H-1B Visa Hardware Engineer Jobs
Hardware Engineer roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field. Employers in semiconductors, consumer electronics, and defense regularly sponsor H-1B petitions for these roles, and the 85,000-slot annual cap means timing your job search around the April lottery window matters.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.
We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.
THE ROLE
Apptronik is seeking a Staff Perception Hardware Engineer to serve as the execution leader for Apollo’s perception hardware systems. While others may draw the block diagrams, you are the engineer responsible for making sure the physical hardware actually works, scales, and ships.
At the Staff level, you will tackle the most complex, multi-disciplinary bottlenecks in the perception stack. You will lead the hands-on integration, aggressive troubleshooting, and physical validation of high-performance cameras, complex optics, and multi-gigabit data links on a moving, vibrating humanoid. You will act as the "boots-on-the-ground" technical authority, leading cross-functional engineering efforts through critical design phases, system bring-up, custom hardware development, ISP tuning, and manufacturing deployment to ensure Apollo perceives the world with unmatched clarity.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- End-to-End System Execution: Lead the physical integration of the robot’s visual perception stack. Drive the transition from prototype designs to fully validated, production-ready camera assemblies, ensuring all FOV, thermal, and mechanical stability targets are met on the physical hardware.
- Custom Module Development & Vendor Execution: When off-the-shelf components fall short, define the electrical, optical, and mechanical specifications for custom sensor modules. Drive external optical vendors and contract manufacturers (CMs) through the build process, ensuring strict adherence to Apptronik’s standards.
- Custom Bring-Up & Validation Plans: Architect and own the comprehensive bring-up, DVT (Design Verification Testing), and End-of-Line (EOL) test plans for all custom-built sensor modules, ensuring they are rigorously validated before they ever integrate into the humanoid platform.
- Hands-on ISP Tuning & IQ Validation: Take ownership of the image quality (IQ) on the actual robot. Perform deep, hands-on ISP tuning (auto-exposure, white balance, tone mapping) in real-world environments to ensure the camera data satisfies both the strict requirements of machine learning models and the low-latency needs of human teleoperators.
- High-Speed Bring-up & Deep Debugging: Lead the electrical bring-up and validation of the multi-gigabit video backbone (e.g., GMSL2/3, FPD-Link). Serve as the ultimate escalation point for complex, system-level EMI/EMC debugging, using high-speed oscilloscopes and analyzers to track down frame drops and signal integrity issues across dynamic robot joints.
- Synchronization Execution: Implement and rigorously measure the hardware-level synchronization across cameras, LiDAR, and IMUs. Prove out sub-microsecond timing accuracy on the physical robot using oscilloscopes and custom test fixtures to guarantee pristine data for visual-inertial odometry (VIO).
- Calibration & Fixture Deployment: Design, build, and deploy the physical calibration fixtures and algorithms used to align the optical system. Troubleshoot and resolve complex intrinsic/extrinsic drift issues, ensuring the calibration process scales reliably from the R&D lab to the factory floor.
- Cross-Functional Adjudication (DfX): Act as the technical adjudicator in the lab between Industrial Design (ID), Mechanical, and Thermal teams. Drive physical testing and prototyping to resolve conflicts between Apollo's iconic A-surface aesthetics, sensor FOV constraints, and thermal dissipation needs.
- Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Lead complex, cross-functional problem-solving efforts to resolve critical "line-down" or "launch-blocking" hardware bugs. Mentor senior and junior engineers in the lab, establishing a culture of rigorous physical testing and root-cause analysis.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: Master or Ph.D degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field with 8+ years of hands-on experience integrating and shipping complex vision hardware systems for robotics, autonomous vehicles, or advanced AR/VR platforms.
- Shipped Product Focus: A proven track record of taking complex perception hardware—including custom-defined sensor modules—from the breadboard phase all the way through DVT and into mass production.
- Vendor Management: Proven experience working directly with optical vendors, CMOS manufacturers, and CMs to define, build, and test custom camera or sensor modules.
- Hands-On Troubleshooting Mastery: Expert-level proficiency with high-end lab equipment (high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, TDRs). You have a "sixth sense" for tracking down ground loops, EMI noise, and intermittent signal integrity issues.
- Deep Optical & Image Physics: Deep practical understanding of CMOS sensor tuning, optical lens artifacts (flare, ghosting, distortion), and how to physically mitigate them within tight mechanical enclosures.
- System-Level Math & Calibration: Mastery of the linear algebra and 3D geometry underlying multi-camera arrays, stereo baselines, and visual-inertial sensor fusion, with the ability to write scripts (Python/C++) to validate these models on real hardware.
- Drive Through Influence: Exceptional ability to lead technical initiatives and align cross-functional stakeholders (Software, ID, and ME) without direct reporting authority, using empirical data from the lab to drive decisions.
- Agility: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where "perfect" is the enemy of "shipped," knowing exactly when a design is robust enough for the real world.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
- Hearing and speech to communicate
This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
INTRODUCTION
Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.
We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.
THE ROLE
Apptronik is seeking a Staff Perception Hardware Engineer to serve as the execution leader for Apollo’s perception hardware systems. While others may draw the block diagrams, you are the engineer responsible for making sure the physical hardware actually works, scales, and ships.
At the Staff level, you will tackle the most complex, multi-disciplinary bottlenecks in the perception stack. You will lead the hands-on integration, aggressive troubleshooting, and physical validation of high-performance cameras, complex optics, and multi-gigabit data links on a moving, vibrating humanoid. You will act as the "boots-on-the-ground" technical authority, leading cross-functional engineering efforts through critical design phases, system bring-up, custom hardware development, ISP tuning, and manufacturing deployment to ensure Apollo perceives the world with unmatched clarity.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- End-to-End System Execution: Lead the physical integration of the robot’s visual perception stack. Drive the transition from prototype designs to fully validated, production-ready camera assemblies, ensuring all FOV, thermal, and mechanical stability targets are met on the physical hardware.
- Custom Module Development & Vendor Execution: When off-the-shelf components fall short, define the electrical, optical, and mechanical specifications for custom sensor modules. Drive external optical vendors and contract manufacturers (CMs) through the build process, ensuring strict adherence to Apptronik’s standards.
- Custom Bring-Up & Validation Plans: Architect and own the comprehensive bring-up, DVT (Design Verification Testing), and End-of-Line (EOL) test plans for all custom-built sensor modules, ensuring they are rigorously validated before they ever integrate into the humanoid platform.
- Hands-on ISP Tuning & IQ Validation: Take ownership of the image quality (IQ) on the actual robot. Perform deep, hands-on ISP tuning (auto-exposure, white balance, tone mapping) in real-world environments to ensure the camera data satisfies both the strict requirements of machine learning models and the low-latency needs of human teleoperators.
- High-Speed Bring-up & Deep Debugging: Lead the electrical bring-up and validation of the multi-gigabit video backbone (e.g., GMSL2/3, FPD-Link). Serve as the ultimate escalation point for complex, system-level EMI/EMC debugging, using high-speed oscilloscopes and analyzers to track down frame drops and signal integrity issues across dynamic robot joints.
- Synchronization Execution: Implement and rigorously measure the hardware-level synchronization across cameras, LiDAR, and IMUs. Prove out sub-microsecond timing accuracy on the physical robot using oscilloscopes and custom test fixtures to guarantee pristine data for visual-inertial odometry (VIO).
- Calibration & Fixture Deployment: Design, build, and deploy the physical calibration fixtures and algorithms used to align the optical system. Troubleshoot and resolve complex intrinsic/extrinsic drift issues, ensuring the calibration process scales reliably from the R&D lab to the factory floor.
- Cross-Functional Adjudication (DfX): Act as the technical adjudicator in the lab between Industrial Design (ID), Mechanical, and Thermal teams. Drive physical testing and prototyping to resolve conflicts between Apollo's iconic A-surface aesthetics, sensor FOV constraints, and thermal dissipation needs.
- Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Lead complex, cross-functional problem-solving efforts to resolve critical "line-down" or "launch-blocking" hardware bugs. Mentor senior and junior engineers in the lab, establishing a culture of rigorous physical testing and root-cause analysis.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: Master or Ph.D degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field with 8+ years of hands-on experience integrating and shipping complex vision hardware systems for robotics, autonomous vehicles, or advanced AR/VR platforms.
- Shipped Product Focus: A proven track record of taking complex perception hardware—including custom-defined sensor modules—from the breadboard phase all the way through DVT and into mass production.
- Vendor Management: Proven experience working directly with optical vendors, CMOS manufacturers, and CMs to define, build, and test custom camera or sensor modules.
- Hands-On Troubleshooting Mastery: Expert-level proficiency with high-end lab equipment (high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, TDRs). You have a "sixth sense" for tracking down ground loops, EMI noise, and intermittent signal integrity issues.
- Deep Optical & Image Physics: Deep practical understanding of CMOS sensor tuning, optical lens artifacts (flare, ghosting, distortion), and how to physically mitigate them within tight mechanical enclosures.
- System-Level Math & Calibration: Mastery of the linear algebra and 3D geometry underlying multi-camera arrays, stereo baselines, and visual-inertial sensor fusion, with the ability to write scripts (Python/C++) to validate these models on real hardware.
- Drive Through Influence: Exceptional ability to lead technical initiatives and align cross-functional stakeholders (Software, ID, and ME) without direct reporting authority, using empirical data from the lab to drive decisions.
- Agility: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where "perfect" is the enemy of "shipped," knowing exactly when a design is robust enough for the real world.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
- Hearing and speech to communicate
This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.
Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
See all 517+ Hardware Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Hardware Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Hardware Engineer
Align your degree to your hardware discipline
USCIS scrutinizes whether your specific degree field matches the hardware role. A computer engineering degree supports an ASIC design role more cleanly than a general EE degree. Document any coursework in digital design, VLSI, or embedded systems to strengthen the specialty occupation argument.
Target employers with cap-exempt filing options
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated labs are cap-exempt H-1B sponsors. Hardware engineers at national labs like Sandia or Lincoln Laboratory can get H-1B approval outside the annual lottery, removing the April registration gamble entirely.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter for hardware engineering roles at employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history. Migrate Mate surfaces DOL Labor Condition Application data by occupation code, so you can see which companies have actively filed for Hardware Engineer positions rather than guessing at sponsorship willingness.
Check prevailing wage level before negotiating salary
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your job zone and metro area. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up Level I through Level IV wages for your specific SOC code before you receive an offer, so you know the floor the LCA must certify.
Request premium processing if your start date is fixed
USCIS offers 15-business-day adjudication through premium processing. If you're joining a team with a hardware tape-out or product launch deadline, ask your employer to file with premium processing on I-129 to avoid status gaps from standard processing delays.
Clarify patent and publication rights before signing
Hardware engineering offer letters often include broad IP assignment clauses. If you've filed patents on your own time or published IEEE research, negotiate carve-outs before signing. An employer unwilling to negotiate IP terms may also be inflexible on the LCA job duties, which affects your H-1B petition scope.
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Find Hardware Engineer JobsHardware Engineer H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Hardware Engineer role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. USCIS recognizes hardware engineering as a specialty occupation because the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a directly related field. Roles involving chip design, PCB layout, firmware-hardware integration, or embedded systems development consistently meet the specialty occupation standard. If your job description blends hardware with general IT support, ask your employer to tighten the duties language before filing.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most often for Hardware Engineers?
Semiconductor companies, defense contractors, consumer electronics manufacturers, and automotive OEMs working on embedded systems are among the most active H-1B sponsors for hardware roles. You can find employers with verified LCA filing history for hardware engineering positions on Migrate Mate, which filters by occupation code so you're targeting companies that have actually sponsored these roles, not just ones that claim to.
Can I switch Hardware Engineer jobs while on H-1B without losing status?
Yes, through H-1B portability under AC21. If your new employer files an H-1B transfer petition before your current status expires and the new role is in the same or a similar occupational classification, you can start the new job once USCIS receives the petition. Hardware engineering roles mapped to the same SOC code generally satisfy the same-classification requirement, but verify with your new employer's immigration counsel before your last day.
What documentation should I prepare before a hardware engineering employer files my H-1B?
Gather your academic transcripts and degree certificate, any credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the U.S., professional licenses relevant to your hardware specialty, and a detailed resume listing specific technologies, tools, and projects. If your degree field doesn't directly match the role title, a letter from a credentials evaluator explaining the equivalency strengthens the specialty occupation argument USCIS reviews.
How does the H-1B lottery affect my timeline as a Hardware Engineer?
USCIS opens H-1B registration each March for the following October 1 start date. If you're selected in the lottery, your employer has roughly 90 days to file the full I-129 petition. Hardware engineers at cap-exempt employers, including universities and affiliated research labs, can file year-round and skip the lottery entirely. Plan your job search to have an offer in hand before early March if you need the next available cap-subject slot.
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