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.
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Get Access To All JobsWork Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Laboratory Setting, Office, Standing for full shift
Job Description
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $35 billion. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing efficiency in their laboratories, we are here to support them.
At Viral Vector Services (VVS), a division of Thermo Fisher Scientific, we deliver from process development through commercial supply, we offer the expertise and resources to help clients deliver innovative gene therapies.
Job Title: Scientist I Process Development-Upstream or Downstream
Location/Division Specific Information: US - Massachusetts – Plainville (on-site)
How will you make an impact?
As the Upstream/Downstream Process Development Scientist you will help our clients to deliver lifesaving and life changing therapies to patients in need. You will be supporting planning, executing, and documenting laboratory and tech transfer activities in support of process establishment, pilot, and transfer into cGMP manufacturing. You will also act as a subject matter expert (SME) and support transfer and operation of internally developed and client-transferred processes into the process development and pilot space. You will also be supporting tech transfer out to the cGMP manufacturing space.
Education regiments:
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology or related field
General qualifications:
- Demonstrated understanding of experimental design with the ability to independently conduct laboratory experiments.
- Collaborate with the Analytical Development team to develop comprehensive testing plans.
- Participate in client meetings to present results and assist with drafting process development reports.
- Prepare Process Development records, work instructions, and batch records.
- Proficiency in technical writing, adhering to Good Documentation Practices (GDP), with preferred experience in data compilation and interpretation.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly and concisely interpret, summarize, and present scientific data.
- Flexibility in work hours, including availability for weekends and evenings, as the need arises to meet project timelines.
Upstream Process Development Qualifications:
- Practical experience in aseptic techniques, cell culture, single-use bioreactors (SUBs), wave reactors, and harvest/clarification processes is preferred. Familiarity with transfection and infection-based processes for gene therapy production.
Downstream Process Development Qualifications:
- Expertise in various purification techniques, including affinity and anion exchange chromatography, with proficiency in using AKTA chromatography systems and Unicorn software is helpful. Experience with filtration-based unit operations such as tangential flow filtration, sterile filtration, and depth filtration is helpful.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Ability to analyze and summarize scientific data.
- Understanding of cGMP and regulatory requirements of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills; written and oral.
- Ability to function in a constantly evolving environment & balance multiple priorities.
- A flexible work schedule is required including Weekend and night as needed to support lab activities.
At Thermo Fisher Scientific, each one of our 70,000 extraordinary minds have a unique story to tell. Join us and contribute to our singular mission—enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.
Apply today!
Compensation and Benefits
The hourly pay range estimated for this position based in Massachusetts is $28.16–$42.24. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
- A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs.
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
- At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy.
- Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
- Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate since race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Laboratory Setting, Office, Standing for full shift
Job Description
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $35 billion. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing efficiency in their laboratories, we are here to support them.
At Viral Vector Services (VVS), a division of Thermo Fisher Scientific, we deliver from process development through commercial supply, we offer the expertise and resources to help clients deliver innovative gene therapies.
Job Title: Scientist I Process Development-Upstream or Downstream
Location/Division Specific Information: US - Massachusetts – Plainville (on-site)
How will you make an impact?
As the Upstream/Downstream Process Development Scientist you will help our clients to deliver lifesaving and life changing therapies to patients in need. You will be supporting planning, executing, and documenting laboratory and tech transfer activities in support of process establishment, pilot, and transfer into cGMP manufacturing. You will also act as a subject matter expert (SME) and support transfer and operation of internally developed and client-transferred processes into the process development and pilot space. You will also be supporting tech transfer out to the cGMP manufacturing space.
Education regiments:
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology or related field
General qualifications:
- Demonstrated understanding of experimental design with the ability to independently conduct laboratory experiments.
- Collaborate with the Analytical Development team to develop comprehensive testing plans.
- Participate in client meetings to present results and assist with drafting process development reports.
- Prepare Process Development records, work instructions, and batch records.
- Proficiency in technical writing, adhering to Good Documentation Practices (GDP), with preferred experience in data compilation and interpretation.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly and concisely interpret, summarize, and present scientific data.
- Flexibility in work hours, including availability for weekends and evenings, as the need arises to meet project timelines.
Upstream Process Development Qualifications:
- Practical experience in aseptic techniques, cell culture, single-use bioreactors (SUBs), wave reactors, and harvest/clarification processes is preferred. Familiarity with transfection and infection-based processes for gene therapy production.
Downstream Process Development Qualifications:
- Expertise in various purification techniques, including affinity and anion exchange chromatography, with proficiency in using AKTA chromatography systems and Unicorn software is helpful. Experience with filtration-based unit operations such as tangential flow filtration, sterile filtration, and depth filtration is helpful.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Ability to analyze and summarize scientific data.
- Understanding of cGMP and regulatory requirements of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills; written and oral.
- Ability to function in a constantly evolving environment & balance multiple priorities.
- A flexible work schedule is required including Weekend and night as needed to support lab activities.
At Thermo Fisher Scientific, each one of our 70,000 extraordinary minds have a unique story to tell. Join us and contribute to our singular mission—enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.
Apply today!
Compensation and Benefits
The hourly pay range estimated for this position based in Massachusetts is $28.16–$42.24. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
- A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs.
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
- At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy.
- Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
- Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate since race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
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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.