H-1B Visa Project Cost Manager Jobs
Project Cost Manager roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field. Large infrastructure, EPC, and real estate development firms sponsor H-1B holders for these roles, covering LCA filing and prevailing wage requirements under DOL rules.
Find H-1B Visa Project Cost Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 514+ Project Cost Manager jobs
See all 514+ Project Cost Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Project Cost Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the financial health of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Cost Engineer, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert serving as the primary authority for complex commodities and systems. You act autonomously to evaluate strategic cost trade-offs, develop high-level business cases, and influence engineering and purchasing strategies at a systemic level. In this role, you lead system-level analysis and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive organizational change through technical expertise. You are responsible for solving complex challenges, mentoring junior engineers, and providing the "big picture" financial insights necessary to guide major business decisions. We are looking for an expert who can articulate the financial health of an entire portfolio to executive leadership while advocating for the team’s strategic goals. This position is based on site in Plymouth, MI and reports to the Manager, Cost Engineering Interior, Thermal, Powertrain, & Adventure Products.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Knowledge Base: Serves as the primary authority for assigned commodities, possessing deep knowledge covering strategic implications of cost drivers, manufacturing processes, and market trends.
- Presentation & Storytelling: Articulates the overall financial health, risks, and strategic opportunities of a portfolio of parts to a wider, non-expert audience.
- Technical Skills: Expert in deconstructing highly complex assemblies and applying first principles to validate data and strategically influence business decisions.
- Organizational Influence & Outreach: Serves as the go-to person for cost information and influences stakeholders by building a compelling narrative and data-driven business case.
- Direction: Acts instinctively to manage and effectively prioritize a complex workload with little manager input while persevering in the face of setbacks.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience.
- Domain Expertise: Evaluates complex cost trade-offs, develops business cases for design changes, and uses financial data to actively influence sourcing and engineering strategies.
- Commodity-Specific Cost Estimation Experience:
+ Powertrain - gears, mechanical/electrical components & assembly
+ Restraints - develop new cost models, mechanical/electrical components & assembly
+ Interior - assembly models development - seat JIT, instrument panel, console
+ Manufacturing processes (castings, forging, broaching, powder metal, stamping, plastic injection molding, rubber molding, surface finishes)
- Technical Skills: Acts as the primary technical mentor, providing expert-level training on all cost engineering tools and autonomously customizing modeling tools.
- Communication: Defines and models how the Cost Engineering team communicates its value.
- Execution: Reaches beyond their defined scope to solve problems and implements systemic changes and improvements internal and external to their function.
- Operational Style: Consistently leads with first principles to identify and implement systemic changes and high-impact outcomes.
- Travel Requirements: Ability and willingness to travel as needed based on business needs, expected to average between 10 - 15%.
INTRODUCTION
The Rivian Supply Chain team is looking for strategic technical leaders to drive the financial health of our vehicle programs. As a Lead Cost Engineer, you are an advanced individual contributor and subject matter expert serving as the primary authority for complex commodities and systems. You act autonomously to evaluate strategic cost trade-offs, develop high-level business cases, and influence engineering and purchasing strategies at a systemic level. In this role, you lead system-level analysis and partner with cross-functional leadership to drive organizational change through technical expertise. You are responsible for solving complex challenges, mentoring junior engineers, and providing the "big picture" financial insights necessary to guide major business decisions. We are looking for an expert who can articulate the financial health of an entire portfolio to executive leadership while advocating for the team’s strategic goals. This position is based on site in Plymouth, MI and reports to the Manager, Cost Engineering Interior, Thermal, Powertrain, & Adventure Products.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Knowledge Base: Serves as the primary authority for assigned commodities, possessing deep knowledge covering strategic implications of cost drivers, manufacturing processes, and market trends.
- Presentation & Storytelling: Articulates the overall financial health, risks, and strategic opportunities of a portfolio of parts to a wider, non-expert audience.
- Technical Skills: Expert in deconstructing highly complex assemblies and applying first principles to validate data and strategically influence business decisions.
- Organizational Influence & Outreach: Serves as the go-to person for cost information and influences stakeholders by building a compelling narrative and data-driven business case.
- Direction: Acts instinctively to manage and effectively prioritize a complex workload with little manager input while persevering in the face of setbacks.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience.
- Domain Expertise: Evaluates complex cost trade-offs, develops business cases for design changes, and uses financial data to actively influence sourcing and engineering strategies.
- Commodity-Specific Cost Estimation Experience:
+ Powertrain - gears, mechanical/electrical components & assembly
+ Restraints - develop new cost models, mechanical/electrical components & assembly
+ Interior - assembly models development - seat JIT, instrument panel, console
+ Manufacturing processes (castings, forging, broaching, powder metal, stamping, plastic injection molding, rubber molding, surface finishes)
- Technical Skills: Acts as the primary technical mentor, providing expert-level training on all cost engineering tools and autonomously customizing modeling tools.
- Communication: Defines and models how the Cost Engineering team communicates its value.
- Execution: Reaches beyond their defined scope to solve problems and implements systemic changes and improvements internal and external to their function.
- Operational Style: Consistently leads with first principles to identify and implement systemic changes and high-impact outcomes.
- Travel Requirements: Ability and willingness to travel as needed based on business needs, expected to average between 10 - 15%.
See all 514+ H-1B Visa Project Cost Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Project Cost Manager Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Project Cost Manager
Align your degree to the role
USCIS evaluates whether your degree field directly relates to cost management. A degree in civil engineering, construction management, or quantity surveying strengthens your petition more than a general business degree when the job duties center on project cost control.
Check LCA filings by SOC code
Project Cost Managers typically file under SOC code 11-9021 (Construction Managers) or 13-1051 (Cost Estimators). Search Migrate Mate to see which employers have active LCA filings under these codes before you apply.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating
Run the OFLC Wage Search for your target metro area under the relevant SOC code before salary discussions. Your offer must meet or exceed the DOL prevailing wage, and knowing the floor prevents offers that USCIS will flag during LCA review.
Target employers with E-Verify enrollment
Employers must be E-Verify enrolled to sponsor H-1B workers. During your search, confirm enrollment status early. EPC contractors, federal project primes, and large real estate developers are typically enrolled; smaller regional firms may not be.
Understand the specialty occupation risk for your title
USCIS has issued RFEs on cost management roles when job postings list 'bachelor's preferred' rather than 'required.' Ask hiring managers to confirm the posted requirements match the I-129 petition language before your employer files.
Plan around the cap registration window
H-1B cap registrations open in March for an October 1 start date. If you're on OPT, calculate whether your authorization covers the gap. A 60-day grace period applies after OPT ends, but cap-gap rules only activate after USCIS selects your registration.
H-1B Visa Project Cost Manager: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Cost Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, provided the employer requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying. Roles that accept any bachelor's degree regardless of field are harder to defend as specialty occupations. Your employer's job description and internal degree requirements need to align with what's filed in the I-129 petition to avoid a USCIS Request for Evidence.
Which employers typically sponsor H-1B visas for Project Cost Managers?
Large EPC contractors, infrastructure developers, real estate firms with active capital programs, and multinational construction consultancies are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for this role. You can browse employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for cost management positions on Migrate Mate, which filters by occupation and employer rather than showing unverified self-reported data.
What SOC code is used for Project Cost Manager H-1B petitions?
Most Project Cost Manager petitions file under SOC 11-9021 (Construction Managers) or 13-1051 (Cost Estimators), depending on how the role is scoped. The chosen code determines which DOL prevailing wage level applies to your offer. Your employer's immigration attorney selects the code, but you can verify whether your duties match either classification using O*NET before the petition is drafted.
Can a Project Cost Manager switch employers mid-H-1B using portability?
Yes. Under AC21 portability rules, you can transfer to a new employer once your I-140 has been approved and your I-485 has been pending for 180 days or more, provided the new role is in the same or similar occupational classification. For a new H-1B transfer without a pending adjustment, your new employer files an H-1B transfer petition and you can start working once USCIS receives it.
How does the DOL prevailing wage requirement affect job offers for H-1B Project Cost Managers?
Every H-1B employer must file a Labor Condition Application certifying your offered wage meets the DOL prevailing wage for the role and location. For Project Cost Managers, prevailing wages vary significantly by metro area and experience level. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the wage level for your target city before accepting an offer, so you can confirm the offer meets DOL minimums before the LCA is filed.