Science & Research OPT Jobs in North Carolina
F-1 OPT science and research jobs in North Carolina are concentrated in the Research Triangle Park area, home to employers like RTI International, Biogen, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Universities such as UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, and NC State actively place OPT candidates in lab, research, and life sciences roles across the state.
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Get Access To All JobsWork Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance, Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Laboratory Setting, Loud Noises (Equipment/Machinery), Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Join our manufacturing engineering team and make a meaningful impact on advanced technology and processes. As an Engineer II in Manufacturing Engineering, you'll support continuous improvement, ensure quality standards, and optimize production processes while collaborating with cross-functional teams. Lead technical projects and provide manufacturing support to help deliver innovative solutions that enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.
You will participate in new product introductions, process improvements, and equipment optimization initiatives. Using data-driven approaches and lean methodologies, you'll identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain the highest quality standards. Work closely with operations, quality, maintenance, R&D, and other teams to implement sustainable solutions that drive manufacturing excellence.
REQUIREMENTS
- Advanced Degree with no prior experience, or Bachelor's Degree plus 2 years of manufacturing engineering experience in regulated industries
- Preferred Fields of Study: Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or related field)
- Relevant technical certifications or apprenticeships are valued
- Strong knowledge of GMP, ISO standards, and regulatory requirements
- Experience with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies
- Proficient in statistical analysis, root cause investigation, and problem-solving techniques
- Strong project management abilities and experience leading cross-functional initiatives
- Experience with engineering documentation, specifications, and change control processes
- Expertise with CAD software, manufacturing systems, and data analysis tools
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work in cleanroom environments and comply with required PPE/gowning procedures
- Available to work flexible hours and provide on-call support as needed
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and manufacturing software systems
- Experience with automation, controls, and process validation preferred
- Knowledge of equipment qualification and calibration processes
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities
- Ability to mentor and train manufacturing personnel
- Must be able to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs with assistance
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance, Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Laboratory Setting, Loud Noises (Equipment/Machinery), Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Join our manufacturing engineering team and make a meaningful impact on advanced technology and processes. As an Engineer II in Manufacturing Engineering, you'll support continuous improvement, ensure quality standards, and optimize production processes while collaborating with cross-functional teams. Lead technical projects and provide manufacturing support to help deliver innovative solutions that enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.
You will participate in new product introductions, process improvements, and equipment optimization initiatives. Using data-driven approaches and lean methodologies, you'll identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain the highest quality standards. Work closely with operations, quality, maintenance, R&D, and other teams to implement sustainable solutions that drive manufacturing excellence.
REQUIREMENTS
- Advanced Degree with no prior experience, or Bachelor's Degree plus 2 years of manufacturing engineering experience in regulated industries
- Preferred Fields of Study: Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or related field)
- Relevant technical certifications or apprenticeships are valued
- Strong knowledge of GMP, ISO standards, and regulatory requirements
- Experience with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies
- Proficient in statistical analysis, root cause investigation, and problem-solving techniques
- Strong project management abilities and experience leading cross-functional initiatives
- Experience with engineering documentation, specifications, and change control processes
- Expertise with CAD software, manufacturing systems, and data analysis tools
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work in cleanroom environments and comply with required PPE/gowning procedures
- Available to work flexible hours and provide on-call support as needed
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and manufacturing software systems
- Experience with automation, controls, and process validation preferred
- Knowledge of equipment qualification and calibration processes
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities
- Ability to mentor and train manufacturing personnel
- Must be able to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs with assistance
OPT Science & Research Job Roles in North Carolina
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Search Science & Research Jobs in North CarolinaScience & Research OPT Sponsorship Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a strong concentration of life sciences and research employers with F-1 OPT hiring history. RTI International, Biogen, Novo Nordisk, Labcorp, and the Research Triangle Institute are among the larger organizations. Federal research institutions within Research Triangle Park, including EPA and NIEHS labs, also host OPT candidates. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and varies by role, team budget, and the employer's familiarity with OPT authorization requirements.
Which cities in North Carolina have the most science and research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Research Triangle, spanning Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, is by far the most active area for science and research OPT roles. Research Triangle Park itself sits at the center and hosts dozens of pharmaceutical, biotech, and environmental research employers. Charlotte has a smaller but growing life sciences presence. Outside these metros, opportunities are limited, so most OPT candidates in this field focus their search on the Triangle region.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in North Carolina?
Roles that directly align with your degree field are eligible for F-1 OPT. In North Carolina's science and research sector, this commonly includes research associate positions, laboratory technician roles, computational biology, environmental science, biostatistics, and clinical research coordination. STEM OPT extension eligibility applies to degrees in biology, chemistry, environmental science, biomedical engineering, and related fields, allowing a 24-month extension beyond the standard 12-month OPT period.
How do I find science and research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in North Carolina?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters science and research F-1 OPT jobs in North Carolina by visa type, so you see only employers open to OPT candidates. Rather than sorting through general job boards and guessing at sponsorship willingness, Migrate Mate surfaces roles in biotech, life sciences, and research institutions across the Triangle and beyond that are actively hiring OPT holders in this field.
Are there any North Carolina-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in science and research?
North Carolina's Research Triangle Park is one of the largest science and research employment hubs in the country, which means many employers there have established processes for onboarding international OPT candidates. Life sciences and pharmaceutical companies in the state frequently work with international talent and are more likely to have HR familiarity with STEM OPT documentation. However, each employer's willingness to sponsor a future H-1B visa after OPT ends varies and should be confirmed directly during the hiring process.