H-1B Visa Software Design Engineer Jobs
Software Design Engineer roles sit squarely within H-1B specialty occupation criteria, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field. Employers filing LCAs for this title regularly appear in DOL disclosure data, making it one of the more sponsorship-active job codes in tech.
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About Ascendion:
Ascendion is a full service digital engineering solutions company. We make and manage software platforms and products that power growth and deliver captivating experiences to consumers and employees. Our engineering, cloud, data, experience design, and talent solution capabilities accelerate transformation and impact for enterprise clients. Headquartered in New Jersey, our workforce of 6,000+ Ascenders delivers solutions from around the globe. Ascendion is built differently to engineer the next.
Ascendion | Engineering to elevate life
We have a culture built on opportunity, inclusion, and a spirit of partnership. Come, change the world with us:
- Build the coolest tech for world’s leading brands
- Solve complex problems - and learn new skills
- Experience the power of transforming digital engineering for Fortune 500 clients
- Master your craft with leading training programs and hands-on experience
- Experience a community of change makers!
Join a culture of high-performing innovators with endless ideas and a passion for tech. Our culture is the fabric of our company, and it is what makes us unique and diverse. The way we share ideas, learning, experiences, successes, and joy allows everyone to be their best at Ascendion.
Title: Software Design Engineer 5
Location: Hybrid
A typical day in this role is largely hands-on and engineering-focused, with approximately 80% of time spent developing and testing security-related hardware and software used in the Azure fleet. The engineer works independently on configuring test systems, writing and modifying test code, executing validation scenarios, troubleshooting issues, and refining automated test pipelines across Windows and Linux server environments. Around 10% of the day is spent in focused technical meetings to review designs, test results, or coordinate with developers, while the remaining 10% is dedicated to documentation and reporting of test outcomes. The role requires flexibility, strong debugging skills, and the ability to switch between projects as priorities evolve.
Job Responsibilities:
- Fine-tune and improve a variety of sophisticated software implementation projects
- Gather and analyze system requirements, document specifications, and develop software solutions to meet client needs and data
- Analyze and review enhancement requests and specifications
- Implement system software and customize to client requirements
- Prepare the detailed software specifications and test plans
- Code new programs to client’s specifications and create test data for testing
- Modify existing programs to new standards and conduct unit testing of developed programs
- Create migration packages for system testing, user testing, and implementation
- Provide quality assurance reviews
- Perform post-implementation validation of software and resolve any bugs found during testing
What is the ideal background of a candidate for this role?
The ideal candidate has 8–10+ years of experience working at the intersection of hardware and software, with a strong background in testing and developing server-class systems across Windows Server and Linux environments. They are proficient in C++ (with Python for automation), experienced in configuring and validating data-center hardware, and comfortable designing automated test frameworks and CI/CD pipelines. Experience with open-source development, Rust, or security-sensitive systems is a strong plus. The candidate should be highly self-directed, adaptable across projects, and effective at producing clear technical reports and test results.
Key Discussion Points
Role Expectations:
- Strong development background required (C, Python, Rust).
- Testing experience still important but secondary to development.
- Work involves low-level firmware and device driver development, CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps, and VM configuration.
Technical Environment:
- Hardware: Blades, ARM blade for testing.
- OS: Azure hosts (2022, 2024), Windows Server, and VM guests.
- Cluster and lab environments for validation.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a technical field such as computer science, computer engineering or related field required
- 10+ years experience required
- A solid foundation in computer science, with strong competencies in data structures, algorithms, and software design
- Large systems software design and development experience
- Experience performing in-depth troubleshooting and unit testing with both new and legacy production systems
- Experience in programming and experience with problem diagnosis and resolution
Ideal Candidate Profile:
Strong in C and Python; Rust is a “nice to have” but willingness to learn is key. Data center experience preferred but not mandatory. Minimum 5–7 years of experience (flexible for exceptional candidates).
Salary Range: $166,400 - $170,400 Annually
Factors that may affect pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
Benefits:
The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
- medical insurance
- dental insurance
- vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- long-term disability insurance
- short-term disability insurance
- 5 personal days accrued each calendar year. The Paid time off benefits meet the paid sick and safe time laws that pertain to the City/State
- 10-15 days of paid vacation time
- 6 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday per calendar year
Want to change the world? Let us know.
Tell us about your experiences, education, and ambitions. Bring your knowledge, unique viewpoint, and creativity to the table. Let’s talk!
Preferred Skills
- Azure
- C++
- CI/CD
- Python Azure
- Python
Job details
Job ID
332109
Job Requirements
Software Design Engineer
Location
Redmond, Washington, US
Recruiter
Tushar
tushar.sahoo@ascendion.com
About Ascendion
Ascendion is a full-service digital engineering solutions company. We make and manage software platforms and products that power growth and deliver captivating experiences to consumers and employees. Our engineering, cloud, data, experience design, and talent solution capabilities accelerate transformation and impact for enterprise clients. Headquartered in New Jersey, our workforce of 6,000+ Ascenders delivers solutions from around the globe. Ascendion is built differently to engineer the next.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Software Design Engineer
Align your degree to the role
USCIS scrutinizes whether your specific degree field matches the Software Design Engineer title. A degree in computer science or software engineering is the cleanest fit. Degrees in adjacent fields like electrical engineering or information systems can work but may require a detailed employer explanation in the H-1B petition.
Search LCA filings before applying
DOL Labor Condition Application records show which employers have filed for Software Design Engineer roles by job title and location. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with active H-1B filing history in this occupation before you spend time on applications.
Request the prevailing wage tier early
Ask your recruiter which DOL prevailing wage level the employer intends to file at for this role. Levels I and II are common for new graduates but can draw RFEs if your responsibilities look senior. Confirm the offered salary meets or exceeds the certified LCA wage before signing.
Target E-Verify enrolled employers
USCIS requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify to sponsor H-1B workers. Confirm E-Verify enrollment during the offer stage, not after. Many smaller software firms and startups miss this requirement, which delays or blocks the petition filing entirely.
Document your design work for RFE defense
Build a portfolio of design artifacts: architecture diagrams, specification documents, and code reviews tied to distinct engineering decisions. If USCIS issues an RFE questioning specialty occupation, concrete evidence of design-level work is stronger than a job description alone.
File premium processing if your start date is firm
USCIS premium processing guarantees a decision within 15 business days. For Software Design Engineer roles with a specific project launch or team onboarding date, premium processing eliminates the uncertainty of standard adjudication timelines that can stretch several months.
Software Design Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Software Design Engineer JobsSoftware Design Engineer H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Software Design Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, Software Design Engineer consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation under USCIS criteria because the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a directly related field. The O*NET profile for this occupation classifies it as requiring a four-year degree minimum, which supports the specialty occupation standard. Employers document this in the LCA and I-129 petition.
How do I find Software Design Engineer employers who actively sponsor H-1B visas?
The most direct method is reviewing DOL Labor Condition Application disclosure data, which lists every employer that has filed an LCA for a specific job title. Migrate Mate indexes this data so you can browse Software Design Engineer roles filtered by employers with verified H-1B filing history, avoiding the guesswork of cold-applying to companies without a sponsorship track record.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new Software Design Engineer role at a different company?
Yes. Under AC21 portability, you can transfer your H-1B to a new employer in the same or a similar occupational classification once your I-140 has been approved and your H-1B has been approved for at least 180 days. The new employer files an H-1B transfer petition, and you can begin working for them as soon as USCIS receives that filing, without waiting for approval.
What happens to my H-1B status if my Software Design Engineer position is eliminated?
You have a 60-day grace period after your employment ends to find a new sponsoring employer, transfer your H-1B, or depart the U.S. Your current employer is required to pay for your return transportation to your home country if they terminate the relationship before your authorized stay ends. Filing an H-1B transfer petition within that 60-day window maintains your lawful status during adjudication.
Does the job title on my H-1B petition need to exactly match my business card?
The LCA job title and SOC code must accurately reflect the actual duties you perform, not necessarily mirror your internal title word for word. What matters is that your day-to-day responsibilities match the specialty occupation description in the petition. A significant mismatch between the filed title and your actual role can create problems during extensions, audits, or future green card filings, so alignment matters.
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