J-1 Visa Automation Jobs
Automation roles in the United States are open to exchange visitors through the J-1 visa Trainee or Intern program categories, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsor organizations issue your DS-2019 and oversee your training plan. Finding host employers willing to work within this structure requires targeted sponsorship search strategies.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Earth and Environmental Sciences Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) seeks a postdoctoral researcher to develop and curate unique and cutting-edge AI-ready data for the U.S. Department of Energy’s ESS-DIVE repository.
The DOE Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program produces uniquely valuable datasets increasingly used in AI/ML, but many are not AI-ready due to inconsistent formatting, missing metadata, or incompatible file types.
The selected candidate will join an interdisciplinary team to improve and expand upon how DOE environmental data is prepared for AI to further our understanding of Earth system processes and to enable environmental management. This includes working with ESS-DIVE users and the broader community to create machine-readable data products and develop tools and guidance for contributors.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will:
Develop practical guidance for what “AI-ready data” should include that extends beyond the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Reusable, Interoperable) principles
Build and extend tools that validate datasets, and check whether they meet AI-readiness requirements
Help automate dataset preparation using reporting format templates and structured workflows
Enable translation of legacy DOE data into AI-ready formats, lead creation of example AI-ready benchmark datasets and supporting documentation
We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a KEY supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!
Why join Berkeley Lab?
We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on:
Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans
A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams!
In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year
Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)
You will:
Define AI-ready data standards: Establish and maintain guidance on metadata and formatting requirements for DOE environmental datasets
Build automated checks and tools: Develop LLM-supported methods to assess AI readiness and convert datasets into consistent, usable formats
Drive training and adoption: Create documentation, tutorials, and outreach to promote AI-ready data practices across the research lifecycle
Curate benchmark datasets: Select, standardize, and document ESS-DIVE datasets for AI training and validation
* Support automated workflows: Contribute to developing agent-based pipelines that streamline data preparation, validation, and integration
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for:
Ph.D. in environmental science, earth science, informatics, or a closely related field
Experience working with environmental/scientific datasets (cleaning, processing, analysis, synthesis)
Strong programming skills, especially Python (or comparable scientific programming)
Experience with LLM-assisted or agent-based workflows
Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain technical requirements to non-experts
Demonstrated record of scholarly or technical contributions (e.g., publications, reports, or significant software contributions)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Desired skills/knowledge:
Experience with metadata standards, data schemas, or FAIR principles, particularly with data formats commonly used in earth/environmental sciences (e.g., netCDF)
Experience building data pipelines for ingesting and harmonizing data from multiple sources and tracking data provenance
Familiarity with agentic AI tooling such as Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines, agent skills, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers
Ability/willingness to travel to partner institutions and conferences as needed
MATERIAL TO SUBMIT
CV and cover letter, including a list of recent publications
Links to any relevant public code repositories if available
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Application date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by June 30, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed
Appointment type: This is a full-time, 2 year, postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs. You must have less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience
Salary range: The monthly salary range for this position is $6,573 - $8,921 and is expected to start at $6,573 or above. Postdoc positions are paid on a step schedule per union contract and salaries will be predetermined based on postdoctoral step rates. Each step represents one full year of completed post-Ph.D postdoctoral and/or related research experience
Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment
Work modality: Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information)
Union Represented: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes
Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
INTRODUCTION
The Earth and Environmental Sciences Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) seeks a postdoctoral researcher to develop and curate unique and cutting-edge AI-ready data for the U.S. Department of Energy’s ESS-DIVE repository.
The DOE Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program produces uniquely valuable datasets increasingly used in AI/ML, but many are not AI-ready due to inconsistent formatting, missing metadata, or incompatible file types.
The selected candidate will join an interdisciplinary team to improve and expand upon how DOE environmental data is prepared for AI to further our understanding of Earth system processes and to enable environmental management. This includes working with ESS-DIVE users and the broader community to create machine-readable data products and develop tools and guidance for contributors.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will:
Develop practical guidance for what “AI-ready data” should include that extends beyond the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Reusable, Interoperable) principles
Build and extend tools that validate datasets, and check whether they meet AI-readiness requirements
Help automate dataset preparation using reporting format templates and structured workflows
Enable translation of legacy DOE data into AI-ready formats, lead creation of example AI-ready benchmark datasets and supporting documentation
We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a KEY supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!
Why join Berkeley Lab?
We invest in our employees by offering a total rewards package you can count on:
Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans
A culture where you’ll belong - we are invested in our teams!
In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year
Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers)
You will:
Define AI-ready data standards: Establish and maintain guidance on metadata and formatting requirements for DOE environmental datasets
Build automated checks and tools: Develop LLM-supported methods to assess AI readiness and convert datasets into consistent, usable formats
Drive training and adoption: Create documentation, tutorials, and outreach to promote AI-ready data practices across the research lifecycle
Curate benchmark datasets: Select, standardize, and document ESS-DIVE datasets for AI training and validation
* Support automated workflows: Contribute to developing agent-based pipelines that streamline data preparation, validation, and integration
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for:
Ph.D. in environmental science, earth science, informatics, or a closely related field
Experience working with environmental/scientific datasets (cleaning, processing, analysis, synthesis)
Strong programming skills, especially Python (or comparable scientific programming)
Experience with LLM-assisted or agent-based workflows
Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain technical requirements to non-experts
Demonstrated record of scholarly or technical contributions (e.g., publications, reports, or significant software contributions)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Desired skills/knowledge:
Experience with metadata standards, data schemas, or FAIR principles, particularly with data formats commonly used in earth/environmental sciences (e.g., netCDF)
Experience building data pipelines for ingesting and harmonizing data from multiple sources and tracking data provenance
Familiarity with agentic AI tooling such as Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines, agent skills, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers
Ability/willingness to travel to partner institutions and conferences as needed
MATERIAL TO SUBMIT
CV and cover letter, including a list of recent publications
Links to any relevant public code repositories if available
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Application date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by June 30, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed
Appointment type: This is a full-time, 2 year, postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs. You must have less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience
Salary range: The monthly salary range for this position is $6,573 - $8,921 and is expected to start at $6,573 or above. Postdoc positions are paid on a step schedule per union contract and salaries will be predetermined based on postdoctoral step rates. Each step represents one full year of completed post-Ph.D postdoctoral and/or related research experience
Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment
Work modality: Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information)
Union Represented: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes
Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
See all J-1 Visa Automation Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Automation Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Automation
Align your training plan with automation tasks
Designated sponsors require a detailed training plan before issuing your DS-2019. Map your objectives to specific automation competencies like PLC programming, robotics integration, or process control to satisfy sponsor review and host employer expectations.
Target manufacturers with established trainee programs
Automation trainees fit best at host employers who regularly work with J-1 participants and already understand training plan obligations. Industrial manufacturers, systems integrators, and process engineering firms are the most consistent host categories for this field.
Search for J-1-aligned automation roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers actively hosting exchange visitors in engineering and automation disciplines. Filtering by role type narrows your search to hosts already familiar with J-1 program requirements and DS-2019 procedures.
Confirm the home residency requirement early
Some J-1 Trainee participants are subject to a two-year home country residency requirement after program completion. Verify your status with your designated sponsor before accepting a host employer offer, since this affects any future U.S. visa plans.
Verify host employer eligibility before your interview
Not all automation employers are approved to host J-1 participants. Ask prospective hosts whether they have an existing agreement with a State Department-designated sponsor organization before progressing to the offer stage to avoid delays after your interview.
Use O*NET to build a credible skills narrative
Automation covers a wide range of occupational profiles. Pull the relevant O*NET occupation codes for your specialty, whether controls engineering, robotics, or industrial automation, and use that language when describing your training objectives to sponsors and host employers.
Automation J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to automation professionals?
It depends on your career stage. If you're currently enrolled in a degree program, the Intern category applies. If you've graduated within the past 12 months or are a working professional seeking structured U.S. training, the Trainee category is the right fit. Both categories require a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019 and approve your training plan before you can begin work with a host employer.
Is the hiring employer my J-1 visa sponsor in automation roles?
No. In the J-1 program, your visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, that issues your DS-2019 and monitors your training plan compliance. The automation company that hires you is your host employer, not your sponsor. The distinction matters because the sponsor bears legal responsibility for your program, and the host must cooperate with the sponsor's oversight requirements.
How do I find automation host employers willing to work with J-1 trainees?
Many automation employers are unfamiliar with the J-1 host process, so targeting companies with prior exchange visitor experience saves time. Migrate Mate helps you identify U.S. employers in engineering and automation fields that are already aligned with J-1 sponsorship structures, so you can focus your outreach on hosts who understand the DS-2019 and training plan requirements before your first conversation.
Can a J-1 Trainee in automation work on real production equipment or systems?
Yes, hands-on work is expected and encouraged in the Trainee category, provided it aligns with your approved training plan. You can work with PLC systems, robotics platforms, or process control environments as part of structured training. Your designated sponsor reviews the plan to confirm the activities are genuinely educational rather than filling a standard employment gap, so detail and specificity in your plan documentation matter.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect automation J-1 participants?
It can, depending on your country of origin and funding source. If your training is funded by your home government or a U.S. government agency, or if your home country has designated your skill area as one in short supply, the two-year residency requirement applies after your J-1 ends. You'd need to return home or obtain a waiver before pursuing an H-1B visa or other U.S. work visa. Confirm this with your designated sponsor before signing your host employer offer.