Biotech & Pharma F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Kentucky
Kentucky's biotech and pharma sector, anchored by employers such as Kindred Biosciences, Ashland Global Holdings, and the growing research corridor around Louisville and Lexington, offers F-1 STEM OPT candidates roles in process chemistry, regulatory affairs, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The state's life sciences ecosystem is expanding, making it a viable destination for OPT students seeking hands-on industry experience.
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At Jabil (NYSE: JBL), we are proud to be a trusted partner for the world's top brands, offering comprehensive engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions. With 60 years of experience across industries and a vast network of over 100 sites worldwide, Jabil combines global reach with local expertise to deliver both scalable and customized solutions. Our commitment extends beyond business success as we strive to build sustainable processes that minimize environmental impact and foster vibrant and diverse communities around the globe.
Jabil is a product solutions company providing comprehensive design, manufacturing, supply chain and product management services. Operating from over 100 facilities in 29 countries, Jabil delivers innovative, integrated, and tailored solutions to customers across a broad range of industries and end-markets, such as automotive, consumer lifestyle and wearable tech, defense and aerospace, connected home and building, industrial and energy, enterprise and infrastructure, healthcare, mobility, packaging and printing.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- As a Site Reliability Technician within Jabil’s Cloud Test Software Development team, you will directly contribute to the daily operations and development of our Cloud Test Platform Infrastructure deployed at multiple production facilities worldwide.
- You will provide the first line response to production issues including but not limited to outages, end user performance, change management, monitoring, improving the efficiency and usability of production test infrastructure and applications, and ensuring all site test infrastructure software and hardware is maintained with the latest updates to ensure high levels of performance and reliability.
How will you make an impact?
- As a Site Reliability Technician (404) within Jabil’s Cloud Test Software Development team, you will directly contribute to the daily operations and development of our Cloud Test Platform Infrastructure deployed at multiple production facilities worldwide.
- As a Site Reliability Technician, you will provide the first-line response to production issues, including but not limited to outages, end user performance, change management, monitoring, improving the efficiency and usability of production test infrastructure and applications, and ensuring all site test infrastructure software and hardware is maintained with the latest updates to ensure high levels of performance and reliability.
Working Shift Schedule:
- 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM from Sunday to Wednesday, with an alternating schedule from Sunday to Tuesday each week.
What will you do?
- Sustaining support and maintenance for the manufacturing server (L10) and rack (L11-L12) level test software and infrastructure deployed at our production facilities.
- Support the site’s manufacturing server (L10) and rack (L11-L12) current test infrastructure, as well as future expansions planning, deployments, and assembly.
- Maintain manufacturing server (L10) and rack (L11-L12) test infrastructure documentation of installations, upgrades, and management.
- Communicate manufacturing test infrastructure enhancements while providing insights based on site operations and uptime challenges.
- Support manufacturing test incident response, analysis, and corrective actions for the site operations.
- Participate in closed-loop analysis/responses to factory test failures.
- Perform scheduled preventive maintenance on the test infrastructure, including MDF, IDF, and SUT TORs.
Management & Supervisory Responsibilities
- Reports to Management
How will you get here?
-
Experience in the following programming/scripting languages:
-
Python,
- Java,
- BASH
-
C, C++, experience a plus
-
Understanding of Linux fundamentals:
-
CentOS
-
Ubuntu
-
Familiarity with hardware and API solutions for controlling, managing and stressing L10 devices (servers, network and storage SSDs, NVMe):
-
IPMI,
- Redfish,
- mprime,
- FIO,
- Linpack,
- ptugen,
-
memtester
-
Familiarity in the creation and configuration (DHCP, PXE boot, nginx) of Virtual Machines (VMs) using VMWare is a plus
- Experience with leading-edge networking systems, hardware, software and protocols, including but not limited to enterprise Ethernet datacenter switching/routing L1, L2, and L3 (BGP, DHCP Relay, ECMP). Arista CloudVision is a plus
- Experience with networking systems, hardware, software and protocols, including but not limited to enterprise Ethernet datacenter switching/routing (L1 – L3).
- Demonstrated ability to communicate manufacturing test infrastructure improvements and provide leadership with reporting on site performance, uptime risks, and reliability trends.
Education:
- Preferred bachelor’s degree in electrical/computer engineering, computer science, or related field.
Experience:
- 1-3 years of software engineering and/or IT operations and infrastructure experience.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience working in multi-site and multi-cultural environments.
- Domestic and/or international travel, up to 10%, may be required.
What Can Jabil Offer You?
Along with growth, stability, and the opportunity to be challenged, Jabil offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug, and Vision Insurance with HRA and HSA options
- 401K Match
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Life, AD&D, and Disability Insurance
- Commuter Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Pet Insurance
- Adoption Assistance
- Annual Merit Increases
- Community Volunteer Opportunities
BE AWARE OF FRAUD: When applying for a job at Jabil you will be contacted via correspondence through our official job portal with a jabil.com e-mail address; direct phone call from a member of the Jabil team; or direct e-mail with a jabil.com e-mail address. Jabil does not request payments for interviews or at any other point during the hiring process. Jabil will not ask for your personal identifying information such as a social security number, birth certificate, financial institution, driver’s license number or passport information over the phone or via e-mail. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigations internet crime hotline (www.ic3.gov), the Federal Trade Commission identity theft hotline (www.identitytheft.gov) and/or your local police department. Any scam job listings should be reported to whatever website it was posted in.
Jabil, including its subsidiaries, is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Accessibility Accommodation
If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access Jabil.com/Careers site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by sending an e-mail to Always_Accessible@Jabil.com or calling 727-803-7988 with the nature of your request and contact information. Please do not direct any other general employment related questions to this e-mail or phone number. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to.
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Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Kentucky
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in KentuckyBiotech & Pharma Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech and pharma companies in Kentucky have sponsored F-1 STEM OPT workers?
Companies with documented life sciences hiring activity in Kentucky include Ashland Global Holdings, Lexmark International, and pharmaceutical manufacturing operations clustered around Louisville. Large hospital systems with affiliated research divisions, such as Norton Healthcare and Baptist Health, have also hired STEM OPT candidates in research-adjacent roles. Sponsorship history varies by position and year, so confirming active OPT sponsorship with each employer's HR team is an important step before applying.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most biotech and pharma F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Louisville concentrates the largest share of Kentucky's pharmaceutical and life sciences employment, driven by its established manufacturing base and proximity to major distribution infrastructure. Lexington supports biotech research activity, partly through ties to the University of Kentucky's research programs. Covington, situated in the Greater Cincinnati metro area, also offers access to pharma employers that recruit across the Kentucky-Ohio border. These three cities account for the majority of F-1 STEM OPT opportunities in the sector.
What types of biotech and pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Kentucky?
Roles most likely to qualify include process development scientist, quality assurance analyst, regulatory affairs associate, computational biologist, and pharmaceutical research associate. These positions typically carry SOC codes that appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, which determines OPT extension eligibility. Positions in manufacturing operations, analytical chemistry, and clinical data management also frequently qualify, provided the job duties align with the graduate's STEM degree field. Candidates should verify SOC code alignment with their DSO before accepting an offer.
How do I find biotech and pharma F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for employers with F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history in biotech and pharma, letting you search by state so you can focus on Kentucky-based openings. This saves time compared to manually screening general job boards where sponsorship status is often unlisted. You can also review DOL Labor Condition Application filings through the OFLC Wage Search to verify which Kentucky employers have recently sponsored workers in life sciences roles before applying.
Are there any state-specific or industry-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in biotech and pharma in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not impose state-level work authorization requirements beyond federal STEM OPT rules, but biotech and pharma roles often involve regulated environments where employers require E-Verify enrollment, which is already mandated for STEM OPT positions. Life sciences roles in GMP manufacturing settings may also require background checks and health screenings that extend onboarding timelines. Candidates should account for these steps when timing their OPT start date relative to their program end date and any employer-mandated pre-employment requirements.