Green Card Supplier Development Engineer Jobs
Supplier Development Engineer jobs with green card sponsorship require employers to complete PERM labor certification with the Department of Labor before filing an I-140 immigrant petition. Most roles qualify under EB-2 for advanced-degree professionals or EB-3 for candidates with a bachelor's degree and two or more years of supply chain experience, leading to lawful permanent residency.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the quality and reliability of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert responsible for the complete supplier quality lifecycle, from initial sourcing to ongoing business management. You act as a leader with minimal manager input, taking direct ownership of the most critical and highest-risk suppliers to ensure a seamless production ramp.
In this role, you lead the resolution of complex manufacturing issues and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive systemic change across the organization. You are responsible for identifying and mitigating high-impact risks, serving as a technical mentor, and providing the expert-level analysis necessary to influence critical sourcing and design decisions. We are looking for an expert who can drive accountability with suppliers at the executive level and advocate for the team’s needs in major program reviews.
This position is based onsite in Irvine, California with a 25-50% domestic and international travel requirement and reports to the Sr. Manager, Supplier Development Industrialization & Quality Manager.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Supplier Management: Own the complete "Cradle to Grave" supplier quality lifecycle to ensure seamless production ramps. Manage critical CL0 and CL1 suppliers, resolving failures to mitigate risks or delays.
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Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Lead the breaking down of complex problems and datasets to derive meaningful, actionable results. Apply standard, robust problem-solving tools to address systemic issues across the supply base.
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Technical Skills: Lead high-complexity APQP/PPAP projects impacting major program milestones. Optimize supplier quality KPIs to predict and prevent future failures, aligning project efforts with long-term goals.
-
Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as a key advisor to program leadership, presenting and defending strategic recommendations in high-stakes forums. Drive systemic cross-functional change using first principles to persuade other functions to adopt new processes.
-
Direction: Operate as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers and cross-functional teams. Act instinctively to manage and prioritize complex workloads in high-pressure situations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
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Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant supplier development experience.
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Domain Expertise: Full understanding of the procurement end-to-end lifecycle and experience managing high-risk supplier portfolios.
-
Commodity-Specific Experience:
- Experience with battery, cells, cell materials, or other electrochemical or electronics components.
- Familiarity with cell manufacturing processes and the quality challenges of scaling new technology.
- Experience supporting new product introduction with suppliers in a high-volume automotive setting.
-
Technical Skills: Primary owner of the business case and execution for significant process improvement initiatives.
-
Communication: Interpreter of information who can facilitate productive conversations and gain buy-in for a clear vision.
-
Execution: Expert analysis and recommendations directly influence critical sourcing decisions and capital investments.
-
Operational Style: Operates as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers/cross-functional teams; navigates high-pressure situations by reaching beyond defined scope to solve problems.
-
Travel Requirements: Regular domestic and international travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 25–50%.
INTRODUCTION
The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the quality and reliability of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert responsible for the complete supplier quality lifecycle, from initial sourcing to ongoing business management. You act as a leader with minimal manager input, taking direct ownership of the most critical and highest-risk suppliers to ensure a seamless production ramp.
In this role, you lead the resolution of complex manufacturing issues and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive systemic change across the organization. You are responsible for identifying and mitigating high-impact risks, serving as a technical mentor, and providing the expert-level analysis necessary to influence critical sourcing and design decisions. We are looking for an expert who can drive accountability with suppliers at the executive level and advocate for the team’s needs in major program reviews.
This position is based onsite in Irvine, California with a 25-50% domestic and international travel requirement and reports to the Sr. Manager, Supplier Development Industrialization & Quality Manager.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Supplier Management: Own the complete "Cradle to Grave" supplier quality lifecycle to ensure seamless production ramps. Manage critical CL0 and CL1 suppliers, resolving failures to mitigate risks or delays.
-
Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Lead the breaking down of complex problems and datasets to derive meaningful, actionable results. Apply standard, robust problem-solving tools to address systemic issues across the supply base.
-
Technical Skills: Lead high-complexity APQP/PPAP projects impacting major program milestones. Optimize supplier quality KPIs to predict and prevent future failures, aligning project efforts with long-term goals.
-
Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as a key advisor to program leadership, presenting and defending strategic recommendations in high-stakes forums. Drive systemic cross-functional change using first principles to persuade other functions to adopt new processes.
-
Direction: Operate as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers and cross-functional teams. Act instinctively to manage and prioritize complex workloads in high-pressure situations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
-
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant supplier development experience.
-
Domain Expertise: Full understanding of the procurement end-to-end lifecycle and experience managing high-risk supplier portfolios.
-
Commodity-Specific Experience:
- Experience with battery, cells, cell materials, or other electrochemical or electronics components.
- Familiarity with cell manufacturing processes and the quality challenges of scaling new technology.
- Experience supporting new product introduction with suppliers in a high-volume automotive setting.
-
Technical Skills: Primary owner of the business case and execution for significant process improvement initiatives.
-
Communication: Interpreter of information who can facilitate productive conversations and gain buy-in for a clear vision.
-
Execution: Expert analysis and recommendations directly influence critical sourcing decisions and capital investments.
-
Operational Style: Operates as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers/cross-functional teams; navigates high-pressure situations by reaching beyond defined scope to solve problems.
-
Travel Requirements: Regular domestic and international travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 25–50%.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Supplier Development Engineer
Document your supply chain credentials strategically
Pull together performance reviews, cost-savings reports, and supplier audit records before your first interview. PERM requires the employer to show your qualifications match the job description, so your documentation needs to map directly to the posted role requirements.
Target manufacturers with established PERM programs
Search Migrate Mate to identify employers with verified green card sponsorship history in engineering roles. Companies with active PERM filings in supply chain functions are far more likely to sponsor a new hire than those doing it for the first time.
Distinguish EB-2 from EB-3 for your background
If you hold a master's degree in engineering, industrial management, or a related field, you likely qualify under EB-2. A bachelor's degree with two or more years of progressive supplier development experience typically qualifies under EB-3. Knowing which category fits you helps you negotiate the filing path with your employer.
Use OFLC Wage Search before salary negotiations
PERM requires your offered salary to meet the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Running the OFLC Wage Search for Supplier Development Engineer roles in your target metro before your offer stage lets you negotiate from an informed position and reduces the risk of a wage-based audit.
Ask about priority dates early in the process
Employment-based green cards have per-country annual limits, and nationals of high-demand countries such as India and China can face significant backlogs. Ask a prospective employer whether they'll retain counsel to monitor your priority date and what happens to your I-140 approval if you change roles before your I-485 is filed.
Review your O*NET profile to align your resume
PERM job descriptions are benchmarked against occupational standards, and O*NET lists the core tasks, tools, and skills associated with Supplier Development Engineer roles. Aligning your resume language to these definitions strengthens the employer's ability to defend the job requirements during DOL review.
Green Card Supplier Development Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Which green card category applies to Supplier Development Engineer roles?
Most Supplier Development Engineers qualify under EB-2 if they hold a master's degree or a bachelor's degree with five years of progressive experience, or under EB-3 if they have a bachelor's degree and at least two years of relevant experience. The employer and their attorney determine the category based on the actual job requirements, not just your credentials.
How does the PERM green card process differ from H-1B sponsorship for this role?
H-1B visa is a temporary work visa with a three-year initial period, an annual lottery for most applicants, and no path to permanence on its own. PERM leads to lawful permanent residency through a three-stage process: the employer files a prevailing wage determination and recruitment test with the Department of Labor, then an I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS, then you file for adjustment of status or go through consular processing. There is no lottery, but per-country annual limits mean priority date backlogs can apply depending on your nationality.
How do I find employers who sponsor Supplier Development Engineer roles for green cards?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified green card sponsorship history in engineering and supply chain roles, so you can focus your search on companies that have already committed to the PERM process rather than those who may be open to it in theory. Filtering by role and location narrows the results to actionable leads.
Can I change employers after my PERM is filed but before my green card is approved?
Two different rules apply depending on where you are in the process. If your I-485 adjustment of status application has been pending for 180 days or more, AC21 job portability lets you move to a new employer in the same or a similar occupation without losing your place in line. Separately, once an I-140 has been approved, your priority date can carry over to a new employer's I-140 petition even if the original employer withdraws the first one.
What documentation should I prepare before a Supplier Development Engineer employer begins PERM?
USCIS and DOL will scrutinize whether your qualifications meet the posted job requirements, so gather academic transcripts, degree certificates, any foreign credential evaluations, and employment letters that detail your job titles, dates, and specific duties. For EB-3 skilled worker or EB-2 bachelor's-plus-experience cases, contemporaneous employer letters outlining progressive responsibility carry more weight than a resume summary alone.