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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This role is responsible for leading the silicone pilot line operation and assisting in the development of new R&D products and manufacturing processes. Establishing a sound technical basis for these developments, this role will work closely with internal team members to understand material and manufacturing constraints. With strong detail-orientation, this position will help document development processes, perform experimental processes, and track results. When there are technical issues at the plant, the development engineers are also pulled in to help address customer complaints as needed, resolve quality issues and improve the efficiency of our operations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Provide leadership to pilot line employees, ensure safe execution of all aspects for the pilot line operation
- Assist in the planning and execution of small to medium development projects, and portions of larger projects, under direction provided
- Review technical requirements for products and materials to develop and execute experimental tests for products and manufacturing processes
- Responsible for all daily operational aspects of the pilot line and for troubleshooting issues as they arise
- Assist in scale up of new materials and products, and support technology transfer from pilot plant to manufacturing process
- Perform technical troubleshooting on existing processes and products, as required, to advance product development and improve overall performance
- Solve problems of limited to moderate complexity using conventional approaches or works with internal resources to develop new/unconventional solutions
- Deliver reports outlining progress of current and ongoing projects
- Extensively document processes and material specifications used in the development process
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or related field
- 3+ years of Engineering experience, preferably in the chemical industry
- Ability to plan, organize and oversee multiple projects
- Experience in statistical data analysis using statistical software like JMP or Minitab
SUMMARY:
This role is responsible for leading the silicone pilot line operation and assisting in the development of new R&D products and manufacturing processes. Establishing a sound technical basis for these developments, this role will work closely with internal team members to understand material and manufacturing constraints. With strong detail-orientation, this position will help document development processes, perform experimental processes, and track results. When there are technical issues at the plant, the development engineers are also pulled in to help address customer complaints as needed, resolve quality issues and improve the efficiency of our operations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Provide leadership to pilot line employees, ensure safe execution of all aspects for the pilot line operation
- Assist in the planning and execution of small to medium development projects, and portions of larger projects, under direction provided
- Review technical requirements for products and materials to develop and execute experimental tests for products and manufacturing processes
- Responsible for all daily operational aspects of the pilot line and for troubleshooting issues as they arise
- Assist in scale up of new materials and products, and support technology transfer from pilot plant to manufacturing process
- Perform technical troubleshooting on existing processes and products, as required, to advance product development and improve overall performance
- Solve problems of limited to moderate complexity using conventional approaches or works with internal resources to develop new/unconventional solutions
- Deliver reports outlining progress of current and ongoing projects
- Extensively document processes and material specifications used in the development process
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or related field
- 3+ years of Engineering experience, preferably in the chemical industry
- Ability to plan, organize and oversee multiple projects
- Experience in statistical data analysis using statistical software like JMP or Minitab
Research Engineer Job Roles in Illinois
See all 144+ Research Engineer Jobs in Illinois
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Search Research Engineer Jobs in IllinoisResearch 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.