Science & Research OPT Jobs in Virginia
Science and research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Virginia are concentrated around federal research corridors in Northern Virginia, the Tysons area, and the Research Triangle communities near Charlottesville and Blacksburg. Major employers include Leidos, SAIC, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Northrop Grumman, alongside university-affiliated labs and federal contractors supporting agencies such as NIH, DARPA, and the Department of Defense.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: STEM Academy Program Manager
Department: THE STEM ACADEMY
Position Number: GP616A
Location: Norfolk, VA
Job Summary
The chief objective of the Program Manager for the STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington Elementary School is to serve as the ODU liaison on site at the lab school and coordinate and support the implementation of the STEM Academy’s mission and vision, under the supervision of the Executive Director for the Center for Educational Innovation and Opportunity. The Program Manager will lead outreach and sustainability efforts, engage with community and other partners, and ensure the effective implementation of lab school priorities.
Position Type: FullTime
Type of Recruitment: General Public
Minimum Qualifications
* Master’s degree in education, business, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree in education, business, or a related field with experience equivalent to a master’s degree.
* Knowledge of higher education environments.
* Demonstrated experience with event planning, project management, and collaborative team-based work.
* Working knowledge of K–12 school systems, including elementary schools.
* Demonstrated experience cultivating and sustaining partnerships with industry, community, or workforce organizations.
* Strong written and oral communication skills with excellent organizational and interpersonal abilities.
* Proficiency in brand development and creative program development.
* Proficiency working in a virtual environment, including experience with online collaboration tools.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships.
* Willingness and eagerness to learn and grow individually and as part of the lab school team.
Preferred Qualifications
* Considerable experience working in or with K–12 education settings, higher education, or community-based learning environments.
* Demonstrated experience designing or supporting experiential learning models, including case-based, problem-based, or project-based learning.
* Working knowledge of design thinking processes and experience applying them in educational, research, or workforce contexts.
* Some experience collaborating with educators, faculty, or program leaders to support instructional innovation.
* Some experience supporting student recruitment, outreach, or pathway development.
* Experience as a K–12 teacher.
* Experience providing professional learning experiences.
* Working knowledge of laboratory schools.
Conditions of Employment
Job Open Date: 05/13/2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Application Review Date: 06/01/2026
Criminal Background Check
The final candidate is required to complete a criminal history check.
Equity Statement
It is the policy of Old Dominion University to provide equal employment, educational and social opportunities for all persons, without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or genetic information. Individuals from minoritized communities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Reasonable Accommodation Request
If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact the Division of Talent Management and Culture at (757) 683-3141.
Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
ODU Statement
Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, is Virginia’s forward-focused public doctoral research university with more than 23,000 students, a top R1 research ranking, rigorous academics, an energetic residential community and initiatives that contribute $2.6 billion annually to Virginia’s economy.
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter/Letter of Application
Optional Documents
* Other Document
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Job Title: STEM Academy Program Manager
Department: THE STEM ACADEMY
Position Number: GP616A
Location: Norfolk, VA
Job Summary
The chief objective of the Program Manager for the STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington Elementary School is to serve as the ODU liaison on site at the lab school and coordinate and support the implementation of the STEM Academy’s mission and vision, under the supervision of the Executive Director for the Center for Educational Innovation and Opportunity. The Program Manager will lead outreach and sustainability efforts, engage with community and other partners, and ensure the effective implementation of lab school priorities.
Position Type: FullTime
Type of Recruitment: General Public
Minimum Qualifications
* Master’s degree in education, business, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree in education, business, or a related field with experience equivalent to a master’s degree.
* Knowledge of higher education environments.
* Demonstrated experience with event planning, project management, and collaborative team-based work.
* Working knowledge of K–12 school systems, including elementary schools.
* Demonstrated experience cultivating and sustaining partnerships with industry, community, or workforce organizations.
* Strong written and oral communication skills with excellent organizational and interpersonal abilities.
* Proficiency in brand development and creative program development.
* Proficiency working in a virtual environment, including experience with online collaboration tools.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships.
* Willingness and eagerness to learn and grow individually and as part of the lab school team.
Preferred Qualifications
* Considerable experience working in or with K–12 education settings, higher education, or community-based learning environments.
* Demonstrated experience designing or supporting experiential learning models, including case-based, problem-based, or project-based learning.
* Working knowledge of design thinking processes and experience applying them in educational, research, or workforce contexts.
* Some experience collaborating with educators, faculty, or program leaders to support instructional innovation.
* Some experience supporting student recruitment, outreach, or pathway development.
* Experience as a K–12 teacher.
* Experience providing professional learning experiences.
* Working knowledge of laboratory schools.
Conditions of Employment
Job Open Date: 05/13/2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Application Review Date: 06/01/2026
Criminal Background Check
The final candidate is required to complete a criminal history check.
Equity Statement
It is the policy of Old Dominion University to provide equal employment, educational and social opportunities for all persons, without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or genetic information. Individuals from minoritized communities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Reasonable Accommodation Request
If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact the Division of Talent Management and Culture at (757) 683-3141.
Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
ODU Statement
Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, is Virginia’s forward-focused public doctoral research university with more than 23,000 students, a top R1 research ranking, rigorous academics, an energetic residential community and initiatives that contribute $2.6 billion annually to Virginia’s economy.
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter/Letter of Application
Optional Documents
* Other Document
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Science & Research Job Roles in Virginia
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Search Science & Research Jobs in VirginiaScience & Research Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Virginia?
Federal defense and technology contractors are among the most active F-1 OPT sponsors in Virginia's science and research sector. Companies such as Leidos, SAIC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Northrop Grumman, and ManTech regularly file Labor Condition Applications for research and scientific roles. University-affiliated research centers at George Mason University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia also sponsor OPT students for positions in applied sciences, data analysis, and engineering research.
Which cities in Virginia have the most science and research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Northern Virginia, particularly Tysons Corner, Reston, and Arlington, hosts the highest concentration of science and research OPT sponsorship roles due to proximity to federal agencies and major contractors. Charlottesville supports research positions tied to the University of Virginia, while Blacksburg offers opportunities connected to Virginia Tech's research enterprise. The Hampton Roads area also has science and research roles linked to naval and aerospace research institutions.
How do I find science & research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Virginia?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT job seekers and surfaces verified science and research roles in Virginia where employers have a documented history of sponsoring work authorization. You can filter by OPT status, industry, and Virginia location to identify contractors, labs, and research institutions actively hiring. This is more targeted than general job searches, which do not filter by sponsorship history or visa compatibility.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Virginia?
Roles that align directly with a qualifying STEM degree field are most commonly sponsored under F-1 OPT in Virginia's research sector. These include research scientist, data scientist, bioinformatics analyst, environmental scientist, laboratory analyst, and research engineer positions. Many Virginia employers also sponsor roles in computational modeling, materials science, and geospatial analysis. STEM OPT extension eligibility applies to roles at E-Verify enrolled employers, which is common among Virginia's federal contractors.
Are there state-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in science and research roles in Virginia?
Virginia's large federal contracting sector means that many science and research positions require security clearances or clearance eligibility, which can affect OPT holders since clearances are tied to citizenship or permanent residency status. F-1 OPT candidates should confirm clearance requirements before applying. Virginia has no state-level OPT restrictions, but applicants should verify that their employer is enrolled in E-Verify if they intend to apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after their initial OPT period.