer also takes on the I-983 training plan obligation, so you'll need to draft a revised plan before or shortly after your start date.
Where can I find Systems Development Engineer jobs from E-Verify enrolled employers?
Migrate Mate lists Systems Development Engineer openings filtered for employers with STEM OPT hiring history and E-Verify compliance. Searching there reduces the time you spend vetting companies that can't legally employ STEM OPT students. You can also cross-reference any employer against the E-Verify employer search tool before engaging with a recruiter to confirm enrollment status independently.