Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in New Jersey
New Jersey's science and research sector draws F-1 STEM OPT candidates to pharmaceutical giants in Parsippany and Rahway, biotech firms along the Route 1 corridor, and chemical research labs in Newark and New Brunswick. Companies like Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and BASF have established STEM OPT sponsorship pipelines for roles in drug discovery, materials science, and laboratory research.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title - Associate Process Equipment and Reliability Engineer
Work Location - Cranbury NJ
Job Summary
The Associate Process Equipment and Reliability Engineer will support the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of process and utility equipment within a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This entry-level position, under the guidance of senior engineers and engineering leadership, provides opportunities to develop foundational knowledge in equipment engineering, maintenance, reliability practices, and cGMP-regulated manufacturing environments. The Associate Engineer will assist with equipment monitoring, maintenance activities, technical documentation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives, while building technical competency in biopharmaceutical manufacturing systems and reliability engineering principles.
Job Responsibilities
- Assist in monitoring equipment performance and identifying basic equipment issues or reliability concerns.
- Support troubleshooting activities for process and utility equipment under the direction of senior engineers.
- Participate in equipment investigations and help collect information to support root cause analysis and CAPA activities.
- Gather and organize equipment performance data, maintenance records, and operational metrics.
- Support reliability assessments by maintaining accurate records and reporting equipment observations.
Maintenance & Asset Management
- Assist with preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance program activities.
- Support maintenance planning efforts through data collection and documentation updates.
- Maintain accurate equipment records and documentation within CMMS and asset management systems.
- Assist with development and revision of maintenance procedures, work instructions, and SOPs.
- Learn and apply basic reliability engineering concepts, including Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM).
Process Equipment Familiarization
- Gain exposure to upstream, downstream, and fill/finish equipment (e.g., bioreactors, chromatography skids, filtration systems, CIP/SIP systems, autoclaves).
- Work with operations, maintenance, and senior engineers to understand process-equipment interactions.
- Support commissioning, qualification, and validation activities for new or modified equipment as assigned.
Compliance & Documentation
- Develop familiarity with biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment including upstream, downstream, and fill/finish systems, CIP/SIP systems, autoclaves, and utility equipment.
- Support equipment inspections, maintenance observations, and engineering assessments.
- Work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Validation, Quality, and Engineering teams to understand equipment and process interactions.
- Participate in commissioning, qualification, and validation activities as assigned.
Continuous Learning & Improvement
- Participate in training programs focused on process equipment, reliability engineering, maintenance practices, and regulatory compliance.
- Support continuous improvement projects aimed at improving equipment reliability, reducing downtime, and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Develop technical and professional skills through mentorship and on-the-job learning opportunities.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support operational excellence initiatives.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
- 0–2 years of engineering experience. Internship, co-op, research experience, or exposure to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, manufacturing, or regulated industries is preferred but not required.
- Basic understanding of engineering principles and equipment systems.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated willingness to learn and develop technical expertise in equipment reliability and maintenance engineering.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
- Exposure to CMMS systems, data analysis tools, or reliability methodologies is a plus.
- Familiarity with cGMP or regulated manufacturing environments is desirable but not required.
- Ability to work in a self-motivated, flexible, organized, and detail-oriented manner.
- Must be able to wear required PPE and work safely within manufacturing and utility areas.
- Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods.
- Ability to occasionally lift to 50 pounds.
- Occasional evening conference calls and limited local or international travel may be required.
Positioning within Career Ladder
Associate Process Equipment & Reliability Engineer (P1)
Process Equipment & Reliability Engineer I (P2)
Process Equipment & Reliability Engineer II (P3)
Senior Process Equipment & Reliability Engineer (P4)
The anticipated salary range for this position $55,000 - $88,000
The job description does not intend to list all the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. An employee holding this position would be required to perform other job-related duties/responsibilities based on their expertise and the company's business needs.
Job Title - Associate Process Equipment and Reliability Engineer
Work Location - Cranbury NJ
Job Summary
The Associate Process Equipment and Reliability Engineer will support the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of process and utility equipment within a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This entry-level position, under the guidance of senior engineers and engineering leadership, provides opportunities to develop foundational knowledge in equipment engineering, maintenance, reliability practices, and cGMP-regulated manufacturing environments. The Associate Engineer will assist with equipment monitoring, maintenance activities, technical documentation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives, while building technical competency in biopharmaceutical manufacturing systems and reliability engineering principles.
Job Responsibilities
- Assist in monitoring equipment performance and identifying basic equipment issues or reliability concerns.
- Support troubleshooting activities for process and utility equipment under the direction of senior engineers.
- Participate in equipment investigations and help collect information to support root cause analysis and CAPA activities.
- Gather and organize equipment performance data, maintenance records, and operational metrics.
- Support reliability assessments by maintaining accurate records and reporting equipment observations.
Maintenance & Asset Management
- Assist with preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance program activities.
- Support maintenance planning efforts through data collection and documentation updates.
- Maintain accurate equipment records and documentation within CMMS and asset management systems.
- Assist with development and revision of maintenance procedures, work instructions, and SOPs.
- Learn and apply basic reliability engineering concepts, including Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM).
Process Equipment Familiarization
- Gain exposure to upstream, downstream, and fill/finish equipment (e.g., bioreactors, chromatography skids, filtration systems, CIP/SIP systems, autoclaves).
- Work with operations, maintenance, and senior engineers to understand process-equipment interactions.
- Support commissioning, qualification, and validation activities for new or modified equipment as assigned.
Compliance & Documentation
- Develop familiarity with biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment including upstream, downstream, and fill/finish systems, CIP/SIP systems, autoclaves, and utility equipment.
- Support equipment inspections, maintenance observations, and engineering assessments.
- Work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Validation, Quality, and Engineering teams to understand equipment and process interactions.
- Participate in commissioning, qualification, and validation activities as assigned.
Continuous Learning & Improvement
- Participate in training programs focused on process equipment, reliability engineering, maintenance practices, and regulatory compliance.
- Support continuous improvement projects aimed at improving equipment reliability, reducing downtime, and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Develop technical and professional skills through mentorship and on-the-job learning opportunities.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support operational excellence initiatives.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
- 0–2 years of engineering experience. Internship, co-op, research experience, or exposure to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, manufacturing, or regulated industries is preferred but not required.
- Basic understanding of engineering principles and equipment systems.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated willingness to learn and develop technical expertise in equipment reliability and maintenance engineering.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
- Exposure to CMMS systems, data analysis tools, or reliability methodologies is a plus.
- Familiarity with cGMP or regulated manufacturing environments is desirable but not required.
- Ability to work in a self-motivated, flexible, organized, and detail-oriented manner.
- Must be able to wear required PPE and work safely within manufacturing and utility areas.
- Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods.
- Ability to occasionally lift to 50 pounds.
- Occasional evening conference calls and limited local or international travel may be required.
Positioning within Career Ladder
Associate Process Equipment & Reliability Engineer (P1)
Process Equipment & Reliability Engineer I (P2)
Process Equipment & Reliability Engineer II (P3)
Senior Process Equipment & Reliability Engineer (P4)
The anticipated salary range for this position $55,000 - $88,000
The job description does not intend to list all the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. An employee holding this position would be required to perform other job-related duties/responsibilities based on their expertise and the company's business needs.
STEM OPT Science & Research Job Roles in New Jersey
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Search Science & Research Jobs in New JerseyScience & Research STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in New Jersey?
New Jersey hosts some of the country's largest science and research employers with documented STEM OPT sponsorship histories. Merck, Johnson & Johnson, BASF, Honeywell, and Becton Dickinson have all filed Labor Condition Applications for research and scientific roles in the state. Smaller contract research organizations and biotech startups along the Route 1 corridor in Princeton and New Brunswick also regularly sponsor STEM OPT candidates for laboratory and R&D positions.
Which cities in New Jersey have the most science and research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Route 1 corridor anchored by New Brunswick and Princeton is New Jersey's densest concentration of science and research employers. Parsippany and Florham Park host major pharmaceutical headquarters, while Newark and Rahway have established lab facilities tied to large life-sciences companies. Bridgewater and Basking Ridge also see consistent STEM OPT filings, particularly in pharmaceutical research and chemical sciences, given the number of regional and global R&D centers located there.
How do I find science & research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in New Jersey?
Migrate Mate filters science and research job listings in New Jersey specifically for employers with verified STEM OPT sponsorship histories, based on DOL Labor Condition Application data. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you identify companies in pharmaceutical, biotech, and chemical research that have actively sponsored F-1 STEM OPT candidates, so you can focus your applications on employers already familiar with the process rather than starting from scratch.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in New Jersey?
Roles that qualify for STEM OPT must fall under a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code tied to the graduate's degree. In New Jersey's science and research sector, commonly qualifying positions include research scientist, analytical chemist, biochemist, clinical research associate, materials scientist, and computational biologist. The role must also require the direct application of the degree's STEM field, so candidates should confirm their specific position title and degree combination meets USCIS requirements before applying.
Are there any New Jersey-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in science and research?
New Jersey employers participating in STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify, and many of the state's largest science and research firms already meet this requirement. New Jersey's pharmaceutical and chemical industries are subject to additional federal compliance frameworks, which means HR departments at these companies tend to be experienced with STEM OPT documentation. Candidates should confirm that the specific New Jersey facility, not just the parent company, is the enrolled E-Verify entity listed on the training plan, as some multisite corporations maintain separate E-Verify accounts by location.