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.
See All Chemical Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 327+ Chemical Engineer jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 327+ Chemical Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Chemical Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsShape Your World
At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper & world-shaper.
We are seeking a Jr. Chemical Engineer to join our breakthrough technologies team at Alcoa’s Technical Center, located in New Kensington, PA. This professional will provide foundational chemical engineering support to technology development, plant support, and process improvement activities under close technical supervision. This role is intended to build strong technical fundamentals, safe work practices, and business understanding through hands-on execution, analysis, and learning. The Entry Engineer applies established engineering principles to well-scoped or moderately complex problems while developing judgment, independence, and technical depth.
About the Role:
- Apply core chemical engineering principles including mass and energy balances, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and reaction fundamentals.
- Execute defined experiments, trials, test plans, or process changes following established procedures and review requirements.
- Analyze experimental, process, and operational data and document methods, results, and conclusions.
- Support troubleshooting of process deviations using standard analytical tools.
- Contribute to technical documentation, calculations, reports, and knowledge capture.
- Support laboratory, pilot, or plant activities in compliance with safety, quality, and environmental requirements.
- Collaborate with technicians, operators, engineers, and cross-functional partners including EHS and Operations.
- Demonstrate continuous learning and development of technical and business knowledge.
- Contributes as an individual technical team member.
- Works under close functional supervision with regular technical review.
- Build effective working relationships within assigned scope.
- May provide informal assistance to interns, co-ops, or technicians as directed.
Problem Complexity & Autonomy
- Solves well-scoped or moderately complex problems using established engineering methods.
- Follows standard procedures, specifications, and engineering practices.
- Escalates ambiguous, novel, or high-risk issues appropriately.
- Demonstrates increasing autonomy as experience and competence develop.
Process Lifecycle Involvement
- Supports defined portions of the process lifecycle including laboratory, pilot, plant support, optimization, or validation activities.
- Executes work within established scope and technical direction.
- Gains exposure to broader lifecycle phases through project participation.
What you can bring to this role:
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (required).
- 0–3 years of engineering experience, including internships or co-op experience.
- Exposure to laboratory, pilot-scale, or manufacturing environments preferred.
- Fundamental understanding of chemical engineering principles.
- Ability to analyze and interpret data using standard engineering tools.
- Familiarity with safe work practices and risk awareness.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to learn quickly, follow procedures, and incorporate feedback.
Physical & Work Environment
- Work may be performed in laboratory, pilot, or industrial plant environments.
- Ability to comply with site safety requirements including PPE usage.
- Occasional travel to plant or test facilities may be required.
What we offer:
- Competitive compensation packages, including pay-for performance variable pay, recognition and rewards programs, and stock-based compensation awards (3-year vesting schedule)
- Flexible spending accounts and generous employer contribution to the HSA
- 401(k), employer match up to 6%, additional employer retirement income contribution (no vesting period), and a non-qualified deferred compensation plan
- 12 paid holidays per year.
- 15 days of paid vacation (pro-rated from hire date).
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
#LI-TL2
About the Location
Every day is a new and exciting challenge at the Alcoa Technical Center in New Kensington, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. We develop new technologies with our Breakthrough Technologies team that has the potential to impact the life of millions of people and foster the sustainable footprint from Alcoa to the world. It was here where we developed the technology recently announced in partnership with Rio Tinto, called ELYSIS™, where we will produce aluminum with ZERO emission of greenhouse gases. In fact, we will actually be generating oxygen to our atmosphere during the aluminum production process– a revolution to the aluminum industry!
We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress. Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.
As a proud equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer, Alcoa is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of a person’s gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nation of origin, disability, veteran status, language spoken or any other characteristic or status protected by the laws or regulations in the places where we operate.
If you have visited our website in search of information on U.S. employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Alcoa Recruiting via email at gssrecruiting@alcoa.com.
This is a place where you are empowered to do your best work, be your authentic self, and feel a true sense of belonging. Come join us and shape your career!
Your work. Your world. Shape them for the better.
Shape Your World
At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper & world-shaper.
We are seeking a Jr. Chemical Engineer to join our breakthrough technologies team at Alcoa’s Technical Center, located in New Kensington, PA. This professional will provide foundational chemical engineering support to technology development, plant support, and process improvement activities under close technical supervision. This role is intended to build strong technical fundamentals, safe work practices, and business understanding through hands-on execution, analysis, and learning. The Entry Engineer applies established engineering principles to well-scoped or moderately complex problems while developing judgment, independence, and technical depth.
About the Role:
- Apply core chemical engineering principles including mass and energy balances, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and reaction fundamentals.
- Execute defined experiments, trials, test plans, or process changes following established procedures and review requirements.
- Analyze experimental, process, and operational data and document methods, results, and conclusions.
- Support troubleshooting of process deviations using standard analytical tools.
- Contribute to technical documentation, calculations, reports, and knowledge capture.
- Support laboratory, pilot, or plant activities in compliance with safety, quality, and environmental requirements.
- Collaborate with technicians, operators, engineers, and cross-functional partners including EHS and Operations.
- Demonstrate continuous learning and development of technical and business knowledge.
- Contributes as an individual technical team member.
- Works under close functional supervision with regular technical review.
- Build effective working relationships within assigned scope.
- May provide informal assistance to interns, co-ops, or technicians as directed.
Problem Complexity & Autonomy
- Solves well-scoped or moderately complex problems using established engineering methods.
- Follows standard procedures, specifications, and engineering practices.
- Escalates ambiguous, novel, or high-risk issues appropriately.
- Demonstrates increasing autonomy as experience and competence develop.
Process Lifecycle Involvement
- Supports defined portions of the process lifecycle including laboratory, pilot, plant support, optimization, or validation activities.
- Executes work within established scope and technical direction.
- Gains exposure to broader lifecycle phases through project participation.
What you can bring to this role:
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (required).
- 0–3 years of engineering experience, including internships or co-op experience.
- Exposure to laboratory, pilot-scale, or manufacturing environments preferred.
- Fundamental understanding of chemical engineering principles.
- Ability to analyze and interpret data using standard engineering tools.
- Familiarity with safe work practices and risk awareness.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to learn quickly, follow procedures, and incorporate feedback.
Physical & Work Environment
- Work may be performed in laboratory, pilot, or industrial plant environments.
- Ability to comply with site safety requirements including PPE usage.
- Occasional travel to plant or test facilities may be required.
What we offer:
- Competitive compensation packages, including pay-for performance variable pay, recognition and rewards programs, and stock-based compensation awards (3-year vesting schedule)
- Flexible spending accounts and generous employer contribution to the HSA
- 401(k), employer match up to 6%, additional employer retirement income contribution (no vesting period), and a non-qualified deferred compensation plan
- 12 paid holidays per year.
- 15 days of paid vacation (pro-rated from hire date).
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
#LI-TL2
About the Location
Every day is a new and exciting challenge at the Alcoa Technical Center in New Kensington, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. We develop new technologies with our Breakthrough Technologies team that has the potential to impact the life of millions of people and foster the sustainable footprint from Alcoa to the world. It was here where we developed the technology recently announced in partnership with Rio Tinto, called ELYSIS™, where we will produce aluminum with ZERO emission of greenhouse gases. In fact, we will actually be generating oxygen to our atmosphere during the aluminum production process– a revolution to the aluminum industry!
We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress. Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.
As a proud equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer, Alcoa is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of a person’s gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nation of origin, disability, veteran status, language spoken or any other characteristic or status protected by the laws or regulations in the places where we operate.
If you have visited our website in search of information on U.S. employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Alcoa Recruiting via email at gssrecruiting@alcoa.com.
This is a place where you are empowered to do your best work, be your authentic self, and feel a true sense of belonging. Come join us and shape your career!
Your work. Your world. Shape them for the better.
See all 327+ Chemical Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Chemical Engineer roles.
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 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.
Chemical Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Chemical Engineer JobsFrequently 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.
See which Chemical Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Chemical Engineer Jobs