OPT Clinical Microbiologist Jobs
Clinical Microbiologist jobs on OPT require STEM-designated programs, which qualify you for the standard 12-month OPT period plus a 24-month STEM extension, giving you up to three years of authorized work. Most employers in hospital systems, public health labs, and biotech firms are familiar with sponsoring STEM OPT workers through the E-Verify requirement.
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Get Access To All JobsWhy join Stryker?
Looking for a place that values your unique talents? Discover Stryker's award-winning culture.
We are proud to offer you our total rewards package which includes bonuses, healthcare, insurance benefits, retirement programs, wellness programs, as well as service and performance awards – not to mention various social and recreational activities, all of which are location specific.
Job description
We are excited to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces by Fortune Magazine! We are proud to offer you 12 paid holidays annually. For an overview of our benefits and time off, please follow this link to learn more: US Stryker employee benefits.
Stryker is seeking a Staff Microbiologist for our Endoscopy business unit in San Jose, CA. We are seeking a talented and motivated Microbiologist to provide technical expertise supporting the development, validation, and lifecycle management of medical devices. In this role, you will partner with cross-functional teams to support microbiology, sterilization, reprocessing, and biocompatibility activities for both new product development and sustaining engineering efforts. You will independently lead assigned projects, develop technical strategies, and ensure products meet applicable biological safety, sterilization, and regulatory requirements. This position plays a key role in supporting product quality, regulatory compliance, and patient safety through the application of scientific principles, industry standards, and risk-based decision making throughout the product lifecycle.
What you will do
- Apply ISO, FDA, AAMI, EU MDR, and other applicable standards to develop microbiology, biocompatibility, sterilization, and reprocessing test strategies for medical devices.
- Lead microbiology and biocompatibility activities for product development projects, including defining testing requirements, acceptance criteria, and validation strategies.
- Partner with R&D teams to provide technical guidance on materials, product design, sterilization methods, and reprocessing considerations throughout development.
- Develop, review, and approve protocols, reports, risk assessments, and technical documentation supporting biological safety, sterilization, processing, and regulatory compliance.
- Support design reviews, development milestones, engineering changes, supplier changes, nonconformance investigations, CAPAs, and regulatory submissions.
- Execute and support sterilization process validations, equipment qualifications (IQ/OQ/PQ), requalification activities, and microbiological monitoring programs.
- Assess technical risks and recommend solutions to ensure product safety, performance, compliance, and successful project execution.
- Participate in regulatory and supplier audits as a subject matter expert for microbiology, sterilization, biocompatibility, and reprocessing activities.
- Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of procedures, work instructions, and processes to align with evolving regulations and industry standards.
- Support knowledge sharing and onboarding activities by providing technical guidance and training to team members and cross-functional partners.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, and external testing laboratories.
What you need
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Engineering, Toxicology, or a related scientific discipline.
- Minimum 4 years of experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or regulated healthcare environments supporting microbiology, biocompatibility, sterilization, processing, or sterility assurance activities for sterile and/or reusable products.
- Working knowledge of medical device regulations such as ISO 10993, ISO 11135, ISO 11137, ISO 17665, AAMI, FDA, EU MDR, and other applicable regulatory standards.
- Experience authoring and reviewing technical documentation, including biological evaluation plans/reports (BEP/BER), test plans, validation protocols, validation documentation, and technical reports.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree or Ph.D. in Biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Engineering, Toxicology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
- Experience spanning all three key technical disciplines: reusable medical device processing validations, terminal sterilization technologies, and biological testing strategy development and biological safety evaluations.
- Experience working with external test laboratories, contract sterilizers, and suppliers supporting biological safety or sterilization activities.
- Experience supporting regulatory submissions for global markets.
Posted Date: 09/21/2026
This role will be posted for a minimum of 3 days.
United States of America Pay Ranges:
- Puerto Rico: $77,700 - $129,500 USD Annual
- USN: $83,300 - $138,800 USD Annual
- US5: $87,500 - $145,700 USD Annual
- US10: $91,600 - $152,700 USD Annual
- US15: $95,800 - $159,600 USD Annual
- US20: $100,000 - $166,600 USD Annual
- US30: $108,300 - $180,400 USD Annual
View the U.S. work location and transparency guide to find the pay range for your location.
Health benefits include: Medical and prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, personalized healthcare support, wellbeing program and tobacco cessation program. Financial benefits include: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), basic life and AD&D insurance, and short-term disability insurance. Stryker offers innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 150 million patients annually. Depending on customer requirements employees and new hires in sales and field roles that require access to customer accounts as a function of the job may be required to obtain various vaccinations as an essential function of their role.
Why join Stryker?
Looking for a place that values your unique talents? Discover Stryker's award-winning culture.
We are proud to offer you our total rewards package which includes bonuses, healthcare, insurance benefits, retirement programs, wellness programs, as well as service and performance awards – not to mention various social and recreational activities, all of which are location specific.
Job description
We are excited to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces by Fortune Magazine! We are proud to offer you 12 paid holidays annually. For an overview of our benefits and time off, please follow this link to learn more: US Stryker employee benefits.
Stryker is seeking a Staff Microbiologist for our Endoscopy business unit in San Jose, CA. We are seeking a talented and motivated Microbiologist to provide technical expertise supporting the development, validation, and lifecycle management of medical devices. In this role, you will partner with cross-functional teams to support microbiology, sterilization, reprocessing, and biocompatibility activities for both new product development and sustaining engineering efforts. You will independently lead assigned projects, develop technical strategies, and ensure products meet applicable biological safety, sterilization, and regulatory requirements. This position plays a key role in supporting product quality, regulatory compliance, and patient safety through the application of scientific principles, industry standards, and risk-based decision making throughout the product lifecycle.
What you will do
- Apply ISO, FDA, AAMI, EU MDR, and other applicable standards to develop microbiology, biocompatibility, sterilization, and reprocessing test strategies for medical devices.
- Lead microbiology and biocompatibility activities for product development projects, including defining testing requirements, acceptance criteria, and validation strategies.
- Partner with R&D teams to provide technical guidance on materials, product design, sterilization methods, and reprocessing considerations throughout development.
- Develop, review, and approve protocols, reports, risk assessments, and technical documentation supporting biological safety, sterilization, processing, and regulatory compliance.
- Support design reviews, development milestones, engineering changes, supplier changes, nonconformance investigations, CAPAs, and regulatory submissions.
- Execute and support sterilization process validations, equipment qualifications (IQ/OQ/PQ), requalification activities, and microbiological monitoring programs.
- Assess technical risks and recommend solutions to ensure product safety, performance, compliance, and successful project execution.
- Participate in regulatory and supplier audits as a subject matter expert for microbiology, sterilization, biocompatibility, and reprocessing activities.
- Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of procedures, work instructions, and processes to align with evolving regulations and industry standards.
- Support knowledge sharing and onboarding activities by providing technical guidance and training to team members and cross-functional partners.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, and external testing laboratories.
What you need
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Engineering, Toxicology, or a related scientific discipline.
- Minimum 4 years of experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or regulated healthcare environments supporting microbiology, biocompatibility, sterilization, processing, or sterility assurance activities for sterile and/or reusable products.
- Working knowledge of medical device regulations such as ISO 10993, ISO 11135, ISO 11137, ISO 17665, AAMI, FDA, EU MDR, and other applicable regulatory standards.
- Experience authoring and reviewing technical documentation, including biological evaluation plans/reports (BEP/BER), test plans, validation protocols, validation documentation, and technical reports.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree or Ph.D. in Biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Engineering, Toxicology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
- Experience spanning all three key technical disciplines: reusable medical device processing validations, terminal sterilization technologies, and biological testing strategy development and biological safety evaluations.
- Experience working with external test laboratories, contract sterilizers, and suppliers supporting biological safety or sterilization activities.
- Experience supporting regulatory submissions for global markets.
Posted Date: 09/21/2026
This role will be posted for a minimum of 3 days.
United States of America Pay Ranges:
- Puerto Rico: $77,700 - $129,500 USD Annual
- USN: $83,300 - $138,800 USD Annual
- US5: $87,500 - $145,700 USD Annual
- US10: $91,600 - $152,700 USD Annual
- US15: $95,800 - $159,600 USD Annual
- US20: $100,000 - $166,600 USD Annual
- US30: $108,300 - $180,400 USD Annual
View the U.S. work location and transparency guide to find the pay range for your location.
Health benefits include: Medical and prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, personalized healthcare support, wellbeing program and tobacco cessation program. Financial benefits include: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), basic life and AD&D insurance, and short-term disability insurance. Stryker offers innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 150 million patients annually. Depending on customer requirements employees and new hires in sales and field roles that require access to customer accounts as a function of the job may be required to obtain various vaccinations as an essential function of their role.
See all 30+ OPT Clinical Microbiologist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Clinical Microbiologist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Clinical Microbiologist
Target STEM OPT-friendly employers early
Hospital networks, public health labs, and biotech companies are the most active sponsors for Clinical Microbiologist roles. Focus your search on employers with established STEM OPT reporting processes, since they understand the 24-month extension and E-Verify requirements already.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Clinical Microbiology roles are typically sponsored under Microbiology, Biomedical Science, or Medical Laboratory Science CIP codes. Verify with your DSO that your program's CIP code appears on the STEM OPT designated degree program list before applying.
Apply at least 90 days before OPT expiry
STEM OPT extension applications must be filed before your current OPT expires. Submit your I-765 extension at least 90 days out, since processing can run four to five months without premium processing available for this category.
Address ASCP or AMT certification proactively
Many clinical microbiology positions require ASCP Board of Certification or AMT credentials. Completing certification during OPT strengthens your H-1B visa sponsorship case later, since certified specialists are more straightforwardly classified as specialty occupation workers.
Understand the E-Verify reporting obligation
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to hire you on STEM OPT extension. Confirm this before accepting an offer. If they aren't enrolled, sponsorship falls through at a critical moment, and switching employers resets your reporting timeline.
Frame visa sponsorship around specialty occupation early
Clinical Microbiologist roles requiring a degree in microbiology, clinical laboratory science, or a related field fit cleanly within H-1B specialty occupation criteria. Communicate this to hiring managers upfront so the sponsorship conversation doesn't stall due to unfamiliarity with the pathway.
Clinical Microbiologist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Clinical Microbiologist on OPT?
Yes. Clinical Microbiology falls under STEM-designated degree programs, so you qualify for both the standard 12-month OPT authorization and a 24-month STEM extension if your degree's CIP code appears on the official STEM list. Your job must be directly related to your major field of study, which is straightforward for most microbiology or biomedical science graduates entering this role.
Do Clinical Microbiologist employers commonly sponsor OPT workers?
Hospital systems, public health laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies regularly hire STEM OPT workers for clinical microbiology roles and sponsor H-1B petitions afterward. Employers in regulated clinical settings tend to have HR infrastructure already familiar with E-Verify enrollment and OPT reporting requirements. You can browse employers actively hiring on Migrate Mate to identify which organizations have consistent sponsorship track records.
Does ASCP certification affect my OPT or visa sponsorship eligibility?
ASCP certification doesn't affect your OPT authorization directly, but it significantly strengthens your H-1B case when your employer files after OPT. Board certification demonstrates that the role requires specialized knowledge tied to a specific field of study, which supports the specialty occupation classification USCIS requires. Many hospital employers also require ASCP certification before making a full-time offer, so pursuing it during OPT removes a barrier to sponsorship.
What happens to my OPT if I switch employers in a clinical microbiology role?
You can change employers on OPT, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days and update your SEVIS record. On STEM OPT extension, your new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and you must submit a new Form I-983 training plan. There's no waiting period, but working for a non-E-Verify employer on STEM OPT extension would violate your authorization.
Is a Clinical Microbiologist role considered a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Clinical Microbiologist positions that require a bachelor's degree or higher in microbiology, clinical laboratory science, or a directly related field generally satisfy H-1B specialty occupation criteria. Roles requiring ASCP board certification reinforce this classification. Job descriptions specifying generic degree requirements regardless of field create more scrutiny, so targeting employers whose postings require a specific scientific discipline strengthens the petition.