H-1B1 Chile Visa Design Engineer Jobs
Design Engineer jobs with H-1B1 Chile visa sponsorship are a direct path for Chilean engineers to work in the U.S. without entering a lottery. The H-1B1 Chile program reserves 1,400 annual visas exclusively for Chilean nationals, and that cap has never filled, meaning your application competes on merit, not luck.
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Location: Sunnyvale, CA, United States
Company Description
It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.
We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.
The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.
If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
Mechanical Design & Subsystem Ownership
- Lead the mechanical design of components, mechanisms, and subsystems supporting optics, illumination, electronics packaging, sealing, sterilization, and thermal performance.
- Translate system and subsystem requirements into detailed mechanical designs, specifications, and drawings.
- Drive detailed design execution from concept through prototype build, verification, and manufacturing transfer.
- Apply precision engineering principles, tolerance-driven design, and best practices for robust mechanical integration.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Optics, Electrical Engineering, Firmware, Manufacturing, Reliability, Test, and Materials teams to resolve design tradeoffs and integration challenges.
- Actively participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and failure analysis discussions.
- Communicate technical concepts clearly across disciplines.
Prototyping, Testing & Analysis
- Build and iterate on proof-of-concept and engineering prototypes.
- Perform detailed 2D/3D tolerance analysis, stack-up modeling, and basic FEA/simulation to validate design margins.
- Develop and execute verification plans, DOEs, and durability testing to validate performance over the product lifecycle.
- Troubleshoot design and prototype issues using data-driven root-cause analysis.
Manufacturing, DFM/DFA & Supplier Engagement
- Drive DFM/DFA/DFS for assigned components and subsystems to enable scalable manufacturing.
- Collaborate with suppliers on fabrication, finishing, and joining processes (precision machining, molding, casting, coatings, bonding, etc.).
- Support supplier qualification, manufacturing ramp, and yield improvement activities.
- Partner with Manufacturing and Quality to support design transfer, sustaining engineering, and reliability improvements.
Documentation & Compliance
- Generate complete engineering documentation including drawings, tolerance analyses, specifications, test reports, and DHF content.
- Support regulatory and quality-system requirements throughout development.
- Contribute to intellectual property through invention disclosures and technical documentation.
Mentorship & Technical Growth
- Mentor junior engineers through design execution, best practices, and technical problem solving.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of design processes, tools, and standards within the team.
Qualifications
Required Skills & Experience
Technical Expertise
- Strong experience designing precision mechanical components and assemblies for electro-mechanical or opto-mechanical systems.
- Proficiency in SolidWorks 3D CAD, including complex assemblies, GD&T, and functional dimensioning.
- Solid understanding of tolerance analysis, stack-up modeling, and mechanical simulation tools.
- Experience applying DFM/DFA principles for complex or high-volume assemblies.
- Hands-on understanding of mechanical–optical interfaces, electronics packaging, thermal effects, and sterilization-driven design constraints.
- Experience designing fixtures, jigs, and basic calibration or alignment tools.
Execution & Collaboration
- Proven ability to independently own and execute complex mechanical designs.
- Strong problem-solving skills and comfort working in fast-paced, iterative development environments.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
- Ability to manage multiple technical efforts while maintaining clarity and accountability.
Education & Experience Requirements
- BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 7–12 years of mechanical design experience in medical devices, robotics, imaging systems, or similarly demanding fields.
- Demonstrated experience across multiple phases of the product lifecycle: concept, design, prototyping, verification, and manufacturing transfer.
- Medical device experience preferred but not required.
Additional Information
Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.
Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.
Mandatory Notices
U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.
Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).
For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes.
We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.
Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.
This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.
We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.
Base Compensation Range Region 1: $162,800 USD - $234,200 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $138,400 USD - $199,100 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Design Engineer
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation criteria
The H-1B1 Chile requires your engineering degree to directly correspond to the design engineering role. A mechanical engineering degree supporting a product design role qualifies; a general business degree does not. Cross-check the O*NET profile for Design Engineers to confirm the required field of study before applying.
Request an LCA before your offer letter is finalized
Your employer must file a Labor Condition Application with DOL before the consulate can process your H-1B1 visa. Ask hiring managers early whether their legal team has filed LCAs for this role before, so you don't lose weeks waiting on a first-time filing.
Search for employers with active H-1B1 Chile filing history
Not every company that hires engineers has filed H-1B1 Chile petitions. Use Migrate Mate to filter Design Engineer roles by employers with verified H-1B1 Chile sponsorship history, so you spend your time on companies already set up for this visa.
Target design-intensive industries with established sponsorship infrastructure
Aerospace, semiconductor, and industrial equipment manufacturers file H-1B1 Chile petitions more consistently than early-stage startups, which often lack immigration counsel. Focus your outreach on companies where design engineering is a core function, not a support role.
Benchmark your offered salary against OFLC Wage Search before negotiating
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your specific job title and location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for Design Engineer under the correct SOC code before your offer discussion, so you can flag any gap before the LCA is submitted.
Prepare a portfolio demonstrating specialty occupation depth
Consular officers assess whether your role genuinely requires a theoretical and practical application of engineering. Bring documented project examples that show design complexity, not just execution tasks, to demonstrate your position qualifies as a specialty occupation under H-1B1 Chile standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Design Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for the H-1B1 Chile visa?
Yes, design engineering qualifies as a specialty occupation when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in engineering or a directly related field. USCIS evaluates whether the role's duties require theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge. Roles focused on creative or iterative design work in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering consistently meet this standard.
How does the H-1B1 Chile visa differ from the H-1B for Design Engineers?
The H-1B1 Chile visa skips the H-1B lottery entirely and is processed at the consulate, not through USCIS. The annual cap is 1,400 visas for Chilean nationals, and it has never come close to filling. The tradeoff is that H-1B visa1 Chile does not allow dual intent, so it's better suited for engineers who aren't yet pursuing a green card.
How do I find Design Engineer employers who already sponsor the H-1B1 Chile visa?
Migrate Mate lets you filter Design Engineer job listings by employers with confirmed H-1B1 Chile sponsorship history, which saves time compared to approaching companies without immigration infrastructure. Employers in aerospace, automotive, and semiconductor manufacturing file for this role most consistently, and having prior filing history means less internal friction when your offer stage begins.
Can my employer file the H-1B1 Chile petition while I'm still in Chile?
Yes. The H-1B1 Chile is a consular-processed visa, meaning your employer files the Labor Condition Application with DOL, and you apply for the visa stamp at a U.S. consulate in Chile rather than adjusting status inside the U.S. This makes it straightforward to begin the process before you relocate.
What happens to my H-1B1 Chile status if my Design Engineer role changes significantly?
A material change in job duties can affect your H-1B1 Chile status if the new responsibilities no longer align with the approved LCA or the specialty occupation definition. Your employer should file an amended LCA with DOL before the role change takes effect. Small scope expansions within the same engineering function typically don't require a new filing.