Software Development Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Software Development Specialist roles rank among the most actively sponsored positions in the U.S., qualifying for H-1B visa, E-3 visa, and TN visas as a specialty occupation requiring a directly related bachelor's degree. Employers in tech, finance, and healthcare file LCAs regularly for these roles, giving you a strong pool of verified sponsors to target.
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INTRODUCTION
All job postings will expire at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the application deadline.
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency
Agency Contact Name and Information: Erika Carleski - erika.carleski@epa.ohio.gov
Work Location:
Columbus, Ohio, 43215
United States
Compensation: $34.53/hr
Schedule: Permanent - Full Time
Work Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
Classified Indicator: Classified
Union: OCSEA
Primary Job Skill: Software Development/Implementation
Who We Are
We’re the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, a regulatory organization that’s committed to protecting the environment and public health by ensuring compliance with federal and state laws. (We do this through some innovative, interesting, and fun work!)
Ohio EPA wants you to serve in this role within the Office of Information Technology Services at our Central Office in downtown Columbus. We are seeking a detail-oriented Software Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist to join our dynamic development team.
The ideal candidate will manually test software during development and regression cycles, report and retest defects, and ensure all requirements are met. Responsibilities include developing and documenting test scenarios, extracting and verifying test data using SQL, and participating in Agile meetings.
You will assist with user acceptance, integration, and automated testing using AI tools, Ruby, and Cucumber. The role involves maintaining defect tracking systems, updating scrum-boards, and providing status reports to project leads. As needed, you will act as test lead, coordinate team activities, and support process improvements.
Strong communication, analytical, and troubleshooting skills are required. Familiarity with GIT, Splunk, and automated test scripting is a plus. Continuous learning and the ability to adapt to evolving technologies are essential for success in this role.
Let’s recap:
- Manually test software, report and retest defects, and ensure requirements are met.
- Support user acceptance, integration, and automated testing (AI tools, Ruby, Cucumber).
- Develop test scenarios, extract/verify data using SQL, and participate in Agile meetings.
- Maintain defect tracking, update scrum-boards, provide status reports.
- Have strong communication, analytical skills, and familiarity with GIT, Splunk, and automated scripting.
If you’re energized by meaningful work, enjoy problem-solving, and want to support Ohio EPA’s environmental mission, this role is for you!
Additional Information
Job duty, knowledge, skill, and ability statements at a lower-level are understood to be able to be performed at any higher level.
Why Work for the State of Ohio:
At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:
- Medical Coverage
- Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
- Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
- Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
- Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
- Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.
QUALIFICATIONS
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36 mos. combined work experience in any combination of the following: developing and/or modifying programs for computer applications, performing testing and debugging and assisting with analysis and design including 12 mos. work experience in the primary technology as specified by the agency position description & job posting.
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Or completion of associate core program in computer science or information systems 18 mos. combined work experience in any combination of the following: developing and/or modifying programs for computer applications, performing testing and debugging and assisting with analysis and design including 12 mos. work experience in the primary technology as specified by the agency position description & job posting.
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Or completion of undergraduate core program in computer science or information systems 12 mos. combined work experience in any combination of the following: developing and/or modifying programs for computer applications, performing testing and debugging and assisting with analysis and design including 12 mos. work experience in the primary technology specified by the agency in the position description & job posting.
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Or equivalent of minimum class qualifications for employment noted above. Note: The official position description on file with the designated agency is to reflect the required, primary technology directly relating to the duties of the position. Only those applicants possessing the experience in the required, primary technology listed in the position description & job posting are to be considered for any vacancies posted.
Job Skills: Software Development/Implementation, Public Relations, Electronic Data Processing, Cybersecurity Law, Equipment Operations, Customer Focus
ADA Statement:
Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
Drug-Free Workplace:
The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Software Development Specialist
Align your degree field to the role
USCIS scrutinizes whether your bachelor's degree directly relates to software development. A degree in computer science, software engineering, or information systems is safest. Degrees in adjacent fields like mathematics or electrical engineering can qualify with strong evidence linking coursework to the role.
Use OFLC Wage Search before negotiating
Your employer must pay the DOL prevailing wage for your location and role level. Run the OFLC Wage Search for your metro area before you negotiate salary. Accepting below the Level I prevailing wage creates LCA compliance problems that can delay or invalidate your petition.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate by role
Search Migrate Mate for Software Development Specialist roles filtered to employers with verified LCA filing history. This saves you from cold-applying to companies that have never sponsored, letting you focus energy on employers already set up to file your paperwork.
Flag your specialty during the offer stage
Raise visa sponsorship before accepting an offer, not after. Ask HR whether the company has an in-house immigration team or uses outside counsel. Companies without an established process can still sponsor, but timelines are longer and you need that buffer in writing.
Build a portfolio that documents specialty occupation
If you receive a USCIS Request for Evidence, the burden falls on your employer to show the role requires a specifically related degree. Projects demonstrating system architecture, algorithm design, or complex engineering decisions strengthen the specialty occupation argument beyond a job description alone.
Check O*NET before accepting a vague job title
Employers sometimes post broad titles like 'Technical Specialist' that obscure whether the role meets specialty occupation standards. Cross-reference the actual duties against the O*NET profile for software developers to confirm the work is substantively technical, not general coordination or project management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Software Development Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Yes, software development roles consistently meet USCIS's specialty occupation definition because they require theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. The key risk is a vague job description: if duties include general business analysis or IT support, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence challenging whether a specific degree is truly required.
Which visas can a software development specialist use for U.S. work sponsorship?
The H-1B is the most common path and is subject to an annual cap and selection process. Australian nationals can use the E-3, which has its own annual allocation and no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals can qualify under TN if the role maps clearly to a computer systems analyst or similar USMCA profession. F-1 graduates can bridge with OPT or STEM OPT while pursuing one of these employer-sponsored options.
What degree do I need to sponsor a software development specialist visa?
USCIS requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a field directly related to software development, most commonly computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or information systems. Degrees in mathematics or electrical engineering can qualify if you show relevant coursework. A general business or unrelated STEM degree typically requires additional evidence, such as a credential evaluation and a detailed nexus letter from the employer.
How do I find employers who sponsor software development specialist roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA filing history for software development roles, so you can browse companies already set up to sponsor rather than guessing at their willingness. Focus on employers who have filed for similar job titles in your target city, since those companies have existing immigration counsel and internal HR workflows to move quickly once an offer is extended.
Can a software development specialist on STEM OPT transfer to H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. STEM OPT gives you up to 24 months of additional work authorization after your initial 12-month OPT, giving you multiple H-1B selection cycles. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to sign the I-983 training plan required for STEM OPT. If you're selected in the H-1B process during your STEM OPT period, you can continue working until your H-1B status takes effect without a gap in authorization.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Software Development Specialist 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.