Science & Research CPT Jobs in California
California is one of the strongest states for science and research F-1 CPT roles, with major employers at biotech hubs in San Diego and San Francisco, national laboratories like Lawrence Berkeley and SLAC, and university-affiliated research centers throughout the state actively hiring students on curricular practical training for lab, computational, and field research positions.
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About Neuralink:
We are creating devices that enable a bi-directional interface with the brain. These devices allow us to restore movement to the paralyzed, restore sight to the blind, and revolutionize how humans interact with their digital world.
Team Description:
The Infrastructure Team builds the foundation that enables the company to operate safely, robustly, and move at light-speed. We run a mixture of cloud-based and on-prem systems and have a user base spanning from highly technically proficient engineers to non-technical scientists and doctors; but all of them need solid systems, rugged networking, and bullet-proof software to do their jobs. This role will integrate tightly with teams across the company, and span all layers of the work environment stack, from deployment of physical hardware on the manufacturing line to custom tooling built to facilitate neural recordings from implants.
Tech Stack:
- Rust, Python
- Terraform
- Bazel and Nix
- Kubernetes
- GitLab CI
- AWS
- Ubuntu, Fedora
Focus:
- Developing the foundations for teams to build the software and systems required for record-breaking BCI experiences.
- Enhancing developer experience with robust tooling and build-system infrastructure.
- Building foundational infrastructure for HITL (hardware in the loop) testing across firmware, BCI, and robot teams.
- Ground-up infrastructure of on-premise solutions as well as cloud architecture.
- Foundational software engineering with a focus on serving internal software teams.
Qualifications
- Experience using IAC tools such as Terraform, Docker, Packer, Ansible, Cloud-Init, Kickstart.
- Working knowledge of compiled languages, ideally Rust, Go, or C/C++.
- Working knowledge of major cryptographic protocols and authentication schemes such as TLS, x509, 802.1x, U2F, SAML.
- Familiarity with modern Linux boot process, UEFI, TPM measured boot, Secure Boot, Systemd.
- Systems administration experience on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- In-depth understanding of modern networking and common protocols.
- Ability to architect, build, and ship 0 to 1 infrastructure quickly and efficiently.
Expected Compensation:
The anticipated hourly rate for this position is listed below.
California Hourly Flat Rate:
$35/Hr USD
What We Offer:
Full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits listed below.
- An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields
- Growth potential; we rapidly advance team members who have an outsized impact
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan
- Paid holidays
- Commuter benefits
- Meals provided
- Equity (RSUs) Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
- 401(k) plan Interns initially excluded until they work 1,000 hours
- Parental leave Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
- Flexible time off Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
CPT Science & Research Job Roles in California
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Search Science & Research Jobs in CaliforniaScience & Research CPT Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies sponsor F-1 CPT visas in California?
California's biotech and research sector includes organizations that regularly bring on F-1 CPT students, including Genentech, Illumina, Gilead Sciences, and the Salk Institute in San Diego, as well as NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. National labs such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore also host CPT students through formal internship programs tied to university partnerships.
Which cities in California have the most science and research F-1 CPT sponsorship jobs?
San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area lead for life sciences and biotech CPT placements. San Diego's Torrey Pines area concentrates pharmaceutical and genomics employers, while the Bay Area spans biotech in South San Francisco and computational biology roles near UC Berkeley and Stanford. Los Angeles adds opportunities in aerospace research, environmental science, and university-based labs at UCLA and Caltech.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 CPT sponsorship?
Roles that directly apply coursework from a science or research degree program are eligible for CPT authorization. Common qualifying positions include research assistant, lab technician, bioinformatics analyst, environmental scientist intern, computational researcher, and data scientist in a research setting. The position must be integral to the student's degree program and authorized by their designated school official before work begins.
How do I find science & research F-1 CPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is designed specifically for international students searching for CPT-eligible roles, with filters for visa type, industry, and state. For science and research jobs in California, you can narrow results to biotech, environmental science, and lab research positions at California-based employers with documented CPT sponsorship experience, saving time compared to filtering through general job boards that don't surface visa sponsorship details.
Are there any California-specific considerations for F-1 CPT in science and research?
California's dense concentration of UC and CSU campuses means many employers near those institutions have established CPT onboarding processes. Students should confirm their university has a formal agreement or history with a given employer, since CPT must be tied to an offer that fits the academic program. California's competitive research hiring also means applications often require research proposals or writing samples, so preparation lead time matters.