Research Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois

Illinois is a strong market for research engineer roles, with major employers concentrated in Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, and the broader Chicagoland tech and life sciences corridor. Companies like Motorola Solutions, Abbott, and Argonne National Laboratory, along with university-affiliated research programs at the University of Illinois and Northwestern, regularly hire research engineers and have established visa sponsorship track records.

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Overview

Open Jobs53+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type87% On-site
Top LocationNorth Chicago, IL
Most JobsAbbVie

Showing 5 of 53+ Research Engineer Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship

Argonne National Laboratory
Research Engineer II
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Argonne National Laboratory
Added 3mo ago
Research Engineer II
Argonne National Laboratory
Lemont, Illinois
Specialized Engineering
Laboratory Research
Engineering (Non-Software)
Chemical Engineering
$94,486/yr - $147,398/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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DRW
Research Engineer
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DRW
Added 3mo ago
Research Engineer
DRW
Chicago, Illinois
Software Engineering
Data Engineering
$175,000/yr - $225,000/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Nimble Therapeutics Inc.
Senior Principal Research Scientist Engineering
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Nimble Therapeutics Inc.
Added 3w ago
Senior Principal Research Scientist Engineering
Nimble Therapeutics Inc.
North Chicago, Illinois
Specialized Engineering
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Engineering (Non-Software)
Chemical Engineering
Not listed
On-Site
Associate's

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Ulse, Inc. (Formerly Known As Uls, Inc.)
Principal Engineer - Materials Discovery Research Institute
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Ulse, Inc. (Formerly Known As Uls, Inc.)
Added 1mo ago
Principal Engineer - Materials Discovery Research Institute
Ulse, Inc. (Formerly Known As Uls, Inc.)
Skokie, Illinois
Specialized Engineering
Laboratory Research
Engineering (Non-Software)
Chemical Engineering
$131,186 - $180,381/yr
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Other

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Abbvie Bioresearch Center Inc.
Principal Research Scientist II, Peptide Process Engineer
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Abbvie Bioresearch Center Inc.
Added 1mo ago
Principal Research Scientist II, Peptide Process Engineer
Abbvie Bioresearch Center Inc.
North Chicago, Illinois
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Specialized Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Not listed
On-Site
Other

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See all 53+ Research Engineer Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship

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Research Engineer Job Roles in Illinois

Laboratory Research37 jobs
Specialized Engineering33 jobs
Engineering (Non-Software)25 jobs
Biotech & Life Sciences20 jobs
Software Engineering13 jobs
Chemical Engineering12 jobs
Data Science & Analytics10 jobs
Data Science9 jobs
Project & Program Management7 jobs
Manufacturing Operations5 jobs

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Research Engineer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies sponsor visas for research engineers in Illinois?

Several Illinois employers have consistent H-1B visa sponsorship histories for research engineer roles. Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab sponsor international researchers in engineering and applied sciences. Abbott and Baxter sponsor research engineers in the medical device and life sciences space. Motorola Solutions, Zebra Technologies, and Boeing's Chicago-area operations also appear regularly in Department of Labor disclosure data for research engineering positions.

Which visa types are most common for research engineer roles in Illinois?

The H-1B is the most common visa for research engineer roles in Illinois, as the position typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related field. Researchers at universities or national laboratories may also be eligible for J-1 visa exchange visitor status. Candidates with exceptional publication records or significant research contributions may qualify for the O-1A visa.

Which cities in Illinois have the most research engineer sponsorship jobs?

Chicago accounts for the largest share of research engineer sponsorship activity in Illinois, driven by its concentration of technology, biotech, and manufacturing employers. Urbana-Champaign is a secondary hub, closely tied to the University of Illinois research ecosystem and its affiliated spin-outs. The Chicagoland suburbs, including Deerfield, Waukegan, and Schaumburg, also have notable employer density in life sciences and electronics.

How to find research engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?

Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it easier to identify research engineer openings in Illinois without manually screening each employer. You can narrow results by location and role to surface relevant positions at companies with established sponsorship track records. This is especially useful for research engineering, where sponsorship willingness varies significantly by employer type, from national labs to private tech firms.

Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for research engineers seeking visa sponsorship?

Illinois has a strong pipeline of international research engineering talent through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Employers in the state are generally familiar with F-1 OPT-to-H-1B transitions for this reason. National laboratory positions at Argonne and Fermilab may involve security clearance requirements, which can affect sponsorship timelines and eligibility depending on the applicant's country of origin.

What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research engineer jobs in Illinois?

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.