Program Director Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
California is one of the strongest states for program director visa sponsorship, driven by its concentration of technology companies, research universities, and healthcare systems. Major employers like UC San Diego, Kaiser Permanente, and Salesforce regularly hire program directors and have established international sponsorship pipelines. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose account for the highest volume of openings.
Find Program Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 1,558+ Program Director Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 1,558+ Program Director Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Program Director Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Zoox is developing autonomous mobility from the ground up. The Vehicle Program team ensures that this groundbreaking vehicle is delivered, meeting its high-performance targets while remaining on time, within budget, and to a very high-quality standard.
Reporting to the VP of Vehicle Development, the Robot Program Director is responsible for program management and delivery of one of the vehicle programs within Zoox. Zoox’s ground-up robotaxi, created to optimize the full autonomous rider experience, embodies the future of transportation enabled by the bespoke design of an autonomous vehicle. This role serves as the chief technical and program lead for one of our robotaxi vehicles. You will be responsible for high-impact decisions, both technical and strategic in nature.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, you will:
- Lead the development of the Robotaxi, driving cross-functional teams across Zoox to plan and execute the vehicle program.
- Determine program milestones: Work with core team members to define key program timing.
- Define the deliverables: Align on requirements for each team at each milestone and define the benchmark for completing them.
- Set the schedule: Build a realistic and achievable timing plan with input from core program team members.
- Review progress: Create regular status checks to ensure the program remains on track.
- Track Progress: Create and maintain a clear dashboard showing program status.
- Resolve or escalate issues: Collaborate with teams to find solutions or mitigations.
- Escalate for management support: Ensure appropriate resources are in place across the cross-functional team to execute program deliverables.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- BS or MS degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
- 15+ years of experience in engineering or program management in the automotive or equivalent industry.
- Proven experience launching at least one vehicle program from start to finish, preferably multiple programs.
- Extensive experience in product development at all stages; product ideation, design, release, prototyping, validation, launch and production.
- Proficient in tools required to manage complex projects (i.e. Gantt charts).
BASE SALARY RANGE
There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.
Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
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.
INTRODUCTION
Zoox is developing autonomous mobility from the ground up. The Vehicle Program team ensures that this groundbreaking vehicle is delivered, meeting its high-performance targets while remaining on time, within budget, and to a very high-quality standard.
Reporting to the VP of Vehicle Development, the Robot Program Director is responsible for program management and delivery of one of the vehicle programs within Zoox. Zoox’s ground-up robotaxi, created to optimize the full autonomous rider experience, embodies the future of transportation enabled by the bespoke design of an autonomous vehicle. This role serves as the chief technical and program lead for one of our robotaxi vehicles. You will be responsible for high-impact decisions, both technical and strategic in nature.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, you will:
- Lead the development of the Robotaxi, driving cross-functional teams across Zoox to plan and execute the vehicle program.
- Determine program milestones: Work with core team members to define key program timing.
- Define the deliverables: Align on requirements for each team at each milestone and define the benchmark for completing them.
- Set the schedule: Build a realistic and achievable timing plan with input from core program team members.
- Review progress: Create regular status checks to ensure the program remains on track.
- Track Progress: Create and maintain a clear dashboard showing program status.
- Resolve or escalate issues: Collaborate with teams to find solutions or mitigations.
- Escalate for management support: Ensure appropriate resources are in place across the cross-functional team to execute program deliverables.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- BS or MS degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
- 15+ years of experience in engineering or program management in the automotive or equivalent industry.
- Proven experience launching at least one vehicle program from start to finish, preferably multiple programs.
- Extensive experience in product development at all stages; product ideation, design, release, prototyping, validation, launch and production.
- Proficient in tools required to manage complex projects (i.e. Gantt charts).
BASE SALARY RANGE
There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.
Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
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.
Program Director Job Roles in California
See all 1,558+ Program Director Jobs in California
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Program Director Jobs in CaliforniaProgram Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for program directors in California?
Large technology employers including Google, Meta, and Apple, as well as major healthcare systems like Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health, have consistent records of sponsoring program directors. California's University of California and California State University systems also sponsor program directors across research and academic operations. Nonprofit organizations and defense contractors in Southern California represent additional sponsoring employer segments.
Which visa types are most common for program director roles in California?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa for program directors in California, as the role typically requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field, meeting the specialty occupation standard. Candidates with extraordinary achievement may qualify for the O-1A. Multinational managers transferring within a global organization may be eligible for the L-1A, particularly relevant given California's high density of multinational headquarters.
Which cities in California have the most program director sponsorship jobs?
San Francisco and San Jose lead in volume, reflecting the Bay Area's concentration of technology and life sciences employers. Los Angeles is the strongest market for entertainment, healthcare, and nonprofit program director roles. San Diego has a notable cluster of biotech and defense-focused program director openings. Sacramento generates demand primarily through state government-adjacent organizations and healthcare networks.
How to find program director visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates seeking visa sponsorship and lets you filter program director roles by state, so you can browse California openings from employers with active sponsorship histories. Because program director is a senior role, filtering by employers who have sponsored similar titles previously saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering sponsorship limitations late in the process.
Are there state-specific considerations for program directors seeking sponsorship in California?
California's prevailing wage requirements apply on top of federal H-1B wage obligations, and the state's high cost of living in the Bay Area and Los Angeles generally pushes employer wage offers upward, which can work in candidates' favor during the LCA certification process. California also has a large pipeline of international graduate students from UC and CSU campuses, meaning employers in the state are generally more familiar with sponsorship processes than employers in other states.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored program director 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.