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.
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Get Access To All JobsAre you interested in being part of an innovative team that supports Westinghouse’s mission to provide clean energy solutions? At Westinghouse, we recognize that our employees are our most valuable asset and we seek to identify, attract and recruit the most qualified talent while recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the global workplace.
About The Role
As a Reactor Vessel Internals - Principal Engineer, you will perform design and analyses. These analyses will be for the repair, modification, and qualification of components within the primary pressure boundary of Westinghouse designed nuclear power plants. This includes the current operating fleet, AP1000, and AP300. You will report to the Manager, Reactor Vessel Internals Component Design and be located at the Cranberry Township, PA headquarters facility. You will be hybrid.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform design and analyses for the repair, modification and qualification of components within the primary pressure boundary of Westinghouse designed nuclear power plants including current operating fleet, AP1000 and AP300.
- Use analysis tools, such as finite element simulations (ex. Ansys) and hand calculations to qualify component design.
- Lead a technical team to project completion while meeting safety, quality, schedule and budget.
- Work with other component, system, and manufacturing on the integration of the subsystems and work through emergent design issues.
- Work with project managers and subsystem/component leads to develop project schedules.
- Identify and define technical risks and challenges, direct efforts to successful resolution.
- Bring engineering thoughtfulness to resolution of problems that are sometimes loosely, or only partially, defined, requiring experience within given discipline.
- Incorporate the use of industry, regulatory, or NRC/DOE/ASME codes, standards, and criteria relevant to nuclear reactors in design activities.
- Provide technical guidance, direction, and collaborate with other personnel including partners such as national laboratories, sub-contractors, suppliers, fabricators, and customers.
- Support plant refueling outages (both on-site and remotely) including stretches of 12-hour shift work and overnight work because of time sensitivity.
- Deliver high-quality engineering or physical material products.
Qualifications
- BS in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics or Aerospace Engineering. We will consider alternate degrees such as nuclear engineering, structural engineering, or materials science with component design experience.
- Registered Mechanical PE.
- Minimum 8 years of applicable experience required.
- Experience with ASME Section III and Section XI criteria.
- Experience with FEA and ANSYS.
We are committed to transparency and equity in all of our people practices. The base salary range for this position, which is dependent upon experience, qualifications and skills, is estimated to be $103,200 to $129,000 per year.
Why Westinghouse?
Benefits
Our benefits package is tailored to meet the diverse needs of our employees, while also promoting wellness and career growth. The following are representative of what we offer:
- Comprehensive Medical benefits which could include medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions options.
- Wellness Programs designed to support employees in maintaining their health and well-being including Employee Assistance Program providing support for our employees and their household members.
- 401(k) with Company Match Contributions to support employees' retirement.
- Paid Vacations and Company Holidays.
- Opportunities for Flexible Work Arrangements to promote work-life balance.
- Educational Reimbursement and Comprehensive Career Programs to help employees grow in their careers.
- Global Recognition and Service Programs to celebrate employee accomplishments and service.
- Employee Referral Program.
Westinghouse Electric Company Is The Global Nuclear Energy Industry's First Choice For Safe, Clean, And Efficient Energy Solutions. We Enable Our Delivery Of This Vision By Living Our Value System:
- Safety and Quality
- Integrity and Trust
- Customer Focus and Innovation
- Speed and Passion to Win
- Teamwork and Accountability
LOCATION
While our Global Headquarters are located in Cranberry Township, PA, we have over 11,000 employees working at locations in 19 different countries.
Westinghouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.
Are you interested in being part of an innovative team that supports Westinghouse’s mission to provide clean energy solutions? At Westinghouse, we recognize that our employees are our most valuable asset and we seek to identify, attract and recruit the most qualified talent while recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the global workplace.
About The Role
As a Reactor Vessel Internals - Principal Engineer, you will perform design and analyses. These analyses will be for the repair, modification, and qualification of components within the primary pressure boundary of Westinghouse designed nuclear power plants. This includes the current operating fleet, AP1000, and AP300. You will report to the Manager, Reactor Vessel Internals Component Design and be located at the Cranberry Township, PA headquarters facility. You will be hybrid.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform design and analyses for the repair, modification and qualification of components within the primary pressure boundary of Westinghouse designed nuclear power plants including current operating fleet, AP1000 and AP300.
- Use analysis tools, such as finite element simulations (ex. Ansys) and hand calculations to qualify component design.
- Lead a technical team to project completion while meeting safety, quality, schedule and budget.
- Work with other component, system, and manufacturing on the integration of the subsystems and work through emergent design issues.
- Work with project managers and subsystem/component leads to develop project schedules.
- Identify and define technical risks and challenges, direct efforts to successful resolution.
- Bring engineering thoughtfulness to resolution of problems that are sometimes loosely, or only partially, defined, requiring experience within given discipline.
- Incorporate the use of industry, regulatory, or NRC/DOE/ASME codes, standards, and criteria relevant to nuclear reactors in design activities.
- Provide technical guidance, direction, and collaborate with other personnel including partners such as national laboratories, sub-contractors, suppliers, fabricators, and customers.
- Support plant refueling outages (both on-site and remotely) including stretches of 12-hour shift work and overnight work because of time sensitivity.
- Deliver high-quality engineering or physical material products.
Qualifications
- BS in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics or Aerospace Engineering. We will consider alternate degrees such as nuclear engineering, structural engineering, or materials science with component design experience.
- Registered Mechanical PE.
- Minimum 8 years of applicable experience required.
- Experience with ASME Section III and Section XI criteria.
- Experience with FEA and ANSYS.
We are committed to transparency and equity in all of our people practices. The base salary range for this position, which is dependent upon experience, qualifications and skills, is estimated to be $103,200 to $129,000 per year.
Why Westinghouse?
Benefits
Our benefits package is tailored to meet the diverse needs of our employees, while also promoting wellness and career growth. The following are representative of what we offer:
- Comprehensive Medical benefits which could include medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions options.
- Wellness Programs designed to support employees in maintaining their health and well-being including Employee Assistance Program providing support for our employees and their household members.
- 401(k) with Company Match Contributions to support employees' retirement.
- Paid Vacations and Company Holidays.
- Opportunities for Flexible Work Arrangements to promote work-life balance.
- Educational Reimbursement and Comprehensive Career Programs to help employees grow in their careers.
- Global Recognition and Service Programs to celebrate employee accomplishments and service.
- Employee Referral Program.
Westinghouse Electric Company Is The Global Nuclear Energy Industry's First Choice For Safe, Clean, And Efficient Energy Solutions. We Enable Our Delivery Of This Vision By Living Our Value System:
- Safety and Quality
- Integrity and Trust
- Customer Focus and Innovation
- Speed and Passion to Win
- Teamwork and Accountability
LOCATION
While our Global Headquarters are located in Cranberry Township, PA, we have over 11,000 employees working at locations in 19 different countries.
Westinghouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.
See all 5+ 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 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 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 jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal 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, L-1, or immigrant visa status until the requirement is fulfilled or a waiver is granted.
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