Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in California
California is the top state for biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship, home to dense employer clusters in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego's Torrey Pines corridor, and Los Angeles. Companies like Genentech, Gilead Sciences, and Amgen regularly hire international graduates in research, regulatory, and clinical roles that align with STEM OPT eligibility.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Alcon, we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly, champion progress, and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here, you’ll be recognized for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together, we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers.
We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse, talented people to join Alcon. As a Senior Associate (Software Verification), you will be trusted to drive software design, development, and verification activities. You will be trusted to drive the design, execution, review, and approval of software verification deliverables, with a strong focus on ensuring high-quality, compliant solutions for patients and customers at the Goleta, CA location in the Santa Barbara area.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, a typical day will include:
- Verification of complex software applications embedded in state-of-the-art ophthalmic instruments in all phases of software development lifecycle including planning, inputs, design, implementation, and testing.
- Review and approve software documentation throughout the software development life cycle.
- Write and execute manual system level test cases and procedures.
- Lead or participate in project teams to facilitate Software Test Planning / Software Verification activities / SQA support.
- Coordinate software test activities with software development team and other stakeholders.
- Provide support on other project activities such as training, clinical activities, and audits.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +10 yrs; Assoc.+6 yrs; M.S.+0 yrs)
- The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English.
- 2 Years of Relevant Experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong knowledge of software development life cycles (Agile, iterative)
- Experience working in FDA- and ISO-regulated environments for software development and verification.
- Hands-on experience with software verification and validation practices
- Experience testing embedded software systems.
- Proficiency with software test automation tools such as Ranorex, Selenium, Sikuli, or similar.
- Familiarity with software configuration management and change management tools.
- Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams.
HOW YOU CAN THRIVE AT ALCON
- See your career like never before with focused growth and development opportunities.
- Join Alcon’s mission to provide outstanding, innovative products and solutions to improve sight, improve lives, and grow your career!
- Alcon provides robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, flexible time off for exempt associates, PTO for hourly associates, and much more!
LOCATION
Goleta, CA
Sponsorship available: Yes
PAY RANGE
- Pay Range: 99,450.00 - 128,700.00
- Pay Frequency: Annual
Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
INTRODUCTION
At Alcon, we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly, champion progress, and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here, you’ll be recognized for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together, we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers.
We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse, talented people to join Alcon. As a Senior Associate (Software Verification), you will be trusted to drive software design, development, and verification activities. You will be trusted to drive the design, execution, review, and approval of software verification deliverables, with a strong focus on ensuring high-quality, compliant solutions for patients and customers at the Goleta, CA location in the Santa Barbara area.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, a typical day will include:
- Verification of complex software applications embedded in state-of-the-art ophthalmic instruments in all phases of software development lifecycle including planning, inputs, design, implementation, and testing.
- Review and approve software documentation throughout the software development life cycle.
- Write and execute manual system level test cases and procedures.
- Lead or participate in project teams to facilitate Software Test Planning / Software Verification activities / SQA support.
- Coordinate software test activities with software development team and other stakeholders.
- Provide support on other project activities such as training, clinical activities, and audits.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +10 yrs; Assoc.+6 yrs; M.S.+0 yrs)
- The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English.
- 2 Years of Relevant Experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong knowledge of software development life cycles (Agile, iterative)
- Experience working in FDA- and ISO-regulated environments for software development and verification.
- Hands-on experience with software verification and validation practices
- Experience testing embedded software systems.
- Proficiency with software test automation tools such as Ranorex, Selenium, Sikuli, or similar.
- Familiarity with software configuration management and change management tools.
- Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams.
HOW YOU CAN THRIVE AT ALCON
- See your career like never before with focused growth and development opportunities.
- Join Alcon’s mission to provide outstanding, innovative products and solutions to improve sight, improve lives, and grow your career!
- Alcon provides robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, flexible time off for exempt associates, PTO for hourly associates, and much more!
LOCATION
Goleta, CA
Sponsorship available: Yes
PAY RANGE
- Pay Range: 99,450.00 - 128,700.00
- Pay Frequency: Annual
Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in California
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in CaliforniaBiotech & Pharma OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech and pharma companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in California?
California's largest biotech and pharma employers, including Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Biogen, and Illumina, have consistent histories of hiring F-1 OPT graduates. Smaller Bay Area and San Diego biotechs frequently recruit from universities like UCSB, UC San Diego, and Stanford. STEM OPT designation makes candidates eligible for up to three years of work authorization, which broadens their appeal to employers managing longer hiring timelines.
Which cities in California have the most biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area account for the majority of California's biotech and pharma F-1 OPT hiring. San Diego's Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley neighborhoods host hundreds of life sciences companies. The Bay Area, particularly South San Francisco and Foster City, is anchored by large employers and a dense network of clinical-stage biotechs. Los Angeles has a smaller but growing presence, particularly in cell and gene therapy.
What types of biotech and pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that align with a STEM degree field qualify for F-1 OPT, including research associate, computational biologist, biostatistician, regulatory affairs associate, clinical data analyst, and process development engineer. Positions requiring hands-on lab work, data analysis, or engineering are common fits. Job titles must relate directly to your degree field, so a chemistry graduate working in analytical development would generally qualify, while a purely administrative role would not.
How do I find biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and shows biotech and pharma jobs in California that are open to F-1 OPT candidates, filtering out roles where sponsorship is not available. Because OPT authorization is time-sensitive, starting your search early and targeting STEM-designated roles extends your window for transitioning to H-1B visa or other long-term status. Migrate Mate's filters let you search by visa type, industry, and state to find relevant openings efficiently.
Are there any California-specific considerations for biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship?
California's concentration of research universities, including UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, and UCSF, creates strong pipelines between graduate programs and industry, which can work in your favor during OPT hiring. California employers are generally experienced with OPT and STEM OPT paperwork. However, many early-stage biotechs are small enough that they may lack a dedicated immigration team, so confirming sponsorship support before accepting an offer is worth doing.