H-1B Visa Biologist Jobs
Biologist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in biology or a directly related field. Pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, federal contractors, and research universities are among the most consistent H-1B sponsors for bench and field biology positions.
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Kimley-Horn is a leading civil engineering and consulting firm known for our exceptional client service and commitment to delivering sustainable solutions. Our Environmental team in Orange, CA, is looking for a dedicated and experienced Senior Biologist to help us tackle complex projects and make meaningful impacts.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
We are seeking a driven Senior Biologist with 7+ years of experience in biological surveys, habitat assessment, regulatory compliance, permitting, and environmental consulting. The ideal candidate will lead biological investigations, navigate regulatory frameworks, and contribute to multidisciplinary projects while mentoring team members and delivering top-notch service to clients.
Responsibilities:
- Manage and conduct biological assessments, habitat restoration projects, and sensitive species surveys.
- Prepare and review biological reports (e.g., Biological Resource Assessments, Constraints Analysis, etc.) and environmental documentation compliant with CEQA/NEPA standards.
- Provide strategic regulatory guidance and obtain necessary permits from local, state, and federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CDFW, USACE).
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams for integrated project delivery, including planners, engineers, and environmental scientists.
- Ensure projects comply with environmental laws and maintain timelines and budgets.
- Mentor junior staff and contribute to training and development efforts within the Environmental team.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with regulatory agencies, clients, and stakeholders to deliver exceptional service and foster long-term partnerships.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in biological surveys, environmental permitting, and compliance work in California.
- Expertise in California flora, fauna, ecosystems, and regulatory frameworks, including CEQA/NEPA and state/federal species protection laws.
- Proven experience preparing biological resource reports and navigating permitting processes.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, budgets, and deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience interfacing effectively with clients and agencies.
- Team-oriented mindset with leadership ability to guide and mentor junior team members.
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Familiarity with GIS mapping techniques/software.
- Certified Arborist or Restoration Ecologist credentials are a plus.
- Biologist certifications (e.g., Section 10(a) permits for listed species) are desirable.
- Experience working with habitat conservation plans, mitigation banks, and wildlife movement corridor studies.
SALARY RANGE:
$120,000 to $160,000
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
KEY BENEFITS AT KIMLEY-HORN:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
Overview:
Kimley-Horn is a leading civil engineering and consulting firm known for our exceptional client service and commitment to delivering sustainable solutions. Our Environmental team in Orange, CA, is looking for a dedicated and experienced Senior Biologist to help us tackle complex projects and make meaningful impacts.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
We are seeking a driven Senior Biologist with 7+ years of experience in biological surveys, habitat assessment, regulatory compliance, permitting, and environmental consulting. The ideal candidate will lead biological investigations, navigate regulatory frameworks, and contribute to multidisciplinary projects while mentoring team members and delivering top-notch service to clients.
Responsibilities:
- Manage and conduct biological assessments, habitat restoration projects, and sensitive species surveys.
- Prepare and review biological reports (e.g., Biological Resource Assessments, Constraints Analysis, etc.) and environmental documentation compliant with CEQA/NEPA standards.
- Provide strategic regulatory guidance and obtain necessary permits from local, state, and federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CDFW, USACE).
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams for integrated project delivery, including planners, engineers, and environmental scientists.
- Ensure projects comply with environmental laws and maintain timelines and budgets.
- Mentor junior staff and contribute to training and development efforts within the Environmental team.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with regulatory agencies, clients, and stakeholders to deliver exceptional service and foster long-term partnerships.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in biological surveys, environmental permitting, and compliance work in California.
- Expertise in California flora, fauna, ecosystems, and regulatory frameworks, including CEQA/NEPA and state/federal species protection laws.
- Proven experience preparing biological resource reports and navigating permitting processes.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, budgets, and deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience interfacing effectively with clients and agencies.
- Team-oriented mindset with leadership ability to guide and mentor junior team members.
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Familiarity with GIS mapping techniques/software.
- Certified Arborist or Restoration Ecologist credentials are a plus.
- Biologist certifications (e.g., Section 10(a) permits for listed species) are desirable.
- Experience working with habitat conservation plans, mitigation banks, and wildlife movement corridor studies.
SALARY RANGE:
$120,000 to $160,000
WHY KIMLEY-HORN?:
At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it—that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!
KEY BENEFITS AT KIMLEY-HORN:
- Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
- Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
See all 54+ H-1B Visa Biologist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Biologist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Biologist
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation standards
USCIS evaluates whether your biology degree directly relates to the duties of your specific role. A general biology degree supporting a molecular biology position is strong; a mismatch between field and function invites a Request for Evidence.
Target employers with PERM and LCA filing history
Search DOL's Labor Condition Application disclosure data to identify which research institutions, biotech companies, and CROs have filed LCAs for biologist roles. Consistent filing history signals an employer already understands the H-1B process.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring employers
Filter Migrate Mate's job board by biologist roles and confirmed H-1B filing history. This surfaces employers who have actively sponsored the visa for biology positions, cutting out companies unlikely to start the process from scratch.
Check prevailing wage level before accepting an offer
Run your job title and work location through the OFLC Wage Search before negotiations. The DOL assigns wage levels I through IV; your offered salary must meet the certified level, and Level I roles draw more USCIS scrutiny for specialty occupation.
Clarify cap-exempt status with research or nonprofit employers
Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research entities are cap-exempt, meaning your H-1B petition bypasses the annual lottery entirely. Confirm the employer qualifies under USCIS cap-exemption rules before the petition is filed.
Document fieldwork and lab duties for specialty occupation evidence
If your biologist role involves field surveys, environmental sampling, or cross-disciplinary work, your employer's support letter must explain why each duty requires a degree-level biology background. Vague job descriptions are the leading cause of specialty occupation RFEs for biology petitions.
H-1B Visa Biologist: Frequently Asked Questions
Do biologist roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Most biologist positions qualify when the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, microbiology, or a directly related field as a minimum entry requirement. USCIS looks at whether the degree requirement is standard across the industry for that role. Positions where any bachelor's degree is acceptable, regardless of field, are harder to support. Your employer's job description and offer letter must tie specific duties to biology-specific knowledge.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for biologists?
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies, contract research organizations, federal agencies, university research departments, environmental consulting firms, and public health organizations are the most active H-1B sponsors for biologist roles. Research-intensive employers and federal contractors tend to have established immigration processes and are more likely to sponsor. Use Migrate Mate to browse biologist openings filtered to employers with confirmed H-1B filing history.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect biologists applying to research institutions?
Biologists employed by universities, nonprofit research organizations, or government-affiliated research entities may be exempt from the annual H-1B cap and lottery. Cap-exempt employers can file petitions at any time of year without waiting for the April registration window. Confirm the employer's cap-exempt status with USCIS before your petition is prepared, since not every university affiliate or research partner qualifies automatically.
Can a biologist with a three-year bachelor's degree qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
A three-year degree from a recognized university can qualify if it is accepted as equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Your employer will typically need a credential evaluation from a recognized evaluation service to document the equivalency. USCIS reviews the evaluation as part of the specialty occupation determination. Gaps between your degree field and the job duties are harder to bridge with a foreign credential evaluation alone.
What happens to an H-1B biologist's status if their research grant ends or their lab loses funding?
If your position ends because of lost funding, you enter a 60-day grace period from your last day of employment. You can use that window to find a new sponsoring employer and have them file an H-1B transfer petition before the grace period expires. The new employer's petition maintains your H-1B status if filed while the grace period is active. Starting your job search as soon as you know funding is at risk significantly improves your options.