J-1 Visa Principal Engineer Jobs
Principal Engineer roles in the United States are accessible to international engineering professionals through the J-1 visa under the Trainee or Research Scholar program category. Securing sponsorship requires a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019, while your host employer provides the structured training environment.
Find J-1 Visa Principal Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 16+ Principal Engineer jobs
See all Principal Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Principal Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsScreen reader users may encounter difficulty with this site. For assistance with applying, please contact hr-accessibleapplication@osu.edu. If you have questions while submitting an application, please review these frequently asked questions.
Current Employees and Students:
If you are currently employed or enrolled as a student at The Ohio State University, please log in to Workday to use the internal application process.
Welcome to The Ohio State University's career site. We invite you to apply to positions of interest. In order to ensure your application is complete, you must complete the following:
- Ensure you have all necessary documents available when starting the application process. You can review the additional job description section on postings for documents that may be required.
- Prior to submitting your application, please review and update (if necessary) the information in your candidate profile as it will transfer to your application.
Job Title:
Senior Research Associate
Department:
Academic Affairs Administration | Institutional Research and Planning
Institutional Research and Planning Office Overview
The Office of Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) provides accurate, timely, consistent, and actionable data and integrates analytics across multiple domains (student, faculty, human resources, fiscal, research, facilities, and more) to support evidence-based decision-making at The Ohio State University.
IRP provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction in building a data-informed decision culture by collaborating with campus stakeholders in broadening data sharing, data governance, actionable insight development, operational effectiveness, and professional skill development. We engage in institutional research, official reporting, institutional effectiveness, data visualization, survey research, assessment and accreditation data support, and applied analytics to enhance student success as well as overall university and operational effectiveness.
Position Summary
The Senior Research Associate (Research S4) serves as a senior methodologist in IRP, reporting directly to the Associate Vice President. Centered on advanced analytics, predictive analytics, and survey research, this role designs and executes complex statistical models, and large-scale survey instruments to evaluate program effectiveness, assess student success and academic excellence interventions, and advance strategic priorities under the Academic Excellence Plan and University Strategic Plan.
This position collaborates across campus offices and areas such as the Center for Career Excellence, Office of International Affairs (OIA), Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Undergraduate Education, Graduate Education, Student Life, Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI), and academic departments.
Key Responsibilities & Percentage Breakdown
35% — Advanced Data Analytics
-
Advanced Analytics: Executes advanced quantitative methods (linear/logistic regression, mixed methods (e.g., text analytics), multivariate analysis, survival analysis, propensity score matching using R, SPSS, SAS, and Stata.
-
Predictive Analytics, Modeling & Projections: Leads the development, validation, and maintenance of predictive analytics, statistical models, and time-series forecasting algorithms, or machine learning for student success (e.g., retention, persistence, and graduation rates) and other strategic priorities.
-
Ranking Simulations: Simulates "what-if" scenarios for national and global university rankings (USNWR, QS, THE), focusing on international student success metrics, global mobility, and peer benchmarking.
25% — Full-Lifecycle Survey Research & Program Evaluation, Assessment
-
Survey Research & Instrument Design: Designs survey instruments, manages Qualtrics administration, ensures data validity/reliability, and analyzes survey outputs to identify student experience trends.
-
Program Evaluation and Outcomes Assessment: Conducts quantitative and qualitative impact studies to assess interventions, academic programs, learning outcomes, and student support interventions. Understanding of research design and applied research methods.
-
Data Integration: Merges survey data with longitudinal institutional datasets for comprehensive student lifecycle evaluations.
20% — Career Outcomes, Work-Based Learning, & Data Integration
-
Career, Work-Based Learning, Career & Experiential Learning Evaluation: Evaluates post-graduation career outcomes, salary trajectories, and the impact of work-based learning (internships, co-ops, undergraduate research, clinicals).
-
Data Integration: Merges and cleans complex datasets, including Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), Graduation First Destination Survey, Handshake, 12Twenty, and labor market statistics.
-
Career Analytics Liaison: Serves as the primary analytics partner to the Center for Career Excellence to assess program ROI and workforce alignment.
10% — Data Visualization, Executive Reporting, & Data Storytelling
-
Executive Visualization & Dashboards: Constructs interactive, executive-ready dashboards and tracking tools in Tableau, Power BI, Python, or R.
-
Report Writing & Communication: Synthesizes complex quantitative analyses, survey outputs, and predictive models into formal narrative reports, executive briefings, and visual presentations.
-
Data Storytelling: Translates technical statistical concepts into plain-language data stories that clarify complex higher education metrics and drive data-informed decision-making across non-technical audiences. Enhances data fluency and translating data into insights across the university.
10% — Strategic Collaboration, Relationship Building, & Executive Policy Support
-
Campus Partnerships: Collaborates directly with academic departments, the Center for Career Excellence, Office of International Affairs (OIA), Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM), Student Life, Undergraduate Education, and Graduate Education.
-
Executive Policy Support: Translates complex analytical findings into policy briefs and strategic recommendations for Deans, Vice Provosts, and Senior Leadership.
-
IR & IT Alignment: Partners with Institutional Research and IT colleagues to ensure data accessibility, system integrity, and operational alignment.
Ideal Competencies and Capabilities
- Demonstrated experience in advanced analytics, predictive analytics, statistical modeling, or machine learning, Predictive Modeling: Expertise in advanced data analytics, multivariate statistics, statistical prediction modeling, forecasting, and ranking methodology simulations.
- Survey Research & Program Evaluation: Applied mastery of survey instrument design, Qualtrics administration or other survey research tools, sampling, data validity, and impact evaluation methods.
- Advanced statistical analysis and software proficiency: Hands-on proficiency in R, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
- Data Visualization, Presentation, & Communication Skills: Advanced proficiency in executive report writing, oral presentations, interactive Tableau/Power BI dashboard development, and compelling data storytelling for non-technical stakeholders.
- Domain Expertise: Practical experience integrating public, internal and external data sources for understanding career outcomes and student success (PSEO, Graduation/First Destination, Handshake, 12Twenty, National Student Clearing House, OIA international student data).
- Ethical AI Utilization: Responsibly applies AI tools to streamline coding and exploratory analysis while ensuring auditability, fairness, and data privacy.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Statistics, Data Analytics, Quantitative Research Methodology, Economics, Higher Education Evaluation, Social Sciences, or a related quantitative field.
- Experience:
- Master’s Degree: Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience.
- Ph.D.: Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience (Post-doctoral work and Graduate Research Assistant [GRA] experience will count toward this requirement).
- Experience must be in higher education assessment, institutional research, data analytics, or survey research.
- Technical & Analytical Skills:
- Demonstrated experience in quantitative advanced analytics, predictive analytics, statistical modeling, or machine learning.
- Proficiency in statistical software tools, including R, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
- Demonstrated experience in survey research methods, instrument design, and administration (e.g., Qualtrics).
- Experience conducting higher education program evaluations, outcome assessments, and intervention impact studies. Excellent communication, report writing, presentation, and data visualization skills, including dashboard development in Tableau, Power BI, or Python.
Preferred Qualifications
- Education: Ph.D. or terminal degree in a quantitative field.
- Experience: Quantitative research experience within an R1 university institutional research or assessment office.
- Advanced Capabilities: Proven track record in enterprise predictive analytics, ranking models, executive report writing, and high-level data storytelling.
- Experience working with career outcome data or multi-source platform integration (e.g., PSEO, First Destination Survey, Handshake, 12Twenty).
- Experience with ranking projection models. What-if tools and ranking predictions (e.g., USNWR, QS Shanghai).
- Proficiency in statistical software and query tools, including R, Python, SQL, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
Additional Information:
Please submit both a cover letter and a resume to be considered for this opportunity.
The target hiring range for this job profile is $104,000 - $110,000. The actual salary paid to an individual will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, education, years of experience, internal equity, etc.
Function - Research and Scholarship
Sub Function - Research
Band - Individual Contributor - Specialized
Level - S4
Location:
Mershon Center (0047)
Position Type:
Regular
Scheduled Hours:
40
Shift:
First Shift
Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.
Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.
The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.
Screen reader users may encounter difficulty with this site. For assistance with applying, please contact hr-accessibleapplication@osu.edu. If you have questions while submitting an application, please review these frequently asked questions.
Current Employees and Students:
If you are currently employed or enrolled as a student at The Ohio State University, please log in to Workday to use the internal application process.
Welcome to The Ohio State University's career site. We invite you to apply to positions of interest. In order to ensure your application is complete, you must complete the following:
- Ensure you have all necessary documents available when starting the application process. You can review the additional job description section on postings for documents that may be required.
- Prior to submitting your application, please review and update (if necessary) the information in your candidate profile as it will transfer to your application.
Job Title:
Senior Research Associate
Department:
Academic Affairs Administration | Institutional Research and Planning
Institutional Research and Planning Office Overview
The Office of Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) provides accurate, timely, consistent, and actionable data and integrates analytics across multiple domains (student, faculty, human resources, fiscal, research, facilities, and more) to support evidence-based decision-making at The Ohio State University.
IRP provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction in building a data-informed decision culture by collaborating with campus stakeholders in broadening data sharing, data governance, actionable insight development, operational effectiveness, and professional skill development. We engage in institutional research, official reporting, institutional effectiveness, data visualization, survey research, assessment and accreditation data support, and applied analytics to enhance student success as well as overall university and operational effectiveness.
Position Summary
The Senior Research Associate (Research S4) serves as a senior methodologist in IRP, reporting directly to the Associate Vice President. Centered on advanced analytics, predictive analytics, and survey research, this role designs and executes complex statistical models, and large-scale survey instruments to evaluate program effectiveness, assess student success and academic excellence interventions, and advance strategic priorities under the Academic Excellence Plan and University Strategic Plan.
This position collaborates across campus offices and areas such as the Center for Career Excellence, Office of International Affairs (OIA), Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Undergraduate Education, Graduate Education, Student Life, Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI), and academic departments.
Key Responsibilities & Percentage Breakdown
35% — Advanced Data Analytics
-
Advanced Analytics: Executes advanced quantitative methods (linear/logistic regression, mixed methods (e.g., text analytics), multivariate analysis, survival analysis, propensity score matching using R, SPSS, SAS, and Stata.
-
Predictive Analytics, Modeling & Projections: Leads the development, validation, and maintenance of predictive analytics, statistical models, and time-series forecasting algorithms, or machine learning for student success (e.g., retention, persistence, and graduation rates) and other strategic priorities.
-
Ranking Simulations: Simulates "what-if" scenarios for national and global university rankings (USNWR, QS, THE), focusing on international student success metrics, global mobility, and peer benchmarking.
25% — Full-Lifecycle Survey Research & Program Evaluation, Assessment
-
Survey Research & Instrument Design: Designs survey instruments, manages Qualtrics administration, ensures data validity/reliability, and analyzes survey outputs to identify student experience trends.
-
Program Evaluation and Outcomes Assessment: Conducts quantitative and qualitative impact studies to assess interventions, academic programs, learning outcomes, and student support interventions. Understanding of research design and applied research methods.
-
Data Integration: Merges survey data with longitudinal institutional datasets for comprehensive student lifecycle evaluations.
20% — Career Outcomes, Work-Based Learning, & Data Integration
-
Career, Work-Based Learning, Career & Experiential Learning Evaluation: Evaluates post-graduation career outcomes, salary trajectories, and the impact of work-based learning (internships, co-ops, undergraduate research, clinicals).
-
Data Integration: Merges and cleans complex datasets, including Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), Graduation First Destination Survey, Handshake, 12Twenty, and labor market statistics.
-
Career Analytics Liaison: Serves as the primary analytics partner to the Center for Career Excellence to assess program ROI and workforce alignment.
10% — Data Visualization, Executive Reporting, & Data Storytelling
-
Executive Visualization & Dashboards: Constructs interactive, executive-ready dashboards and tracking tools in Tableau, Power BI, Python, or R.
-
Report Writing & Communication: Synthesizes complex quantitative analyses, survey outputs, and predictive models into formal narrative reports, executive briefings, and visual presentations.
-
Data Storytelling: Translates technical statistical concepts into plain-language data stories that clarify complex higher education metrics and drive data-informed decision-making across non-technical audiences. Enhances data fluency and translating data into insights across the university.
10% — Strategic Collaboration, Relationship Building, & Executive Policy Support
-
Campus Partnerships: Collaborates directly with academic departments, the Center for Career Excellence, Office of International Affairs (OIA), Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM), Student Life, Undergraduate Education, and Graduate Education.
-
Executive Policy Support: Translates complex analytical findings into policy briefs and strategic recommendations for Deans, Vice Provosts, and Senior Leadership.
-
IR & IT Alignment: Partners with Institutional Research and IT colleagues to ensure data accessibility, system integrity, and operational alignment.
Ideal Competencies and Capabilities
- Demonstrated experience in advanced analytics, predictive analytics, statistical modeling, or machine learning, Predictive Modeling: Expertise in advanced data analytics, multivariate statistics, statistical prediction modeling, forecasting, and ranking methodology simulations.
- Survey Research & Program Evaluation: Applied mastery of survey instrument design, Qualtrics administration or other survey research tools, sampling, data validity, and impact evaluation methods.
- Advanced statistical analysis and software proficiency: Hands-on proficiency in R, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
- Data Visualization, Presentation, & Communication Skills: Advanced proficiency in executive report writing, oral presentations, interactive Tableau/Power BI dashboard development, and compelling data storytelling for non-technical stakeholders.
- Domain Expertise: Practical experience integrating public, internal and external data sources for understanding career outcomes and student success (PSEO, Graduation/First Destination, Handshake, 12Twenty, National Student Clearing House, OIA international student data).
- Ethical AI Utilization: Responsibly applies AI tools to streamline coding and exploratory analysis while ensuring auditability, fairness, and data privacy.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Statistics, Data Analytics, Quantitative Research Methodology, Economics, Higher Education Evaluation, Social Sciences, or a related quantitative field.
- Experience:
- Master’s Degree: Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience.
- Ph.D.: Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience (Post-doctoral work and Graduate Research Assistant [GRA] experience will count toward this requirement).
- Experience must be in higher education assessment, institutional research, data analytics, or survey research.
- Technical & Analytical Skills:
- Demonstrated experience in quantitative advanced analytics, predictive analytics, statistical modeling, or machine learning.
- Proficiency in statistical software tools, including R, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
- Demonstrated experience in survey research methods, instrument design, and administration (e.g., Qualtrics).
- Experience conducting higher education program evaluations, outcome assessments, and intervention impact studies. Excellent communication, report writing, presentation, and data visualization skills, including dashboard development in Tableau, Power BI, or Python.
Preferred Qualifications
- Education: Ph.D. or terminal degree in a quantitative field.
- Experience: Quantitative research experience within an R1 university institutional research or assessment office.
- Advanced Capabilities: Proven track record in enterprise predictive analytics, ranking models, executive report writing, and high-level data storytelling.
- Experience working with career outcome data or multi-source platform integration (e.g., PSEO, First Destination Survey, Handshake, 12Twenty).
- Experience with ranking projection models. What-if tools and ranking predictions (e.g., USNWR, QS Shanghai).
- Proficiency in statistical software and query tools, including R, Python, SQL, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
Additional Information:
Please submit both a cover letter and a resume to be considered for this opportunity.
The target hiring range for this job profile is $104,000 - $110,000. The actual salary paid to an individual will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, education, years of experience, internal equity, etc.
Function - Research and Scholarship
Sub Function - Research
Band - Individual Contributor - Specialized
Level - S4
Location:
Mershon Center (0047)
Position Type:
Regular
Scheduled Hours:
40
Shift:
First Shift
Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.
Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.
The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.
See all J-1 Visa Principal Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Principal Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Principal Engineer
Document your specialty occupation qualifications clearly
Assemble evidence that your Principal Engineer credentials align with a recognized engineering discipline. Your DS-2019 training plan requires specific technical competencies, so organize degree transcripts, professional certifications, and project portfolios before any sponsor review begins.
Distinguish Trainee from Research Scholar eligibility
If you hold a foreign degree and relevant post-graduation experience, the Trainee category typically applies. If your Principal Engineer role involves university-affiliated or government research, the Research Scholar category may fit better and carries different program duration limits.
Target host employers with structured engineering programs
Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers whose Principal Engineer openings align with J-1 visa host organization requirements, saving you from pursuing roles at companies unfamiliar with the DS-2019 host-employer obligations.
Verify prevailing wage compliance before accepting an offer
Your host employer must meet wage requirements tied to your engineering role and work location. Cross-reference the offered compensation against the OFLC Wage Search for Principal Engineer SOC codes to confirm compliance before your sponsor finalizes the DS-2019.
Clarify the two-year home residency rule upfront
Principal Engineers whose sponsorship is government-funded or whose home country appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List may face a two-year home residency requirement after program completion. Confirm your eligibility for a waiver pathway before accepting a host employer offer.
Align your training plan with engineering deliverables
Your designated sponsor requires a detailed training plan naming specific technical skills, phases, and measurable objectives. Principal Engineer roles should map each program phase to concrete deliverables such as system architecture milestones or cross-functional technical leadership outcomes.
Principal Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to a Principal Engineer role?
Most Principal Engineer candidates qualify under the Trainee category if they hold a foreign degree in engineering and have at least one year of relevant post-degree experience outside the United States. If your Principal Engineer position is within a university research lab or a federally sponsored research institution, the Research Scholar category may apply instead, subject to different duration and eligibility rules.
Who actually sponsors a J-1 visa for a Principal Engineer position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your hiring employer. Organizations such as AIPT or Cultural Vistas issue the DS-2019 form and monitor program compliance. Your host employer provides the engineering role and structured training environment but holds no sponsorship authority under the J-1 program framework.
How do I find U.S. employers open to hosting a J-1 Principal Engineer?
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers whose Principal Engineer openings are compatible with J-1 host organization requirements. Because the J-1 host relationship involves training plan obligations and sponsor oversight, targeting employers already familiar with exchange visitor programs significantly improves your placement prospects.
Can a Principal Engineer on a J-1 visa change host employers mid-program?
Changing host employers during an active J-1 program is not straightforward. Your designated sponsor must approve any host employer change, a revised DS-2019 reflecting the new host is typically required, and the new host must independently satisfy all J-1 host organization eligibility criteria before the transfer is permitted.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect Principal Engineers with J-1 status?
It can. If your J-1 program funding originates from your home country government or a U.S. government source, or if your home country appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for engineering, you may be subject to the two-year home residency requirement under INA section 212(e). This restricts eligibility for H-1B visa, L-1 visa, or immigrant visa status until the requirement is fulfilled or a waiver is granted.