Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in North Carolina
North Carolina's Research Triangle anchors one of the country's most active science and research hiring corridors for F-1 STEM OPT candidates. Employers across biopharmaceuticals, environmental science, and materials research in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, along with institutions like RTI International and major university-affiliated labs, regularly file STEM OPT extensions for research scientists, lab analysts, and data scientists.
Find Science & Research JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 35+ Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in North Carolina
See all 35+ Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in North Carolina
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in North Carolina.
Get Access To All JobsWork Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards
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.
Role Overview
Complete Technology Transfer activities by performing manufacturing process development for injectable products and transferring them to commercial lines. Using experimental design, establish formulation processes, product pathways, and select components for successful scale-up. Support client calls, prepare necessary documentation (including but not limited to work orders, protocols, and summaries) with minimal supervision, provide scientific justification as needed, and communicate project status.
Discover Impactful Work!
- Technically support day-to-day operations in the Formulation, Filling, and/or Freeze Drying areas of the Steriles plant.
- Lead technical/scientific process, product, and project activities to implement strategies and solutions.
- Drive the creation of processes, single-use systems, and equipment designs for clinical, scale-up, and/or registration batches.
- Support the development and implementation of new technologies, including isolator-based filling.
- Support lyophilization development, cycle optimization, scale-up, and troubleshooting.
- Make sound technical decisions with minimal supervision.
A Day in the Life
- Design, implement, and evaluate studies; lead Tech Transfer and commercial scale-up, and support process validation.
- Represent the organization in formal technical and scientific forums.
- Lead and/or participate in problem-solving activities related to formulations, equipment, and manufacturing processes.
- Write/revise work orders, FORMs, reports, memos, and protocols as required.
- Independently manage projects and organize technical activities to achieve key milestones.
- Support manufacturing operations, change controls, and investigations as an SME and develop appropriate CAPAs.
- Assess material and process changes and determine potential impact.
- Support development of proposals and project timelines and lead relevant client meetings.
- Review bid quotes, protocols, technical documents, results, and reports.
- Provide technical guidance to less-experienced scientists as needed.
Keys to Success
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related physical science with 6+ years of relevant experience; or
- Master’s degree in a related scientific discipline with 4+ years of relevant experience; or
- PhD in a related scientific discipline with 2+ years of relevant experience.
- CMO/CDMO or pharmaceutical product development experience preferred.
- Experience with Technology Transfer, process development, and sterile manufacturing preferred.
- Experience with formulation and lyophilization development and troubleshooting preferred.
- Experience with DSC, Freeze-Drying Microscopy (FDM), and SP Scientific LyoStar or similar development-scale lyophilization systems is a plus.
- Experience with isolator technology, PFS, cartridge filling, two-compartment cartridge systems, and/or Media Fill is a plus.
Equivalency
Equivalent combinations of education, training, and meaningful work experience may be considered.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Advanced knowledge of pharmaceutical process development and related technical principles.
- Excellent knowledge of scientific methodology and pharmaceutical development.
- Working knowledge of basic analytical laboratory techniques and common laboratory equipment used to support formulation and process development.
- Detailed knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices.
- Strong critical thinking, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to independently lead Technology Transfer activities and make sound technical decisions with minimal supervision.
- Strong team player with demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions, share knowledge, and support common project goals.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
- Effective written, interpersonal, and presentation skills, including leading technical discussions with internal and external clients.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
- Ability to remain current with pharmaceutical processes, equipment, technologies, scientific literature, and relevant industry trends.
- Position requires ordinary ambulatory skills and physical coordination sufficient to move throughout office, laboratory, and manufacturing locations; ability to stand and walk; and ability to lift and/or carry light objects up to 25 lbs. for brief periods.
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards
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.
Role Overview
Complete Technology Transfer activities by performing manufacturing process development for injectable products and transferring them to commercial lines. Using experimental design, establish formulation processes, product pathways, and select components for successful scale-up. Support client calls, prepare necessary documentation (including but not limited to work orders, protocols, and summaries) with minimal supervision, provide scientific justification as needed, and communicate project status.
Discover Impactful Work!
- Technically support day-to-day operations in the Formulation, Filling, and/or Freeze Drying areas of the Steriles plant.
- Lead technical/scientific process, product, and project activities to implement strategies and solutions.
- Drive the creation of processes, single-use systems, and equipment designs for clinical, scale-up, and/or registration batches.
- Support the development and implementation of new technologies, including isolator-based filling.
- Support lyophilization development, cycle optimization, scale-up, and troubleshooting.
- Make sound technical decisions with minimal supervision.
A Day in the Life
- Design, implement, and evaluate studies; lead Tech Transfer and commercial scale-up, and support process validation.
- Represent the organization in formal technical and scientific forums.
- Lead and/or participate in problem-solving activities related to formulations, equipment, and manufacturing processes.
- Write/revise work orders, FORMs, reports, memos, and protocols as required.
- Independently manage projects and organize technical activities to achieve key milestones.
- Support manufacturing operations, change controls, and investigations as an SME and develop appropriate CAPAs.
- Assess material and process changes and determine potential impact.
- Support development of proposals and project timelines and lead relevant client meetings.
- Review bid quotes, protocols, technical documents, results, and reports.
- Provide technical guidance to less-experienced scientists as needed.
Keys to Success
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related physical science with 6+ years of relevant experience; or
- Master’s degree in a related scientific discipline with 4+ years of relevant experience; or
- PhD in a related scientific discipline with 2+ years of relevant experience.
- CMO/CDMO or pharmaceutical product development experience preferred.
- Experience with Technology Transfer, process development, and sterile manufacturing preferred.
- Experience with formulation and lyophilization development and troubleshooting preferred.
- Experience with DSC, Freeze-Drying Microscopy (FDM), and SP Scientific LyoStar or similar development-scale lyophilization systems is a plus.
- Experience with isolator technology, PFS, cartridge filling, two-compartment cartridge systems, and/or Media Fill is a plus.
Equivalency
Equivalent combinations of education, training, and meaningful work experience may be considered.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Advanced knowledge of pharmaceutical process development and related technical principles.
- Excellent knowledge of scientific methodology and pharmaceutical development.
- Working knowledge of basic analytical laboratory techniques and common laboratory equipment used to support formulation and process development.
- Detailed knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices.
- Strong critical thinking, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to independently lead Technology Transfer activities and make sound technical decisions with minimal supervision.
- Strong team player with demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions, share knowledge, and support common project goals.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
- Effective written, interpersonal, and presentation skills, including leading technical discussions with internal and external clients.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
- Ability to remain current with pharmaceutical processes, equipment, technologies, scientific literature, and relevant industry trends.
- Position requires ordinary ambulatory skills and physical coordination sufficient to move throughout office, laboratory, and manufacturing locations; ability to stand and walk; and ability to lift and/or carry light objects up to 25 lbs. for brief periods.
STEM OPT Science & Research Job Roles in North Carolina
See all 35+ Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in North Carolina
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Science & Research Jobs in North CarolinaScience & Research STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science & research companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in North Carolina?
North Carolina's life sciences and research sector includes employers with consistent STEM OPT sponsorship histories. Companies such as RTI International, Biogen, Novo Nordisk, IQVIA, and Syneos Health in the Research Triangle area have active research divisions that hire international candidates on STEM OPT. Federal research facilities like the EPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Lab in Research Triangle Park also support OPT extensions for qualifying research roles.
Which cities in North Carolina have the most science & research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Research Triangle Park and the surrounding Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metro concentrate the highest density of science and research STEM OPT opportunities in North Carolina. Chapel Hill and Durham benefit from proximity to UNC, Duke, and NC State research clusters. Charlotte has a growing concentration of environmental and materials science employers. Wilmington supports marine and coastal research roles tied to UNCW and state environmental agencies.
How do I find science & research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in North Carolina?
Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for science and research positions in North Carolina where employers have verified STEM OPT sponsorship histories, drawing on DOL Labor Condition Application filing data. This makes it straightforward to identify which organizations in the Research Triangle, Charlotte, or Wilmington have actively supported F-1 STEM OPT candidates in research scientist, environmental analyst, and laboratory specialist roles rather than relying on generic job listings.
What types of science & research roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in North Carolina?
Roles that qualify must fall under STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs codes tied to the student's degree. In North Carolina's science and research sector, qualifying positions commonly include research scientist, environmental scientist, biostatistician, computational biologist, laboratory analyst, materials scientist, and clinical research associate roles. The position must involve direct application of the STEM degree field. O*NET occupation profiles can help confirm whether a specific role meets the theoretical and practical application standard USCIS requires.
Are there any state-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in North Carolina's science sector?
North Carolina employers in the research sector who hire STEM OPT students must be enrolled in E-Verify, as required for all STEM OPT extension sponsors nationally. Within North Carolina specifically, Research Triangle Park employers are generally familiar with OPT and STEM OPT processes given the high concentration of international research talent from nearby universities. State-funded research institutions and contract research organizations in the Triangle often have established international hiring workflows, though sponsorship readiness still varies by employer and role.