H-1B Visa Head Of Engineering Jobs
Head of Engineering roles sit squarely within H-1B visa specialty occupation requirements, but landing sponsorship at this level means navigating executive-tier LCA filings, prevailing wage Level IV designations, and employers who understand that senior engineering leadership qualifies. Use this page to find companies with active H-1B filing history for engineering leadership roles.
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INTRODUCTION
DRW is a diversified trading firm with over 3 decades of experience bringing sophisticated technology and exceptional people together to operate in markets around the world. We value autonomy and the ability to quickly pivot to capture opportunities, so we operate using our own capital and trading at our own risk. Headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, we trade a variety of asset classes including Fixed Income, ETFs, Equities, FX, Commodities and Energy across all major global markets. We have also leveraged our expertise and technology to expand into three non-traditional strategies: real estate, venture capital, and crypto assets. We operate with respect, curiosity, and open minds. The people who thrive here share our belief that it’s not just what we do that matters–it's how we do it. DRW is a place of high expectations, integrity, innovation, and willingness to challenge consensus.
ABOUT THE ROLE
DRW is seeking a Head of Engineering for the Algorithmic Trading Group to lead the software and hardware engineering effort. The position oversees a collaborative technical team of approximately 30 experienced software and hardware engineers with an average tenure of 10+ years.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Set the technical direction across the full stack, spanning low-latency trading systems, custom hardware, risk management infrastructure, networking, and UX - driving top performance and scalability
- Partner with trading and research teams to balance short-term revenue opportunities against long-term investments in engineering infrastructure
- Own production reliability by setting the standards for code quality, testing rigor, and release discipline, with a zero-tolerance approach to production outages
- Define the group's strategy for AI adoption, establishing best practices for efficient and safe use
- Lead, mentor, and grow the engineering team – attracting top talent and fostering a culture of technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior engineering leadership role
- Demonstrated track record of building and operating highly reliable, latency-sensitive distributed systems
- Proven ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing engineering teams of 20+ engineers
- Strong familiarity with generative AI coding tools and autonomous agents, with a vision for how to deploy them effectively and safely across engineering workflows
- Track record of building and enforcing engineering practices that achieve near-zero defect rates in production
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please provide a resume and a brief statement on your approach to building high-performance, scalable, and extremely reliable systems.
COMPENSATION
- The annual base salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000 depending on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and relevant skill set.
- The position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.
In addition, DRW offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits including group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance, 401k (with discretionary employer match), short and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts.
For more information about DRW's processing activities and our use of job applicants' data, please view our Privacy Notice at https://drw.com/privacy-notice.
California residents, please review the California Privacy Notice for information about certain legal rights at https://drw.com/california-privacy-notice.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Head Of Engineering
Verify your SOC code before applying
Head of Engineering roles are typically filed under SOC 11-9041 (Engineering Managers). Check O*NET to confirm your target role matches this code. A misclassified petition is a common RFE trigger at the senior level.
Expect Level IV prevailing wage filings
Senior engineering leadership almost always triggers a Level IV wage requirement on the LCA. Run the OFLC Wage Search for SOC 11-9041 in your target metro before negotiating compensation, so your offer lands above the threshold from day one.
Target companies with cap-exempt pathways
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated entities can file H-1B petitions outside the annual cap. Head of Engineering roles at research labs or university tech divisions often qualify and avoid the lottery entirely.
Filter employers by LCA filing history on Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate to surface companies that have filed LCAs for engineering manager or Head of Engineering roles specifically. This cuts the research time on identifying genuinely sponsor-ready employers versus those who list it as a possibility.
Negotiate premium processing into your offer terms
At the executive level, a five-to-ten month standard processing window creates real business continuity risk for your employer. Get a written commitment that they'll file with premium processing before you resign from your current role.
Document your specialty occupation case proactively
USCIS scrutinizes Head of Engineering petitions more closely when the title sounds managerial rather than technical. Prepare a detailed position description showing that the role requires specialized engineering knowledge, not just supervisory authority, before your employer files.
H-1B Visa Head Of Engineering: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Head of Engineering role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, provided the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific engineering or technical discipline. The key is that USCIS evaluates the actual duties, not the title. If the role is primarily supervisory with no applied technical requirement, the petition is more vulnerable to an RFE. A strong job description tying day-to-day responsibilities to specialized engineering knowledge significantly strengthens the case.
What wage level should I expect on the LCA for a Head of Engineering position?
Most Head of Engineering roles are filed at prevailing wage Level III or Level IV, depending on years of experience and scope of responsibility. Level IV applies to roles requiring independent judgment and full command of a specialized field. You can verify the applicable prevailing wage for your target location using the OFLC Wage Search before accepting an offer, which helps avoid last-minute compensation renegotiations after the LCA is certified.
How do I find employers who have actually sponsored H-1B visas for engineering leadership roles?
The most direct method is filtering by LCA filing history at the engineering manager or director level. Migrate Mate surfaces this data so you can identify companies that have filed for Head of Engineering or equivalent roles, rather than relying on job postings that mention sponsorship as a vague possibility. Employers with a track record of senior engineering sponsorship are far more likely to move quickly through the process.
Can my employer file my H-1B petition while I'm already working for them on a different status?
Yes. If you're already on OPT, an L-1 visa, or another valid nonimmigrant status, your employer can file an H-1B change of status petition on your behalf during the cap registration window. You don't need to leave the country or interrupt employment. The petition must be filed before your current authorized stay expires, and cap-gap rules may bridge any gap if the I-94 runs out before October 1.
Does a Head of Engineering role at a startup qualify the same way as at a large tech company?
The qualification standard is the same, but startups introduce additional USCIS scrutiny around the employer's ability to pay the prevailing wage and the bona fide nature of an employer-employee relationship, especially if you hold equity. USCIS may request financial records, funding documentation, and an explanation of oversight structure. Established companies with multiple funding rounds or consistent revenue have an easier time clearing this bar than pre-revenue startups.