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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Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.
POSITION TITLE: Research Programmer II (Software Engineer)
Position Summary:
The Kennedy laboratory is involved in numerous projects to track, quantify, and forecast behavior and relate it to recorded neural activity. We develop new computational methods to understand how agents (animals, humans, virtual) gather information about their sensory environment, integrate this with internal motivational needs, and execute goal-directed actions in complex, naturalistic environments.
We’re seeking a motivated individual looking to gain hands-on experience in scientific research within an active, collaborative lab environment. The goal is for you to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and, where appropriate, lead independent research projects using existing datasets from our collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Harvard, the University of Utah, Northwestern, and other institutions.
This role suits candidates who want to build a strong scientific CV before applying to graduate programs in computational neuroscience or machine learning. It’s also a good fit for those seeking a longer-term position contributing to original research and model development.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Math, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Other STEM degrees may be accepted if accompanied with programming education, training, and/or experience.
- Minimum of two years experience in software application development or research programming.
- Experience with software development in Python.
- Experience building and training deep neural networks for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems.
- A demonstrated ability to apply the fundamentals of software application development.
- Experience with version control, including git and github.
Please include code samples and/or a link to a public code repository with examples of your work.
PREFERRED SKILLSET:
Prior experience with one or more of the following is preferred:
- Experience with sequence/time series data, control/reinforcement learning problems and environments, time series forecasting.
- An understanding of generative modeling (hidden Markov models, diffusion models, etc.)
- Familiarity with topics in motor control, robotics, and neuroscience.
As a member of a computational lab working in team projects, the following general skills are also preferred:
- Experience developing scalable system architectures that adhere to good software engineering principles.
- Ability to tackle large, open-ended research questions independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to be an active participant in a computational lab environment, including taking part in lab meetings, journal clubs, and hackathons.
- Experience working within a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience contributing to open source software projects.
LOCATION: La Jolla, California.
Physical Requirements: This position works in an office environment. Further details of the physical requirements of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.
COMPENSATION:
The expected hiring range for this position is $70,304 to $80,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Full suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more.
- Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care).
- Remote/Hybrid/Flexible work schedules (Dependent on role).
- Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
- Free, on-site Counseling Center which provides confidential counseling services to benefits-eligible employees and their family members.
- Free, on-site parking.
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
About us:
Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.
POSITION TITLE: Research Programmer II (Software Engineer)
Position Summary:
The Kennedy laboratory is involved in numerous projects to track, quantify, and forecast behavior and relate it to recorded neural activity. We develop new computational methods to understand how agents (animals, humans, virtual) gather information about their sensory environment, integrate this with internal motivational needs, and execute goal-directed actions in complex, naturalistic environments.
We’re seeking a motivated individual looking to gain hands-on experience in scientific research within an active, collaborative lab environment. The goal is for you to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and, where appropriate, lead independent research projects using existing datasets from our collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Harvard, the University of Utah, Northwestern, and other institutions.
This role suits candidates who want to build a strong scientific CV before applying to graduate programs in computational neuroscience or machine learning. It’s also a good fit for those seeking a longer-term position contributing to original research and model development.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Math, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Other STEM degrees may be accepted if accompanied with programming education, training, and/or experience.
- Minimum of two years experience in software application development or research programming.
- Experience with software development in Python.
- Experience building and training deep neural networks for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems.
- A demonstrated ability to apply the fundamentals of software application development.
- Experience with version control, including git and github.
Please include code samples and/or a link to a public code repository with examples of your work.
PREFERRED SKILLSET:
Prior experience with one or more of the following is preferred:
- Experience with sequence/time series data, control/reinforcement learning problems and environments, time series forecasting.
- An understanding of generative modeling (hidden Markov models, diffusion models, etc.)
- Familiarity with topics in motor control, robotics, and neuroscience.
As a member of a computational lab working in team projects, the following general skills are also preferred:
- Experience developing scalable system architectures that adhere to good software engineering principles.
- Ability to tackle large, open-ended research questions independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to be an active participant in a computational lab environment, including taking part in lab meetings, journal clubs, and hackathons.
- Experience working within a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience contributing to open source software projects.
LOCATION: La Jolla, California.
Physical Requirements: This position works in an office environment. Further details of the physical requirements of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.
COMPENSATION:
The expected hiring range for this position is $70,304 to $80,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Full suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more.
- Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care).
- Remote/Hybrid/Flexible work schedules (Dependent on role).
- Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
- Free, on-site Counseling Center which provides confidential counseling services to benefits-eligible employees and their family members.
- Free, on-site parking.
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
STEM OPT Science & Research Job Roles 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.