Process Development Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Process Development Engineers are strong H-1B visa and O-1 visa candidates. The role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a degree in chemical, mechanical, or materials engineering, and employers in pharma, semiconductor, and biotech routinely sponsor visas for this title. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
Find Process Development Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 108+ Process Development Engineer jobs
See all 108+ Process Development Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Process Development Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsPosition Overview
Nektar has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Process Development Engineer on the Process Development team.
Summary
Works within a highly cross-functional team in biologics process development to advance products from early- to late-stage development. Supports downstream purification/PEGylation/formulation with a focus on late-stage development.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Process Development
- Designs, executes, and optimizes downstream purification unit operations, including Refold, Clarification/Depth Filtration, IEX, HIC chromatography, and TFF/crossflow, to deliver scalable, high-yield, high-purity processes that meet target CQAs.
Process Transfer, Validation, and Technical Support
- Provides on-site and remote support for manufacturing processes, addressing technical issues that arise during production.
- Reviews and approves GMP documentation, supports investigations by applying rigorous scientific principles and data analysis to solve complex process challenges.
- Leads process changes and new process transfers from development to manufacturing; acts as a liaison between PD and Manufacturing.
Cross Functional Collaboration & Program Support
- Serves as the DSP representative on CMC teams; integrates with Upstream, Analytical Development, Formulation, Quality, and Regulatory to align development plans, timelines, and deliverables.
- Prepares and delivers technical presentations and updates to project leadership, governance, and external partners/CMOs.
Additional Qualifications
- Demonstrated expertise in protein chromatography (IEX, HIC), depth filtration, and TFF/crossflow from lab to pilot scale. Conjugation expertise is a plus.
- Experience operating ÄKTA systems and control software (e.g., UNICORN), including proficiency in column packing/unpacking and membrane operations.
- Familiarity with cGMP expectations for clinical manufacturing and authoring and reviewing cGMP-aligned documentation.
- Experience collaborating with manufacturing, supporting engineering and clinical runs, and executing process transfers.
- Strong cross-functional communication and stakeholder management in a matrixed environment, with the ability to present complex data clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong attention to data integrity and safety; results-oriented, organized, and thorough.
Education or Degree Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline is required. Equivalent experience may be considered.
Minimum Professional Experience
8 years of industry experience is required, including 5 years in GMP research, development, operations, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, or another regulated environment.
Postdoctoral work may be considered.
Additional Requirements
May require up to 50% domestic and international travel to contract manufacturing sites or business partners.
Additional Information
Nektar currently anticipates the base salary for the Senior Drug Product Process Engineer to range from $170,000 to $190,000 for candidates in the Bay Area and will depend, in part, on successful candidate location and qualifications for the role, including education and experience. This position will also be eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan, depending in part on company and individual performance and at the Company’s discretion. The compensation described above is subject to change and could be higher or lower than the range described based on the market survey data.
Qualifying employees are eligible to participate in benefit programs such as:
- Health Insurance (Medical/Dental/Vision)
- Disability Insurance
- Holiday Pay
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 401(k) Match
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Wellness Programs
- Parental Leave Benefits (in accordance with the terms of applicable plans)
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Nektar Therapeutics will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in the manner proscribed by the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
Position Overview
Nektar has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Process Development Engineer on the Process Development team.
Summary
Works within a highly cross-functional team in biologics process development to advance products from early- to late-stage development. Supports downstream purification/PEGylation/formulation with a focus on late-stage development.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Process Development
- Designs, executes, and optimizes downstream purification unit operations, including Refold, Clarification/Depth Filtration, IEX, HIC chromatography, and TFF/crossflow, to deliver scalable, high-yield, high-purity processes that meet target CQAs.
Process Transfer, Validation, and Technical Support
- Provides on-site and remote support for manufacturing processes, addressing technical issues that arise during production.
- Reviews and approves GMP documentation, supports investigations by applying rigorous scientific principles and data analysis to solve complex process challenges.
- Leads process changes and new process transfers from development to manufacturing; acts as a liaison between PD and Manufacturing.
Cross Functional Collaboration & Program Support
- Serves as the DSP representative on CMC teams; integrates with Upstream, Analytical Development, Formulation, Quality, and Regulatory to align development plans, timelines, and deliverables.
- Prepares and delivers technical presentations and updates to project leadership, governance, and external partners/CMOs.
Additional Qualifications
- Demonstrated expertise in protein chromatography (IEX, HIC), depth filtration, and TFF/crossflow from lab to pilot scale. Conjugation expertise is a plus.
- Experience operating ÄKTA systems and control software (e.g., UNICORN), including proficiency in column packing/unpacking and membrane operations.
- Familiarity with cGMP expectations for clinical manufacturing and authoring and reviewing cGMP-aligned documentation.
- Experience collaborating with manufacturing, supporting engineering and clinical runs, and executing process transfers.
- Strong cross-functional communication and stakeholder management in a matrixed environment, with the ability to present complex data clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong attention to data integrity and safety; results-oriented, organized, and thorough.
Education or Degree Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline is required. Equivalent experience may be considered.
Minimum Professional Experience
8 years of industry experience is required, including 5 years in GMP research, development, operations, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, or another regulated environment.
Postdoctoral work may be considered.
Additional Requirements
May require up to 50% domestic and international travel to contract manufacturing sites or business partners.
Additional Information
Nektar currently anticipates the base salary for the Senior Drug Product Process Engineer to range from $170,000 to $190,000 for candidates in the Bay Area and will depend, in part, on successful candidate location and qualifications for the role, including education and experience. This position will also be eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan, depending in part on company and individual performance and at the Company’s discretion. The compensation described above is subject to change and could be higher or lower than the range described based on the market survey data.
Qualifying employees are eligible to participate in benefit programs such as:
- Health Insurance (Medical/Dental/Vision)
- Disability Insurance
- Holiday Pay
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 401(k) Match
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Wellness Programs
- Parental Leave Benefits (in accordance with the terms of applicable plans)
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Nektar Therapeutics will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in the manner proscribed by the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
See all 108+ Process Development Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Process Development Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Process Development Engineer
Target industries with established sponsorship pipelines
Pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and biotech manufacturers sponsor Process Development Engineers at high rates. These industries have internal immigration teams familiar with H-1B filings, which speeds up the process and reduces the risk of petition errors.
Align your degree field to the role description
H-1B approval for this title depends on proving specialty occupation. A degree in chemical, mechanical, materials, or biomedical engineering maps cleanly to the role. Degrees in unrelated fields require stronger documentation to establish the connection.
Prioritize larger employers for first sponsorship
Large manufacturers and contract development organizations have sponsored this role repeatedly, giving them established LCA and I-129 workflows. First-time sponsors face longer timelines and higher petition risk, which matters if you're on OPT deadlines.
Highlight process validation and scale-up experience
Employers filing H-1B petitions for this role need to demonstrate the job requires a specific degree. Framing your work around process validation, tech transfer, and scale-up reinforces the specialty occupation argument in your petition documentation.
Understand how OPT STEM extension timelines interact with H-1B
The H-1B lottery runs in March for October starts. If your OPT expires before October, confirm your employer can bridge the gap with a STEM extension. Process Development Engineering qualifies under most STEM-designated CIP codes.
Ask about cap-exempt employers early
Hospitals, universities, and nonprofit research institutions attached to higher education are cap-exempt, meaning no lottery. Some biotech and pharma R&D roles sit within cap-exempt entities. Identifying these early removes lottery risk from your sponsorship path entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Process Development Engineer qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. The role consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation because it requires theoretical and practical application of chemical, mechanical, or materials engineering principles at the bachelor's level or higher. USCIS has approved H-1B visa petitions for this title across pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and biotech employers. The strongest petitions tie specific job duties to degree requirements rather than relying on the job title alone.
Which visa types do employers typically sponsor for this role?
H-1B is the most common path, used by the majority of Process Development Engineers entering the U.S. workforce. O-1A is an option for candidates with publications, patents, or industry awards. L-1B applies if you're transferring from a foreign affiliate of a U.S. company with specialized knowledge of proprietary processes. TN visa classification is available for Canadian and Mexican nationals with engineering degrees.
What degree does an employer need to demonstrate for H-1B approval?
USCIS requires the employer to show that a specific bachelor's degree in a directly related field is the normal minimum for the position. For Process Development Engineer, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, and biomedical engineering all satisfy this. A general engineering degree may require additional supporting documentation. Degrees in business, biology, or unrelated sciences will face closer scrutiny and may require a detailed nexus argument.
How do I find Process Development Engineer roles that sponsor visas?
Migrate Mate lists Process Development Engineer positions specifically filtered for visa sponsorship, so you're not sorting through postings that don't apply to international candidates. Past H-1B filings are publicly available through DOL disclosure data, which lets you verify whether a specific employer has sponsored this role before. Combining both sources gives you the most accurate picture of where real sponsorship opportunities exist.
Can I get sponsored for this role without a U.S. degree?
Yes. USCIS accepts foreign degrees that are equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in a relevant field. A three-year engineering degree from some countries may require a credential evaluation to establish equivalency. Work experience can supplement academic credentials under the three-for-one rule, where three years of specialized experience substitutes for one year of formal education, but a full degree equivalent still needs to be demonstrated.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Process Development Engineer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.