J-1 Visa Engineering Program Manager Jobs
Engineering Program Managers pursuing U.S. experience typically qualify for J-1 sponsorship under the Trainee or Research Scholar category, depending on their career stage and host organization. A State Department-designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, while the engineering firm or tech company acts as your host. No lottery, no annual cap.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout Redwood Materials
Redwood is localizing a global battery supply chain that seamlessly integrates recovery, reuse, and recycling — keeping critical minerals in circulation and driving the energy transition. Founded in 2017, we're delivering low-cost and large-scale energy storage and producing battery materials in the U.S. for the first time, all from batteries we already have.
Operations Program Manager
We are seeking a highly technical Operations Program Manager to lead build readiness & internal ramp execution for hardware manufacturing. This role requires strong hands-on manufacturing engineering instincts, the ability to dive into process capability and equipment readiness, and real experience improving throughput, yield, and reliability at production facilities. You will manage builds from prototypes to mass production, working with cross-functional teams to ensure processes are capable and stable at scale.
Responsibilities will include:
- Drive cross-functional execution from NPI through mass production, aligning Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and external stakeholders to meet build and ramp targets
- Define ramp success criteria, build plans, and phase-gate reviews to enable smooth transition from proto → pilot → MP → scale
- Manage program schedules, risks, and dependencies; maintain clear dashboards and communication, escalating critical issues with data-driven options for resolution
- Own factory and supplier readiness for PCBA & box builds: lead technical reviews, capacity & CapEx planning, process qualification, line bring-up, and on-site build support
- Drive yield improvement and issue closure by partnering with internal teams and manufacturing sites to validate process, test coverage, and quality systems
- Lead root cause, containment, corrective action, and long-term process improvements
- Establish run-at-rate requirements and validate capacity at suppliers and internal sites
- Identify bottlenecks and implement solutions for cycle-time reduction, debottlenecking, and throughput increase
- Serve as the primary interface between internal product teams and external manufacturing partners to ensure aligned execution and accountability
- Support go-to-market operational readiness, ensuring supply availability, logistics, and sustaining plans are in place for launch and scale
Desired Qualifications:
- 5+ years in program management, CM operations, manufacturing & process engineering, supplier industrialization, or technical operations in high-volume hardware
- Demonstrated success improving yield, throughput, cycle time, and OEE in production
- Hands-on experience with PPAP/APQP, DOE, SPC, PFMEA, GR&R, control plans
- Strong data analysis skills: Excel/Sheets; SQL, JMP, Minitab or Python beneficial
- Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings
- Experience in automotive or power electronics manufacturing
- Experience scaling hardware production from lab/pilot → volume manufacturing
In accordance with California pay transparency laws, the salary range for this position is listed below. Actual compensation may vary based on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and skills.
California Pay Range: $122,000—$162,000 USD
The position is full-time. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
We collect personal information (PI) from you in connection with your application for employment with Redwood Materials, including the following categories of PI: identifiers, personal records, professional or employment information, and inferences drawn from your PI. We collect your PI for our purposes, including performing services and operations related to your potential employment. If you have additional privacy-related questions, please contact us at privacy@redwoodmaterials.com.
About Redwood Materials
Redwood is localizing a global battery supply chain that seamlessly integrates recovery, reuse, and recycling — keeping critical minerals in circulation and driving the energy transition. Founded in 2017, we're delivering low-cost and large-scale energy storage and producing battery materials in the U.S. for the first time, all from batteries we already have.
Operations Program Manager
We are seeking a highly technical Operations Program Manager to lead build readiness & internal ramp execution for hardware manufacturing. This role requires strong hands-on manufacturing engineering instincts, the ability to dive into process capability and equipment readiness, and real experience improving throughput, yield, and reliability at production facilities. You will manage builds from prototypes to mass production, working with cross-functional teams to ensure processes are capable and stable at scale.
Responsibilities will include:
- Drive cross-functional execution from NPI through mass production, aligning Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and external stakeholders to meet build and ramp targets
- Define ramp success criteria, build plans, and phase-gate reviews to enable smooth transition from proto → pilot → MP → scale
- Manage program schedules, risks, and dependencies; maintain clear dashboards and communication, escalating critical issues with data-driven options for resolution
- Own factory and supplier readiness for PCBA & box builds: lead technical reviews, capacity & CapEx planning, process qualification, line bring-up, and on-site build support
- Drive yield improvement and issue closure by partnering with internal teams and manufacturing sites to validate process, test coverage, and quality systems
- Lead root cause, containment, corrective action, and long-term process improvements
- Establish run-at-rate requirements and validate capacity at suppliers and internal sites
- Identify bottlenecks and implement solutions for cycle-time reduction, debottlenecking, and throughput increase
- Serve as the primary interface between internal product teams and external manufacturing partners to ensure aligned execution and accountability
- Support go-to-market operational readiness, ensuring supply availability, logistics, and sustaining plans are in place for launch and scale
Desired Qualifications:
- 5+ years in program management, CM operations, manufacturing & process engineering, supplier industrialization, or technical operations in high-volume hardware
- Demonstrated success improving yield, throughput, cycle time, and OEE in production
- Hands-on experience with PPAP/APQP, DOE, SPC, PFMEA, GR&R, control plans
- Strong data analysis skills: Excel/Sheets; SQL, JMP, Minitab or Python beneficial
- Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings
- Experience in automotive or power electronics manufacturing
- Experience scaling hardware production from lab/pilot → volume manufacturing
In accordance with California pay transparency laws, the salary range for this position is listed below. Actual compensation may vary based on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and skills.
California Pay Range: $122,000—$162,000 USD
The position is full-time. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
We collect personal information (PI) from you in connection with your application for employment with Redwood Materials, including the following categories of PI: identifiers, personal records, professional or employment information, and inferences drawn from your PI. We collect your PI for our purposes, including performing services and operations related to your potential employment. If you have additional privacy-related questions, please contact us at privacy@redwoodmaterials.com.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as an Engineering Program Manager
Align your training plan to EPM competencies
Your DS-2019 requires a detailed training plan showing skill development goals. Map it to core Engineering Program Manager functions: cross-functional coordination, risk mitigation, and delivery lifecycle management. Vague plans get rejected by designated sponsors.
Verify whether your role triggers the home residency requirement
If your host organization receives U.S. government funding or your home country has a skills-shortage designation, the two-year home residency requirement may apply. Confirm your status before accepting an offer, since waivers take months to process.
Target host organizations with active J-1 history
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers who have hosted J-1 exchange visitors in engineering and program management functions. These organizations already understand the DS-2019 process and designated sponsor relationships, cutting onboarding friction significantly.
Use O*NET to substantiate your specialty occupation claim
Designated sponsors assess whether your proposed role meets exchange visitor program standards. Pull the Engineering Program Manager profile from O*NET and reference its task and knowledge taxonomy directly in your training plan narrative to strengthen the application.
Clarify cost responsibility with the host employer early
Designated sponsor program fees, SEVIS fees, and DS-2019 administrative costs are negotiable between you and the host. Engineering roles at larger firms often absorb these costs, but you need written confirmation before your sponsor finalizes the placement agreement.
Stage your start date around DS-2019 processing timelines
Designated sponsors typically need four to six weeks to issue a DS-2019 after receiving a complete training plan and host employer confirmation. Build that window into your offer negotiation so your program start date doesn't slip past your entry authorization.
Engineering Program Manager jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Engineering Program Manager JobsEngineering Program Manager J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits an Engineering Program Manager role?
It depends on your career stage. If you're a current student or recent graduate seeking practical training, the Intern category applies. If you've completed your degree and have at least one year of relevant professional experience, the Trainee category is the correct fit. Research Scholar applies only if your role is primarily research-focused at a university or research institution, which is uncommon for program management positions.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa, the employer or a separate organization?
The engineering firm or tech company hosting you is not your visa sponsor. Your J-1 sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, that issues your DS-2019 form and monitors your program compliance. The host employer signs the training plan and provides the work environment, but the designated sponsor holds legal responsibility for your exchange visitor status throughout the program.
How do I find host employers open to J-1 Engineering Program Manager placements?
Migrate Mate lets you filter for U.S. employers and roles that align with J-1 sponsorship, making it easier to identify companies already familiar with the host organization obligations. Most employers new to J-1 hosting underestimate the training plan requirements, so targeting organizations with prior J-1 experience in engineering functions significantly reduces the time from offer to DS-2019 issuance.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect Engineering Program Managers?
It can. If your J-1 program is funded by your home country government, financed by a U.S. government agency, or if your field appears on your home country's skills-shortage list, you'll be subject to the two-year requirement before you can change to most other nonimmigrant statuses or apply for a green card. Engineering program management roles tied to government-funded research projects carry higher exposure to this requirement than private-sector placements.
Can my J-1 Trainee status convert to an H-1B after the program ends?
Yes, but the timing is tight. Your J-1 Trainee program has a maximum duration of 18 months for business and industry categories. If you're subject to the two-year home residency requirement, H-1B sponsorship isn't available until that obligation is met or waived. If you're not subject to it, your host employer can file an H-1B petition while you're still in valid J-1 status, provided the petition is approved before your program end date or you depart and reenter on an H-1B visa stamp.
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