H-1B Visa R D Engineer Jobs
R&D Engineer roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when they require at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, or a directly related technical field. Employers filing H-1B petitions for R&D positions must certify a prevailing wage through a DOL Labor Condition Application before USCIS can approve your petition.
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At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.
This position reports to:
R&D Team Manager
ABB Electrification Installation Products is seeking an R&D Engineer to join our Premier Products R&D team. As part of our team, you'll drive innovation and develop cutting-edge solutions for industry-leading brands including Steel City®, Ocal®, Ty-Duct®, Ty-Rap®, Sta-Kon®, and Color-Keyed®.
In this role, you'll take ownership of the complete product development lifecycle, from concept to market launch, leading design, development, testing, and validation efforts. You'll expand our portfolio by designing innovative products while managing cross-functional development projects that deliver cutting-edge solutions to our customers.
The work model for the role is: Onsite in Memphis, TN
You will be mainly accountable for:
- Lead strategic product development initiatives in partnership with Product Management, Legal, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and external vendors, managing projects from concept through validation, certification, and production.
- Design and develop complex components across metals and plastics using manufacturing processes including injection molding, stamping, casting, extrusion, machining, and additive manufacturing.
- Ensure product performance and manufacturability through dimensional tolerance analysis, validation testing, test plan development, and agency certification requirements.
- Develop comprehensive engineering documentation and drive project execution, including drawings, BOMs, material specifications, work instructions, quality control plans, and executive-level progress updates.
Qualifications for the role:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering.
- Minimum of 5 years of engineering experience in manufacturing for large scale production, product testing, finite element analysis, stress analysis, design for manufacturing and materials selection.
- Comprehensive knowledge of product design and development, from prototype creation to production ready.
- Solid experience in prototype creation (from small-scale proof of concepts to production representative samples required for performance testing).
- Strong proficiency with 3D modeling software; Creo is highly preferred.
- Experience collaborating with cross functional teams such as manufacturing and product management.
- Familiarity with intellectual property concepts and patent considerations.
- Candidates must already have a work authorization that allows them to work for ABB in United States.
- A self-motivated, results oriented learner, who enjoys collaboration and teamwork.
- Solid written and verbal communication skills in English is required.
What's in it for you?
We want you to bring your full self to work—your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You’ll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates impact you can see and feel, every day.
ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.
For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.
Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to US-AskHR@abb.com. Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner. #LI-Onsite
ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees
[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]
Go to MyBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more
Health, Life & Disability
- Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
- Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
- Vision benefit
- Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
- Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
- Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums
- Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid
- Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
- Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance)
- Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks
- Employee Assistance Program
- Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
- Employee discount program
Retirement
- 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
- Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)
Time off
- ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.
Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.
See all 1,901+ H-1B Visa R D Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a R D Engineer
Align your degree to the role
R&D Engineer petitions get RFEs when the degree field doesn't map directly to the research domain. If your degree is in physics but the role is materials R&D, document coursework and publications that bridge the two fields before your employer files.
Check employer LCA filing history on Migrate Mate
Before applying, verify which employers have filed Labor Condition Applications for R&D Engineer roles. Migrate Mate surfaces this DOL data by employer and occupation so you can target companies with a proven H-1B sponsorship track record in your research area.
Target cap-exempt research institutions
Universities, federal labs, and nonprofit research organizations are exempt from the 85,000-cap H-1B lottery. R&D Engineers at these institutions can receive H-1B approval year-round, making them strategic targets if you're coming off OPT or a grace period.
Request premium processing for research roles
R&D project timelines often have firm start dates tied to grant funding cycles. USCIS premium processing guarantees a response within 15 business days, reducing the risk that a delayed petition disrupts a funded research project start date.
Document your specialized research contributions
USCIS scrutinizes whether R&D roles genuinely require a specific degree rather than general engineering skills. Compile patents, published papers, conference presentations, and proprietary research outputs before your employer drafts the I-129 support letter.
Verify the prevailing wage tier before negotiating
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. R&D roles at higher experience levels require higher DOL wage certifications, which affects what salary your employer can legitimately offer.
H-1B Visa R D Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an R&D Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, if the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, or a directly related discipline. USCIS evaluates whether the theoretical and practical application of the engineering knowledge is what makes the job possible, not just general technical ability. Roles that accept any engineering degree regardless of field are more likely to receive an RFE.
How do I find R&D Engineer employers who sponsor H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate shows verified DOL Labor Condition Application filing history by employer and occupation code, so you can see which companies have sponsored H-1B workers in R&D Engineer roles specifically. This is more reliable than guessing from job postings, which rarely state sponsorship history upfront.
Can I work for a national laboratory or federally funded research center on an H-1B?
Yes, and these employers offer a significant structural advantage. National laboratories operated by the Department of Energy and nonprofit research institutions affiliated with universities are cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning your petition bypasses the annual lottery entirely. You can file and receive approval at any point in the year, which is particularly useful if your OPT is running out mid-year.
What happens to my H-1B if my R&D project ends or loses funding?
If your employer terminates your position, you have a 60-day grace period under USCIS rules to find a new sponsoring employer, file a change of status, or prepare to depart. A new employer can file an H-1B transfer petition during that window, which allows you to start work upon filing if you're transferring to another H-1B employer rather than waiting for approval.
Does publishing research or holding patents strengthen an H-1B petition for an R&D Engineer?
Publications and patents don't change the legal standard for specialty occupation, but they do strengthen your employer's support letter by demonstrating that the role requires the specific advanced knowledge you possess. USCIS officers reviewing R&D petitions often look for evidence that the work is genuinely research-level rather than standard engineering production work, and a publication or patent record helps make that case.