H-1B Visa High Performance Computing Jobs
High Performance Computing roles at national labs, research universities, and cloud infrastructure companies are among the most consistent H-1B sponsors in the country. HPC positions typically qualify as specialty occupations under USCIS standards, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, computational science, or a related engineering discipline.
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Get Access To All JobsLOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
INTRODUCTION:
The High Performance Computing Network Engineer II performs general network administration tasks for the University's High Performance Computing Center (HPCC) and, as needed, for the University's enterprise wired and wireless networks. Maintains and supports the University's HPCC network equipment and operating systems, including switches, access points, controllers, uninterruptible power supplies, and security devices. Serves as escalation resource for routing, performance, and other network problems. Participates in network problem identification, analysis, and resolution for low- to moderate-complexity problems. Assists with the strategy, planning, and design of the University's HPCC network.
ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Supports the functionality and availability of UA's HPCC network by performing network engineering and administration independently or as directed. Handles ticket resolution. Manages Layer 2 switch configuration and deployment. Plans and manages the network fiber path. Performs IPAM configurations. Manages network closet UPS. Manages inventory and surplus.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree and some network engineering experience; OR
- Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of network engineering experience; OR
- Associate's degree and four (4) years of IT experience to include two (2) years of network engineering; OR
- High school diploma or GED and six (6) years of IT experience to include two (2) years of network engineering.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DEPARTMENT MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Must have valid U.S. driver's license.
- Must be at least 19 years of age at time of hire and have an acceptable Motor Vehicle Report that is in compliance with University policies.
- Applicants under the age of 21 will have some driving restrictions.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
- Broad, in-depth knowledge of the TCP/IP protocol suite, specifically relating to routing of IP packets (RIP, OSPF, EGP, BGP, PIM).
- Knowledge of IP data wired and wireless networks, including architecture, configuration, LAN and WAN protocols, and network security standards.
- Strong technical troubleshooting skills.
- Ability to work independently to complete goals.
- Excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree and one (1) year of network engineering experience.
- CCNA certification.
- Three (3) or more years of hands-on experience in a High Performance Computer Center with the following hardware/software experience: Cisco's NEXUS Dashboard, Cisco Nexus switches, Cisco Catalyst switches (IOS), Cisco Aironet APs, Cisco wireless controllers, Check Point firewalls, IP address management tools, OSFP/BGP protocols, or Cisco VPN/Anyconnect.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION STATEMENT:
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.
The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.
LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
INTRODUCTION:
The High Performance Computing Network Engineer II performs general network administration tasks for the University's High Performance Computing Center (HPCC) and, as needed, for the University's enterprise wired and wireless networks. Maintains and supports the University's HPCC network equipment and operating systems, including switches, access points, controllers, uninterruptible power supplies, and security devices. Serves as escalation resource for routing, performance, and other network problems. Participates in network problem identification, analysis, and resolution for low- to moderate-complexity problems. Assists with the strategy, planning, and design of the University's HPCC network.
ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Supports the functionality and availability of UA's HPCC network by performing network engineering and administration independently or as directed. Handles ticket resolution. Manages Layer 2 switch configuration and deployment. Plans and manages the network fiber path. Performs IPAM configurations. Manages network closet UPS. Manages inventory and surplus.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree and some network engineering experience; OR
- Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of network engineering experience; OR
- Associate's degree and four (4) years of IT experience to include two (2) years of network engineering; OR
- High school diploma or GED and six (6) years of IT experience to include two (2) years of network engineering.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DEPARTMENT MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Must have valid U.S. driver's license.
- Must be at least 19 years of age at time of hire and have an acceptable Motor Vehicle Report that is in compliance with University policies.
- Applicants under the age of 21 will have some driving restrictions.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
- Broad, in-depth knowledge of the TCP/IP protocol suite, specifically relating to routing of IP packets (RIP, OSPF, EGP, BGP, PIM).
- Knowledge of IP data wired and wireless networks, including architecture, configuration, LAN and WAN protocols, and network security standards.
- Strong technical troubleshooting skills.
- Ability to work independently to complete goals.
- Excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree and one (1) year of network engineering experience.
- CCNA certification.
- Three (3) or more years of hands-on experience in a High Performance Computer Center with the following hardware/software experience: Cisco's NEXUS Dashboard, Cisco Nexus switches, Cisco Catalyst switches (IOS), Cisco Aironet APs, Cisco wireless controllers, Check Point firewalls, IP address management tools, OSFP/BGP protocols, or Cisco VPN/Anyconnect.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION STATEMENT:
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.
The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in High Performance Computing
Map your degree to HPC specialty occupation
USCIS evaluates whether your degree field directly relates to the HPC role. A computational science or computer engineering degree maps cleanly. If yours is adjacent, prepare a credential evaluation letter explaining the connection before you start applying.
Target employers with cap-exempt status
National labs like Argonne, Oak Ridge, and Sandia, plus many research universities, are cap-exempt H-1B employers. They can file year-round without lottery risk. Filter for these in Migrate Mate to prioritize employers who can start your petition on any timeline.
Verify prevailing wage tiers for your role
HPC roles span SOC codes from computer systems analysts to software developers. Use the OFLC Wage Search to check which SOC code your job title falls under and which wage level your experience supports. Misclassification is a common LCA issue.
Ask about premium processing during offer negotiation
Standard H-1B processing can run several months. USCIS offers premium processing with a 15-business-day adjudication window. Confirm during the offer stage whether your employer will elect premium so your start date aligns with project timelines.
Document parallel computing experience precisely
USCIS RFEs on HPC petitions often challenge whether the role genuinely requires a specialized degree. Your resume and employer support letter should specify architectures you've worked on, such as MPI, CUDA, or OpenMP, not just list generic programming skills.
Use O*NET to validate your job zone classification
Pull the O*NET profile for your specific HPC role before your employer files the LCA. It shows the education and training requirements USCIS and DOL both reference. Roles in Job Zone 4 or 5 support specialty occupation arguments most cleanly.
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Find High Performance Computing JobsHigh Performance Computing H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Do High Performance Computing jobs qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes. HPC roles require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as computer science, computational engineering, or applied mathematics, which satisfies USCIS's specialty occupation standard. The O*NET profiles for parallel computing and systems architecture roles consistently show Job Zone 4 or 5 classifications, which strengthens the petition. Your employer's support letter should connect your specific role duties to that degree requirement explicitly.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for HPC roles?
National laboratories, research universities, federal contractors, and large cloud infrastructure companies are the most active H-1B sponsors for HPC talent. Many national labs and universities are cap-exempt employers, meaning they aren't subject to the annual 85,000-slot lottery and can file petitions at any point during the year. You can browse verified H-1B sponsors for HPC positions on Migrate Mate, filtered by employer type and filing history.
How does the H-1B lottery affect HPC job seekers?
For-profit employers are subject to the annual H-1B cap, with USCIS accepting registrations in March each year for an October 1 start date. If your employer is cap-subject and you aren't selected, your authorization can't begin until the next fiscal year. HPC professionals who hold a master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution get entered into the advanced-degree exemption pool first, which historically carries a higher selection rate than the general cap.
What SOC code typically applies to H-1B petitions for HPC engineers?
HPC roles most often file under SOC 15-1252 (Software Developers) or 15-1244 (Network and Computer Systems Administrators), depending on whether the work is primarily code development or systems administration. Some roles in research computing file under 15-2031 (Operations Research Analysts) or 15-1299 (Computer Occupations, All Other). The SOC code determines the prevailing wage level your employer must certify on the LCA, so verify the correct classification with the OFLC Wage Search before the petition is drafted.
Can I change H-1B employers if I'm already working in an HPC role?
Yes. H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer once your new I-129 petition is filed, without waiting for approval, as long as your prior H-1B was approved and you've been in valid status. The new employer must file a transfer petition and certify a new LCA reflecting their location and wage levels. You don't need to restart the cap lottery because you're already counted against it.
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