Data Engineer Intern Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Data Engineer Intern roles are among the more accessible sponsored positions for international students on F-1 OPT, with employers regularly filing H-1B visa petitions for strong interns. Most roles require a STEM degree, making you eligible for the 24-month OPT extension. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Plymouth Rock, a fast-growing, analytics-driven insurer, we believe data science can redefine how insurance operates. As a Data Engineer Intern/Co-op with our Enterprise Advanced Analytics team, you will work with a team of top-tier data scientists to generate breakthrough insights that drive profitable growth, operational excellence, and competitive advantage. You will work with the team to help architect and manage the data pipelines that connect internal systems, third-party sources, and advanced analytical platforms, directly enabling our most strategic research initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Assist in modernizing legacy data pipelines into Python-based, cloud-native workflows using AWS Step Functions, AWS Glue, and S3.
- Build and improve ingestion pipelines that move data from SQL Server and other on-prem + cloud sources into AWS (e.g., S3-backed data lake).
- Improve pipeline performance, efficiency, and scalability (e.g., partitioning strategies, incremental loads, reduced runtime/cost).
- Implement data quality checks and operational safeguards to support reliable, repeatable (idempotent) runs (e.g., validation rules, anomaly checks, retry-safe processing).
- Contribute to reusable Python modules for ingestion, transformations, quality checks, logging, and alerting.
- Partner with data scientists/ML engineers to prepare curated datasets for SageMaker training/inference workflows.
- Document code, workflows, and runbooks; keep documentation current as pipelines evolve.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently pursuing or have completed a Master's in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering (or related).
- Experience (projects, internships, or coursework) building Python + SQL data pipelines or data-intensive workflows.
- Familiarity with AWS services commonly used in data platforms, including S3, Glue, Step Functions (hands-on experience preferred).
- Experience working with SQL Server (or similar relational databases) and writing performant SQL.
- Comfort with Linux and bash; able to debug jobs and inspect logs.
- Familiarity with CI/CD, Git, and basic testing practices.
- Exposure to hybrid connectivity patterns (e.g., VPN/Direct Connect, hosted agents, secure credential management) or tools for extracting from on-prem sources.
- Familiarity with data lake formats and practices (Parquet, partitioning, schema evolution).
- Exposure to monitoring/alerting (CloudWatch, Datadog) and data quality frameworks/patterns.
- Interest in ML data prep / feature pipelines for SageMaker.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $25/hr - $30/hr. Actual compensation will vary based on multiple factors, including employee knowledge and experience, role scope, business needs, geographical location, and internal equity.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
The Plymouth Rock Company and its affiliated group of companies write and manage over $2 billion in personal and commercial auto and homeowner's insurance throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, where we have built an unparalleled reputation for service. We continuously invest in technology, our employees thrive in our empowering environment, and our customers are among the most loyal in the industry. The Plymouth Rock group of companies employs more than 1,900 people and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation holds an A.M. Best rating of “A-/Excellent”
INTRODUCTION
At Plymouth Rock, a fast-growing, analytics-driven insurer, we believe data science can redefine how insurance operates. As a Data Engineer Intern/Co-op with our Enterprise Advanced Analytics team, you will work with a team of top-tier data scientists to generate breakthrough insights that drive profitable growth, operational excellence, and competitive advantage. You will work with the team to help architect and manage the data pipelines that connect internal systems, third-party sources, and advanced analytical platforms, directly enabling our most strategic research initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Assist in modernizing legacy data pipelines into Python-based, cloud-native workflows using AWS Step Functions, AWS Glue, and S3.
- Build and improve ingestion pipelines that move data from SQL Server and other on-prem + cloud sources into AWS (e.g., S3-backed data lake).
- Improve pipeline performance, efficiency, and scalability (e.g., partitioning strategies, incremental loads, reduced runtime/cost).
- Implement data quality checks and operational safeguards to support reliable, repeatable (idempotent) runs (e.g., validation rules, anomaly checks, retry-safe processing).
- Contribute to reusable Python modules for ingestion, transformations, quality checks, logging, and alerting.
- Partner with data scientists/ML engineers to prepare curated datasets for SageMaker training/inference workflows.
- Document code, workflows, and runbooks; keep documentation current as pipelines evolve.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently pursuing or have completed a Master's in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering (or related).
- Experience (projects, internships, or coursework) building Python + SQL data pipelines or data-intensive workflows.
- Familiarity with AWS services commonly used in data platforms, including S3, Glue, Step Functions (hands-on experience preferred).
- Experience working with SQL Server (or similar relational databases) and writing performant SQL.
- Comfort with Linux and bash; able to debug jobs and inspect logs.
- Familiarity with CI/CD, Git, and basic testing practices.
- Exposure to hybrid connectivity patterns (e.g., VPN/Direct Connect, hosted agents, secure credential management) or tools for extracting from on-prem sources.
- Familiarity with data lake formats and practices (Parquet, partitioning, schema evolution).
- Exposure to monitoring/alerting (CloudWatch, Datadog) and data quality frameworks/patterns.
- Interest in ML data prep / feature pipelines for SageMaker.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $25/hr - $30/hr. Actual compensation will vary based on multiple factors, including employee knowledge and experience, role scope, business needs, geographical location, and internal equity.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
The Plymouth Rock Company and its affiliated group of companies write and manage over $2 billion in personal and commercial auto and homeowner's insurance throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, where we have built an unparalleled reputation for service. We continuously invest in technology, our employees thrive in our empowering environment, and our customers are among the most loyal in the industry. The Plymouth Rock group of companies employs more than 1,900 people and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation holds an A.M. Best rating of “A-/Excellent”
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Data Engineer Intern
Target STEM-designated programs
A bachelor's or master's in computer science, data science, or a related STEM field unlocks the 24-month OPT extension. That gives you three years of work authorization, far more time to clear the H-1B lottery.
Ask about conversion rates, not just sponsorship policy
Many tech employers sponsor broadly but convert only a fraction of interns to full-time. Ask directly: how many interns from last year received return offers and eventually H-1B sponsorship? That number matters more than a general policy statement.
Time your internship around H-1B filing windows
H-1B registration opens each March for an October 1 start. If your OPT ends before October, confirm the employer will bridge you with Cap-Gap or an early return offer to avoid a gap in work authorization.
Highlight cloud and pipeline skills in your application
Employers filing H-1B for Data Engineer Interns need to justify a specialty occupation. Roles with specific technical requirements like Spark, Airflow, or cloud infrastructure are easier to sponsor than vague generalist internships.
Look for employers with a history of H-1B filings
Companies that have sponsored Data Engineer roles before understand the process and are less likely to back out. DOL disclosure data shows which employers file regularly for this job title, which is a strong proxy for sponsorship willingness.
Negotiate a return offer before OPT runs out
Securing a full-time return offer during your internship gives you maximum time to prepare your H-1B paperwork. Waiting until OPT is nearly expired leaves little room to handle RFEs or employer delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a company sponsor an H-1B for a Data Engineer Intern?
Yes, though most H-1B visa sponsorship happens at the full-time conversion stage rather than during the internship itself. Employers typically sponsor after extending a return offer. Some larger tech companies do sponsor interns directly if the role is substantial and the student is near graduation, but that's less common.
Does a Data Engineer Intern role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It generally does when the role requires a degree in computer science, information systems, or a closely related field and involves work like building data pipelines, managing cloud infrastructure, or writing production-level code. Vague internship descriptions that don't specify technical requirements can draw an RFE, so the job duties need to be clearly documented.
What degree do I need to get sponsored for a Data Engineer Intern role?
Most employers require a bachelor's or master's in computer science, data science, information systems, or a related STEM field. A STEM degree also matters for OPT purposes: it unlocks the 24-month extension, giving you three years total to work and clear the H-1B lottery before needing a different visa.
Where can I find Data Engineer Intern jobs that sponsor visas?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates and filters for employers open to sponsorship, so you're not wasting applications on companies that won't file. Searching there lets you focus on roles where sponsorship is already a realistic outcome rather than something you have to negotiate from scratch.
What are my options if I don't win the H-1B lottery after my internship converts to full-time?
You have a few paths: reenter the lottery the following year if your OPT or Cap-Gap covers the gap, transfer to an L-1 visa if you work for a multinational with overseas offices, explore the O-1A if your work is exceptional, or consider the E-3 visa if you hold Australian citizenship. Some candidates also pursue a master's degree to reset their OPT clock.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Data Engineer Intern jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.