H-1B Visa Lead Process Engineer Jobs
Lead Process Engineer jobs with H-1B visa sponsorship sit squarely within the specialty occupation category, requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering. Sponsoring employers file a Labor Condition Application with DOL and an I-129 petition with USCIS, covering your status for up to three years with extensions to six.
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Job ID: 13158
Location: Burlington, North Carolina, 27215
Shift: 1st Shift
What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda
Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”
We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.
If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!
Job Purpose
The AM Process Qualification and Production Industrialization Technical Lead will serve as Honda’s technical authority for metal LPBF equipment and processes and translate that expertise into practical qualification requirements for aerospace components.
The role will use those requirements to evaluate, develop, and technically guide in-house and external manufacturing sources toward stable, repeatable, and production-capable AM processes.
Following qualification, the position will lead to establish the actual production process by translating qualified conditions into robust manufacturing methods, equipment and process controls and requirements, and standard operating procedures. The role will continue to provide technical leadership for production ramp-up, process stabilization, significant changes, and AM-related issues, working with Quality Assurance and Parts Quality while retaining clear ownership of AM equipment, process capability, and manufacturing-technology decisions.
Key Accountabilities
[LPBF Equipment & Process Technical Expertise]
- Maintain deep, practical expertise in LPBF equipment and processes, including machine operation, calibration, maintenance, process parameters, powder behavior, build preparation, monitoring, and post-processing, and understand how these factors interact to affect process repeatability and part quality
- Lead or direct process development, DOE, engineering trials, data analysis, and root-cause investigation for AM equipment and process issues
- Maintain sufficient in-house capability to independently assess manufacturing-source proposals, trial results, process limitations, and technical risks
[AM Qualification Requirements & Technical Evaluation]
- Convert LPBF equipment and process knowledge into clear qualification requirements, test methods, and acceptance criteria
- Define the technical content of machine and process qualification, including parameter control, equipment condition, powder/build controls, process repeatability, and production demonstration
- Review qualification plans and results, identify technical gaps, and make recommendations on readiness for the next development, qualification, or production stage
- Partner with Quality Assurance, Parts Quality, Materials, Design, and Certification while leading decisions related to AM equipment performance, process capability, and technical qualification adequacy
[Manufacturing Source Technical Development & Production Process Establishment]
- Evaluate and develop the AM technical capability of in-house and external manufacturing sources, including equipment, process control, troubleshooting capability, technical staffing, and ability to sustain repeatable production
- Translate qualified process conditions into a practical production process, including build preparation, equipment verification, parameter and powder controls, monitoring, post-processing interfaces, technical work requirements, and reaction plans
- Provide technical direction during production planning, pilot builds, production ramp-up, and process stabilization to close capability gaps and achieve repeatable quality, yield, throughput, and cost performance
- Assess whether equipment, process, material, software, or production changes could affect the qualified AM process and require technical verification or requalification
- Apply lessons learned and proven methods to future parts, machines, materials, and manufacturing sources
Qualifications, Experience, and Skills
Minimum Educational Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Materials Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent experience
Minimum Experience
Must-Have
- 5+ years of relevant experience in metal LPBF process development, AM machine and process qualification, manufacturing source development and production process establishment
- Strong hands-on experience with production metal LPBF equipment, including machine setup, calibration or verification, parameter development, powder handling, build execution, troubleshooting, and maintenance-related process impacts
- Demonstrated ability to analyse AM process data and failures and identify effective technical countermeasures
Preferred
- Working knowledge of AMS 7003, AMS 7032, aerospace material/process qualification, or comparable controlled-manufacturing requirements
- Experience with production LPBF systems, including multi-laser platforms such as EOS M400-4, or comparable equipment
Other Job-Specific Skills
Must-Have
- Ability to maintain a safe, clean, and controlled AM work environment
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, including GD&T, tolerances, and manufacturability considerations
- Strong practical engineering skills and the ability to independently perform hands-on work on technical work
- Ability to organize and execute technical projects, track schedules, and contribute to issue resolution across cross-functional teams
- Ability to write clear, structured engineering documents and communicate technical content effectively
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, maintain detailed records, and ensure appropriate process traceability
- Effective communication and collaboration across international and cross-functional teams
Preferred
- Knowledge of aerospace quality frameworks (i.e. AS9100) or AM certification concepts (i.e. Regulatory guidance: AC35.15-3 for FAA, CM-S-008 for EASA etc.)
Working Conditions
- Work includes office, laboratory, and manufacturing-floor activities in controlled AM environments
- Required PPE and metal-powder safety practices must be followed
- Domestic and international travel and meetings with global teams are expected based on project needs
- Ability to lift more than 25 lbs. and limited overtime may be required
What differentiates Honda and make us an employer of choice?
Total Rewards:
- Competitive Base Wages (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
- Paid Overtime
- Regional Bonus (when applicable)
- Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
- Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
- Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
- 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
Career Growth:
- Advancement Opportunities
- Career Mobility
- Education Reimbursement for Continued Learning
- Training and Development Programs
Additional Offerings:
- Lifestyle Account
- Childcare Reimbursement Account
- Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
- Elder Care Support
- Wellbeing Program
- Community Service and Engagement Programs
- Product Programs
Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.
See all 211+ H-1B Visa Lead Process Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Lead Process Engineer
Align your degree to the role
USCIS evaluates whether your degree field directly relates to process engineering duties. A degree in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering maps cleanly. If yours is adjacent, gather coursework transcripts and a credential evaluation to close any gaps before applications go in.
Look up prevailing wages by worksite
Your employer's LCA must certify wages at or above the DOL prevailing wage for the specific worksite location. Run your SOC code and each city through the OFLC Wage Search so you enter salary negotiations knowing the floor before an offer lands.
Target industries with active LCA filings
Petrochemical plants, semiconductor fabs, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and food processing companies file LCAs for Lead Process Engineers regularly. Use Migrate Mate to browse verified H-1B sponsoring employers in those sectors, filtered by role, so you're not cold-applying to companies with no filing history.
Clarify multi-site work before accepting an offer
Process engineers sometimes rotate between facilities. Each distinct worksite requires its own certified LCA from DOL. If the role involves project-based travel to client sites, ask the recruiter how the employer handles LCA coverage for temporary assignments during the offer stage, not after.
Front-load your resume with degree-level duties
H-1B petitions succeed when the job description clearly requires a specific degree. If your resume lists operational tasks without naming the engineering judgment behind them, USCIS may question specialty occupation status. Reframe bullet points around design, optimization, and technical analysis decisions, not task execution.
Understand cap timing before accepting start dates
If you're not currently in H-1B status, your employer must file during the annual cap period and selection rules have changed recently. Confirm with USCIS that your petition falls within the new selection framework before committing to a start date, since gaps between OPT expiry and H-1B approval require careful cap-gap planning.
H-1B Visa Lead Process Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Lead Process Engineer role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, Lead Process Engineer roles typically qualify as specialty occupations. USCIS requires that the position normally needs at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering. Because the role involves designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting complex manufacturing or production systems, the degree requirement is well-established and defensible in a petition.
How do I find employers who sponsor H-1B visas for process engineering roles?
Start with Migrate Mate, which lists employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history searchable by role and location. Focus your search on petrochemical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and food processing sectors, where H-1B sponsorship for process engineers is most common. Employers with active DOL LCA filings in your target city are the most practical starting point.
What happens to my H-1B status if my employer transfers me to a new facility?
Each worksite requires its own certified LCA filed with DOL before you begin work there. If your employer moves you to a new plant or project site not covered by the original LCA, they must file an amended petition or a new LCA for that location. Working at an uncovered site puts both you and the employer out of compliance, so confirm the paperwork before relocating.
How long does H-1B status last for a Lead Process Engineer?
H-1B status is initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for another three years, reaching a six-year maximum under standard rules. Extensions beyond six years are possible if your employer has an approved I-140 immigrant petition or a pending PERM labor certification that meets the statutory age threshold, but that requires a separate employer-sponsored green card process.
What documentation should I prepare before an employer files my H-1B petition?
You'll need official transcripts and your degree certificate, a foreign credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the U.S., a copy of your current immigration documents, and any professional engineering licenses or certifications relevant to the role. The O*NET occupation profile for Chemical Engineers or Industrial Engineers can support the specialty occupation argument if the employer includes it in the petition package.