H-1B Visa Chemical Engineer Jobs
Chemical Engineer roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under USCIS guidelines, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field. Employers file an LCA with DOL before submitting your H-1B visa petition, certifying your offered wage meets the prevailing wage for your location and SOC code.
Find H-1B Visa Chemical Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 719+ Chemical Engineer jobs
See all 719+ Chemical Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Chemical Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsDescription
Burns & McDonnell is searching for a Staff Chemical Engineer to join our growing Oil, Gas & Chemical global practice in Houston, TX. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your technical design experience and leadership skills at a 100% employee-owned firm voted as a Best Place to Work in cities across the United States.
The Oil, Gas & Chemical global practice executes complex projects across the industry, from midstream and logistics facilities and refining assets, to chemical production plants and renewables and emerging market opportunities. This position will allow you the opportunity to bring an innovative perspective to define and develop engineering, procurement, and construction projects, and the opportunity for direct client interaction while engaging your technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Staff Chemical Engineer will work on an integrated design team within our Oil, Gas & Chemical division to perform the following duties:
- Perform process design calculations and develop deliverables such as hydraulic calculations, equipment sizing, process simulations, Heat and Material Balances (H&MB), Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).
- Perform chemical engineering design activities on projects from the conceptual phase through design completion.
- Plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate work requiring judgment in the independent evaluation, selection, adaptation and modification of standard engineering techniques, procedures and criteria.
- Perform work that involves conventional engineering practices but may involve a variety of complex features.
- May coordinate departmental and divisional project studies and report preparation assignments.
- All other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering or related degree from an ABET-accredited program.
- Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering may be substituted for one year of experience.
- 3 years of chemical engineering experience, consulting preferred.
- Successful completion of FE exam preferred.
- Strong knowledge of standard engineering techniques and procedures.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Must be proficient in the use of basic computer software (i.e., Microsoft Office Suite).
- Experience in process simulation software (i.e. HYSYS and/or Aspen Plus, HTRI) is preferred.
- Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Must be capable of devising new approaches to problems encountered.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Chemical Engineering
Primary Location US-TX-Houston
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time
Req ID: 262414
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-JJ #OGC
Description
Burns & McDonnell is searching for a Staff Chemical Engineer to join our growing Oil, Gas & Chemical global practice in Houston, TX. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your technical design experience and leadership skills at a 100% employee-owned firm voted as a Best Place to Work in cities across the United States.
The Oil, Gas & Chemical global practice executes complex projects across the industry, from midstream and logistics facilities and refining assets, to chemical production plants and renewables and emerging market opportunities. This position will allow you the opportunity to bring an innovative perspective to define and develop engineering, procurement, and construction projects, and the opportunity for direct client interaction while engaging your technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Staff Chemical Engineer will work on an integrated design team within our Oil, Gas & Chemical division to perform the following duties:
- Perform process design calculations and develop deliverables such as hydraulic calculations, equipment sizing, process simulations, Heat and Material Balances (H&MB), Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).
- Perform chemical engineering design activities on projects from the conceptual phase through design completion.
- Plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate work requiring judgment in the independent evaluation, selection, adaptation and modification of standard engineering techniques, procedures and criteria.
- Perform work that involves conventional engineering practices but may involve a variety of complex features.
- May coordinate departmental and divisional project studies and report preparation assignments.
- All other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering or related degree from an ABET-accredited program.
- Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering may be substituted for one year of experience.
- 3 years of chemical engineering experience, consulting preferred.
- Successful completion of FE exam preferred.
- Strong knowledge of standard engineering techniques and procedures.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Must be proficient in the use of basic computer software (i.e., Microsoft Office Suite).
- Experience in process simulation software (i.e. HYSYS and/or Aspen Plus, HTRI) is preferred.
- Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Must be capable of devising new approaches to problems encountered.
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Chemical Engineering
Primary Location US-TX-Houston
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time
Req ID: 262414
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-JJ #OGC
See all 719+ H-1B Visa Chemical Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Chemical Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Chemical Engineer
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation
USCIS requires your degree to directly relate to the duties of the role. A chemical engineering degree covers most process, R&D, and refining positions, but hybrid roles blending business and engineering may draw an RFE if the degree match isn't tight.
Check prevailing wage before accepting offers
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for your SOC code and worksite location before negotiating. Your employer's LCA must certify the offered wage meets that threshold, and a mismatch can delay or sink the petition.
Target employers with active LCA filing history
Focus your search on companies that have filed LCAs for chemical engineering roles in recent fiscal years. Migrate Mate surfaces this DOL filing history by employer and occupation, so you can identify sponsors who've navigated the process before.
Flag multi-site roles early in negotiations
If your role involves work at client sites, plants, or multiple locations, your employer needs a separate LCA for each worksite. Raise this with HR before your offer is finalized so the filing scope is accurate from the start.
Prepare your O*NET profile documentation now
Your employer's attorney will reference the O*NET occupation profile for Chemical Engineers to support the specialty occupation argument. Gather job descriptions, degree transcripts, and any professional licensure that aligns with the duties listed in that profile.
Time your cap registration around project cycles
H-1B registration opens in March for an October 1 start. If you're mid-project at a current employer or finishing OPT, plan your job search timeline so an October transition doesn't strand a critical deliverable and complicate your employer's willingness to sponsor.
H-1B Visa Chemical Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Chemical Engineer role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. Chemical engineering roles qualify under the H-1B specialty occupation definition because the work normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a directly related field. USCIS looks at whether the specific job duties require that theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge, not just whether the job title sounds technical.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most often for Chemical Engineers?
Petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor manufacturing, specialty chemicals, and food processing are the industries with the highest volume of H-1B LCA filings for chemical engineering roles. Federal contractors, national laboratories, and large engineering firms also sponsor regularly. You can browse employers with verified H-1B filing history for this occupation on Migrate Mate.
Can I switch chemical engineering employers on an H-1B without losing my status?
Yes, under H-1B portability rules your new employer must file an H-1B transfer petition before or on your last day at your current employer. You can start the new role once USCIS receives the petition, without waiting for approval. Your new employer must file a fresh LCA and petition covering the new worksite and job duties.
What happens if my Chemical Engineer role involves work at multiple client sites?
Your employer must file a separate LCA for each worksite where you'll work for more than a short, non-recurring period. If the client site wasn't included in the original LCA, working there without an amended filing puts your status at risk. Employers often use short-term placement exceptions for assignments under 60 workdays in a year at a non-LCA location.
Does professional engineering licensure affect my H-1B petition as a Chemical Engineer?
A PE license isn't required for H-1B approval, but it strengthens the specialty occupation argument if your degree field isn't an exact match to the role. USCIS may also weigh licensure when evaluating roles in regulated industries like refining or pharmaceuticals where state licensure signals a recognized professional standard for the position.