Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Minnesota
Minnesota's biotech and pharma sector, anchored by companies like Medtronic, 3M Health Care, and Pfizer's Twin Cities operations, regularly hires international graduates through F-1 OPT. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro concentrates most sponsorship activity, with research-intensive roles in medical devices, drug development, and clinical operations drawing OPT candidates from programs at the University of Minnesota and nearby institutions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
- Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
- Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
- An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution.
- Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
- A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
- A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This position works out of our Plymouth, MN location in the Electrophysiology division. In Abbott’s Electrophysiology (EP) business, we’re advancing the treatment of heart disease through breakthrough medical technologies in atrial fibrillation, allowing people to restore their health and get on with their lives.
As an Engineer II, you will be providing development and sustaining support as a part of a multidisciplinary product development team, overseeing projects throughout concept to launch in all phases of Design Production/Process Controls with a focus in the disposable catheter. You will be a key contributor to the design, development and testing activities for complex medical devices.
WHO WE WANT
- Critical thinkers: People who challenge status quo and work to find just the right solutions.
- Collaborators: Partners who listen to ideas, share thoughts, and work together to move the business forward.
- Problem Solvers: People who can take on complex problems and apply first principles and sound technical practices.
- Communicators: People who can communicate project progress, data analysis and conclusions effectively across a broad set of stakeholders.
- Responsible: People who own their deliverables and activities and see things through to completion. People who take personal accountability for end results.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Be a core team member to implement complex development projects including quality improvement initiatives.
- Cross-functional team member and driving towards compliant and efficient solutions to complex problems.
- Execute on Holistic & Strategic Design Verification/Validation, Process Verification/Validation Strategies with emphasis on:
- Technical analysis of requirements, specifications, and control strategy
- Efficient and cost-effective execution of validation and verification
- Alignment of design outputs to production and process controls
- Proper verification techniques including inspection, demonstration, test, etc.
- Support design and process characterization activities for development projects.
- Apply statistics to design/process and verification decisions.
- Support design/process test and inspection method development, and lead method validation activities.
- Lead root cause investigations, including corrective and preventive action activities, with the purpose of identifying the underlying issues and offering efficient long-term solutions.
- Ensure DHF, DMR, DHR content integrity, completeness, and regulatory / standards compliance; collaboratively communicating & resolving gaps.
- Participate in internal and external inspections and inquiries from regulators such as FDA and ISO as it relates to design assurance.
- Support and ensure the establishment of objective, measurable, discrete, and verifiable customer and product requirements.
- Support all Company initiatives as identified by management and in support of Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and other regulatory requirements.
- Complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, other regulatory requirements, Company policies, operating procedures, processes, and task assignments.
- Maintains positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, customers, contractors, and vendors.
- Performs other related duties and responsibilities, on occasion, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor level degree in Engineering or Technical Field
- Minimum of 3 years engineering experience with new product development
- Minimum of 3 years quality engineering experience supporting disposable ablation catheter production
- Minimum of 3 years experience owning NCMRs, CAPAs, Stop Ships, and HHEs
- Working knowledge on design/process verification and design/process validation techniques.
- Working knowledge of applied statistics, sampling strategies, and design of experiments, including statistical software tools such as Minitab.
- Strong organizational and follow-up skills, as well as attention to detail
- Ability to collaborate on-site on a regular basis.
- Ability to travel approximately 10%, including internationally.
- Knowledge of FDA, IEC 60601, GMP, ISO 13485, and ISO 14971
- Prior medical device experience preferred.
COMPENSATION
- The base pay for this position is $61,300.00 – $122,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
Apply Now
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
INTRODUCTION
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
- Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
- Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
- An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution.
- Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
- A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
- A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This position works out of our Plymouth, MN location in the Electrophysiology division. In Abbott’s Electrophysiology (EP) business, we’re advancing the treatment of heart disease through breakthrough medical technologies in atrial fibrillation, allowing people to restore their health and get on with their lives.
As an Engineer II, you will be providing development and sustaining support as a part of a multidisciplinary product development team, overseeing projects throughout concept to launch in all phases of Design Production/Process Controls with a focus in the disposable catheter. You will be a key contributor to the design, development and testing activities for complex medical devices.
WHO WE WANT
- Critical thinkers: People who challenge status quo and work to find just the right solutions.
- Collaborators: Partners who listen to ideas, share thoughts, and work together to move the business forward.
- Problem Solvers: People who can take on complex problems and apply first principles and sound technical practices.
- Communicators: People who can communicate project progress, data analysis and conclusions effectively across a broad set of stakeholders.
- Responsible: People who own their deliverables and activities and see things through to completion. People who take personal accountability for end results.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Be a core team member to implement complex development projects including quality improvement initiatives.
- Cross-functional team member and driving towards compliant and efficient solutions to complex problems.
- Execute on Holistic & Strategic Design Verification/Validation, Process Verification/Validation Strategies with emphasis on:
- Technical analysis of requirements, specifications, and control strategy
- Efficient and cost-effective execution of validation and verification
- Alignment of design outputs to production and process controls
- Proper verification techniques including inspection, demonstration, test, etc.
- Support design and process characterization activities for development projects.
- Apply statistics to design/process and verification decisions.
- Support design/process test and inspection method development, and lead method validation activities.
- Lead root cause investigations, including corrective and preventive action activities, with the purpose of identifying the underlying issues and offering efficient long-term solutions.
- Ensure DHF, DMR, DHR content integrity, completeness, and regulatory / standards compliance; collaboratively communicating & resolving gaps.
- Participate in internal and external inspections and inquiries from regulators such as FDA and ISO as it relates to design assurance.
- Support and ensure the establishment of objective, measurable, discrete, and verifiable customer and product requirements.
- Support all Company initiatives as identified by management and in support of Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and other regulatory requirements.
- Complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, other regulatory requirements, Company policies, operating procedures, processes, and task assignments.
- Maintains positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, customers, contractors, and vendors.
- Performs other related duties and responsibilities, on occasion, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor level degree in Engineering or Technical Field
- Minimum of 3 years engineering experience with new product development
- Minimum of 3 years quality engineering experience supporting disposable ablation catheter production
- Minimum of 3 years experience owning NCMRs, CAPAs, Stop Ships, and HHEs
- Working knowledge on design/process verification and design/process validation techniques.
- Working knowledge of applied statistics, sampling strategies, and design of experiments, including statistical software tools such as Minitab.
- Strong organizational and follow-up skills, as well as attention to detail
- Ability to collaborate on-site on a regular basis.
- Ability to travel approximately 10%, including internationally.
- Knowledge of FDA, IEC 60601, GMP, ISO 13485, and ISO 14971
- Prior medical device experience preferred.
COMPENSATION
- The base pay for this position is $61,300.00 – $122,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
Apply Now
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Minnesota
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in MinnesotaBiotech & Pharma OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech and pharma companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Minnesota?
Minnesota's largest biotech and pharma employers with a history of hiring international graduates on OPT include Medtronic, 3M Health Care, Boston Scientific, Upsher-Smith Laboratories, and Recro Pharma. University of Minnesota-affiliated research centers and contract research organizations also participate in OPT hiring. Sponsorship availability depends on the specific role, department, and whether the position meets STEM OPT extension criteria.
Which cities in Minnesota have the most biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area accounts for the vast majority of biotech and pharma OPT positions in Minnesota, with concentrations in Fridley, Arden Hills, Maplewood, and downtown Minneapolis. Rochester has a secondary cluster tied to Mayo Clinic's research and pharmaceutical partnerships. Smaller hubs exist near university campuses in Duluth and Saint Cloud, though volume is significantly lower than the Twin Cities.
What types of biotech and pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Minnesota?
Roles that commonly qualify include research scientist, clinical research associate, regulatory affairs specialist, bioprocess engineer, quality assurance analyst, and bioinformatics analyst. Most qualify under STEM OPT, allowing a 24-month extension beyond the standard 12 months, provided the position directly relates to the graduate's STEM degree field. Positions requiring only a general science background without degree-specific alignment may face eligibility questions.
How do I find biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Minnesota?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students seeking OPT-eligible positions and filters biotech and pharma jobs in Minnesota by visa type, making it straightforward to identify employers actively open to F-1 OPT candidates. Searching Migrate Mate for Minnesota biotech roles lets you focus on companies with a demonstrated pattern of OPT hiring rather than applying broadly and encountering sponsorship barriers after the interview stage.
Are there state-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Minnesota's biotech and pharma sector?
Minnesota's biotech industry is heavily medical-device oriented, which means many OPT-eligible roles involve FDA-regulated environments where employers emphasize regulatory compliance experience. International graduates should verify that their degree program appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program list maintained by ICE, since some interdisciplinary programs at Minnesota universities may require confirmation. Minnesota has no state-level visa sponsorship incentives, so employer willingness depends entirely on individual hiring policies.