J-1 Visa Senior Cost Estimator Jobs
Senior Cost Estimator positions in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Specialist program category. Designated sponsors issue the DS-2019 form once a host employer agrees to structured on-the-job training in construction, engineering, or project management cost analysis.
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INTRODUCTION
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Senior Research Associate within the Molecular Foundry division. This position will be part of a multi-disciplinary team of chemists, biophysicists, and materials scientists at the Molecular Foundry. Our team serves a broad scientific user community.
Under direct supervision, the Senior Research Associate will work with staff and users of the Biological Nanostructures and the Organic Facilities at the Molecular Foundry to advance fundamental scientific research by providing guidance in laboratory methods and instrumentation within the Facilities, assisting with experiment design and project planning, helping develop new methods, assisting with commissioning new instrumentation, and coordinating laboratory organization, safety and inventory.
We’re here for the same mission, to bring science solutions to the world. Join our team and YOU will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges! Have a high level of impact and work for an organization associated with 17 Nobel Prizes!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You will:
- Assist with chemical management, including checking chemical supplies and ordering when appropriate, oversee proper chemical storage, bar coding of chemicals and entry into the lab’s Chemical Management System.
- Perform regular testing of time-sensitive chemicals.
- Maintain inventory of general floor supplies, ordering and restocking as necessary.
- Under supervisor guidance, provide general overview of the Biological Nanostructures and the Organic Facilities to users including general work practices, safety awareness, and overview of waste management systems.
- With supervisor oversight, provide training of users in instrumentation such as the Akta Pure, Confocal microscope, MALDI, UPLC-MS, Dynamic Light Scattering, Circular Dichroism, and UV-vis.
- Assist with coordinating equipment preventative maintenance and repair.
- Under direct supervision, provide multifunctional technical guidance and support of user projects.
- Assist in developing recommendations for technical enhancements to existing instruments or methodologies.
- Help maintain safety documentation and training documentation.
- Assist with technical reports, policy support documentation, and training documentation.
- With supervisor guidance, share technical results to users and staff.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred in biochemistry, chemistry, or related field and/or equivalent experience.
- Two to five years laboratory experience.
- Familiarity with organic synthesis.
- Familiarity with molecular biology methods.
- Experience in preliminary analysis of experimental data.
- Excellent organization skills and self-motivation.
- Demonstrated understanding of chemical safety.
- Ability to work as part of a diverse team.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Desired skills/knowledge:
- Familiarity with NMR and X-ray structural methods.
- Familiarity with fluorescence microscopy.
- Familiarity with Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Application date: Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by May 20, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.
- Appointment type: This is a full-time 2 year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.
- Salary range: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes. The expected salary for this position is $69,372 - $89,748. The final salary will depend upon the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and abilities. This includes education, certifications, and years of experience.
- Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
LOCATION
Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites.
Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Senior Cost Estimator
Align your credentials with specialty occupation standards
Pull your O*NET profile for Senior Cost Estimator before applying anywhere. It outlines the typical education and experience benchmarks that designated J-1 sponsors use to assess whether your background qualifies for a Trainee or Specialist category placement.
Build a training plan before outreach begins
Designated J-1 sponsors require a detailed training plan showing measurable learning objectives, not just a job description. Draft yours around cost modeling software, quantity surveying methods, and bid preparation phases specific to your target industry sector.
Target employers with established project cost control teams
Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers in construction, defense contracting, or infrastructure sectors that have hosted international professionals before. Host organizations with existing compliance processes move faster through DS-2019 issuance.
Verify prevailing wage alignment before accepting an offer
Run your offered compensation against the OFLC Wage Search for your target metro area and SOC code before signing anything. Some J-1 Trainee offers come in below prevailing wage, which can create problems during the sponsor's compliance review.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early
Cost estimators sponsored under certain J-1 categories, particularly government-funded training programs, may trigger the two-year home residency requirement. Confirm your situation with your designated sponsor before accepting the host placement, since it affects H-1B or green card eligibility later.
Request DS-2019 issuance timelines in writing from the sponsor
Designated sponsors like CIEE or Cultural Vistas set their own internal processing windows before issuing the DS-2019. Ask for this timeline in writing at the offer stage so you can synchronize your start date with your host employer without gap periods.
Senior Cost Estimator jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Senior Cost Estimator JobsSenior Cost Estimator J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Senior Cost Estimator role?
Most Senior Cost Estimators qualify under the J-1 Trainee or Specialist category. Trainee applies if you have a degree in a relevant field such as construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying plus at least one year of experience. Specialist applies if you have five or more years of progressively responsible estimating experience without a formal degree. The host employer's size and training capacity influence which category the designated sponsor approves.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a cost estimator position?
The J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your hiring employer. Organizations such as Cultural Vistas or CIEE issue the DS-2019 form, oversee your training plan, and ensure program compliance. Your employer is the host, responsible for providing the structured work experience but not for filing any visa petition. This distinction matters because you need to confirm that your employer is willing to work with a designated sponsor.
Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to cost estimators on a J-1 visa?
It depends on your sponsorship funding source and your home country's exchange agreements with the United States. If your J-1 training is funded by your home government, a U.S. government agency, or your home country is on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, you will be subject to the two-year home residency requirement. This means you cannot directly change to an H-1B or apply for a green card without first returning home or obtaining a waiver. Clarify this with your designated sponsor before accepting any offer.
How do I find U.S. employers willing to host a J-1 cost estimator?
Use Migrate Mate to search for Senior Cost Estimator roles at employers in construction, infrastructure, defense contracting, and engineering services who have experience hosting international professionals. Not every employer understands J-1 host obligations, so filtering for companies that have previously engaged with exchange visitor programs saves time. Once you identify a willing host, the designated sponsor handles DS-2019 issuance after reviewing the training plan you and the employer develop together.
What documents should I prepare before approaching a J-1 sponsor organization?
Before a designated sponsor will issue a DS-2019 for a cost estimating placement, they will need your academic transcripts or degree certificates, a resume showing progressive estimating experience, a signed offer letter from the host employer, and a detailed training plan outlining learning objectives by month. If your degree is from outside the United States, get it evaluated by a credential evaluation service recognized in the construction or engineering field so the sponsor can confirm your qualifications quickly.
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