Engineering Director Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Alabama
Engineering director roles in Alabama are concentrated in Huntsville's aerospace and defense corridor, where employers like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and SAIC regularly hire senior technical leaders. Birmingham's growing technology and healthcare sectors add further opportunity. International candidates at this level typically require H-1B visa or O-1 visa sponsorship from employers with established immigration programs.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.
The Global Facilities Delivery (GFD) Organization, part of Corporate Engineering, delivers new and renovated capital assets around the world. Our mission is accomplished through partnerships with design, construction and qualification contractors.
Many of the assets delivered focus on manufacturing of medical innovations and delivering innovative solutions to patients and support an expansion in supply of existing medicines.
Responsibilities for a Director-level DL (Design Lead) include:
- Overall design delivery for capital project(s) for a multi-node program or network, and manage a team of DLs on node-level design (manufacturing buildings, utilities, or support systems).
- DL teams will be a mixture of Lilly team members and external partners fully accountable in the project location for project technical success.
- Directly influences Sr. Management on asset design and/or delivery approaches.
- Lead the identification of the applicable Engineering Design Standards, Engineering Functional Standards, Engineering Specifications and Regulatory requirements and guidance (both internal and external).
- Actively leads delivery team to expand on their knowledge of design processes based on a history of project delivery.
- Coordinate all design for the Project Manager during all design phases of the project and be responsible in delivering the conceptual design review and basic design review.
- Direct the development of the design requirements.
- Command of the design schedule to meet the project needs.
- Often participate in the selection of the A/E firms.
- Coordinate with A/E firms to develop earned value progress systems to measure progress by discipline (monitor work versus invoice amounts).
- Own design decisions and coordinate information flow between the design team and system owners.
- Responsible for ensuring the design meets approved intent through interactions between the design firm, design specialists, engineering tech center disciplines, and end user/customer. Clear articulation of want vs need for asset and facility requirements.
- Responsible for design activities and governance, resolving design-related problems.
- Examine areas of inefficiency and develop strategies for improvement to direct the design team to meet or improve on the design hours plan.
- Instruct the development of standard operating procedures, project delivery work instructions, and/or best practices related to design/verification and ensure they remain current with industry best practices. Influences the network in the adoption of those industry best practices.
- Review and approve along with the respective Project Manager the key design project personnel (both internal and external resources).
- Work with Engineering Tech Center resources and other key project team technical/constructability resources to address and resolve design issues, and issue formal reports accordingly. Influences key technical decision makers on issues of corporate significance.
- Ensures replication is achieved during design when applicable, even in new situations.
- Support the Project Manager for value engineering exercises efforts to maximize project opportunities and deliver significant site impact and directly contribute meaningful ways to reduce cost through design.
- Participate in KPI reviews/assessments.
- Participate in the selection of the verification professional services.
- Accountable for the development of the Project Verification Plan, Traceability Matrix, and risk assessments (not necessarily lead the execution).
- Coordinate verification for the Project Manager during the verification phase of the project.
- Accountable for the discrepancy tracking and management in the Verification phase and uses root cause investigation techniques to resolve problems.
Basic Qualifications:
- BS in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical strongly preferred)
- Minimum of 20 years manufacturing and/or engineering in support of pharmaceutical or API networks
- Ability to work at the site of the project on a weekly basis. This position reports through Indianapolis but is located at site of the supported project.
Additional Preferences:
- Strong manufacturing and engineering background.
Additional Information:
- Travel is required for this role (20%, 1-2 weeks/month until relocation to project site)
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$151,500 - $264,000
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.
The Global Facilities Delivery (GFD) Organization, part of Corporate Engineering, delivers new and renovated capital assets around the world. Our mission is accomplished through partnerships with design, construction and qualification contractors.
Many of the assets delivered focus on manufacturing of medical innovations and delivering innovative solutions to patients and support an expansion in supply of existing medicines.
Responsibilities for a Director-level DL (Design Lead) include:
- Overall design delivery for capital project(s) for a multi-node program or network, and manage a team of DLs on node-level design (manufacturing buildings, utilities, or support systems).
- DL teams will be a mixture of Lilly team members and external partners fully accountable in the project location for project technical success.
- Directly influences Sr. Management on asset design and/or delivery approaches.
- Lead the identification of the applicable Engineering Design Standards, Engineering Functional Standards, Engineering Specifications and Regulatory requirements and guidance (both internal and external).
- Actively leads delivery team to expand on their knowledge of design processes based on a history of project delivery.
- Coordinate all design for the Project Manager during all design phases of the project and be responsible in delivering the conceptual design review and basic design review.
- Direct the development of the design requirements.
- Command of the design schedule to meet the project needs.
- Often participate in the selection of the A/E firms.
- Coordinate with A/E firms to develop earned value progress systems to measure progress by discipline (monitor work versus invoice amounts).
- Own design decisions and coordinate information flow between the design team and system owners.
- Responsible for ensuring the design meets approved intent through interactions between the design firm, design specialists, engineering tech center disciplines, and end user/customer. Clear articulation of want vs need for asset and facility requirements.
- Responsible for design activities and governance, resolving design-related problems.
- Examine areas of inefficiency and develop strategies for improvement to direct the design team to meet or improve on the design hours plan.
- Instruct the development of standard operating procedures, project delivery work instructions, and/or best practices related to design/verification and ensure they remain current with industry best practices. Influences the network in the adoption of those industry best practices.
- Review and approve along with the respective Project Manager the key design project personnel (both internal and external resources).
- Work with Engineering Tech Center resources and other key project team technical/constructability resources to address and resolve design issues, and issue formal reports accordingly. Influences key technical decision makers on issues of corporate significance.
- Ensures replication is achieved during design when applicable, even in new situations.
- Support the Project Manager for value engineering exercises efforts to maximize project opportunities and deliver significant site impact and directly contribute meaningful ways to reduce cost through design.
- Participate in KPI reviews/assessments.
- Participate in the selection of the verification professional services.
- Accountable for the development of the Project Verification Plan, Traceability Matrix, and risk assessments (not necessarily lead the execution).
- Coordinate verification for the Project Manager during the verification phase of the project.
- Accountable for the discrepancy tracking and management in the Verification phase and uses root cause investigation techniques to resolve problems.
Basic Qualifications:
- BS in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical strongly preferred)
- Minimum of 20 years manufacturing and/or engineering in support of pharmaceutical or API networks
- Ability to work at the site of the project on a weekly basis. This position reports through Indianapolis but is located at site of the supported project.
Additional Preferences:
- Strong manufacturing and engineering background.
Additional Information:
- Travel is required for this role (20%, 1-2 weeks/month until relocation to project site)
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$151,500 - $264,000
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
Engineering Director Job Roles in Alabama
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Search Engineering Director Jobs in AlabamaEngineering Director Jobs in Alabama: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for engineering directors in Alabama?
Huntsville-based defense contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Northrop Grumman, and SAIC have established visa sponsorship programs and regularly hire engineering directors. In Birmingham, companies in healthcare technology and advanced manufacturing, such as Protective Life and Vulcan Materials, also sponsor senior engineering roles, though sponsorship practices vary by company and position.
Which visa types are most common for engineering director roles in Alabama?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for engineering directors in Alabama, as the role typically requires at least a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field, satisfying the specialty occupation requirement. Candidates with extraordinary achievement may qualify for the O-1A. Multinational executives transferring within a company may pursue the L-1A. Each path depends on the employer's willingness to sponsor and the candidate's qualifications.
Which cities in Alabama have the most engineering director sponsorship jobs?
Huntsville leads by a wide margin, driven by Cummings Research Park, Redstone Arsenal, and the broader aerospace and defense ecosystem that makes it one of the densest engineering employment hubs in the Southeast. Birmingham is the second-largest market, with opportunities in healthcare IT, financial technology, and manufacturing. Smaller pockets of engineering leadership hiring exist in Decatur and Mobile, primarily tied to manufacturing and port logistics.
How to find engineering director visa sponsorship jobs in Alabama?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to search engineering director openings in Alabama without sorting through roles that don't offer sponsorship. Because director-level positions in Alabama are often tied to Huntsville's defense sector or Birmingham's technology employers, filtering by industry alongside sponsorship status on Migrate Mate helps narrow results to the most relevant opportunities for international candidates.
What state-specific factors should engineering director candidates know about Alabama's hiring market?
Many engineering director roles in Huntsville require or strongly prefer U.S. security clearance eligibility, which affects international candidates who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Clearance-dependent positions may not be available for visa sponsorship at all. Candidates should confirm clearance requirements before applying. Alabama's relatively lower cost of living compared to coastal tech hubs is frequently reflected in prevailing wage determinations for H-1B petitions filed in this region.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored engineering director jobs in Alabama?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.