TN Visa Chief Development Officer Jobs
Chief Development Officer roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under the USMCA's engineer and scientist categories when the position requires a qualifying degree in a relevant field. Canadian citizens can apply at the border or a U.S. consulate with no cap concerns. Mexican citizens need consular processing.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Chef Robotics is accelerating the deployment of intelligent machines in the physical world, starting with food production — the sector facing the largest labor shortage in the U.S., with 1.14M unfilled jobs today and 3.1M projected by 2030. These roles can't be offshored, making robotics essential to keeping production onshore and strengthening America's manufacturing base. Our AI-powered robots automate food prep and assembly in commercial kitchens and food manufacturing, and have already produced over 110 million meals in production — generating the world's largest proprietary dataset for deformable food manipulation. Backed by investors including Kleiner Perkins, Construct, Bloomberg Beta, and Promus Ventures, and built by a team from Cruise, Zoox, Google, Tesla, and Amazon Robotics, Chef is rapidly scaling with multiple multi-year contracts and a mission to put an intelligent robot in every commercial kitchen.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Robots are transforming how the world makes food — and you'll be building the hands that do it. As a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Chef, you'll design and ship the mechatronic components that power our robotic systems, from clever end effectors to full manipulation systems. You'll own the full development lifecycle: rapid prototyping, lab testing, systems integration, and vendor coordination. If you want your mechanical designs deployed in commercial kitchens across the country, this is your role.
Responsibilities
- Design and build mechatronic components for automated control systems and robotics, with a strong focus on end effectors and manipulation systems
- Drive systems integration — taking individual components all the way to a full, functioning robotic system
- Work hands-on in our lab: prototype fast, test hard, and iterate until it ships
- Partner closely with software, electrical, and industrial design teams to build solutions that are both elegant and production-ready
- Source and coordinate with vendors to identify and procure the right materials for mechatronic system designs
- Build robust testing processes, conduct reliability studies, and evaluate the feasibility, cost, and performance of new mechatronic equipment
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- You've shipped hardware to production — and you know what it really takes
- BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical design or robotics
- Expert-level SolidWorks: CAD, CAM, solid modeling, surface modeling, and sheet metal
- Strong command of fabrication drawings, 2D drawings, and GD&T
- Experience owning the full product cycle — from first concept through production release and redesign
- Deep knowledge of FEA, risk analysis, solid mechanics, and heat and stress transfer simulation
Chef Robotics is solving one of the hardest problems in AI and robotics — and we ship. Our robots are in production today, generating real data that trains the next generation of food AI. Backed by Kleiner Perkins, Construct, Bloomberg Beta, and Promus Ventures, and built by a team from Cruise, Zoox, Google, Tesla, and Amazon Robotics, we're scaling fast with multiple multi-year enterprise contracts. If you want to build physical AI with real-world deployments and real impact, Chef is the place.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Chef is an early-stage startup where equity is a major part of the compensation package. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to salary and early-stage equity, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, commuter benefits, flexible paid time off (PTO), catered lunch, and 401(k) matching.
INTRODUCTION
Chef Robotics is accelerating the deployment of intelligent machines in the physical world, starting with food production — the sector facing the largest labor shortage in the U.S., with 1.14M unfilled jobs today and 3.1M projected by 2030. These roles can't be offshored, making robotics essential to keeping production onshore and strengthening America's manufacturing base. Our AI-powered robots automate food prep and assembly in commercial kitchens and food manufacturing, and have already produced over 110 million meals in production — generating the world's largest proprietary dataset for deformable food manipulation. Backed by investors including Kleiner Perkins, Construct, Bloomberg Beta, and Promus Ventures, and built by a team from Cruise, Zoox, Google, Tesla, and Amazon Robotics, Chef is rapidly scaling with multiple multi-year contracts and a mission to put an intelligent robot in every commercial kitchen.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Robots are transforming how the world makes food — and you'll be building the hands that do it. As a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Chef, you'll design and ship the mechatronic components that power our robotic systems, from clever end effectors to full manipulation systems. You'll own the full development lifecycle: rapid prototyping, lab testing, systems integration, and vendor coordination. If you want your mechanical designs deployed in commercial kitchens across the country, this is your role.
Responsibilities
- Design and build mechatronic components for automated control systems and robotics, with a strong focus on end effectors and manipulation systems
- Drive systems integration — taking individual components all the way to a full, functioning robotic system
- Work hands-on in our lab: prototype fast, test hard, and iterate until it ships
- Partner closely with software, electrical, and industrial design teams to build solutions that are both elegant and production-ready
- Source and coordinate with vendors to identify and procure the right materials for mechatronic system designs
- Build robust testing processes, conduct reliability studies, and evaluate the feasibility, cost, and performance of new mechatronic equipment
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- You've shipped hardware to production — and you know what it really takes
- BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical design or robotics
- Expert-level SolidWorks: CAD, CAM, solid modeling, surface modeling, and sheet metal
- Strong command of fabrication drawings, 2D drawings, and GD&T
- Experience owning the full product cycle — from first concept through production release and redesign
- Deep knowledge of FEA, risk analysis, solid mechanics, and heat and stress transfer simulation
Chef Robotics is solving one of the hardest problems in AI and robotics — and we ship. Our robots are in production today, generating real data that trains the next generation of food AI. Backed by Kleiner Perkins, Construct, Bloomberg Beta, and Promus Ventures, and built by a team from Cruise, Zoox, Google, Tesla, and Amazon Robotics, we're scaling fast with multiple multi-year enterprise contracts. If you want to build physical AI with real-world deployments and real impact, Chef is the place.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Chef is an early-stage startup where equity is a major part of the compensation package. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to salary and early-stage equity, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, commuter benefits, flexible paid time off (PTO), catered lunch, and 401(k) matching.
See all TN Visa Chief Development Officer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship in Chief Development Officer
Match your degree to the role description
TN visa eligibility for a CDO depends on your degree aligning with the specialty occupation the employer defines. A degree in civil engineering, environmental science, or urban planning typically supports infrastructure-focused development roles better than a general business degree.
Target employers with active federal contracts
Organizations holding federal contracts or operating in regulated sectors file TN documentation more routinely. Look for nonprofits, CDFIs, and municipal development authorities, where the CDO role carries an established specialty occupation rationale and sponsorship processes are already in place.
Request a defined offer letter before filing
Your TN filing lives or dies on the offer letter. Ask the employer to specify your professional category, degree requirement, and primary duties in technical terms. Vague titles like 'growth leader' invite CBP scrutiny; precise language tied to a USMCA category does not.
Prepare credential equivalency documentation early
Mexican professionals with degrees from Mexican institutions should obtain a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved evaluator before starting interviews. Having the equivalency letter ready shortens the gap between offer and consular appointment, which matters when employers have start-date pressure.
Search specifically for TN visa sponsorship roles using Migrate Mate
Filter your CDO job search by employers with recent visa filings and sponsorship experience. Migrate Mate surfaces roles where the employer has demonstrated familiarity with work visa processes, so you're not educating hiring teams about visa sponsorship from scratch.
Clarify USCIS status if changing employers mid-career
TN status is employer-specific. If you're already in the U.S. on TN for a different organization, your new employer must file a new TN petition or you must apply at a port of entry before your start date. Gap coverage is not automatic.
Chief Development Officer TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Chief Development Officer role qualify for TN visa status?
It depends on how the role is defined and what degree the employer requires. CDO positions focused on infrastructure, environmental development, or engineering projects can qualify under USMCA professional categories like engineer or scientist. Roles framed primarily around fundraising or general strategy without a degree requirement in a technical field may not qualify without careful documentation.
How does the TN visa compare to H-1B for Chief Development Officer positions?
TN has no annual lottery and no cap for Canadian citizens, so you can apply and start work without waiting for a random selection. H-1B visa requires winning a lottery held once per year, which introduces 12 or more months of uncertainty. For CDO roles that qualify under USMCA, TN is a faster and more predictable path, though it does not provide a direct route to permanent residence the way an H-1B sponsorship often does.
Where can I find Chief Development Officer jobs that include TN visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically to surface roles where employers have confirmed TN visa sponsorship, so you can filter CDO openings by sponsorship availability rather than applying broadly and asking each employer individually. This is especially useful for CDO roles, where sponsorship willingness varies significantly by sector and employer type.
What documentation does my employer need to provide for TN processing?
Your employer must provide a detailed offer letter that states your job title, the professional category under USMCA, the degree or credentials required, the anticipated duration of employment, and a description of your primary duties. For Canadian citizens applying at a port of entry, this letter is submitted directly to CBP. For Mexican citizens, it accompanies your consular visa application.
Can a Mexican citizen apply for a CDO role under TN without a U.S. consulate appointment backlog?
Mexican TN applicants must go through consular processing, and appointment availability varies by consulate and time of year. Unlike Canadian citizens, who can apply at any U.S. port of entry without a prior appointment, Mexican citizens cannot use port-of-entry processing. Planning your job search timeline to account for a consular wait is a practical step, especially at high-demand posts like Ciudad Juarez or Monterrey.