J-1 Visa Technical Director Jobs

Technical Director roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 visa, most commonly under the Trainee or Specialist program category. A designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019 and provides sponsorship, while your U.S. employer serves as the host site. No lottery, no annual cap.

See All Technical Director Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs7+
Top Visa TypeF-1 CPT
Work Type100% On-site
Median Salary$362K
Top LocationNew York City Metropolitan Area
Most JobsScale AI

Showing 5 of 7+ Technical Director jobs

WHOOP
Director, Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting
We won't show you this job again
WHOOP
Added 3w ago
Director, Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting
WHOOP
Boston, Massachusetts
Finance
Accounting
Compliance & Legal
Business Analysis
Project & Program Management
Tax
Project Management
$205,000/yr
On-Site
10+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Discord
Director of IT & Enterprise Technology
We won't show you this job again
Discord
Added 1mo ago
Director of IT & Enterprise Technology
Discord
San Francisco, California
IT Support & Systems Administration
Cloud & DevOps
Technical Product & Program Management
Cybersecurity
IT Support
Technical Program Management
$400,000 - $450,000
On-Site
10+ yrs exp.
None

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Scale AI
Director, Enterprise Research
We won't show you this job again
Scale AI
Added 1mo ago
Director, Enterprise Research
Scale AI
New York City Metropolitan Area
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
Research & Academia
Technical Program Management
$362,250/yr
On-Site
8+ yrs exp.
Doctorate

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Verkada
Director of Firmware Engineering
We won't show you this job again
Verkada
Added 1mo ago
Director of Firmware Engineering
Verkada
San Mateo, California
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
Firmware Engineering
Embedded Systems Engineering
Technical Program Management
$250,000/yr - $350,000/yr
On-Site
8+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Scale AI
Director, Enterprise Research
We won't show you this job again
Scale AI
Added 1mo ago
Director, Enterprise Research
Scale AI
San Francisco Bay Area
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
Research & Academia
Technical Program Management
$362,250/yr
On-Site
8+ yrs exp.
Doctorate

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)

See all 7+ Technical Director jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Technical Director roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

See all 7+ Technical Director jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Technical Director roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

Tips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Technical Director

Align your portfolio to specialty occupation standards

Technical Director roles must demonstrate a direct link between your degree field and your creative or production responsibilities. Document project scope, team size, and technical systems you've led so your training plan reflects genuine specialty-level work.

Confirm your J-1 category before applying

If you're within five years of graduation and lack prior U.S. work experience, the Trainee category applies. Professionals with established careers and no recent degree typically qualify as Specialists. Applying under the wrong category causes DS-2019 delays.

Search for J-1-eligible Technical Director roles on Migrate Mate

Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers actively hosting international professionals in production, creative, or technology leadership roles, so you target organizations already familiar with J-1 host requirements and training plan obligations.

Request a signed training plan before accepting an offer

Your designated sponsor requires a completed DS-7002 Training or Internship Placement Plan before issuing the DS-2019. Confirm your host employer will complete this document, and negotiate its terms during the offer stage rather than after signing.

Check the two-year home residency requirement early

Technical Directors from countries listed on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, or whose J-1 is government-funded, may face a two-year home residency requirement. This affects future H-1B or green card eligibility, so verify your status before committing to a host employer.

Verify the host employer meets DOL wage obligations

Your designated sponsor will check that your offered compensation meets program minimums. Cross-reference the role against the OFLC Wage Search for your specific SOC code and metropolitan area before the training plan is submitted to avoid last-minute renegotiation.

Technical Director jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Technical Director Jobs

Technical Director J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions

Which J-1 program category fits a Technical Director role?

Most Technical Directors qualify under the Trainee or Specialist category. Trainee applies if you're within five years of graduation or early in your professional career. Specialist applies to established professionals with recognized expertise in production, creative direction, or technology systems. A State Department-designated sponsor evaluates your background and assigns the appropriate category before issuing your DS-2019.

Who sponsors a J-1 visa for a Technical Director, the employer or a separate organization?

A U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization, such as Cultural Vistas or CIEE, issues your DS-2019 and serves as your visa sponsor. Your U.S. employer is the host site, not the visa sponsor. The host provides your training environment and signs the DS-7002 training plan, but the designated sponsor holds legal responsibility for your exchange visitor status.

How do I find U.S. employers willing to host a J-1 Technical Director?

Search on Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers in media, entertainment, technology, and live events that have hosted international professionals in senior production or creative roles. Targeting organizations already experienced with J-1 host obligations speeds up the training plan process and reduces the risk of an employer withdrawing after an offer because of unfamiliarity with the program.

Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to Technical Directors on J-1 visas?

It depends on your country of origin and funding source. Technical Directors from nations on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, or whose J-1 is funded by a home or U.S. government agency, are subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement before changing to H-1B or permanent resident status. Check your DS-2019 and consult your designated sponsor to confirm whether this requirement applies to your specific situation.

What does the DS-7002 training plan cover for a Technical Director position?

The DS-7002 outlines your specific learning objectives, the skills or techniques you'll develop, and the phase-by-phase schedule of your training. For a Technical Director, this typically includes production system management, cross-department coordination, and technical workflow oversight. Your designated sponsor reviews and approves the plan before issuing the DS-2019, so it must reflect genuine skill development rather than routine employment duties.

See which Technical Director employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.

Search Technical Director Jobs