J-1 Visa Software Engineer AI Jobs

Software Engineer AI roles in the United States are available to international candidates through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Research Scholar program category, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsor organizations issue your DS-2019 once a U.S. host employer commits to a structured training plan aligned with your AI specialization.

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Overview

Open Jobs106+
Top Visa TypeJ-1
Work Type77% On-site
Median Salary$48K
Top LocationSan Jose, CA
Most JobsTikTok

Showing 5 of 106+ Software Engineer AI jobs

Nuro
Software Engineer, AI Platform - Intern
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Nuro
Added 3mo ago
Software Engineer, AI Platform - Intern
Nuro
Mountain View, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Backend Engineering
On-Site
Bachelor's

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SAP
SAP SuccessFactors iXp Intern - AI Software Developer
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SAP
Added 3w ago
SAP SuccessFactors iXp Intern - AI Software Developer
SAP
San Ramon, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Backend Engineering
$15/hr - $62/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Benchmark Digital Partners LLC
[US] Generative AI Software Developer Intern (Final Semester Only)
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Benchmark Digital Partners LLC
Added 2mo ago
[US] Generative AI Software Developer Intern (Final Semester Only)
Benchmark Digital Partners LLC
Mason, Ohio
Software Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Backend Engineering
Not listed
Remote (US)

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pSemi
Intern, AI/ML Software Engineer
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pSemi
Added 5d ago
Intern, AI/ML Software Engineer
pSemi
San Diego, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Backend Engineering
$32/hr - $58/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
501-1,000

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Rocket Lawyer
AI/ML Software Engineer
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Rocket Lawyer
Added 1mo ago
AI/ML Software Engineer
Rocket Lawyer
Utah
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Backend Engineering
$190,000/yr
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Tips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Software Engineer AI

Align your CV to DS-2019 training objectives

Designated sponsors require a detailed training plan before issuing your DS-2019. Structure your CV around specific AI competencies like model fine-tuning or MLOps pipelines so host employers can map your background directly to J-1 training objectives.

Distinguish Trainee from Research Scholar eligibility

J-1 Trainee status fits early-career AI engineers with a degree and under five years of experience. If your role involves original AI research at a university or research institute, Research Scholar is the correct category and carries different duration limits.

Search Migrate Mate for J-1-aligned AI roles

Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers actively hosting J-1 exchange visitors in software and AI functions. Targeting companies with an existing J-1 host relationship shortens the sponsorship timeline considerably.

Verify your host employer's E-Verify enrollment early

Your designated sponsor will confirm whether your host employer participates in E-Verify before approving your training plan. Raise this with the hiring team during the offer stage, not after you have accepted, to avoid delays in DS-2019 issuance.

Check prevailing wage compliance using OFLC Wage Search

Designated sponsors validate that your host employer's offered compensation meets DOL prevailing wage levels for your AI role and location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for your SOC code before negotiating your offer so you enter discussions with accurate benchmarks.

Plan for the two-year home residency requirement

AI engineers sponsored under Research Scholar or Specialist categories often carry the two-year home residency requirement, which affects later H-1B or green card eligibility. Confirm with your designated sponsor whether your specific funding source or nationality triggers this requirement before signing.

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Software Engineer AI J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions

Which J-1 program category fits a Software Engineer AI role?

Most AI software engineers enter on J-1 Trainee status, which suits candidates who hold a degree in computer science, data science, or a related field and have fewer than five years of post-degree experience. Engineers conducting original AI research embedded within a university or accredited research institution may qualify instead under the Research Scholar category, which allows longer program durations and covers a different scope of activities.

Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for an AI engineering role?

The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization such as CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or AIPT, not the tech company hiring you. That company is your host employer. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, reviews your training plan, and monitors compliance throughout your program. Your employer cannot sponsor the J-1 directly the way it would an H-1B petition.

How do I find U.S. employers willing to host J-1 AI engineers?

Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. companies that have hosted J-1 exchange visitors in technical roles. Employers already familiar with J-1 host requirements move faster because they understand training plan documentation and designated sponsor coordination. Cold outreach to companies with no J-1 history significantly lengthens the process.

Does the two-year home residency requirement affect AI engineers on J-1 visas?

It can, and for AI engineers it is one of the most consequential details to clarify before accepting an offer. The requirement applies when your J-1 program is funded by your home government, a U.S. government agency, or when your home country designates your skill set as in shortage. If triggered, you must return home for two years before changing to H-1B or applying for a green card, unless you obtain a waiver.

What does the J-1 training plan need to include for an AI engineering placement?

Your designated sponsor requires a detailed Training or Internship Placement Plan, called a DS-7002, that maps each phase of your program to specific AI competencies such as data pipeline development, model evaluation, or deployment engineering. The plan must show observable skill progression and cannot describe routine production work. Your host employer drafts this document, but the designated sponsor must approve it before your DS-2019 is issued.

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