J-1 Visa Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs
Mechanical Design Engineer roles in the United States are accessible to exchange visitors through the J-1 Trainee or Intern program categories, depending on your career stage. Securing sponsorship requires a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019, not the hiring employer directly.
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Get Access To All JobsABOUT ATS INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION
With 40+ Years of experience bringing excellence to the automation field, ATS is an industry-leading automation solutions provider to many of the world’s most successful companies. We leverage our experience by creating custom automation, repeat automation, and services in industries such as transportation, consumer products, and energy.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The role of the mechanical engineer intern is to help assist experienced engineers with design projects, performing calculations, creating CAD models, and learning mechanical engineering principles.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:
- Help produce mechanical work packages for assigned project equipment.
- Generate bills of material for any assigned project equipment.
- Participate in design review meetings for assigned project equipment.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS:
- The employee may be required to stand, walk, push, pull, reach overhead, and bend to the floor.
- Exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or exert up to 10 pounds of force frequently.
- Visual Acuity – Normal requirements for reading written instructions and computer screens.
- Hearing Ability – Normal requirements for understanding verbal instructions.
- Working Conditions – The employee is subject to a normal office environment with occasional exposure to high noise levels and/or physical hazards when visiting the manufacturing floor.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in mechanical engineering.
- Foundational knowledge of mechanical engineering principles.
- Entry level knowledge of CAD software.
- Demonstrates good communication and problem-solving skills.
HEALTH, SAFETY, & ENVIRONMENTAL (HSE) REQUIREMENTS:
All employees have the responsibility to work in a healthy and safe manner, report any health, safety or environmental concern to their manager or supervisor in a timely manner, and participate in the safety culture of the organization.
Employee responsibilities for Health, Safety and Environment include:
- Work in conformance with divisional health, safety and environmental procedures and compliance to legislative requirements.
- Refrain from removing or altering safety devices or guarding unless hazardous energies are controlled through lockout-tagout methods.
- Report any unsafe conditions or unsafe acts, defects in any equipment or protective device, and any accidents/incidents to the supervisor.
- Ensure that the required protective equipment is used for assigned tasks.
- Attend all required health, safety and environmental training.
- Assist in investigating accidents/incidents where applicable.
Join our globally growing team at ATS Industrial Automation where we create complex automation solutions at the highest level that sustainably impact lives around the world.
At ATS, a publicly traded global company with a proud 40-year history, we help drive the future with our factory-wide automation solutions. At ATS Industrial Automation, what we do matters - both to our customers and to their customers. With 600 skilled employees around the world, we design, build and service mission-critical automated assembly and test solutions for mobility, nuclear and specialty automation. Our customers are leaders in their industries and rely on us to deliver what we promise - on time and on budget. Combined with our broad product portfolio, financial strength and global presence, we provide our customers with the best automation solutions wherever and whenever they need them.
JOIN OUR ATS INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION TEAM BECAUSE:
- We VALUE our People: The foundation of a great company is having the best team which is why we continuously work to develop, engage, empower, and energize our people.
- We’ve got GREAT Work Perks: We provide a variety of perks to our employees. Make sure you ask more about our flexible work schedules, employee events, free coffee beverages, employee referral program and safety shoe programs.
- We offer COMPETITIVE Total Rewards: Competitive starting salaries, overtime pay eligibility, paid vacation, company paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance, comprehensive health benefits, 401K matching program, Employee Incentive Bonus program and optional Employee Share Purchase Program.
- We support internal GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: ATS Automation offers endless opportunities for professional growth and development, including tuition reimbursement programs and our commitment to promoting from within.
ABOUT ATS INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION
With 40+ Years of experience bringing excellence to the automation field, ATS is an industry-leading automation solutions provider to many of the world’s most successful companies. We leverage our experience by creating custom automation, repeat automation, and services in industries such as transportation, consumer products, and energy.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The role of the mechanical engineer intern is to help assist experienced engineers with design projects, performing calculations, creating CAD models, and learning mechanical engineering principles.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:
- Help produce mechanical work packages for assigned project equipment.
- Generate bills of material for any assigned project equipment.
- Participate in design review meetings for assigned project equipment.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS:
- The employee may be required to stand, walk, push, pull, reach overhead, and bend to the floor.
- Exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or exert up to 10 pounds of force frequently.
- Visual Acuity – Normal requirements for reading written instructions and computer screens.
- Hearing Ability – Normal requirements for understanding verbal instructions.
- Working Conditions – The employee is subject to a normal office environment with occasional exposure to high noise levels and/or physical hazards when visiting the manufacturing floor.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in mechanical engineering.
- Foundational knowledge of mechanical engineering principles.
- Entry level knowledge of CAD software.
- Demonstrates good communication and problem-solving skills.
HEALTH, SAFETY, & ENVIRONMENTAL (HSE) REQUIREMENTS:
All employees have the responsibility to work in a healthy and safe manner, report any health, safety or environmental concern to their manager or supervisor in a timely manner, and participate in the safety culture of the organization.
Employee responsibilities for Health, Safety and Environment include:
- Work in conformance with divisional health, safety and environmental procedures and compliance to legislative requirements.
- Refrain from removing or altering safety devices or guarding unless hazardous energies are controlled through lockout-tagout methods.
- Report any unsafe conditions or unsafe acts, defects in any equipment or protective device, and any accidents/incidents to the supervisor.
- Ensure that the required protective equipment is used for assigned tasks.
- Attend all required health, safety and environmental training.
- Assist in investigating accidents/incidents where applicable.
Join our globally growing team at ATS Industrial Automation where we create complex automation solutions at the highest level that sustainably impact lives around the world.
At ATS, a publicly traded global company with a proud 40-year history, we help drive the future with our factory-wide automation solutions. At ATS Industrial Automation, what we do matters - both to our customers and to their customers. With 600 skilled employees around the world, we design, build and service mission-critical automated assembly and test solutions for mobility, nuclear and specialty automation. Our customers are leaders in their industries and rely on us to deliver what we promise - on time and on budget. Combined with our broad product portfolio, financial strength and global presence, we provide our customers with the best automation solutions wherever and whenever they need them.
JOIN OUR ATS INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION TEAM BECAUSE:
- We VALUE our People: The foundation of a great company is having the best team which is why we continuously work to develop, engage, empower, and energize our people.
- We’ve got GREAT Work Perks: We provide a variety of perks to our employees. Make sure you ask more about our flexible work schedules, employee events, free coffee beverages, employee referral program and safety shoe programs.
- We offer COMPETITIVE Total Rewards: Competitive starting salaries, overtime pay eligibility, paid vacation, company paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance, comprehensive health benefits, 401K matching program, Employee Incentive Bonus program and optional Employee Share Purchase Program.
- We support internal GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: ATS Automation offers endless opportunities for professional growth and development, including tuition reimbursement programs and our commitment to promoting from within.
See all 19+ Mechanical Design Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Mechanical Design Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Mechanical Design Engineer
Document your engineering credentials before applying
Gather transcripts, degree certificates, and a portfolio of CAD or CAE project work before you approach host employers. Designated sponsors reviewing your DS-2019 application will verify that your engineering background directly supports the proposed training objectives.
Distinguish Intern from Trainee eligibility early
The J-1 Intern category requires current enrollment in a foreign degree program, while Trainee requires at least one year of post-degree work experience. Applying under the wrong category delays DS-2019 issuance, so confirm which fits your career stage first.
Target host employers with structured engineering programs
Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers advertising mechanical design roles that align with J-1 exchange visitor objectives. Hosts with formal training plans already drafted move through designated sponsor approval faster than those building one from scratch.
Build a training plan around your specific design discipline
Your designated sponsor requires a detailed Training or Internship Placement Plan outlining the technical skills you will develop, such as GD&T proficiency, FEA software, or tolerance analysis. Vague plans referencing generic engineering tasks are routinely rejected.
Clarify the 2-year home residency requirement with your sponsor
Some Mechanical Design Engineer exchange visitors, particularly those funded by their home government or from skills-shortage countries, are subject to INA 212(e), requiring two years of home-country residence before switching to H-1B or a green card. Confirm your status with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer.
Verify the host employer's workplace compliance posture
Ask the host employer whether they participate in E-Verify and whether they have hosted J-1 exchange visitors previously. USCIS and the State Department expect designated sponsors to place trainees with employers who can demonstrate a safe, structured work environment before DS-2019 issuance.
Mechanical Design Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Mechanical Design Engineer JobsMechanical Design Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Mechanical Design Engineer?
Your category depends on where you are in your career. If you're currently enrolled in a foreign engineering degree program, the J-1 Intern category applies, with placements limited to 12 months. If you've already graduated and have at least one year of relevant professional experience, the J-1 Trainee category applies and allows up to 18 months. Research Scientists pursuing academic exchange may qualify as Research Scholars instead.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a mechanical engineering role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your employer. Organizations like AIPT or Cultural Vistas issue the DS-2019 form that makes you eligible to apply for the J-1 visa. The engineering firm or manufacturer where you work is the host organization. Your employer provides the job and training plan, but the designated sponsor is the legal sponsor responsible for your exchange program compliance.
How do I find U.S. employers open to hosting J-1 mechanical design engineers?
Most U.S. employers don't advertise J-1 host positions explicitly, which makes targeted searching difficult. Migrate Mate surfaces mechanical design roles with U.S. employers whose hiring history and role structures align with J-1 Trainee and Intern program requirements, letting you filter by engineering discipline rather than scrolling through general job listings.
What does the training plan for a Mechanical Design Engineer need to include?
Your Training or Internship Placement Plan, submitted to your designated sponsor on Form DS-7002, must specify the engineering competencies you will develop, the phases of training, the supervision structure, and how each phase connects to your prior education or experience. For mechanical design roles, this typically means detailing exposure to specific CAD platforms, tolerance analysis methods, prototype workflows, or manufacturing standards relevant to the host's industry.
Does the 2-year home residency requirement affect J-1 mechanical engineers?
It can. If your training is funded by your home government, if your home country appears on the State Department's skills list, or if your designated sponsor's program is government-financed, INA 212(e) requires you to return home for two years before applying for H-1B status or a U.S. immigrant visa. A waiver is possible but not guaranteed. Confirm whether the requirement applies to you with your designated sponsor before signing an offer.
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