H-1B1 Singapore Visa Principal Scientist Jobs
Principal Scientist roles qualify for H-1B1 Singapore visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring advanced scientific expertise. Singapore nationals avoid the H-1B lottery entirely, with the 5,400-visa annual cap rarely filling. Applications go directly to a U.S. consulate, so your timeline depends on employer readiness, not a random draw.
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Get Access To All JobsYour Impact at LILA
Lila is building a platform where AI and automation co-evolve to solve the hardest problems in medicine. Within Life Sciences AI (LSAI), the AI for Protein Engineering team develops and uses the generative and predictive models that drive Lila's biomolecule design programs from in silico hypothesis to wet-lab validated lead.
We are seeking a Senior or Principal Scientist to join this team as a senior IC focused on antibody design and engineering. You will develop and execute the methods and workflows that ensure successful completion of antibody campaigns. Scope may expand to additional modalities such as enzymes and peptides as needs evolve.
This role sits at the bilingual edge of ML and biology. You will own biological understanding of campaign needs and partner closely with the Life Science Research team to design and validate computational predictions in the lab. You will shape the technical agenda for AI protein engineering at Lila and represent that work both internally and to the broader research community.
What You'll Be Building
- Develop and own protein design and engineering workflows for antibody campaigns, including de novo design, affinity maturation, and developability optimization
- Execute design workflows end-to-end for active campaigns and deliver wet-lab-validated leads against program milestones
- Translate campaign requirements — epitope selection, affinity targets, biophysical constraints, and developability criteria — into well-defined ML problems and design specifications
- Adapt and extend state-of-the-art AI methods (generative models, protein language models, structure-conditioned design) to the specific demands of antibody and broader biomolecule engineering
- Partner with the Life Science Research team on design validation, building active learning loops where wet-lab data refines and improves model performance
- Expand the protein engineering platform to additional modalities such as enzymes and peptides as needs evolve
What You'll Need to Succeed
- PhD in Computational Biology, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Biophysics, or a related quantitative field
- Proven track record of successful design of wet-lab-validated biomolecules through AI, with industry experience strongly preferred
- Deep ML expertise with the ability to modify and adapt state-of-the-art AI approaches for protein engineering, not just apply them off-the-shelf
- Strong fluency across both ML and protein biology, with hands-on understanding of antibody design
- Demonstrated ability to drive a research and engineering program independently, from problem definition through experimental validation and iteration
- Track record of close collaboration with experimental scientists and clear communication across the ML/biology boundary
Bonus Points For
- Direct experience designing antibodies, nanobodies, or other therapeutic proteins for clinical or therapeutic pipelines
- Experience with structure prediction, generative protein design (diffusion, flow-matching, or similar), and protein language models in a production research setting
- Experience in structural biology and conformational dynamics
- Experience extending design methods to additional modalities such as enzymes, peptides, or other engineered biomolecules
- High-impact publications or open-source contributions in AI for Science (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, Nature Methods, Nature Biotechnology, or equivalent)
- Experience designing or operating active learning loops between computational design and high-throughput experimental validation
About LILA
Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard-coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.
LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy.
Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.
We're All In
Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
A Note to Agencies
Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science's internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
Your Impact at LILA
Lila is building a platform where AI and automation co-evolve to solve the hardest problems in medicine. Within Life Sciences AI (LSAI), the AI for Protein Engineering team develops and uses the generative and predictive models that drive Lila's biomolecule design programs from in silico hypothesis to wet-lab validated lead.
We are seeking a Senior or Principal Scientist to join this team as a senior IC focused on antibody design and engineering. You will develop and execute the methods and workflows that ensure successful completion of antibody campaigns. Scope may expand to additional modalities such as enzymes and peptides as needs evolve.
This role sits at the bilingual edge of ML and biology. You will own biological understanding of campaign needs and partner closely with the Life Science Research team to design and validate computational predictions in the lab. You will shape the technical agenda for AI protein engineering at Lila and represent that work both internally and to the broader research community.
What You'll Be Building
- Develop and own protein design and engineering workflows for antibody campaigns, including de novo design, affinity maturation, and developability optimization
- Execute design workflows end-to-end for active campaigns and deliver wet-lab-validated leads against program milestones
- Translate campaign requirements — epitope selection, affinity targets, biophysical constraints, and developability criteria — into well-defined ML problems and design specifications
- Adapt and extend state-of-the-art AI methods (generative models, protein language models, structure-conditioned design) to the specific demands of antibody and broader biomolecule engineering
- Partner with the Life Science Research team on design validation, building active learning loops where wet-lab data refines and improves model performance
- Expand the protein engineering platform to additional modalities such as enzymes and peptides as needs evolve
What You'll Need to Succeed
- PhD in Computational Biology, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Biophysics, or a related quantitative field
- Proven track record of successful design of wet-lab-validated biomolecules through AI, with industry experience strongly preferred
- Deep ML expertise with the ability to modify and adapt state-of-the-art AI approaches for protein engineering, not just apply them off-the-shelf
- Strong fluency across both ML and protein biology, with hands-on understanding of antibody design
- Demonstrated ability to drive a research and engineering program independently, from problem definition through experimental validation and iteration
- Track record of close collaboration with experimental scientists and clear communication across the ML/biology boundary
Bonus Points For
- Direct experience designing antibodies, nanobodies, or other therapeutic proteins for clinical or therapeutic pipelines
- Experience with structure prediction, generative protein design (diffusion, flow-matching, or similar), and protein language models in a production research setting
- Experience in structural biology and conformational dynamics
- Experience extending design methods to additional modalities such as enzymes, peptides, or other engineered biomolecules
- High-impact publications or open-source contributions in AI for Science (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, Nature Methods, Nature Biotechnology, or equivalent)
- Experience designing or operating active learning loops between computational design and high-throughput experimental validation
About LILA
Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard-coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.
LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy.
Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.
We're All In
Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
A Note to Agencies
Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science's internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Principal Scientist
Align your credentials to U.S. specialty occupation standards
Pull your O*NET profile for Principal Scientist and confirm your Singapore degree maps directly to the role's required field. USCIS adjudicators reject petitions where the degree-to-job connection isn't explicit, so document the disciplinary match before you apply.
Target employers with active R&D visa filing patterns
Pharma, biotech, and semiconductor firms that run large internal research divisions file H-1B1 visa petitions regularly. Search DOL's LCA disclosure data by occupation code to identify which employers have certified positions matching Principal Scientist roles in recent fiscal years.
Search for H-1B1 Singapore jobs on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters job listings by H-1B1 Singapore sponsorship history, so you're not cold-applying to employers who've never filed for Singapore nationals. Use it to identify research employers whose LCA filings match Principal Scientist occupation codes.
Confirm your employer understands the LCA filing timeline
Your employer must file a certified Labor Condition Application with DOL before submitting your consular application. LCA certification typically takes seven business days, but errors or wage-level disputes can delay it. Verify your employer's HR team has done this before.
Negotiate for employer-paid prevailing wage compliance upfront
The LCA locks in your wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your occupation and work location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level III or IV rate for Principal Scientist in your target metro before salary discussions begin.
Prepare a nonimmigrant intent response for your consular interview
The H-1B1 Singapore visa is a nonimmigrant visa without dual intent protection. Consular officers can question your ties to Singapore. Prepare clear documentation of your intent to return, such as property ownership, family ties, or professional memberships, before your interview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Principal Scientist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B1 Singapore?
Yes. Principal Scientist positions require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related scientific field such as chemistry, biology, or materials science, which satisfies the specialty occupation definition USCIS applies to H-1B1 petitions. Roles that require only a general science background without field specificity can face challenges, so your employer's job description should explicitly state the degree requirement.
How does H-1B1 Singapore differ from H-1B for a Principal Scientist?
The H-1B1 Singapore visa has no lottery and no USCIS petition filing for consular applicants, which means your timeline depends on employer and consulate readiness rather than an annual random selection. The trade-off is that H-1B1 has no dual intent protection, so you can't simultaneously pursue a green card without risking visa denial. H-1B holders can file for permanent residence while maintaining status; H-1B1 holders generally cannot.
Where can I find Principal Scientist jobs that offer H-1B1 Singapore visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate lists jobs filtered by H-1B1 Singapore sponsorship history, so you can identify employers who have actually filed for Singapore nationals in Principal Scientist or equivalent research roles. Most general job boards don't filter by visa type or nationality-specific sponsorship, which means you'll spend significant time approaching employers who aren't set up to sponsor H-1B1 petitions.
Can my employer file my H-1B1 Singapore petition while I'm already in the U.S. on another visa status?
Yes, a change of status filing with USCIS is possible if you're already in valid nonimmigrant status in the U.S. If you're outside the U.S., your employer files the LCA with DOL and you apply directly at a Singapore consulate. The consular route is more common for H-1B1 Singapore because the visa was designed under the free trade agreement framework for Singapore-based applicants.
What happens to my H-1B1 Singapore status if my Principal Scientist role is restructured or eliminated?
Your H-1B1 status is tied to the specific employer and position approved in the LCA and consular application. If your role is eliminated, you have a short grace period, typically up to 60 days, to find a new sponsoring employer and file a new LCA. Unlike H-1B, H-1B1 doesn't allow portability under AC21, so a new employer must restart the full filing process.
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