Staff R&D Engineer Jobs
Staff R&D Engineer jobs are open across semiconductors, medical devices, defense, and consumer electronics, from senior to principal and staff levels, with specializations in hardware design, embedded systems, and process development. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.
This position reports to:
Chapter Lead__
In this role you will have the opportunity to utilize you skills and technical expertise to generate mechanical design project requirements.. Each day, you will design, test to meet those requirements and document your designs. You will also showcase your expertise by participating in cost reduction projects and coordination with the technical teams within our Critical Power business.
The work model for the role is: Hybrid
This role is contributing to the Critical Power business in Richmond, VA.
Job Qualifications:
- Contributing to the mechanical design deliverables (design and documentation) required for the development of new or enhanced models of critical power equipment.
- Working with others cross-functionally to deliver designs in a timely manner with high-quality deliverables that meet customer expectations and project requirements.
- Contributing to design reviews and verification following the established design review process, providing feedback on designs and making modifications
- Designing and releasing mechanical prototypes, supporting the fabrication of those prototypes, and leading the improvement process following prototype fabrication
- Leading product design improvement opportunities to reduce product cost
- Supporting in converting conceptual designs into engineering documentation and in maintaining existing products.
- Working with all areas of the business (production, supply chain, service, etc.) to ensure products being developed or enhanced meet the needs of the entire business
Job Requirements:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering
- 2+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, product development, or product design
- Knowledge of solid modeling CAD design software (Solidworks, etc.) required
- A collaborative, solution-focused approach and strong written and spoken communication skills
- Experienced in thermal and structural evaluation, and PLM software a plus
- Experience interpreting and applying electrical safety standards (UL/IEC, etc.) a plus.
- Knowledge sheet metal design, detail part drawings, assembly drawings, and design for manufacturing.
- Project Management experience with hands on experience in manufacturing environment a plus
What's in it for you
We want you to bring your full self to work—your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You’ll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates impact you can see and feel, every day.
ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their- sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.
For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.
Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to US-AskHR@abb.com. Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner.
ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees
[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]
Go to myBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more
Health, Life & Disability
Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
Vision benefit
Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums
Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid
Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks
Employee Assistance Program
Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
Employee discount program
Retirement
401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)
Time off
ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Vacation is provided based on years of service for hourly and non-exempt positions. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.
More about us
ABB Smart Power provides energy distribution solutions for data centers, industrial and manufacturing plants, critical infrastructure and commercial buildings. The Division’s technical teams work closely with industry partners, delivering advanced solutions that support rapid growth, energy transition, and sustainability objectives. The Division’s portfolio includes industrial circuit breakers, low-voltage systems, motor starting applications, and safety devices like switches and relays. Its Power Protection unit supports the world’s largest data center companies with advanced energy-efficient UPS solutions. The Division’s ABB Ability™ Energy Manager provides a scalable, easy-to-use platform that helps organizations save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.
Staff R&D Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
See All 1,704+ Staff R&D Engineer Jobs
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Find Staff R&D Engineer JobsStaff R&D Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Sandia National Laboratories97

- Los Alamos National Laboratory63

- Kraft Heinz36

- Keysight Technologies34

- Sherwin-Williams32

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software58
- Manufacturing26
- Electronics & Hardware22
- Consulting & Professional Services20
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals19
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in staff R&D engineer jobs.
- Advanced degree in electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience leading research projects from concept through prototype or production release
- Proficiency with simulation and modeling tools such as MATLAB, COMSOL, or ANSYS
- Track history of contributing to patents, publications, or proprietary process development
- Experience with design of experiments methodologies and statistical analysis of research data
- Familiarity with industry-specific standards such as ISO, IEC, or sector-relevant regulatory frameworks
Tips for Your Staff R&D Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to lab outcomes
Staff r&d engineer roles reward candidates who quantify prototype cycles reduced, yield improvements achieved, or IP generated. Replace vague responsibility statements with concrete deliverables tied to product milestones or patent filings your work directly supported.
Highlight cross-functional project ownership
Hiring managers at the staff level want engineers who have driven projects across design, manufacturing, and regulatory teams. Call out specific instances where you translated research findings into production-ready specifications or resolved cross-team technical blockers.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists staff r&d engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter by domain before applying broadly
Staff r&d engineer requirements differ sharply between semiconductor fab, biomedical device, and defense contexts. Targeting roles aligned with your domain expertise avoids wasted applications and positions you as a specialist rather than a generalist candidate.
Prepare a technical deep-dive for interviews
Most staff-level r&d interviews include a whiteboard or take-home design challenge tied to the company's core technology. Review your most complex project end to end so you can discuss tradeoffs, failure modes, and the reasoning behind key design decisions under pressure.
Negotiate scope alongside compensation
At the staff r&d level, the research budget you control, lab access, and publication rights carry real career weight. When you receive an offer, ask explicitly about equipment budgets, IP assignment terms, and whether the role supports conference or journal publication.
Staff R&D Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most staff r&d engineers?
The companies hiring the most staff r&d engineers right now include Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Kraft Heinz, with the largest share of openings in California, New Mexico, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially concentrated in semiconductor, defense, and medical device manufacturers.
How many staff r&d engineer jobs are remote?
About 35% of staff r&d engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the lab-dependent nature of most r&d work. Software-focused r&d roles and those centered on computational modeling or data analysis tend to offer the most remote flexibility compared to hardware or materials positions.
How do you become a staff r&d engineer?
Most staff r&d engineers start with a master's or doctoral degree in a relevant engineering or applied science field, then build several years of hands-on research or product development experience. Progressing to the staff level typically requires leading projects independently, contributing to patents or publications, and demonstrating the ability to mentor junior engineers and influence technical direction.
Can you get hired as a staff r&d engineer with limited experience?
Breaking into a staff r&d engineer role with limited industry experience is difficult but possible if you have deep domain expertise from graduate research. Candidates coming directly from doctoral programs can target companies that explicitly recruit from academia, especially those with published work, fellowship awards, or thesis projects closely aligned with the employer's core research areas.
What does the staff r&d engineer interview process look like?
The interview process for a staff r&d engineer typically includes an initial recruiter screen, a technical phone interview focused on domain fundamentals, and an onsite or virtual loop with engineering and research leadership. Expect at least one deep-dive discussion of a past project, a design or problem-solving exercise, and a presentation of your research background to a cross-functional panel.
Where can I find and apply to staff r&d engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to staff r&d engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and target domain, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 1,704+ Staff R&D Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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