STEM OPT Validation Engineer Jobs
Validation Engineer roles in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing qualify for STEM OPT work authorization, including the 24-month extension beyond your initial 12 months. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must fall under an eligible STEM CIP code. With 36 total months of authorization, you have a strong runway to secure H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We are looking for Validation Engineers to join our rapidly growing engineering team focused on breakthrough cloud and data center storage infrastructure solutions. This is an experienced position in a firmware development team to develop next-generation SSD storage products. The ideal candidate for this role shares our passion for creating innovative technologies, and thrives in a highly dynamic, fast-paced, results-driven environment. We are looking for highly talented, passionate, and versatile engineers who has in depth knowledge and extensive experience with embedded firmware development that can create next generation enterprise data center solutions.
LOCATION: Milpitas, California
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the design team to review and understand specifications / architectures / micro-architectures
- Design and develop cutting edge storage feature in firmware for enterprise SSD device
- Build and develop firmware infrastructure for functional debug and performance tuning
- Develop and execute test cases to validate new hardware features at module level and system level
- Validate complex hardware products from system level. If any potential hardware issues are found, you will need to initiate the debugging process and drive it to closure
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- MSEE graduate or BSEE with 2+ years experiences on embedded firmware development
- Proficient with C/C++ is required
- Demonstrated experience of development and debugging/troubleshooting embedded systems
- Must have strong interest in storage tech stack including PCIe, NVMe, NAND, microcontroller, etc.
- Must be a team player with excellent communication skills and the desire to take on diverse challenges
- Must be able to adapt well in fast-paced and high-stressed work environment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Understanding of RISC-V, ARM, or other CPU core architecture is preferred
- Experience with NVMe protocol and high-speed interface standard protocols (PCIe/DDR) is strongly desired
- Experience with storage system, NAND flash and other non-volatile storage is a big bonus point
- Experience with Python and Shell is a plus
INTRODUCTION
We are looking for Validation Engineers to join our rapidly growing engineering team focused on breakthrough cloud and data center storage infrastructure solutions. This is an experienced position in a firmware development team to develop next-generation SSD storage products. The ideal candidate for this role shares our passion for creating innovative technologies, and thrives in a highly dynamic, fast-paced, results-driven environment. We are looking for highly talented, passionate, and versatile engineers who has in depth knowledge and extensive experience with embedded firmware development that can create next generation enterprise data center solutions.
LOCATION: Milpitas, California
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the design team to review and understand specifications / architectures / micro-architectures
- Design and develop cutting edge storage feature in firmware for enterprise SSD device
- Build and develop firmware infrastructure for functional debug and performance tuning
- Develop and execute test cases to validate new hardware features at module level and system level
- Validate complex hardware products from system level. If any potential hardware issues are found, you will need to initiate the debugging process and drive it to closure
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- MSEE graduate or BSEE with 2+ years experiences on embedded firmware development
- Proficient with C/C++ is required
- Demonstrated experience of development and debugging/troubleshooting embedded systems
- Must have strong interest in storage tech stack including PCIe, NVMe, NAND, microcontroller, etc.
- Must be a team player with excellent communication skills and the desire to take on diverse challenges
- Must be able to adapt well in fast-paced and high-stressed work environment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Understanding of RISC-V, ARM, or other CPU core architecture is preferred
- Experience with NVMe protocol and high-speed interface standard protocols (PCIe/DDR) is strongly desired
- Experience with storage system, NAND flash and other non-volatile storage is a big bonus point
- Experience with Python and Shell is a plus
See all 174+ STEM OPT Validation Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Validation Engineer
Verify your degree qualifies under STEM CIP codes
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before applying. Engineering disciplines like biomedical, chemical, and electrical engineering typically qualify, but computer science degrees used for validation roles need specific confirmation.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to sponsor your STEM OPT extension. Search the E-Verify employer database by company name before signing any offer letter. Regulated industries like medical devices often already participate, but contract manufacturers and smaller CROs may not.
Build a validation-specific I-983 training plan early
Your I-983 must list concrete learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, not just your job duties. For validation roles, document how your work on IQ/OQ/PQ protocols or 21 CFR Part 11 compliance directly applies skills from your engineering coursework.
Target employers filing LCAs in validation-heavy industries
Use Migrate Mate to filter Validation Engineer roles by employers with active Labor Condition Application filing history. Companies in FDA-regulated industries routinely file work visa paperwork and are structured to support the E-Verify and I-983 requirements your STEM OPT extension demands.
Understand cap-gap protection if your OPT expires during H-1B adjudication
If your STEM OPT end date falls between April 1 and October 1 during an H-1B petition year, cap-gap protection extends your work authorization automatically. USCIS issues guidance each cycle confirming the exact extension mechanism, so confirm your EAD end date against petition filing timelines.
Use O*NET to align your resume to SOC classification standards
Validation Engineer maps to specific Standard Occupational Classification codes that DOL uses to determine prevailing wage tiers. Cross-reference the O*NET occupation profile for your target role to ensure your resume reflects the core tasks and tools that validate your degree-to-role fit for adjudicators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Validation Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
Yes, if your degree is on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Engineering degrees in biomedical, chemical, mechanical, and industrial disciplines commonly support Validation Engineer roles. Your DSO will confirm CIP code eligibility when you apply for the extension through your school. The role itself must also represent a direct application of your STEM degree, which validation work in regulated industries typically satisfies.
Does my employer have to be E-Verify enrolled for my STEM OPT extension to be approved?
Yes, E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT extensions. Your employer must be actively enrolled, not just registered. You can confirm enrollment through the E-Verify employer search tool before accepting an offer. If the company acquired another entity recently, verify that your specific hiring entity, not just a parent company, is enrolled. USCIS will not approve a STEM OPT extension without confirmed E-Verify participation.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a Validation Engineer position?
Your I-983 must document specific learning objectives that connect your engineering degree to your daily validation work. For Validation Engineer roles, list tasks like developing validation protocols, executing IQ/OQ/PQ testing, or maintaining compliance under FDA or ISO standards, and explain how each draws on coursework from your degree program. Generic job descriptions copied from the offer letter are insufficient. Your DSO reviews the plan, and USCIS can audit it.
How does cap-gap protection work if my STEM OPT expires before October 1?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before April 1 and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap protection automatically extends your STEM OPT work authorization through September 30. USCIS confirms the mechanism each fiscal year. You don't file anything separately; your EAD is extended by operation of law. You can continue working at the same employer in the same role during this bridge period without interruption.
Where can I find Validation Engineer jobs where the employer already understands STEM OPT requirements?
Migrate Mate filters Validation Engineer listings by employers with documented work visa filing history, so you're not starting from scratch explaining STEM OPT to an HR team that's never encountered it. Companies in FDA-regulated industries like medical devices and pharmaceuticals tend to have established compliance infrastructure, making them better positioned to complete the E-Verify enrollment and I-983 approval process your extension requires.