Principal R&D Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
Principal R&D engineer visa sponsorship jobs in California are concentrated in the Bay Area and San Diego, with major employers including Alphabet, Apple, Meta, Qualcomm, and Genentech. These senior engineering roles drive product innovation across semiconductors, life sciences, and cloud infrastructure, making California the most active state for sponsored principal-level research and development positions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Dedicated to innovation, our Surgical business unit is focused on identifying and solving critical, unmet needs in cardiac surgery. In understanding the challenges of open-heart surgery, we partner with surgical teams to deliver modern technologies intended to enhance patients’ quality of life and expand their potential treatment opportunities. It’s our driving force to help patients live longer and healthier lives. Join us and be part of our inspiring journey.
Heart disease affects millions of individuals worldwide annually. At Edwards Lifesciences, we are committed to delivering advanced solutions for patients with cardiovascular conditions. With a strong emphasis on innovation, our Surgical Structural Heart (SSH) business unit is dedicated to addressing significant unmet needs within the field of cardiac surgery. This position with the Design and Simulation Team offers an opportunity to advance design capabilities within the SSH R&D group, contributing to the improvement of current and emerging technologies and therapies.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead in improving, designing, and optimizing more complex tests, analyzing results, providing recommendations, and developing reports based on engineering principles that translate to innovative products.
- Support project teams to optimize device design and performance by utilizing design tools and predictive engineering methods (e.g., CAD, FEA, and optimization).
- Analyze and evaluate experimental data to create and validate the computational models.
- Present the analysis results to the stakeholders and contribute to publishing internal reports and technical summaries.
- Proactively identify issues, achieve resolution, and resolve problems of significant complexity in designing parts, components, and subsystems.
- Work in a cross-functional team environment and collaborate with R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to meet project objectives.
- Some domestic and international travel (up to 5%).
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or Scientific field, with 6 years' experience, including either industry or industry/education - OR -
- Master's Degree or equivalent in Engineering or Scientific field, with 5+ years' experience, including either industry or industry/education - OR -
- Ph.D. or equivalent in Engineering or Scientific field, with 2+ years' experience, including either industry or industry/education.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- MS or PhD degree in materials science or mechanical engineering is preferred.
- 2+ years of experience in engineering design.
- 2+ years of experience in structural, Mechanical, or Fatigue Analysis.
- Demonstrated proficiency in nonlinear mechanics, plasticity, and advanced computational modeling techniques (FEA).
- Understanding of general engineering design principles and a working knowledge of the design of experiments (DOE) and other engineering workflows.
- Familiarity with the mechanics of soft tissues is a plus.
- Experience with scripting environments such as Python and MATLAB.
- Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Strict attention to detail.
- Excellent documentation and communication skills and interpersonal relationship skills, including high discretion/judgment in decision-making.
- Knowledge of the cGMP Manufacturing environment within the Medical Device Industry, including knowledge of FDA / TUV guidelines and quality system regulations in general.
- Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels and proactively escalate issues to appropriate levels of management.
- Participate and present at meetings with internal and external representatives.
- Develop peer, cross-functional, and cross-business relationships to maximize best practice sharing and team effectiveness.
- Ability to work independently without close supervision.
- Adhere to all company rules and requirements (e.g., pandemic protocols, Environmental Health & Safety rules) and take adequate control measures in preventing injuries to themselves and others as well as to the protection of the environment and prevention of pollution under their span of influence/control.
COMPENSATION:
- For California (CA), the base pay range for this position is $121,000 to $171,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.
Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.
INTRODUCTION
Dedicated to innovation, our Surgical business unit is focused on identifying and solving critical, unmet needs in cardiac surgery. In understanding the challenges of open-heart surgery, we partner with surgical teams to deliver modern technologies intended to enhance patients’ quality of life and expand their potential treatment opportunities. It’s our driving force to help patients live longer and healthier lives. Join us and be part of our inspiring journey.
Heart disease affects millions of individuals worldwide annually. At Edwards Lifesciences, we are committed to delivering advanced solutions for patients with cardiovascular conditions. With a strong emphasis on innovation, our Surgical Structural Heart (SSH) business unit is dedicated to addressing significant unmet needs within the field of cardiac surgery. This position with the Design and Simulation Team offers an opportunity to advance design capabilities within the SSH R&D group, contributing to the improvement of current and emerging technologies and therapies.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead in improving, designing, and optimizing more complex tests, analyzing results, providing recommendations, and developing reports based on engineering principles that translate to innovative products.
- Support project teams to optimize device design and performance by utilizing design tools and predictive engineering methods (e.g., CAD, FEA, and optimization).
- Analyze and evaluate experimental data to create and validate the computational models.
- Present the analysis results to the stakeholders and contribute to publishing internal reports and technical summaries.
- Proactively identify issues, achieve resolution, and resolve problems of significant complexity in designing parts, components, and subsystems.
- Work in a cross-functional team environment and collaborate with R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to meet project objectives.
- Some domestic and international travel (up to 5%).
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or Scientific field, with 6 years' experience, including either industry or industry/education - OR -
- Master's Degree or equivalent in Engineering or Scientific field, with 5+ years' experience, including either industry or industry/education - OR -
- Ph.D. or equivalent in Engineering or Scientific field, with 2+ years' experience, including either industry or industry/education.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- MS or PhD degree in materials science or mechanical engineering is preferred.
- 2+ years of experience in engineering design.
- 2+ years of experience in structural, Mechanical, or Fatigue Analysis.
- Demonstrated proficiency in nonlinear mechanics, plasticity, and advanced computational modeling techniques (FEA).
- Understanding of general engineering design principles and a working knowledge of the design of experiments (DOE) and other engineering workflows.
- Familiarity with the mechanics of soft tissues is a plus.
- Experience with scripting environments such as Python and MATLAB.
- Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Strict attention to detail.
- Excellent documentation and communication skills and interpersonal relationship skills, including high discretion/judgment in decision-making.
- Knowledge of the cGMP Manufacturing environment within the Medical Device Industry, including knowledge of FDA / TUV guidelines and quality system regulations in general.
- Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels and proactively escalate issues to appropriate levels of management.
- Participate and present at meetings with internal and external representatives.
- Develop peer, cross-functional, and cross-business relationships to maximize best practice sharing and team effectiveness.
- Ability to work independently without close supervision.
- Adhere to all company rules and requirements (e.g., pandemic protocols, Environmental Health & Safety rules) and take adequate control measures in preventing injuries to themselves and others as well as to the protection of the environment and prevention of pollution under their span of influence/control.
COMPENSATION:
- For California (CA), the base pay range for this position is $121,000 to $171,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.
Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Principal R&D Engineer Job Roles in California
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Search Principal R&D Engineer Jobs in CaliforniaPrincipal R&D Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for principal R&D engineers in California?
California's largest R&D employers have consistent H-1B visa sponsorship histories for principal-level engineering roles. Companies such as Alphabet, Apple, Meta, Qualcomm, Genentech, Broadcom, Nvidia, and Applied Materials regularly file Labor Condition Applications for senior research and development engineers. Aerospace and defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and Raytheon also sponsor at principal levels, particularly in Southern California.
Which visa types realistically fit principal R&D engineer roles in California?
Principal R&D engineer roles qualify as specialty occupations, so H-1B is the most common path, granting up to three years initially and extendable to six. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa status as engineers under USMCA. Australian nationals can pursue the E-3 visa. H-1B1 visa applies to Chilean and Singaporean nationals. Longer-term, EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based green cards are common sponsorship outcomes for this seniority level.
Which cities in California have the most principal R&D engineer sponsorship jobs?
San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and San Francisco account for the highest concentration of principal R&D engineer sponsorship filings, driven by semiconductor and cloud technology firms in Silicon Valley. San Diego is a major hub for biotech and wireless R&D, with companies like Qualcomm and Illumina. Los Angeles hosts aerospace and defense R&D, while San Ramon and Palo Alto see significant activity from energy and AI research teams.
How to find principal r&d engineer visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lists California employers with verified sponsorship histories for principal R&D engineer roles, searchable by city and employer. Because these positions require demonstrated specialty occupation credentials, filtering specifically to employers with active H-1B or E-3 visa LCA filing histories saves significant time. Migrate Mate surfaces that filing data directly, so you can focus on companies already proven to sponsor senior engineering roles in California.
Are there state-specific factors that affect visa sponsorship for principal R&D engineers in California?
California's dense university pipeline from UC Berkeley, Stanford, Caltech, and UC San Diego feeds directly into principal-level R&D hiring, and many California employers have established international recruitment programs as a result. California's strong trade-secret protections and non-compete unenforceability also influence employer willingness to sponsor long-term, since retaining senior R&D talent is a strategic priority. Biotech clusters in South San Francisco and San Diego add significant life sciences sponsorship volume beyond the tech sector.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored principal r&d engineer jobs in California?
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.