STEM OPT QA Specialist Jobs
QA Specialist roles in software testing, manufacturing quality control, and process validation directly align with STEM degrees in computer science, engineering, and applied sciences. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, giving you up to 36 months total, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your training plan ties quality assurance duties to your degree field.
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Get Access To All JobsWhat we offer
Explore a world of opportunities with us. Look ahead with us and help shape innovative solutions to make our world more sustainable and life healthier, more vibrant and more comfortable. At Evonik, you have the chance to explore, thrive, and grow alongside 33,000 colleagues. Among attractive career paths and high-quality development programs, we not only offer performance-based remuneration and occupational health benefits but also hybrid and flexible working environments with #SmartWork. Bring your fresh perspective, develop your strengths, break out your mold, and find a career that fits your dreams with us.
Click on the link below to learn what our employees have to say about Evonik:
https: //careers.evonik.com/en/about/meet-the-team/
Meet the Team - Evonik Industries
Want to know what it’s like to work at Evonik?
This position is responsible for providing quality and technical support to the production team providing oversight to manufacturing rooms and laboratories by reviewing and approving data and all other Quality management System documentation. This position will be required to review manufacturing batch production records and supporting QC data. This position may be required to review and approve validation documentation, prior to and after execution.
Responsibilities
- Perform room clearance activities before and during manufacturing campaigns to ensure cGMP compliance.
- Review manufacturing documentation and perform final disposition of raw materials, fill/finish components, and batch records.
- Review room cleaning logs and supporting documentation for GMP compliance.
- Review analytical data supporting site utilities, including WFI, clean steam, nitrogen, and other critical systems.
- Review environmental monitoring data to ensure cleanroom compliance and product quality.
- Review and approve change control documentation in accordance with quality system requirements.
- Provide on-the-floor QA support during manufacturing campaigns for PDS Products, PDS Services, and MDS operations.
- Provide on-call quality support to address manufacturing issues and maintain production continuity.
- Lead product quality and quality system improvement initiatives using data-driven analysis.
- Analyze quality metrics, identify improvement opportunities, and support continuous improvement projects while assisting with additional business-critical activities as needed.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or another STEM field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be substituted.
- 2–5 years of experience in pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing, including at least 1 year in a Quality Assurance role.
- Working knowledge of FDA cGMP and/or Quality System Regulations (QSR), with experience supporting validation activities, including process validation.
- Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including experience with applied statistics and quality investigations.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access) with excellent attention to detail, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.
Your Application
To ensure that your application is proceeded as quickly as possible and to protect the environment, please apply online via our careers portal. Further information about Evonik as Employer can be found at www.evonik.com/en/careers.html.
Please address your application to the Talent Acquisition Manager, stating your earliest possible starting date and your salary expectations.
Your Talent Acquisition Manager:
Kelvin Seals
Company is
Evonik Corporation
What we offer
Explore a world of opportunities with us. Look ahead with us and help shape innovative solutions to make our world more sustainable and life healthier, more vibrant and more comfortable. At Evonik, you have the chance to explore, thrive, and grow alongside 33,000 colleagues. Among attractive career paths and high-quality development programs, we not only offer performance-based remuneration and occupational health benefits but also hybrid and flexible working environments with #SmartWork. Bring your fresh perspective, develop your strengths, break out your mold, and find a career that fits your dreams with us.
Click on the link below to learn what our employees have to say about Evonik:
https: //careers.evonik.com/en/about/meet-the-team/
Meet the Team - Evonik Industries
Want to know what it’s like to work at Evonik?
This position is responsible for providing quality and technical support to the production team providing oversight to manufacturing rooms and laboratories by reviewing and approving data and all other Quality management System documentation. This position will be required to review manufacturing batch production records and supporting QC data. This position may be required to review and approve validation documentation, prior to and after execution.
Responsibilities
- Perform room clearance activities before and during manufacturing campaigns to ensure cGMP compliance.
- Review manufacturing documentation and perform final disposition of raw materials, fill/finish components, and batch records.
- Review room cleaning logs and supporting documentation for GMP compliance.
- Review analytical data supporting site utilities, including WFI, clean steam, nitrogen, and other critical systems.
- Review environmental monitoring data to ensure cleanroom compliance and product quality.
- Review and approve change control documentation in accordance with quality system requirements.
- Provide on-the-floor QA support during manufacturing campaigns for PDS Products, PDS Services, and MDS operations.
- Provide on-call quality support to address manufacturing issues and maintain production continuity.
- Lead product quality and quality system improvement initiatives using data-driven analysis.
- Analyze quality metrics, identify improvement opportunities, and support continuous improvement projects while assisting with additional business-critical activities as needed.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or another STEM field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be substituted.
- 2–5 years of experience in pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing, including at least 1 year in a Quality Assurance role.
- Working knowledge of FDA cGMP and/or Quality System Regulations (QSR), with experience supporting validation activities, including process validation.
- Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including experience with applied statistics and quality investigations.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access) with excellent attention to detail, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.
Your Application
To ensure that your application is proceeded as quickly as possible and to protect the environment, please apply online via our careers portal. Further information about Evonik as Employer can be found at www.evonik.com/en/careers.html.
Please address your application to the Talent Acquisition Manager, stating your earliest possible starting date and your salary expectations.
Your Talent Acquisition Manager:
Kelvin Seals
Company is
Evonik Corporation
See all 237+ STEM OPT QA Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a QA Specialist
Verify your CIP code covers QA
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code maps to a STEM-designated field before applying. Computer science, industrial engineering, and systems engineering CIP codes all support QA Specialist roles, but general business degrees typically don't qualify.
Confirm E-Verify status before applying
Ask every recruiter whether the company is enrolled in E-Verify before your first interview. A QA role at a company that isn't enrolled cannot support your STEM OPT extension, no matter how well the job matches your degree.
Tie your I-983 duties to your STEM field
Your training plan must connect specific QA tasks, such as defect analysis, test automation, or statistical process control, to concepts from your STEM degree. Vague descriptions like 'quality assurance support' are the leading reason DSOs flag I-983 plans for revision.
Target employers with active DOL LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter QA Specialist roles by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications, which signals active experience hiring workers on visa-based authorization and familiarity with the E-Verify enrollment requirement.
Address cap-gap timing in your offer negotiation
If your OPT expires before October 1 and your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf, cap-gap protection extends your work authorization automatically. Confirm your start date and petition timeline with your employer's HR team before signing.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark your offer
Look up the prevailing wage for QA Specialist roles in your target metro area using OFLC Wage Search before evaluating any offer. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the prevailing wage, so knowing the Level I and Level II figures tells you whether an offer is compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my STEM degree qualify me for the 24-month STEM OPT extension as a QA Specialist?
It depends on your specific degree, not the job title. Your degree must appear on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List and carry a qualifying CIP code. Degrees in computer science, industrial engineering, electrical engineering, and statistics commonly support QA Specialist roles. A general management or communications degree won't qualify even if your job involves quality systems work. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying for the extension.
Is E-Verify enrollment required for my QA Specialist employer to support my STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for any employer sponsoring a STEM OPT extension, regardless of company size or industry. Before accepting a QA Specialist offer, ask HR to confirm the company's E-Verify Company ID. If the employer isn't enrolled, they must complete enrollment before you can file the extension. You can search for roles at verified employers on Migrate Mate, which filters listings by employers with relevant filing history.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a QA Specialist role?
Your I-983 must describe how the specific QA duties in your role apply knowledge from your STEM degree. Generic job descriptions aren't enough. Include concrete learning objectives tied to your major, such as applying statistical methods to defect rate analysis, using software testing frameworks tied to your computer science coursework, or implementing process controls grounded in industrial engineering principles. Your DSO and employer both sign the plan, and USCIS can audit it, so specificity matters.
Can I switch QA Specialist employers while on STEM OPT?
Yes, but you must follow the correct process. Your new employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify, the role must still relate to your STEM degree, and you must file an updated I-983 training plan with your DSO before your start date. Your DSO will issue a new I-20 reflecting the change. Working for a non-E-Verify employer, even briefly, is a violation that can affect your status and future visa eligibility.
How does cap-gap work if my employer sponsors my H-1B during my QA Specialist STEM OPT?
If your STEM OPT is still valid on April 1 and your employer files a timely H-1B petition on your behalf, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. If your petition is selected in the lottery and approved, your H-1B status begins October 1. If it isn't selected, your authorization ends September 30. You can continue working as a QA Specialist throughout the cap-gap period as long as your employer filed before your EAD expired.