Artificial Intelligence F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California
Artificial intelligence F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California are concentrated at companies like Google, Meta, Apple, and OpenAI across San Francisco, the South Bay, and Los Angeles. California's AI industry generates some of the highest concentrations of STEM-designated roles in the country, giving OPT holders strong access to qualifying positions in machine learning, computer vision, and AI research.
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Get Access To All JobsABOUT THE TEAM
OpenAI is at the forefront of artificial intelligence, driving innovation and shaping the future with cutting-edge research. Our mission is to ensure that AI's benefits reach everyone. We are looking for visionary Research Engineers to join our Applied Voice Team, where you'll conduct groundbreaking research on speech models and transform it into real-world applications that can change industries, enhance human creativity, and solve complex problems.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Research Engineer in OpenAI's Applied Voice Team, you will have the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in AI. You'll design and build state-of-the-art speech models (speech-to-speech, transcribing, text to speech, etc.) and help turn research breakthroughs into tangible OpenAI speech products. If you're excited about making AI technology accessible and impactful, this role is your chance to make a significant mark. Some of our recent work:
Introducing gpt-realtime
Demo - gpt-realtime-1.5
ASR, TTS
IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:
Innovate and Build: Design and build advanced machine learning models that solve real-world problems. Bring OpenAI's research from concept to implementation, creating AI-driven applications with a direct impact.
Collaborate with the Best: Work closely with software engineers, product managers and forward deployed engineers to understand complex business challenges, address customer concerns and deliver AI-powered solutions. Be part of a dynamic team where ideas flow freely and creativity thrives.
Optimize and Scale: Implement scalable data pipelines, optimize models for performance and accuracy, and ensure they are production-ready. Contribute to projects that require cutting-edge technology and innovative approaches.
Learn and Lead: Stay ahead of the curve by engaging with the latest developments in machine learning and AI. Take part in code reviews, share knowledge, and lead by example to maintain high-quality engineering practices.
Make a Difference: Monitor and maintain deployed models to ensure they continue delivering value. Your work will directly influence how AI benefits individuals, businesses, and society at large.
YOU MIGHT THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU:
- Master's/ PhD degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field.
- 2+ years of professional engineering experience (excluding internships) in relevant roles at tech and product-driven companies.
- Demonstrated experience in deep learning and transformers models.
- Proficiency in frameworks like PyTorch or Tensorflow.
- Strong foundation in data structures, algorithms, and software engineering principles.
- Are familiar with methods of training and fine-tuning large language models, such as distillation, supervised fine-tuning, and policy optimization.
- Experience with speech models is a plus.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with a proactive approach to challenges.
- Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
- Ability to move fast in an environment where things are sometimes loosely defined and may have competing priorities or deadlines.
- Enjoy owning the problems end-to-end, and are willing to pick up whatever knowledge you're missing to get the job done.
ABOUT OPENAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $295K – $445K + Offers Equity
ABOUT THE TEAM
OpenAI is at the forefront of artificial intelligence, driving innovation and shaping the future with cutting-edge research. Our mission is to ensure that AI's benefits reach everyone. We are looking for visionary Research Engineers to join our Applied Voice Team, where you'll conduct groundbreaking research on speech models and transform it into real-world applications that can change industries, enhance human creativity, and solve complex problems.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Research Engineer in OpenAI's Applied Voice Team, you will have the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in AI. You'll design and build state-of-the-art speech models (speech-to-speech, transcribing, text to speech, etc.) and help turn research breakthroughs into tangible OpenAI speech products. If you're excited about making AI technology accessible and impactful, this role is your chance to make a significant mark. Some of our recent work:
Introducing gpt-realtime
Demo - gpt-realtime-1.5
ASR, TTS
IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:
Innovate and Build: Design and build advanced machine learning models that solve real-world problems. Bring OpenAI's research from concept to implementation, creating AI-driven applications with a direct impact.
Collaborate with the Best: Work closely with software engineers, product managers and forward deployed engineers to understand complex business challenges, address customer concerns and deliver AI-powered solutions. Be part of a dynamic team where ideas flow freely and creativity thrives.
Optimize and Scale: Implement scalable data pipelines, optimize models for performance and accuracy, and ensure they are production-ready. Contribute to projects that require cutting-edge technology and innovative approaches.
Learn and Lead: Stay ahead of the curve by engaging with the latest developments in machine learning and AI. Take part in code reviews, share knowledge, and lead by example to maintain high-quality engineering practices.
Make a Difference: Monitor and maintain deployed models to ensure they continue delivering value. Your work will directly influence how AI benefits individuals, businesses, and society at large.
YOU MIGHT THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU:
- Master's/ PhD degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field.
- 2+ years of professional engineering experience (excluding internships) in relevant roles at tech and product-driven companies.
- Demonstrated experience in deep learning and transformers models.
- Proficiency in frameworks like PyTorch or Tensorflow.
- Strong foundation in data structures, algorithms, and software engineering principles.
- Are familiar with methods of training and fine-tuning large language models, such as distillation, supervised fine-tuning, and policy optimization.
- Experience with speech models is a plus.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with a proactive approach to challenges.
- Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
- Ability to move fast in an environment where things are sometimes loosely defined and may have competing priorities or deadlines.
- Enjoy owning the problems end-to-end, and are willing to pick up whatever knowledge you're missing to get the job done.
ABOUT OPENAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $295K – $445K + Offers Equity
Artificial Intelligence Job Roles in California
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Search Artificial Intelligence Jobs in CaliforniaArtificial Intelligence Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which artificial intelligence companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in California?
Major California-based AI employers with documented F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship histories include Google, Meta, Apple, NVIDIA, and Salesforce, along with AI-focused companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Scale AI. Mid-size firms in the Bay Area and Los Angeles also regularly sponsor OPT students for roles in machine learning engineering, data science, and AI research, particularly when the position carries a STEM-designated SOC code.
Which cities in California have the most artificial intelligence F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
San Francisco and the broader South Bay, including Mountain View, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and San Jose, account for the largest share of AI STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California. Los Angeles has grown significantly, driven by AI research labs and tech companies in Silicon Beach. San Diego also has an emerging AI sector tied to biotech and defense-adjacent research, offering additional qualifying opportunities.
What types of artificial intelligence roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that commonly qualify include machine learning engineer, AI research scientist, computer vision engineer, natural language processing engineer, data scientist, and AI platform engineer. Qualification depends on the SOC code the employer assigns to the position, it must fall under a STEM-designated occupation category as listed by ICE. Titles alone don't determine eligibility; the underlying occupational classification does, so reviewing the role's SOC code matters.
How do I find artificial intelligence F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for AI roles in California offered by employers with verified F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history, saving you from applying to companies that don't sponsor. You can search by job function, such as machine learning or computer vision, and narrow results to cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego. This makes it easier to identify which employers have actually filed LCAs for AI positions rather than relying on unverified job postings.
Are there any California-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in artificial intelligence?
California's competitive AI hiring market means many employers are experienced with STEM OPT authorization and STEM extension filings, which can make the process more straightforward at larger firms. However, California's high concentration of startups means some employers may lack prior OPT sponsorship experience. It's worth confirming that a prospective employer is enrolled in E-Verify, which is required for STEM OPT extension eligibility, before accepting an offer.