Science & Research F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship 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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Overview

Open Jobs204+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type78% On-site
Median Salary$185K
Top LocationSan Francisco, CA
Most JobsAnthropic

Showing 5 of 204+ Science & Research F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California

Applied Intuition
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
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Applied Intuition
New 11h ago
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
Applied Intuition
Sunnyvale, California
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Not listed
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Associate's

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Xaira Therapeutics
Principal Associate Scientist, Biology
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Xaira Therapeutics
New 16h ago
Principal Associate Scientist, Biology
Xaira Therapeutics
South San Francisco, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
$114,400 - $135,600/yr
On-Site
Associate's

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Hd Biosciences
Scientist I
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Hd Biosciences
Added 6d ago
Scientist I
Hd Biosciences
San Diego, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
$69,036 - $89,570/yr
On-Site
Associate's

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Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation
Staff Scientist I – Cell Manufacturing & Bioprocessing
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Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation
Added 1w ago
Staff Scientist I – Cell Manufacturing & Bioprocessing
Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation
Woodland Hills, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
$85,000/yr - $95,000/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

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City of Hope
Postdoctoral Fellow or Staff Scientist
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City of Hope
Added 1w ago
Postdoctoral Fellow or Staff Scientist
City of Hope
Duarte, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
$34/hr - $85/hr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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See all 204+ Science & Research F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California

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Science & Research Job Roles in California

Software Engineering93 jobs
Data Science & Analytics67 jobs
Data Science63 jobs
Laboratory Research50 jobs
Biotech & Life Sciences42 jobs
Specialized Engineering42 jobs
Engineering (Non-Software)35 jobs
AI (Artificial Intelligence)32 jobs
Clinical Trials & Medical Research30 jobs
Backend Engineering23 jobs

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Science & Research 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.