STEM OPT Pharmaceutical Jobs
Pharmaceutical roles in drug development, clinical research, and regulatory affairs qualify for STEM OPT when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and the 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to build your career in pharma.
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INTRODUCTION
Hims & Hers is the leading health and wellness platform, on a mission to help the world feel great through the power of better health. We are redefining healthcare by putting the customer first and delivering access to care that is affordable, accessible, and personal, from diagnosis to treatment to delivery. No two people are the same, so we provide access to personalized care designed for results. By normalizing health & wellness challenges and innovating on their solutions, we’re making better health outcomes easier to achieve.
Hims & Hers is a public company, traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “HIMS.” To learn more about the brand and offerings, you can visit hims.com/about and hims.com/how-it-works. For information on the company’s outstanding benefits, culture, and its talent-first flexible/remote work approach, see below and visit www.hims.com/careers-professionals.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a skilled Automation Engineer to support the design, implementation, and maintenance of automation systems including Building Management Systems (BMS), Environmental Monitoring Systems (EMS), SCADA platforms, and HMI integration in pharmaceutical manufacturing and compounding environments. This role plays a critical part in ensuring system reliability, data integrity, and regulatory compliance across all facilities.
The ideal candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams including IT, engineering, validation, and facilities, and will support secure remote access, system networking, and low-voltage infrastructure planning in coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
YOU WILL:
System Design & Integration
- Design and implement automation control systems for BMS, EMS, and SCADA to monitor critical parameters such as temperature, humidity, differential pressure, HVAC performance, and cleanroom controls.
- Configure and integrate Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) for operator control and monitoring of pharmaceutical processes.
- Develop and maintain functional specifications, logic diagrams, wiring schematics, and network architecture for automation systems.
IT & Network Coordination
- Collaborate with IT teams to define requirements for low-voltage cabling, IP address allocation, network security, and VPN access to support remote login and system integration for facilities as well as cleanroom equipment.
- Coordinate with cybersecurity stakeholders and risk management to ensure compliance with data integrity and system access standards (e.g., 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5).
System Support & Troubleshooting
- Support installation, commissioning, and qualification of automation hardware and software systems.
- Troubleshoot hardware and communication issues between PLCs, HMIs, sensors, and enterprise systems.
- Maintain and update automation system backups, patch management logs, and system audit trails.
Compliance & Documentation
- Ensure automation systems meet GxP, FDA, cGMP, and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance standards.
- Prepare and maintain validation documentation (e.g., IQ/OQ protocols), URS, FRS, and SOPs related to automation systems.
- Support internal and regulatory audits by providing technical documentation and system access logs.
Cross-functional Support
- Interface with validation, QA, and facilities engineering teams to support ongoing system monitoring, alarms, alerts, and environmental excursion response.
- Work with vendors and contractors during new system implementation or upgrades.
YOU HAVE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 3–5+ years of experience working with automation systems in regulated environments (pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, or cleanroom facilities).
- Hands-on experience with BMS, EMS, SCADA platforms (like Ignition, Wonderware, Rockwell FactoryTalk but not limited to), and HMI development (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric).
- Working knowledge of low-voltage infrastructure, remote access setup (VPNs, firewalls), and industrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, OPC UA).
- Familiarity with PLC programming, alarm management, data historian integration, and audit trail review.
- Understanding of regulatory compliance requirements such as 21 CFR Part 11, cGMP, and GAMP 5.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to work independently and across cross-functional teams.
- Strong skills in process mapping, data analysis, root cause analysis, and the use of statistical tools for performance improvement. Experience with AutoCAD or other facility layout and engineering design tools.
- Excellent cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence operations, quality, and pharmacy teams.
- Willingness to travel as required for vendor FATs and document punch list items for correction.
- Hands-on experience supporting 503A and/or 503B compounding operations, with working knowledge of pharmacy regulatory standards.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
OUR BENEFITS (there are more but here are some highlights):
- Competitive salary & equity compensation for full-time roles
- Unlimited PTO, company holidays, and quarterly mental health days
- Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental & vision, and parental leave
- Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
- 401k benefits with employer matching contribution
- Offsite team retreats
We are committed to building a workforce that reflects diverse perspectives and prioritizes ethics, wellness, and a strong sense of belonging. If you're excited about this role, we encourage you to apply—even if you're not sure if your background or experience is a perfect match.
Hims considers all qualified applicants for employment, including applicants with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act, and any similar state or local fair chance laws.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Hims & Hers is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@forhims.com and describe the needed accommodation. Your privacy is important to us, and any information you share will only be used for the legitimate purpose of considering your request for accommodation. Hims & Hers gives consideration to all qualified applicants without regard to any protected status, including disability. Please do not send resumes to this email address.
To learn more about how we collect, use, retain, and disclose Personal Information, please visit our Global Candidate Privacy Statement.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Pharmaceutical
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the official STEM OPT designated degree program list. Biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and biomedical engineering typically qualify, but some interdisciplinary programs get miscoded at enrollment and need a DSO correction before you can file the extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your hiring contact or HR team to share the company's E-Verify employer ID before you sign anything. Pharma contractors and CROs frequently hire through staffing intermediaries, and the E-Verify enrollment must belong to your direct employer of record, not just the end client.
Target pharma employers with active LCA filing history
Use Migrate Mate to filter pharmaceutical employers by verified Labor Condition Application filings, so you're applying to companies that have already navigated STEM OPT and H-1B visa sponsorship, not ones learning the process on your timeline.
Structure your I-983 around FDA-regulated milestones
Your training plan must show a direct connection between your STEM degree and the role. For pharma positions, list specific learning objectives tied to GMP compliance, IND submissions, or clinical trial phases. Generic job descriptions get kicked back by DSOs and delay your extension approval.
Apply early at companies with H-1B cap-gap history
If your OPT expires before October 1 and your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf, cap-gap protection extends your work authorization automatically. Prioritize employers whose HR teams already understand this timeline so your project continuity isn't disrupted during the transition window.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark job offers
Look up the prevailing wage for your specific SOC code and metro area before evaluating pharma offers. Your employer must certify prevailing wage compliance on the LCA, so knowing the DOL's wage level for roles like pharmaceutical scientist or clinical research associate helps you spot underpaying offers early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which STEM degrees qualify for the STEM OPT extension in pharmaceutical roles?
Degrees in pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, chemistry, biomedical engineering, and biology typically carry eligible CIP codes for STEM OPT. Your DSO confirms eligibility based on the CIP code assigned to your specific program at enrollment, not the degree title alone. If your program was interdisciplinary or has an unusual classification, ask your DSO to verify the code against the official STEM designated degree program list maintained by DHS before you apply for the extension.
Does my pharma 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 with no exceptions. The company must be enrolled before your extension is approved, and your employer of record must hold the enrollment, not a parent company or staffing agency acting as an intermediary. If you're placed at a pharma client site through a contract research organization, confirm which entity is signing your I-983 and whether that entity specifically holds E-Verify enrollment.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a pharmaceutical job?
The I-983 requires a detailed explanation of how your daily work relates to your STEM degree, the specific skills and knowledge you'll develop, how your employer will supervise and evaluate your progress, and a reporting schedule. For pharmaceutical roles, learning objectives should reference degree-relevant tasks like analytical method development, regulatory submission drafting, or pharmacokinetic modeling. Vague descriptions linking a chemistry degree to 'general lab work' often result in DSO rejections and extension delays.
How does the cap-gap rule protect me if my OPT ends before my H-1B starts?
If you're working in a pharmaceutical role on STEM OPT and your employer files an H-1B petition before your OPT EAD expires, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of the fiscal year your H-1B was selected for. USCIS issues an updated I-20 reflecting the extension. You stay authorized to work without interruption as long as the petition was filed while your OPT was still valid and your employer maintains E-Verify enrollment throughout.
How do I find pharmaceutical employers who are already set up to sponsor STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters pharmaceutical employers by verified LCA filing history, which shows you which companies have already gone through the DOL certification process for STEM roles. This is more reliable than asking cold in interviews, since LCA filings are public record and reflect actual sponsorship activity rather than stated intentions. Pharmaceutical employers with a track record of LCA filings are also more likely to have HR processes in place for your I-983 reporting and eventual H-1B sponsorship.