J-1 Visa Professional Engineer Jobs
Professional Engineer positions in the U.S. are accessible to international candidates through the J-1 visa under the Trainee or Research Scholar program category, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsor organizations issue your DS-2019 and coordinate sponsorship with your host engineering employer.
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Professional Intern
Requisition ID req36729
Working Title Professional Intern
Position Grade 09
Position Summary
UNM Career Services is seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Professional Intern for our Employer Relations Team. This role is ideal for someone with an interest in building relationships and helping to connect potential employers with UNM students and alumni. The professional internship is designed to provide on-the-job training and experience to a current student or recent graduate (see Minimum Qualifications).
The Professional Intern will report to the Employer Relations Manager and will work directly with all members of the Career Services staff. This position offers hands-on experience in assisting employers and students in using Handshake, promoting job and internship opportunities, collaborating with partners on and off campus, event planning, research, data and statistical analysis, informational presentations and training, short and long-term planning, and supports the overall goals of Career Services. The Professional Intern will provide support to a variety of activities, including job and internship fairs, tabling, employer information sessions, and other events.
The successful candidate must demonstrate a high degree of organizational skills, self-motivated work style, mature decision-making ability, skills in both persuasive and objective writing, strong interpersonal communication skills, and the desire and ability to serve as an advisor to others. Working as a member of a professional team under the guidance of more senior professional staff members, the intern may directly interact with employers, students, staff, faculty, and community partners. Professionalism and strong ethics are required, including maintaining confidentiality, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, and exhibiting honesty and reliability in interactions with others.
The selected candidate will receive training and mentorship in planning and carrying out activities and assignments, and will have a defined development plan to enable the intern to gain the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform at a paraprofessional level upon completion of the internship program.
Expected schedule 40 hours per week, during Career Services’ regular business hours M-F, 8am-5pm. This is a fixed-term position, no more than 24 months.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Participates in the planning and implementation of projects and initiatives to promote jobs, internships, specific employers, events, programs, and the Handshake platform.
- Interacts directly with students, employers, staff, faculty and community partners.
- Undertakes and/or participates in projects, programs, and events designed to support the mission of Career Services.
- Evaluates data including financial, participation, usage, and other information, and creates reports to summarize data.
- Conducts research and prepares reports based on findings.
- Receives guidance, training, and mentoring from professional staff in planning and carrying out activities and assignments.
- May provide guidance and support to student employees.
- Applies best practices in relationship management, outreach, and customer service with employers and campus partners.
- Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
- Ability to understand and follow complex, detailed instructions.
- Project planning skills.
- Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to conduct internet research.
- Ability to collect and evaluate information.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Organization and attention to detail.
- Initiative and accountability.
- Adaptability and willingness to learn.
See the Position Description for additional information.
Conditions of Employment
- Must present transcripts prior to a formal offer being extended.
- Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
- This is a fixed-term position, typically up to 24 months.
Minimum Qualifications
Must have obtained a Bachelor's or higher level degree no more than 24 months prior to the date of hire OR if the Bachelor's (or higher level) degree was obtained more than 24 months prior to the date of hire, the individual must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor's (or higher level) degree program; no previous work experience required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Exemplary verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong customer service skills.
- Familiarity with Handshake or the desire to quickly gain familiarity.
- Experience writing/editing promotional and informational materials.
- Experience teaching/training and/or presenting information to individuals or groups.
- Experience with analyzing and reporting data.
- Sales or business development experience.
- Experience using technology platforms common to higher education and employer relations (e.g., Handshake, Microsoft Office 365/Google Workspace, event management and data tracking tools).
Additional Requirements
Campus Main - Albuquerque, NM
Department Career Services (378A)
Employment Type Staff
Staff Type Term - Full-Time
Term End Date 06/30/2027
Status Non-Exempt
Pay Hourly: $19.00 - $21.89
Benefits Eligible This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for more information.
ERB Statement As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.
Background Check Required Yes
For Best Consideration Date 6/4/2026
Eligible for Remote Work No
Application Instructions
Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.
Please submit a current resume and cover letter discussing your interest in and qualifications for this position. Incomplete applications may not be considered.
Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.
The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.
The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Professional Engineer
Align your PE credentials with J-1 categories
The Trainee category covers engineering graduates within one year of their degree. The Research Scholar category fits licensed engineers joining university labs or research institutes. Confirm which category your experience level and role type satisfy before approaching host employers.
Verify your host employer qualifies
Your engineering employer becomes the J-1 visa host organization, not the visa sponsor. Confirm they're willing to sign a formal training plan and coordinate with a State Department-designated sponsor before you accept any offer or begin the DS-2019 process.
Request a detailed training plan early
The DS-7002 training plan must specify your engineering activities, supervision structure, and learning objectives. Vague plans are the most common reason designated sponsors reject Trainee applications. Draft it collaboratively with your host employer before submitting to the sponsor.
Search for J-1-ready engineering roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. engineering employers whose hiring patterns align with international candidates. Filtering by role and visa type helps you focus outreach on host organizations already familiar with J-1 program requirements.
Check your home-country residency requirement upfront
Engineering roles funded by a government or international organization often trigger the two-year home residency requirement under INA section 212(e). Confirm whether your funding source or nationality subjects you to this requirement before negotiating a long-term placement.
Benchmark your offered wage against OFLC Wage Search
J-1 Trainee and Research Scholar programs require that you receive wages and benefits comparable to U.S. workers in the same role. Run your job title and location through OFLC Wage Search to verify the offer meets that standard before signing.
Professional Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Professional Engineer role?
It depends on your career stage. If you completed an engineering degree within the past 12 months, the Trainee category is the standard path. Licensed engineers with several years of post-degree experience conducting collaborative or applied research typically qualify under the Research Scholar category. Both require a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor to issue your DS-2019.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa as a Professional Engineer?
Your visa sponsor is a State Department-designated organization such as IIE, Cultural Vistas, or AIPT. They issue your DS-2019, approve your training plan, and remain responsible for program compliance throughout your exchange. Your engineering employer is the host organization and signs the training plan, but they are not your visa sponsor in the legal sense.
How do I find U.S. engineering employers open to J-1 host arrangements?
Many engineering firms are willing to host J-1 exchange visitors but don't advertise it explicitly. Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. engineering roles and identify employers whose hiring history includes international candidates, helping you focus outreach on organizations already familiar with exchange visitor program requirements.
Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to engineering roles?
It can, depending on your funding source and nationality. If your engineering program or education was funded by your home government or an international organization, or if your home country has designated your field as a skills-shortage area, you'll likely be subject to the INA section 212(e) requirement. This affects your ability to change status or apply for H-1B visa or immigrant visas afterward, so confirm your situation with your designated sponsor before accepting a placement.
What does the DS-7002 training plan need to cover for an engineering position?
The DS-7002 must document your specific engineering activities by phase, name your direct supervisor, define measurable learning objectives tied to your degree or professional background, and justify why the training requires a U.S. host rather than resources in your home country. Designated sponsors routinely reject plans that list generic tasks. Your host employer's HR or engineering manager typically drafts it, but you should review it carefully before it goes to the sponsor.