OPT Jobs in New Mexico
F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in New Mexico are concentrated in national laboratories, aerospace and defense contractors, healthcare systems, and higher education. Albuquerque and Santa Fe anchor most hiring activity, with employers in research-intensive sectors routinely filing for OPT students in STEM and technical roles.
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- APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE OR A RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. IF ATTACHING A RESUME, RESUME MUST INCLUDE DATES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR EACH JOB (MONTH and YEAR) AND DETAILS OF WORK EXPERIENCE/JOB DUTIES*
Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.
Due to the available budget allocated for this position, the hiring rate will not exceed $36.95 per hour.
Why does the job exist?
The purpose of the position is to supervise and train Probation/Parole Officers and clerical staff.
How does it get done?
Position will supervise subordinate Probation/Parole Officers and clerical staff in a district office; this includes implementing policies and directives.
- Compile and evaluate information
- Objectively counsel accordingly and conduct performance evaluations on subordinates
- Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation and/or parole
- Make recommendations for actions involving formulation and rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender to include conditional release and education/employment stipulations.
Who are the customers?
- Probation Parole Officers
- New Mexico Corrections Department
Ideal Candidate
- Probation Parole Officers
- New Mexico Corrections Department
Minimum Qualification
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Sociology, Psychology, Corrections, Guidance and Counseling, Social Work, Police Science, or Criminal Justice and three (3) years of experience as a Probation-Parole Officer. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling seven (7) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
Employment Requirements
This position is designated as safety sensitive. Employment is subject to pre-employment and random testing, in accordance with all terms and conditions of federal and state law, rules and regulations in relation to alcohol and/or drug testing. Successful completion of a series of Defensive Tactics and Restraint Courses to include exposure to Mace/OC Spray within one (1) year from date of hire as a condition of continued employment. Successful completion of First Aid and CPR Courses within the one (1) year of date from hire as a condition of continued employment is required. Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License. May be required to carry a firearm, work odd hours and visit offenders' home. Employment is subject to a pre-employment background investigation and is conditional pending results. Employment is conditional pending results of pre-employment drug test.
Statutory Requirements:
- Assignment as a Probation Parole Officer at NMCD must adhere to the following:
- At the time of their appointment, be citizens of the United States.
- At the time of their appointment, have reached the age of majority.
- Be of good moral character and not have been convicted of a felony or any crime of moral turpitude in the courts of this or any other state or in the federal courts.
- Subject to a drug test as a condition of employment and ongoing random drug testing as a condition of assignment to a safety sensitive position.
- Maintenance of skills in self-defense, handcuffing, baton, and chemical agents and annual re-certification.
- Successful completion of the New Mexico Department Of Corrections Basic Probation and Parole Officers Certification Training within twelve months of hire and annual re-certification.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in an adult prison environment, and field setting which includes daily contact with and supervision of adult offenders and or inmates. May be required to work odd hours, overtime, holidays, and weekends.
Supplemental Information
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Agency Contact Information: Lyle Wieman (505) 252-6884 or email: Lyle.Wieman@cd.nm.gov
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Posting Details
- APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE OR A RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. IF ATTACHING A RESUME, RESUME MUST INCLUDE DATES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR EACH JOB (MONTH and YEAR) AND DETAILS OF WORK EXPERIENCE/JOB DUTIES*
Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.
Due to the available budget allocated for this position, the hiring rate will not exceed $36.95 per hour.
Why does the job exist?
The purpose of the position is to supervise and train Probation/Parole Officers and clerical staff.
How does it get done?
Position will supervise subordinate Probation/Parole Officers and clerical staff in a district office; this includes implementing policies and directives.
- Compile and evaluate information
- Objectively counsel accordingly and conduct performance evaluations on subordinates
- Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation and/or parole
- Make recommendations for actions involving formulation and rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender to include conditional release and education/employment stipulations.
Who are the customers?
- Probation Parole Officers
- New Mexico Corrections Department
Ideal Candidate
- Probation Parole Officers
- New Mexico Corrections Department
Minimum Qualification
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Sociology, Psychology, Corrections, Guidance and Counseling, Social Work, Police Science, or Criminal Justice and three (3) years of experience as a Probation-Parole Officer. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling seven (7) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
Employment Requirements
This position is designated as safety sensitive. Employment is subject to pre-employment and random testing, in accordance with all terms and conditions of federal and state law, rules and regulations in relation to alcohol and/or drug testing. Successful completion of a series of Defensive Tactics and Restraint Courses to include exposure to Mace/OC Spray within one (1) year from date of hire as a condition of continued employment. Successful completion of First Aid and CPR Courses within the one (1) year of date from hire as a condition of continued employment is required. Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License. May be required to carry a firearm, work odd hours and visit offenders' home. Employment is subject to a pre-employment background investigation and is conditional pending results. Employment is conditional pending results of pre-employment drug test.
Statutory Requirements:
- Assignment as a Probation Parole Officer at NMCD must adhere to the following:
- At the time of their appointment, be citizens of the United States.
- At the time of their appointment, have reached the age of majority.
- Be of good moral character and not have been convicted of a felony or any crime of moral turpitude in the courts of this or any other state or in the federal courts.
- Subject to a drug test as a condition of employment and ongoing random drug testing as a condition of assignment to a safety sensitive position.
- Maintenance of skills in self-defense, handcuffing, baton, and chemical agents and annual re-certification.
- Successful completion of the New Mexico Department Of Corrections Basic Probation and Parole Officers Certification Training within twelve months of hire and annual re-certification.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in an adult prison environment, and field setting which includes daily contact with and supervision of adult offenders and or inmates. May be required to work odd hours, overtime, holidays, and weekends.
Supplemental Information
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Lyle Wieman (505) 252-6884 or email: Lyle.Wieman@cd.nm.gov
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Search F-1 OPT Jobs by Industry in New Mexico
Tips for Finding OPT Jobs in New Mexico
Verify your OPT dates before applying
Your EAD card start date controls when you can legally begin work. Confirm your authorized employment window matches the employer's target start date before submitting applications to avoid a status gap that disqualifies you from the role.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified OPT sponsors
Search Migrate Mate to see which New Mexico employers have a documented history of sponsoring F-1 OPT students, so you spend your 90-day unemployment clock targeting employers who already understand the authorization requirements.
Match your OPT role to your degree field
USCIS requires your OPT job to be directly related to your major. For engineering or computer science graduates, document how the specific role description connects to your coursework before the offer stage, not after, to avoid DSO rejection of your OPT application.
Check prevailing wage levels before negotiating
Employers filing an LCA for STEM OPT extensions must pay the prevailing wage for your occupation and location. Run your job title through the OFLC Wage Search for Albuquerque or Las Cruces to know your wage floor before accepting any offer.
Ask about I-983 completion before your start date
STEM OPT requires both you and your employer to complete and sign Form I-983 before you begin work. Confirm your employer has completed this step and understand that the DOL can audit I-983 compliance, so incomplete forms create real legal exposure.
See all 1,031+ F-1 OPT jobs in New Mexico
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Get Access To All JobsF-1 OPT Jobs in New Mexico: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in New Mexico sponsor the most F-1 OPT visas?
National laboratories and federal research facilities, including those in Los Alamos and Albuquerque, sponsor F-1 OPT students most heavily in New Mexico, followed by aerospace and defense contractors, higher education institutions, and healthcare systems like Presbyterian and UNM Health. STEM fields dominate because employers in these sectors are E-Verify enrolled and accustomed to the authorization requirements.
Which cities in New Mexico have the most F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Albuquerque concentrates the highest volume of F-1 OPT sponsorship opportunities in New Mexico, driven by Sandia National Laboratories, Kirtland Air Force Base contractors, and UNM's affiliated research and healthcare employers. Santa Fe and Los Alamos follow, with research institution hiring. Las Cruces adds additional volume through New Mexico State University and nearby agriculture-tech employers.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in New Mexico?
Roles in software engineering, electrical engineering, physics, data science, cybersecurity, nuclear engineering, and biomedical research qualify most reliably in New Mexico because they align with the state's defense and national laboratory sector. Healthcare roles requiring licensure, such as clinical research and public health, also qualify. The role must be directly related to your degree field under USCIS requirements, so generic administrative positions rarely qualify.
How do I find F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in New Mexico?
Use Migrate Mate to filter for New Mexico employers with verified F-1 OPT sponsorship history, which helps you avoid wasting your 90-day unemployment clock on employers unfamiliar with the process. Supplement by targeting federal contractors in Albuquerque directly, since E-Verify enrollment is mandatory for federal contractors and STEM OPT requires it. Your DSO's employer outreach network at institutions like UNM or NMSU can also surface local opportunities.
Are there any state-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in New Mexico?
Many of New Mexico's largest employers operate under federal contracts with security clearance requirements, which can complicate or delay OPT hiring for international students ineligible for clearance. Confirm whether a role requires any level of security clearance before applying. Additionally, New Mexico's smaller employer base outside Albuquerque means remote-work arrangements with out-of-state employers are common, but your OPT employer of record and I-983 filing must reflect your actual worksite for STEM extension compliance.