STEM OPT Quality Control Chemist Jobs
Quality Control Chemist roles in pharmaceutical, food, and manufacturing industries align directly with STEM OPT eligibility. Your STEM degree qualifies you for the 24-month OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your role maps to an approved CIP code.
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Get Access To All JobsPRIMARY PURPOSE:
The Chemist II will ensure the timely and accurate testing of raw materials, in-process, and finished products by applying validated analytical methods and sound scientific principles, while maintaining compliance with regulatory and quality standards. Contribute to laboratory efficiency, data integrity, and continuous improvement initiatives, and support the development of team capabilities through training and technical guidance.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Testing of incoming materials, in process/bulk/intermediate, finished product, and stability samples using wet bench and physical techniques, plus instrumentation such as FTIR, UV-VIS, etc., and basic chromatography while growing and training in complex chromatographic analyses
- Accurately records raw data and analyzes, calculates, and interprets the results
- Enters results in appropriate lab systems, such as ERP and LIMS
- Performs daily verification activities, basic calibration and preventative maintenance tasks, and assists with calibration of HPLC, GC, AA, TOC as part of ongoing training
- Is qualified to review and disposition samples/lots in their respective area
- Ability to train and qualify junior co-workers
- Assists in out of specification (OOS) test results and investigation
- Ensure testing is performed accurately and in compliance with GLP, GMP, USP, SOP and other approved test methods
- Participates in method verification/validation/transfer tasks as directed by supervisor and may provide review of raw data and/or reports
- Maintain reagents in laboratory including but not limited to inventory, current MSDS, PPE required for handling, waste generation and disposal
- May flex to other Quality teams/departments to assist when needed
- Promote GMP and safety throughout the facility
- Promote continuous improvement and customer satisfaction
- Assists to follow-up on OOS’s and CAPAs to verify compliance
- Potential exists for exposure to potentially harmful chemicals
- Participate in other activities as assigned by the Quality Supervisor
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Ability to use a personal computer and peripheral equipment to accurately enter and analyze data and produce reports.
- Knowledge of chemical safety and protective equipment.
- Knowledge of various analytical equipment and techniques utilized in an analytical laboratory.
- Ability to follow established priorities, work independently and productively.
- Communicate with others clearly and concisely.
- Ability to work in a dynamic fast paced environment-sometimes rapidly shifting priorities. Ability to concentrate in such an environment and perform quality work.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or appropriate discipline.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- HPLC & GC: 3 years (Required)
- CDMO: 3 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
PRIMARY PURPOSE:
The Chemist II will ensure the timely and accurate testing of raw materials, in-process, and finished products by applying validated analytical methods and sound scientific principles, while maintaining compliance with regulatory and quality standards. Contribute to laboratory efficiency, data integrity, and continuous improvement initiatives, and support the development of team capabilities through training and technical guidance.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Testing of incoming materials, in process/bulk/intermediate, finished product, and stability samples using wet bench and physical techniques, plus instrumentation such as FTIR, UV-VIS, etc., and basic chromatography while growing and training in complex chromatographic analyses
- Accurately records raw data and analyzes, calculates, and interprets the results
- Enters results in appropriate lab systems, such as ERP and LIMS
- Performs daily verification activities, basic calibration and preventative maintenance tasks, and assists with calibration of HPLC, GC, AA, TOC as part of ongoing training
- Is qualified to review and disposition samples/lots in their respective area
- Ability to train and qualify junior co-workers
- Assists in out of specification (OOS) test results and investigation
- Ensure testing is performed accurately and in compliance with GLP, GMP, USP, SOP and other approved test methods
- Participates in method verification/validation/transfer tasks as directed by supervisor and may provide review of raw data and/or reports
- Maintain reagents in laboratory including but not limited to inventory, current MSDS, PPE required for handling, waste generation and disposal
- May flex to other Quality teams/departments to assist when needed
- Promote GMP and safety throughout the facility
- Promote continuous improvement and customer satisfaction
- Assists to follow-up on OOS’s and CAPAs to verify compliance
- Potential exists for exposure to potentially harmful chemicals
- Participate in other activities as assigned by the Quality Supervisor
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Ability to use a personal computer and peripheral equipment to accurately enter and analyze data and produce reports.
- Knowledge of chemical safety and protective equipment.
- Knowledge of various analytical equipment and techniques utilized in an analytical laboratory.
- Ability to follow established priorities, work independently and productively.
- Communicate with others clearly and concisely.
- Ability to work in a dynamic fast paced environment-sometimes rapidly shifting priorities. Ability to concentrate in such an environment and perform quality work.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or appropriate discipline.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- HPLC & GC: 3 years (Required)
- CDMO: 3 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
See all 46+ STEM OPT Quality Control Chemist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Quality Control Chemist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Chemistry and chemical engineering degrees fall under CIP codes 40.05 and 14.07, both STEM-designated. Confirm your specific degree maps to an approved CIP code through your DSO before targeting QC Chemist postings, since mismatches delay your I-983 approval.
Check E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
STEM OPT requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name before your offer stage, not after, to avoid accepting a role that disqualifies your extension.
Document your training plan around QC-specific tasks
Your I-983 training plan must tie your work activities to learning objectives from your STEM degree. For QC Chemist roles, map tasks like spectroscopic analysis, method validation, and SOP authorship directly to your coursework in analytical chemistry or biochemistry.
Target regulated industries with structured QC functions
Pharmaceutical, medical device, and food and beverage manufacturers operate under FDA or USDA oversight, which requires dedicated QC headcount. These employers run established compliance teams and are far more likely to have E-Verify enrollment and experience onboarding STEM OPT candidates than smaller contract labs.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for STEM OPT-eligible QC roles
Search Quality Control Chemist positions on Migrate Mate to find employers with verified E-Verify enrollment. Filtering by STEM OPT eligibility at the start saves you from advancing through interview rounds with companies that can't legally support your extension.
Time your application around your OPT expiration window
Your STEM OPT extension application must be filed before your initial 12-month OPT EAD expires. Submit your I-765 and I-983 at least 90 days before that date. If your employer later files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf, cap-gap rules protect your authorization through October 1 of that year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Quality Control Chemist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical engineering and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. The role itself must also relate directly to your degree, which you document through the I-983 training plan. Your DSO confirms degree eligibility based on your CIP code before approving the extension request.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a QC Chemist position?
Your I-983 must detail the specific skills you'll develop and how they connect to your STEM degree. For a QC Chemist, that means listing activities like HPLC method development, stability testing, out-of-specification investigations, and regulatory compliance documentation, then mapping each to coursework from your degree program. Both you and your employer supervisor sign the form, and your DSO reviews it.
Is my employer required to be enrolled in E-Verify for STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement under STEM OPT rules, not a preference. Your employer must be enrolled and in good standing with E-Verify before USCIS will approve your extension. You can verify enrollment status through the E-Verify employer search before accepting an offer. Working for a non-enrolled employer during your STEM OPT period puts your status at risk.
What happens to my work authorization if my employer files an H-1B petition?
If your employer files a timely H-1B cap-subject petition before your STEM OPT expires, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. If the petition is selected and approved, your status transitions to H-1B on October 1. You don't need to take separate action to trigger cap-gap, but confirm your I-20 reflects the extension.
Where can I find Quality Control Chemist jobs that support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists QC Chemist roles filtered for STEM OPT eligibility, showing employers with E-Verify enrollment so you're not spending time on companies that can't support your extension. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, contract research organizations, and food safety labs are the most active hiring sectors. The O*NET profile for Quality Control Chemists can also help you understand which industries post the most openings.