Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in California
Science and research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California are concentrated at biotech firms in San Diego and South San Francisco, national laboratories like Lawrence Berkeley and SLAC, and research-intensive universities across the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Employers here routinely hire international graduates in life sciences, computational biology, materials science, and environmental research.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We are building control & motion planning capabilities for high-DOF robotic manipulators operating in contact-rich environments. This role sits at the intersection of motion planning and whole body control — you will work closely with the whole body control team to develop motion planners that go beyond free-space motion, enabling robots to reliably execute tasks that involve sustained and regulated contact: precision assembly, surface finishing, polishing, and other compliant manipulation tasks.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
This is a full-time, on-site Robotics Control & Motion Planning Engineer role based in San Jose, CA. The engineer will design, implement, and optimize motion planning and control algorithms for high-DOF robotic systems, ensuring safe, precise, and efficient robot behavior in dynamic environments. Day-to-day responsibilities include the following points.
- Design, implement, test, and deploy motion planning algorithms for high-DOF manipulators, with emphasis on contact-rich and compliant manipulation tasks such as assembly and surface treatment
- Co-own the software interface between the motion planning stack and the whole body control module; define and maintain shared state representations, constraints, and control handoff protocols
- Develop planners that reason over contact modes, contact sequencing, and force/torque constraints — not just collision-free path finding
- Benchmark and evaluate planners in simulation and on real hardware across contact-rich scenarios; own reliability and task-success metrics
- Integrating control algorithms into real-time software frameworks, and conducting simulation and hardware experiments to validate performance
- Collaborate across perception, control, and hardware teams to translate physical task requirements into well-defined planning problems
- Drive software quality through code review, testing standards, and continuous improvement of engineering best practices
- Manage and communicate development schedules and milestones
- The engineer will also contribute to documentation, performance benchmarking, and continuous improvement of Flexiv’s core robotics platforms.
QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD or MS in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field — or equivalent industry experience
- 3+ years of hands-on experience with robotic systems software engineering
- Proficiency in robotics control, motion planning, and trajectory optimization, including kinematics, dynamics, and feedback control
- Strong theoretical and practical understanding of motion planning for high-DOF manipulators, including planners that operate under contact and force constraints
- Proficiency in C++ and/or Python; demonstrated experience deploying motion planning software on real robots and simulators
- Familiarity with AI or machine learning techniques applied to robotics, as well as safety standards and best practices in industrial automation, is a plus.
INTRODUCTION
We are building control & motion planning capabilities for high-DOF robotic manipulators operating in contact-rich environments. This role sits at the intersection of motion planning and whole body control — you will work closely with the whole body control team to develop motion planners that go beyond free-space motion, enabling robots to reliably execute tasks that involve sustained and regulated contact: precision assembly, surface finishing, polishing, and other compliant manipulation tasks.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
This is a full-time, on-site Robotics Control & Motion Planning Engineer role based in San Jose, CA. The engineer will design, implement, and optimize motion planning and control algorithms for high-DOF robotic systems, ensuring safe, precise, and efficient robot behavior in dynamic environments. Day-to-day responsibilities include the following points.
- Design, implement, test, and deploy motion planning algorithms for high-DOF manipulators, with emphasis on contact-rich and compliant manipulation tasks such as assembly and surface treatment
- Co-own the software interface between the motion planning stack and the whole body control module; define and maintain shared state representations, constraints, and control handoff protocols
- Develop planners that reason over contact modes, contact sequencing, and force/torque constraints — not just collision-free path finding
- Benchmark and evaluate planners in simulation and on real hardware across contact-rich scenarios; own reliability and task-success metrics
- Integrating control algorithms into real-time software frameworks, and conducting simulation and hardware experiments to validate performance
- Collaborate across perception, control, and hardware teams to translate physical task requirements into well-defined planning problems
- Drive software quality through code review, testing standards, and continuous improvement of engineering best practices
- Manage and communicate development schedules and milestones
- The engineer will also contribute to documentation, performance benchmarking, and continuous improvement of Flexiv’s core robotics platforms.
QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD or MS in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field — or equivalent industry experience
- 3+ years of hands-on experience with robotic systems software engineering
- Proficiency in robotics control, motion planning, and trajectory optimization, including kinematics, dynamics, and feedback control
- Strong theoretical and practical understanding of motion planning for high-DOF manipulators, including planners that operate under contact and force constraints
- Proficiency in C++ and/or Python; demonstrated experience deploying motion planning software on real robots and simulators
- Familiarity with AI or machine learning techniques applied to robotics, as well as safety standards and best practices in industrial automation, is a plus.
STEM OPT Science & Research Job Roles in California
See all 241+ Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in California
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Search Science & Research Jobs in CaliforniaScience & Research STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in California?
California's science and research sector includes major STEM OPT sponsors such as Genentech, Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Gilead Sciences, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. National laboratories like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory also hire STEM OPT workers in research roles, though lab-specific hiring procedures and security clearance requirements vary. DOL Labor Condition Application disclosure data reflects employer-level filing history across these organizations.
Which cities in California have the most science and research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
San Diego's Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley corridors anchor California's biotech hiring, with hundreds of life science employers concentrated there. South San Francisco and the broader Bay Area host major pharmaceutical and genomics firms. Los Angeles has growing research activity tied to UCLA and USC-affiliated institutes, and Sacramento-area employers include state environmental and agricultural research agencies. Each metro reflects a distinct research specialization worth considering when targeting applications.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that qualify must directly relate to a STEM-designated degree field and involve practical application of that training. In California's science and research sector, qualifying positions commonly include research scientist, computational biologist, data scientist in life sciences, laboratory analyst, materials scientist, environmental scientist, and bioinformatics specialist. Positions must be paid employment with a qualifying employer enrolled in E-Verify. O*NET occupation profiles can help confirm whether a specific role falls within a STEM-eligible classification.
How do I find science and research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate filters science and research job listings specifically by F-1 STEM OPT eligibility and California location, showing employers with verified STEM OPT sponsorship history from DOL filing records. This removes the guesswork of contacting employers who may not support STEM OPT extensions. Search by city or subfield within the platform to surface roles in San Diego biotech, Bay Area genomics, or Los Angeles-area research institutes aligned with your degree.
Are there California-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT in science and research?
California does not impose additional state-level visa sponsorship requirements beyond federal STEM OPT rules, but a few practical factors are relevant. Many California research employers, particularly national laboratories and defense-adjacent firms, require security clearances that F-1 holders on OPT are generally ineligible for. Additionally, California's employee classification laws mean some contract or staffing arrangements that might otherwise accommodate OPT workers may not satisfy the bona fide employment standard USCIS applies to STEM OPT. Confirm employer E-Verify enrollment before accepting any offer.