STEM OPT Chemist Jobs
Chemist roles in pharmaceutical development, materials science, and environmental testing qualify for STEM OPT because chemistry is a designated STEM field. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months of work authorization, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and you complete a formal I-983 training plan.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
SGS is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With over 97,000 employees in 130 countries and operating a network of more than 2,400 offices and laboratories, we provide services to almost every industry by assuring quality and safety of products and services.
Trusted all over the world, SGS is a market leader because we put 100% passion, pride and innovation into everything we do. We encourage new ideas. We welcome people who challenge the way we do things. And we will be 100% committed to helping you reach your full potential.
Job Description
Summary
Responsible for analysis and reporting of various products such as crude oil, fuel oils, middle distillates, petroleum and petrochemicals, LPG & LNG gases, etc.
Job Functions
- Responsible for all Laboratory analysis (hands-on working on the Bench).
- Understand and keep current with all Laboratory safety and reporting techniques.
- Provide guidance to Laboratory Technicians to maintain proper level of training among Laboratory personnel, which can include supervisory duties.
- Understand and keep current with all Laboratory analysis methods.
- Responsible for the operation of Gas Chromatograph and other Laboratory equipment.
- Position requires a dependable and reliable individual; whose daily presence adds to the success of the Department.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or a related science preferred, or equivalent work experience, coupled with a minimum of one (1) year of direct transferable experience working in a laboratory.
- TWIC
Licenses and Certifications
- N/A
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledgeable in ASTM standards.
- Must be able to work with all chemical, petrochemical and petroleum products.
- Must be able to differentiate between colors accurately by sight.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from individuals and/or groups both within the organization.
- Ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources into solutions and work effectively under pressure while acting accordingly to the SGS standards of ethics and integrity.
- High level of accuracy is required, with special attention to details.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure, while balancing numerous projects concurrently with different deadlines.
Physical Demands of the Job
- Stand: Constantly
- Move or traverse: Constantly
- Sit: Occasionally
- Use hands: Constantly
- Reach with hands and arms: Frequently
- Climb or balance: None
- Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl: Occasionally
- Talk/hear: Frequently
- Taste/Smell: Occasionally
- Lift/carry/push or pull: Occasionally
Additional Information
SGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts the company’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
If you are applying for a position within the United States and you have difficulty completing the online employment application because of a disability, please call 201-508-3149 for assistance and leave a message. You will receive a call back. Please note, this phone number is not for general employment information, but is only for individuals who are experiencing difficulty applying for a position due to a disability.
Company Description
SGS is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With over 97,000 employees in 130 countries and operating a network of more than 2,400 offices and laboratories, we provide services to almost every industry by assuring quality and safety of products and services.
Trusted all over the world, SGS is a market leader because we put 100% passion, pride and innovation into everything we do. We encourage new ideas. We welcome people who challenge the way we do things. And we will be 100% committed to helping you reach your full potential.
Job Description
Summary
Responsible for analysis and reporting of various products such as crude oil, fuel oils, middle distillates, petroleum and petrochemicals, LPG & LNG gases, etc.
Job Functions
- Responsible for all Laboratory analysis (hands-on working on the Bench).
- Understand and keep current with all Laboratory safety and reporting techniques.
- Provide guidance to Laboratory Technicians to maintain proper level of training among Laboratory personnel, which can include supervisory duties.
- Understand and keep current with all Laboratory analysis methods.
- Responsible for the operation of Gas Chromatograph and other Laboratory equipment.
- Position requires a dependable and reliable individual; whose daily presence adds to the success of the Department.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or a related science preferred, or equivalent work experience, coupled with a minimum of one (1) year of direct transferable experience working in a laboratory.
- TWIC
Licenses and Certifications
- N/A
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledgeable in ASTM standards.
- Must be able to work with all chemical, petrochemical and petroleum products.
- Must be able to differentiate between colors accurately by sight.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from individuals and/or groups both within the organization.
- Ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources into solutions and work effectively under pressure while acting accordingly to the SGS standards of ethics and integrity.
- High level of accuracy is required, with special attention to details.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure, while balancing numerous projects concurrently with different deadlines.
Physical Demands of the Job
- Stand: Constantly
- Move or traverse: Constantly
- Sit: Occasionally
- Use hands: Constantly
- Reach with hands and arms: Frequently
- Climb or balance: None
- Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl: Occasionally
- Talk/hear: Frequently
- Taste/Smell: Occasionally
- Lift/carry/push or pull: Occasionally
Additional Information
SGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts the company’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
If you are applying for a position within the United States and you have difficulty completing the online employment application because of a disability, please call 201-508-3149 for assistance and leave a message. You will receive a call back. Please note, this phone number is not for general employment information, but is only for individuals who are experiencing difficulty applying for a position due to a disability.
See all 183+ STEM OPT Chemist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Chemist
Verify your CIP code matches chemistry
STEM OPT eligibility depends on your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code. Confirm with your DSO that your chemistry degree carries a qualifying CIP code, such as 40.0501 for Chemistry, General, before applying to roles.
Target E-Verify enrolled labs and manufacturers
Your STEM OPT employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you start work. Check a prospective employer's enrollment status directly through the E-Verify website before accepting any offer to avoid a compliance gap.
Build a research-focused I-983 training plan
Chemist roles require an I-983 that maps your lab techniques, analytical instrumentation, or synthesis skills to concrete learning goals. Generic training plans get rejected; tie each objective to a specific method you'll use on the job.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark your offer
STEM OPT doesn't require prevailing wage compliance, but knowing the DOL wage level for your SOC code 19-2031 strengthens your negotiating position and prepares you for the LCA step if your employer later files an H-1B visa petition.
Find E-Verify employers on Migrate Mate
Filter Migrate Mate's job board by chemistry roles to surface employers who already hire STEM OPT students. Each listing shows E-Verify enrollment status, so you can focus your applications on compliant employers without separate manual checks.
Submit your STEM OPT application 90 days early
USCIS recommends filing the I-765 extension at least 90 days before your initial OPT end date. A late filing leaves a gap in your work authorization, which can disrupt active chemistry projects or lab contracts mid-assignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a chemistry degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree program carries a designated STEM CIP code. Most chemistry degrees, including biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical engineering, appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Confirm the specific CIP code on your transcript with your DSO before filing, because the degree title alone doesn't guarantee eligibility.
What does an I-983 training plan look like for a chemist?
Your I-983 must describe the specific skills and knowledge you'll develop, connected to your chemistry background. For a bench chemist, that means naming analytical methods such as HPLC or mass spectrometry, the instruments you'll operate, safety protocols, and measurable learning outcomes. Both you and your supervisor sign it, and your DSO approves it before USCIS processes your extension.
Does my employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify to hire me on STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT employers, not a recommendation. If your employer is not enrolled before your start date, your STEM OPT authorization is invalid even if USCIS has already approved your I-765. Verify enrollment status through E-Verify before signing an offer letter.
What happens to my work authorization if my H-1B is selected in the lottery before my STEM OPT ends?
Cap-gap protection extends your F-1 status and work authorization automatically if your H-1B petition is timely filed and your OPT or STEM OPT is still valid on April 1. You can continue working in your chemist role through September 30, the H-1B start date, without any interruption or separate filing.
How do I find chemist jobs where the employer already hires STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters chemistry job listings by employers enrolled in E-Verify and with a history of hiring STEM OPT candidates. Searching by role and degree field on Migrate Mate lets you avoid spending time on employers who don't sponsor or aren't E-Verify compliant, which is a common point of failure for STEM OPT job seekers in chemistry.