Government OPT Jobs in Washington DC
Washington DC is one of the few places where F-1 OPT students can work alongside federal agencies, think tanks, international organizations, and government contractors all within a single metro area. Employers like Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte Federal, and SAIC regularly hire international students through OPT for policy, data, and technology roles across the public sector.
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Get Access To All JobsMinimum Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Experience
3
Summary
The Publishing Technology Specialist, reporting to the Manager of Publishing Technology, assists Publishing Technology Project Managers with producing and updating manuals, reports, reporting form instructions, and other small- to moderate-sized publications using electronic prepress technologies and composition/page layout tools, including automated composition systems. Performs formatting of document content, chart creation and modification, and file format conversions in support of XML-based workflows. Supports multiple projects of small to moderate size and complexity.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Supports the production of moderately complex publications for dissemination to the public. Works directly with other publishing technology specialists and analysts, editors, web designers and developers, and programmers to accomplish project requirements.
- Uses publishing technologies to format and combine text, tabular data, charts, and other visual graphic elements to produce publication-ready material. Provides technical assistance to stakeholders on automated publishing processes.
- Is an experienced user and analyst of the Board’s specialized publishing applications and systems, including RWS’s XML Professional Publisher (XPP). Analyzes publishing technology programming issues. Utilizes XPP for automated composition, transformation, and rendering of XML content to PDF.
- Assists section in providing publication production support using specialized publishing applications, including Adobe InDesign, on individual projects as well as providing technological support for the section.
- Creates publication visuals for print and web that meet Board publication standards and Section 508 accessibility requirements using a variety of tools, including Adobe Illustrator.
- Engages in quality assurance and a formalized review process for all documents to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure adherence to Board publication standards for branding and accessibility.
- May assist in modifying XPP style specifications, including editing stylesheets, building custom macros, and modifying scripts to automate publications composition and PDF generation. May also develop scripts and stylesheets for data conversion into established formats.
- Participates in testing of new or different publishing technologies to integrate technological capabilities with creative design and communications objectives. Develops knowledge of stakeholder business requirements. Validates quality and accuracy of deliverables.
- Keeps abreast of evolving design and publications production technologies through training and professional publications and outside contacts. Identifies appropriate directions for own professional development and initiates activities that lead to self-improvement.
Position Requirements
FR 24: Position requires a thorough knowledge of the publishing technology field, including charting data and publication design principles. Has knowledge of principles, concepts, and methodology of publishing technology computer systems, including typography, page layout, document formatting, and publication styles, typically acquired by completion of a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, electronic publishing or equivalent experience and a minimum of three years of relevant experience. Knowledge in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Word and Excel a must. Experience with RWS XML Professional Publisher (XPP) and component content management systems for publishing preferred. Excellent oral and written interpersonal communications skills, customer service orientation, and strong project management skills. Is skilled in carrying out assignments that support presentation and publication services.
FR 25: Position requires thorough knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodology of publishing technology and composition, including typography, page layout, document formatting, and publication styles, typically acquired by completion of a bachelor’s degree in electronic publishing or equivalent experience and a minimum of four years of specialized experience developing templates and producing manuals, reports, and other publications using publishing applications and systems. Knowledge in content management systems, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Word and Excel are a must. Experience with RWS’s Professional Publisher (XPP) preferred. Excellent oral and written interpersonal communications skills, customer service orientation, and strong project management skills are required. Must demonstrate initiative in problem diagnosis and resolution and be skilled in carrying out assignments that support presentation and publication services.
Note:
- This position is located in Washington, DC, and requires in-office presence.
- The expected salary range for this role is $96,700 - $144,300, which spans all the posted grades. Final offers are based on the grade for which you minimally qualify and are determined by experience and education, as well as internal and external factors.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or application, membership, or service in the uniformed services.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Experience
3
Summary
The Publishing Technology Specialist, reporting to the Manager of Publishing Technology, assists Publishing Technology Project Managers with producing and updating manuals, reports, reporting form instructions, and other small- to moderate-sized publications using electronic prepress technologies and composition/page layout tools, including automated composition systems. Performs formatting of document content, chart creation and modification, and file format conversions in support of XML-based workflows. Supports multiple projects of small to moderate size and complexity.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Supports the production of moderately complex publications for dissemination to the public. Works directly with other publishing technology specialists and analysts, editors, web designers and developers, and programmers to accomplish project requirements.
- Uses publishing technologies to format and combine text, tabular data, charts, and other visual graphic elements to produce publication-ready material. Provides technical assistance to stakeholders on automated publishing processes.
- Is an experienced user and analyst of the Board’s specialized publishing applications and systems, including RWS’s XML Professional Publisher (XPP). Analyzes publishing technology programming issues. Utilizes XPP for automated composition, transformation, and rendering of XML content to PDF.
- Assists section in providing publication production support using specialized publishing applications, including Adobe InDesign, on individual projects as well as providing technological support for the section.
- Creates publication visuals for print and web that meet Board publication standards and Section 508 accessibility requirements using a variety of tools, including Adobe Illustrator.
- Engages in quality assurance and a formalized review process for all documents to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure adherence to Board publication standards for branding and accessibility.
- May assist in modifying XPP style specifications, including editing stylesheets, building custom macros, and modifying scripts to automate publications composition and PDF generation. May also develop scripts and stylesheets for data conversion into established formats.
- Participates in testing of new or different publishing technologies to integrate technological capabilities with creative design and communications objectives. Develops knowledge of stakeholder business requirements. Validates quality and accuracy of deliverables.
- Keeps abreast of evolving design and publications production technologies through training and professional publications and outside contacts. Identifies appropriate directions for own professional development and initiates activities that lead to self-improvement.
Position Requirements
FR 24: Position requires a thorough knowledge of the publishing technology field, including charting data and publication design principles. Has knowledge of principles, concepts, and methodology of publishing technology computer systems, including typography, page layout, document formatting, and publication styles, typically acquired by completion of a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, electronic publishing or equivalent experience and a minimum of three years of relevant experience. Knowledge in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Word and Excel a must. Experience with RWS XML Professional Publisher (XPP) and component content management systems for publishing preferred. Excellent oral and written interpersonal communications skills, customer service orientation, and strong project management skills. Is skilled in carrying out assignments that support presentation and publication services.
FR 25: Position requires thorough knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodology of publishing technology and composition, including typography, page layout, document formatting, and publication styles, typically acquired by completion of a bachelor’s degree in electronic publishing or equivalent experience and a minimum of four years of specialized experience developing templates and producing manuals, reports, and other publications using publishing applications and systems. Knowledge in content management systems, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Word and Excel are a must. Experience with RWS’s Professional Publisher (XPP) preferred. Excellent oral and written interpersonal communications skills, customer service orientation, and strong project management skills are required. Must demonstrate initiative in problem diagnosis and resolution and be skilled in carrying out assignments that support presentation and publication services.
Note:
- This position is located in Washington, DC, and requires in-office presence.
- The expected salary range for this role is $96,700 - $144,300, which spans all the posted grades. Final offers are based on the grade for which you minimally qualify and are determined by experience and education, as well as internal and external factors.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or application, membership, or service in the uniformed services.
OPT Government Job Roles in Washington DC
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Search Government Jobs in Washington DCGovernment OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Washington DC: Frequently Asked Questions
Which government employers in Washington DC sponsor F-1 OPT students?
Government contractors and consulting firms are the most active OPT sponsors in Washington DC. Companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, SAIC, Deloitte Federal, and Accenture Federal Services hire international students for technology, analytics, and policy roles. Federal agencies themselves generally cannot sponsor OPT directly, but their contractors and affiliated nonprofits often can. Think tanks such as the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution also hire OPT students in research capacities.
Which parts of Washington DC have the most government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Downtown DC and the Capitol Hill corridor concentrate the most government-sector OPT roles, particularly in policy, research, and consulting. The Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in Northern Virginia, just across the Potomac, houses a dense cluster of federal contractors and defense firms. Bethesda and Rockville in Maryland are also significant hubs, home to health-focused agencies and contractors. The broader DC metro area functions as a single government employment market for OPT purposes.
What types of government roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that align with a student's degree field are the primary eligibility requirement for OPT. In the government sector, qualifying positions typically include data analyst, software engineer, policy analyst, budget analyst, cybersecurity specialist, public health researcher, and program manager roles. The job must be directly related to the student's major. STEM-designated roles in engineering, computer science, and public health may also qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if the employer is enrolled in E-Verify.
How do I find government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Washington DC?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students searching for OPT-eligible roles and filters government and public-sector positions by visa type and location, making it easier to identify Washington DC employers with active sponsorship history. Beyond job searching, reviewing DOL Labor Condition Application filings through OFLC can help you confirm which contractors have historically sponsored international workers. Networking through your university's alumni in DC-based agencies and contractors is also a practical approach.
Are there any DC-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in the government sector?
Washington DC's government sector has a distinct hiring factor that other markets don't: many federal roles require security clearances, and OPT students are generally ineligible for clearances due to citizenship requirements. This limits direct federal agency employment but does not affect positions with contractors, nonprofits, or international organizations operating in DC. OPT students should also be aware that DC's high concentration of policy and research organizations means strong demand for bilingual and internationally experienced candidates, which can be an advantage.