J-1 Visa Software Design Engineer Jobs
Software Design Engineer roles in the United States are accessible through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Intern program categories, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsor organizations issue your DS-2019, while the U.S. tech company or engineering firm serves as your host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsCo-Op – Design Engineer
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Start Date: May/June 2026 (6-Month Program)
About Maesa:
The next gen beauty company, Maesa is transforming the industry by incubating and growing meaningful, innovative brands and making prestige beauty accessible. Maesa believes beauty ignites inspiration, creativity, imagination, and connection, sparking new ideas and possibilities, and meeting unmet consumer needs. Through best-in-class design, formulation, brand creation and marketing capabilities, Maesa delivers new, better and different products with an unsurpassed speed to market. Maesa works with a variety of retailers to create and launch brands across beauty and wellness categories. The current portfolio includes Kristin Ess, Hairitage by Mindy McKnight, Fine'ry, Being Frenshe, and Niches & Nooks among other brands.
Position Overview:
As a Design Engineer Co-Op, you’ll work alongside our Los Angeles-based team to support the design, development, and engineering of beauty product packaging. You'll gain real-world experience in turning creative design concepts into functional packaging solutions—working with a cross-functional global team from concept through to manufacturable files.
This role is ideal for students pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Packaging Science, Product Design, or related fields and looking to gain practical experience in the cosmetics and consumer goods industries.
This co-op position requires a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week during the Fall 2025 semester (approximately September through February) and will require to be onsite at our LA office a minimum of 4x a week.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the conversion of conceptual packaging designs into engineered 3D CAD models suitable for manufacturing.
- Assist with creating and updating SolidWorks files, 2D drawings, and visual schematics.
- Collaborate on the evaluation of materials and manufacturing processes including injection molding, blow molding, and decoration techniques.
- Participate in design reviews and provide input on manufacturability and product functionality.
- Help manage prototype development and 3D printing of packaging components.
- Work with international engineering teams and vendors to help bring designs to life.
- Review product testing data (e.g. drop tests, vibration tests) and document feedback.
- Contribute to project organization, timelines, and reporting.
What You'll Gain:
- Hands-on experience working on real packaging projects from ideation to execution.
- Exposure to engineering standards and manufacturing processes in the beauty industry.
- Opportunities to develop technical skills in CAD, design for manufacturing (DFM), and prototyping.
- Mentorship from experienced design engineers.
- Insight into product development and cross-functional collaboration.
Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Development Engineering, Product Design, or a related discipline.
- Familiarity with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software (coursework or internship experience a plus).
- Interest in consumer products, especially beauty or CPG packaging.
- Strong attention to detail and an eagerness to learn.
- Excellent communication and time-management skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Compensation:
$20/hour. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
Co-Op – Design Engineer
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Start Date: May/June 2026 (6-Month Program)
About Maesa:
The next gen beauty company, Maesa is transforming the industry by incubating and growing meaningful, innovative brands and making prestige beauty accessible. Maesa believes beauty ignites inspiration, creativity, imagination, and connection, sparking new ideas and possibilities, and meeting unmet consumer needs. Through best-in-class design, formulation, brand creation and marketing capabilities, Maesa delivers new, better and different products with an unsurpassed speed to market. Maesa works with a variety of retailers to create and launch brands across beauty and wellness categories. The current portfolio includes Kristin Ess, Hairitage by Mindy McKnight, Fine'ry, Being Frenshe, and Niches & Nooks among other brands.
Position Overview:
As a Design Engineer Co-Op, you’ll work alongside our Los Angeles-based team to support the design, development, and engineering of beauty product packaging. You'll gain real-world experience in turning creative design concepts into functional packaging solutions—working with a cross-functional global team from concept through to manufacturable files.
This role is ideal for students pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Packaging Science, Product Design, or related fields and looking to gain practical experience in the cosmetics and consumer goods industries.
This co-op position requires a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week during the Fall 2025 semester (approximately September through February) and will require to be onsite at our LA office a minimum of 4x a week.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the conversion of conceptual packaging designs into engineered 3D CAD models suitable for manufacturing.
- Assist with creating and updating SolidWorks files, 2D drawings, and visual schematics.
- Collaborate on the evaluation of materials and manufacturing processes including injection molding, blow molding, and decoration techniques.
- Participate in design reviews and provide input on manufacturability and product functionality.
- Help manage prototype development and 3D printing of packaging components.
- Work with international engineering teams and vendors to help bring designs to life.
- Review product testing data (e.g. drop tests, vibration tests) and document feedback.
- Contribute to project organization, timelines, and reporting.
What You'll Gain:
- Hands-on experience working on real packaging projects from ideation to execution.
- Exposure to engineering standards and manufacturing processes in the beauty industry.
- Opportunities to develop technical skills in CAD, design for manufacturing (DFM), and prototyping.
- Mentorship from experienced design engineers.
- Insight into product development and cross-functional collaboration.
Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Development Engineering, Product Design, or a related discipline.
- Familiarity with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software (coursework or internship experience a plus).
- Interest in consumer products, especially beauty or CPG packaging.
- Strong attention to detail and an eagerness to learn.
- Excellent communication and time-management skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Compensation:
$20/hour. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Software Design Engineer
Match your category to your career stage
If you're currently enrolled in a degree program, the Intern category applies. If you've graduated within the past 12 months and have relevant engineering experience, the Trainee category fits. Applying under the wrong category will disqualify your DS-2019 application.
Document your technical training objectives precisely
Your designated sponsor requires a formal Training Plan that maps each phase of your software engineering work to specific learning goals. Generic job descriptions get rejected. Break down your objectives by sprint cycles, technologies, and measurable outcomes.
Target host employers with established J-1 track records
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. tech companies and engineering firms that have hosted J-1 exchange visitors before. Prior hosting experience means the employer already understands the DS-2019 process and won't back out when paperwork begins.
Verify your host employer's E-Verify enrollment early
Many designated sponsors require host companies to be enrolled in E-Verify before approving a Training Plan. Confirm E-Verify status with the hiring manager before your sponsor submits your DS-2019, not after you've accepted an offer.
Check whether your home country triggers the two-year rule
Software Design Engineers from countries with skills-shortage designations often face the two-year home residency requirement after J-1 status ends. Confirm your status with your designated sponsor before accepting a host placement, since it affects future H-1B or green card timelines.
Align your offered wage with OFLC Wage Search data
Your designated sponsor will review whether your host employer's offered compensation meets prevailing wage levels for software engineering roles in that metro area. Pull the OFLC Wage Search data for your specific SOC code and location before your Training Plan is submitted.
Software Design Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Software Design Engineer JobsSoftware Design Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Software Design Engineer roles?
It depends on where you are in your career. If you're currently enrolled in a university program, the Intern category applies and allows up to 12 months of practical training at a U.S. host employer. If you've completed your degree and have relevant professional experience, the Trainee category covers software engineering roles and allows up to 18 months, extendable to 24 months in some fields.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa as a Software Design Engineer?
A U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019 form and acts as your official visa sponsor. Organizations such as IIE, Cultural Vistas, and AIPT administer J-1 programs for engineering trainees. Your U.S. tech employer or engineering firm is the host, not the sponsor. The host provides the job and the training environment, while the designated sponsor manages compliance and monitors your program.
What goes into a J-1 Training Plan for a software engineering role?
Your designated sponsor requires a detailed Training Plan, sometimes called a DS-7002, that breaks down your software engineering activities phase by phase. It must identify specific programming languages, tools, methodologies, and measurable outcomes for each period. Generic descriptions like 'assist with software development' are routinely rejected. The host employer's engineering manager typically co-signs the plan, confirming they can deliver the stated training.
How do I find U.S. employers that will host a J-1 Software Design Engineer?
Use Migrate Mate to search for U.S. companies and engineering firms that align with J-1 exchange visitor programs. Employers with prior J-1 hosting experience are significantly easier to work with because they already understand DS-2019 requirements, E-Verify enrollment, and Training Plan timelines. Approaching employers who have never hosted a J-1 visitor often stalls at the offer stage when they learn what the process involves.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect Software Design Engineers?
It can, depending on your home country and your specific J-1 program. Engineers from countries on the State Department's Exchange Visitor Skills List, or those funded by their home government, may be required to return home for two years after J-1 status ends before applying for H-1B or permanent residence. Confirm your status with your designated sponsor before accepting a host placement, since a waiver application can take 12 to 18 months to resolve.
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