STEM OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs
Chemical Engineer roles in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, process design, and materials science qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension if your degree carries an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign your I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Ecolab is committed to helping our customers overcome real-world problems by delivering comprehensive solutions to promote food safety, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability.
As a member of the Food & Beverage Research & Development team, this individual will work collaboratively with Marketing and Sales teams to deliver innovative new solutions. Responsibilities will be focused on project leadership and new product development, which includes identifying customer needs, capturing and clarifying requirements, assessing technical feasibility, designing and executing laboratory experiments, planning and executing field tests and performing design transfer to manufacturing, technical support and commercial teams.
What’s in it for you:
- Ability to take on some of the world’s most meaningful challenges and quickly see the importance of your work.
- An opportunity to learn, grow, and shape your career with a team that focuses on making a cleaner and safer world.
- Work in a collaborative, customer-focused environment where your voice matters, your contributions are rewarded, and you can make an impact.
What you will do:
- Collaborate with marketing, sales, and application experts to identify opportunities to solve customer problems with innovation.
- Investigate and identify customer needs and translate needs into technical design requirements for new solutions and product enhancements.
- Develop technical solutions to solve problems where precedents do not exist.
- Lead innovation projects according to solid project management principles.
- Execute routine and experimental laboratory activities supporting research projects.
- Conduct field evaluations of newly developed chemistries and technologies (set up tests, perform analysis, collect samples/data, record observations, summarize data).
- Apply statistical analysis and principles of experimental design to make data-driven decisions.
- Interpret experimental data and communicate results clearly to peers and customers in written reports and presentations.
- Maintain accurate lab notebook records and file reports to document key findings.
- Manage and transfer knowledge to business and technical support teams.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- B.S. degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related discipline
- 2+ years of lab experience
- Experience with Design of Experiments
- Experience in formulation or new product development
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Problem solving and critical thinking skills are essential
- Effective organization and time management skills required
- Good communication and interpersonal skills required
- Naturally curious and willing to learn
- Demonstrates situational awareness and willing to adapt
ANNUAL OR HOURLY COMPENSATION RANGE
The pay range for this position is $85,900.00 - $128,900.00. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.
BENEFITS
Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families.
If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.
POTENTIAL CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS NOTICE
To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:
- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.
- Be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster if eligible, unless a religious or medical accommodation is requested by the applicant and approved by Ecolab.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.
NUESTRO COMPROMISO CON UNA CULTURA DE INCLUSIÓN Y PERTENENCIA
Ecolab está comprometido con el trato justo e igualitario de todas las personas colaboradoras y postulantes, y con la promoción de los principios de igualdad de oportunidades en el empleo. Reclutaremos, contrataremos, promoveremos, transferiremos y brindaremos oportunidades de desarrollo con base en las calificaciones individuales y el desempeño laboral, en todos los aspectos relacionados con el empleo, la compensación, los beneficios, las condiciones laborales y las oportunidades de crecimiento. Ecolab no discriminará a ninguna persona colaboradora ni postulante por motivos de raza, religión, color, credo, nacionalidad, estado de ciudadanía, sexo, orientación sexual, identidad y expresión de género, información genética, estado civil, edad o discapacidad.
INTRODUCTION
Ecolab is committed to helping our customers overcome real-world problems by delivering comprehensive solutions to promote food safety, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability.
As a member of the Food & Beverage Research & Development team, this individual will work collaboratively with Marketing and Sales teams to deliver innovative new solutions. Responsibilities will be focused on project leadership and new product development, which includes identifying customer needs, capturing and clarifying requirements, assessing technical feasibility, designing and executing laboratory experiments, planning and executing field tests and performing design transfer to manufacturing, technical support and commercial teams.
What’s in it for you:
- Ability to take on some of the world’s most meaningful challenges and quickly see the importance of your work.
- An opportunity to learn, grow, and shape your career with a team that focuses on making a cleaner and safer world.
- Work in a collaborative, customer-focused environment where your voice matters, your contributions are rewarded, and you can make an impact.
What you will do:
- Collaborate with marketing, sales, and application experts to identify opportunities to solve customer problems with innovation.
- Investigate and identify customer needs and translate needs into technical design requirements for new solutions and product enhancements.
- Develop technical solutions to solve problems where precedents do not exist.
- Lead innovation projects according to solid project management principles.
- Execute routine and experimental laboratory activities supporting research projects.
- Conduct field evaluations of newly developed chemistries and technologies (set up tests, perform analysis, collect samples/data, record observations, summarize data).
- Apply statistical analysis and principles of experimental design to make data-driven decisions.
- Interpret experimental data and communicate results clearly to peers and customers in written reports and presentations.
- Maintain accurate lab notebook records and file reports to document key findings.
- Manage and transfer knowledge to business and technical support teams.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- B.S. degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related discipline
- 2+ years of lab experience
- Experience with Design of Experiments
- Experience in formulation or new product development
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Problem solving and critical thinking skills are essential
- Effective organization and time management skills required
- Good communication and interpersonal skills required
- Naturally curious and willing to learn
- Demonstrates situational awareness and willing to adapt
ANNUAL OR HOURLY COMPENSATION RANGE
The pay range for this position is $85,900.00 - $128,900.00. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.
BENEFITS
Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families.
If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.
POTENTIAL CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS NOTICE
To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:
- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.
- Be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster if eligible, unless a religious or medical accommodation is requested by the applicant and approved by Ecolab.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.
NUESTRO COMPROMISO CON UNA CULTURA DE INCLUSIÓN Y PERTENENCIA
Ecolab está comprometido con el trato justo e igualitario de todas las personas colaboradoras y postulantes, y con la promoción de los principios de igualdad de oportunidades en el empleo. Reclutaremos, contrataremos, promoveremos, transferiremos y brindaremos oportunidades de desarrollo con base en las calificaciones individuales y el desempeño laboral, en todos los aspectos relacionados con el empleo, la compensación, los beneficios, las condiciones laborales y las oportunidades de crecimiento. Ecolab no discriminará a ninguna persona colaboradora ni postulante por motivos de raza, religión, color, credo, nacionalidad, estado de ciudadanía, sexo, orientación sexual, identidad y expresión de género, información genética, estado civil, edad o discapacidad.
See all 304+ STEM OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Chemical Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Chemical Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your official transcript and confirm your degree's CIP code maps to an eligible STEM field. Chemical Engineering (CIP 14.0701) qualifies, but related degrees like Materials Science or Environmental Engineering have separate codes that each require individual verification through USCIS.
Check E-Verify status before accepting offers
Before signing any offer, search the E-Verify employer search tool to confirm the company is actively enrolled. Petrochemical plants and contract engineering firms sometimes use staffing intermediaries whose enrollment status differs from the end client's.
Target employers with active LCA filings in your discipline
Use Migrate Mate to filter Chemical Engineer roles by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications, giving you a verifiable record of sponsorship activity rather than relying on unconfirmed recruiter claims about a company's immigration history.
Frame your training plan around process engineering deliverables
Your I-983 must tie supervised work to your STEM degree's learning objectives. For Chemical Engineers, map your training goals to specific process simulations, reaction engineering projects, or scale-up studies your employer can directly supervise and evaluate.
File your STEM OPT extension request 90 days early
Submit your extension application to USCIS at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. If your application is pending at expiration and you have an H-1B visa petition filed for the next fiscal year, cap-gap protection may extend your authorization through September 30.
Use O*NET to build a degree-to-role match argument
Hiring managers in chemical manufacturing sometimes question whether a process chemistry degree directly supports a polymer engineering role. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for Chemical Engineers to document the knowledge and skills overlap and share it with your DSO when completing your I-983.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Chemical Engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Chemical Engineering degrees coded under CIP 14.0701 are on the STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, making graduates eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Related degrees like Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering may carry different CIP codes, so confirm your specific code with your DSO before filing.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Chemical Engineer employer?
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify to hire you on STEM OPT. Enrollment must be in place before your extension begins, not just at the time of your offer. If the company operates across multiple sites, the specific location where you work must be covered. Verify enrollment status directly through the E-Verify employer search before committing to any position.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Chemical Engineer role?
Your I-983 must describe how your day-to-day work relates to your STEM degree. For Chemical Engineers, this means documenting projects involving process design, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, or materials characterization, along with your supervisor's qualifications and how they'll evaluate your progress. Both you and your employer sign the plan, and your DSO must approve it before USCIS processes your extension.
How does cap-gap protection work if my H-1B is filed while I'm on STEM OPT?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. Your EAD card may expire before then, but your authorization continues by operation of law. Carry your expired EAD and your employer's I-797 receipt notice together as proof.
Where can I find Chemical Engineer jobs where the employer already sponsors STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Chemical Engineer roles filtered for employers with active E-Verify enrollment and a documented history of immigration filings, so you're not guessing about sponsorship willingness. Search by industry sector on Migrate Mate to narrow results to petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, or specialty materials depending on where your degree focus applies strongest.