H-1B Visa Level Designer Jobs
Level Designer jobs with H-1B visa sponsorship sit at the intersection of game development and immigration law. Employers must file a Labor Condition Application and I-129 petition before you start work. Roles built around systems design, environmental storytelling, and technical scripting are most likely to meet the specialty occupation threshold USCIS requires.
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Get Access To All JobsSchnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving problems related to the earth and environment through specialization in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. Schnabel’s high standards for quality, business ethics, and concern for the communities in which we live are a vital part of who we are. Schnabel is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 700+ employees in 32 offices throughout the United States.
Recognized by CE News as one of the Best Engineering Firms to Work for, Schnabel provides employees with a competitive benefits package including maternity leave, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, health, dental, life and disability insurance and a wellness program. As an employee-owned company, through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Schnabel employees directly benefit from the success of our growing firm.
Benefit options include:
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)
- Short-term disability (100% company-paid)
- Long-term disability
- Supplemental life insurance
- 401(k) and profit-sharing plan
- Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
- Bonus program
- Paid time off
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Wellness program
- Professional development and tuition reimbursement
Job Description:
Are you looking for interesting and meaningful work, a fun atmosphere, and opportunities to learn, grow, and excel? If so, then welcome to Schnabel! We approach problems with creativity and innovation. The Helena, Montana office is seeking an entry level CAD Designer to support our engineering group. We are looking for a motivated candidate with attention to detail, a passion to continue to develop as a professional, and a desire to be part of a strong multi-disciplinary team.
The Helena office of Schnabel focuses on the evaluation and design of dams, structures and facilities within our dam engineering group. Example projects include the evaluation and design of dams, fish hatcheries, surface water intakes, pump stations, outlet works, pipelines, and fabricated gates and valves for projects located across the United States. Our drafting needs span the following three disciplines:
- Civil Design – 3D site grading and earthwork, intakes, pipelines/penstocks, fish hatcheries, and hydroelectric facilities
- Structural Design – Precast and cast-in-place concrete structures, fabricated steel structures, wood and metal frame buildings, and bridges
- Mechanical Design – Pumps stations, large diameter pipe fittings and valves, and machine design
Job Responsibilities:
- Prepare 2D CAD drawings (plans, profiles, sections and details) for contract documents based on input and guidance from design staff and in accordance with internal drafting standards.
- Prepare 3D models for displaying complex features or structures.
- Maintain drawing files, CAD standards and other digital files in accordance with internal procedures.
- Prepare graphics for engineering reports, professional papers and presentations.
- Maintain printers for efficient use by the office.
- Participate in professional trainings to develop and implement new skills related to the various disciplines of work.
- Perform training of other technical staff on drafting standards, requirements and procedures.
Required Skills/Experience:
- Proficiency with the latest version of AutoCAD and AutoCAD Civil 3D, including experience in developing drawing sets and figures from base data (i.e. survey, GIS, point cloud, engineering sketches, etc.) and based on engineering input and guidance.
- Experience in other software is preferable, including Autodesk Revit and Solidworks.
- A minimum of 2 years of drafting/design experience at a consulting engineering firm or production design organization.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to develop large, multifaceted drawing sets based on existing data and engineering sketches.
- Ability to create and use sheetsets in AutoCAD.
- Knowledge and experience in data linking AutoCAD Civil 3D smart features.
- Positive attitude and ability to work well in a team environment.
- Associates degree or certification in Drafting and Design or equivalent practical experience.
Other Requirements:
- Ability to pass a background check which may include criminal history, motor vehicle record, and credit check.
- Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening.
The compensation range for a CAD Designer is between $25/hr to $32/hr. Compensation for this position may vary based on geographic location and other factors. We remain committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation to all employees, regardless of their location.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving problems related to the earth and environment through specialization in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. Schnabel’s high standards for quality, business ethics, and concern for the communities in which we live are a vital part of who we are. Schnabel is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 700+ employees in 32 offices throughout the United States.
Recognized by CE News as one of the Best Engineering Firms to Work for, Schnabel provides employees with a competitive benefits package including maternity leave, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, health, dental, life and disability insurance and a wellness program. As an employee-owned company, through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Schnabel employees directly benefit from the success of our growing firm.
Benefit options include:
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)
- Short-term disability (100% company-paid)
- Long-term disability
- Supplemental life insurance
- 401(k) and profit-sharing plan
- Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
- Bonus program
- Paid time off
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Wellness program
- Professional development and tuition reimbursement
Job Description:
Are you looking for interesting and meaningful work, a fun atmosphere, and opportunities to learn, grow, and excel? If so, then welcome to Schnabel! We approach problems with creativity and innovation. The Helena, Montana office is seeking an entry level CAD Designer to support our engineering group. We are looking for a motivated candidate with attention to detail, a passion to continue to develop as a professional, and a desire to be part of a strong multi-disciplinary team.
The Helena office of Schnabel focuses on the evaluation and design of dams, structures and facilities within our dam engineering group. Example projects include the evaluation and design of dams, fish hatcheries, surface water intakes, pump stations, outlet works, pipelines, and fabricated gates and valves for projects located across the United States. Our drafting needs span the following three disciplines:
- Civil Design – 3D site grading and earthwork, intakes, pipelines/penstocks, fish hatcheries, and hydroelectric facilities
- Structural Design – Precast and cast-in-place concrete structures, fabricated steel structures, wood and metal frame buildings, and bridges
- Mechanical Design – Pumps stations, large diameter pipe fittings and valves, and machine design
Job Responsibilities:
- Prepare 2D CAD drawings (plans, profiles, sections and details) for contract documents based on input and guidance from design staff and in accordance with internal drafting standards.
- Prepare 3D models for displaying complex features or structures.
- Maintain drawing files, CAD standards and other digital files in accordance with internal procedures.
- Prepare graphics for engineering reports, professional papers and presentations.
- Maintain printers for efficient use by the office.
- Participate in professional trainings to develop and implement new skills related to the various disciplines of work.
- Perform training of other technical staff on drafting standards, requirements and procedures.
Required Skills/Experience:
- Proficiency with the latest version of AutoCAD and AutoCAD Civil 3D, including experience in developing drawing sets and figures from base data (i.e. survey, GIS, point cloud, engineering sketches, etc.) and based on engineering input and guidance.
- Experience in other software is preferable, including Autodesk Revit and Solidworks.
- A minimum of 2 years of drafting/design experience at a consulting engineering firm or production design organization.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to develop large, multifaceted drawing sets based on existing data and engineering sketches.
- Ability to create and use sheetsets in AutoCAD.
- Knowledge and experience in data linking AutoCAD Civil 3D smart features.
- Positive attitude and ability to work well in a team environment.
- Associates degree or certification in Drafting and Design or equivalent practical experience.
Other Requirements:
- Ability to pass a background check which may include criminal history, motor vehicle record, and credit check.
- Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening.
The compensation range for a CAD Designer is between $25/hr to $32/hr. Compensation for this position may vary based on geographic location and other factors. We remain committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation to all employees, regardless of their location.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See all 531+ H-1B Visa Level Designer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Level Designer
Frame your portfolio around degree-level skills
USCIS evaluates whether your role genuinely requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Lead with systems design, scripting logic, and spatial reasoning work in your portfolio to demonstrate that your duties go well beyond general artistry or craft.
Look up prevailing wages before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Check the OFLC Wage Search before you negotiate an offer so you know the floor your employer is legally required to meet.
Target studios with active H-1B filing history
Search Migrate Mate to find employers who have sponsored H-1B petitions for game development and design roles. Studios that have filed before understand the LCA and I-129 process and are far less likely to withdraw an offer over sponsorship complexity.
Confirm your worksite is covered by the LCA
Each physical worksite requires its own certified LCA. If you'll work at a publisher's office, a studio satellite location, or on-site at a client, make sure your employer files a separate LCA for that address before your first day at that location.
Verify your O*NET code matches your actual duties
Level Designer roles map to different SOC codes depending on whether your duties are primarily technical, artistic, or design-focused. Review the O*NET profile for your assigned occupation code and flag any mismatch with your employer before they file the LCA.
Account for cap timing if you're currently on OPT
H-1B is subject to an annual cap, and selection rules have changed recently. If you're on OPT, calculate your authorization end date against USCIS filing timelines and confirm with your employer that they're prepared to submit your petition in the correct registration window.
H-1B Visa Level Designer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Level Designer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the employer structures the position. Level Designer roles built around systems design, technical scripting, environmental logic, and spatial prototyping typically require a bachelor's degree in game design, computer science, or a closely related field, which satisfies the specialty occupation standard. Studios that frame the role around generalist creative tasks without a degree requirement will have a harder time getting USCIS to approve the petition.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Level Designer positions?
Major game publishers, AA and AAA studios, and technology companies with internal game divisions are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for design roles. Migrate Mate lists employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history so you can target studios that have already navigated the sponsorship process for similar positions, rather than approaching employers who may be unfamiliar with it.
How long does H-1B status last for a Level Designer?
USCIS grants H-1B status for up to three years on an initial petition. Your employer can file an extension for another three years, bringing the maximum to six years. Beyond that, extensions require an approved I-140 or a pending adjustment of status application to remain authorized past the six-year cap.
What happens to my H-1B if I change studios or move to a new project location?
Changing employers requires your new studio to file a fresh H-1B petition before you start work. Switching worksites within the same employer is handled differently: each new physical location requires a separately certified LCA. Your employer must file an amended petition with USCIS if the new worksite is not already covered. Never assume your existing authorization covers an unlisted address.
What SOC code is typically used for Level Designer H-1B petitions?
Most Level Designer roles are filed under SOC 15-1255 (Web and Digital Interface Designers) or SOC 27-1024 (Graphic Designers), depending on the employer's classification of your duties. Studios with strong technical scripting components sometimes use computer science or software developer codes. Review the O*NET profile for whichever code your employer plans to use and confirm it accurately reflects your day-to-day responsibilities before the LCA is submitted.