Design Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Kentucky
Design engineer roles in Kentucky are concentrated in the state's manufacturing and automotive sectors, with employers like Toyota, Ford, and Lexmark operating major facilities in cities such as Georgetown, Louisville, and Lexington. International candidates seeking visa sponsorship will find the most activity among large manufacturers and engineering firms with established HR infrastructure.
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BH Job ID: 5479
SF Job Req ID: 21182
Ingersoll Rand is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.
Job Title: Design Engineer II – Reciprocating
Location: Campbellsville, KY or Davidson, NC
About us
Imagine a company with technology leadership of over 160 years, yet it operates with the energy of a startup. Ingersoll Rand has dedicated itself to Making Life Better for its employees, customers, shareholders, and planets. We produce innovative and mission-critical flow creation and life science technologies – from compressors to precision handling of liquids, gasses, and powers – to increase industrial productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Supported by over 80+ brands, our products are used in various end-markets including life sciences, food and beverage, clean energy, industrial manufacturing, infrastructure, and more. Across the globe, we’re driving growth with an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset. Learn more at irco.com and join us to own your future.
Job Overview
As a Design Engineer II for Reciprocating Products, you will be responsible for the design, development, analysis, testing, and continuous improvement of reciprocating compressor products and related systems. This role focuses on the mechanical design of compressor components and assemblies, supporting new product development, product enhancements, and sustaining engineering initiatives.
The successful candidate will apply mechanical engineering principles to develop innovative and reliable compressor solutions that meet performance, quality, cost, manufacturability, and customer requirements. This position requires close collaboration with manufacturing, testing, sourcing, quality, service, and product management teams.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop reciprocating compressor components and assemblies.
- Create and maintain engineering drawings, 3D models, specifications, and bills of materials using CAD tools.
- Perform engineering calculations, analytical studies, and simulations to validate component strength, durability, thermal behavior, vibration characteristics, and overall system performance.
- Support product development activities from concept through prototype validation, testing, production launch, and field support.
- Evaluate compressor designs for performance, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and cost optimization.
- Investigate product performance issues through root cause analysis and develop corrective actions for field and manufacturing concerns.
- Collaborate with manufacturing and supply chain teams to improve production efficiency, reduce product cost, and enhance quality.
- Develop and participate in compressor performance testing, design verification, and validation activities.
- Ensure designs comply with applicable industry standards, customer requirements, and engineering best practices.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on product reliability, durability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
- Manage engineering projects and workstreams with limited supervision while meeting project schedules and business objectives.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and engineering support personnel.
- Work cross-functionally with global engineering, operations, quality, testing, and service organizations to deliver successful product outcomes.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Agricultural, Mining engineering discipline
- 2+ years of engineering experience in mechanical design, product development, sustaining engineering, or related mechanical systems.
- 2+ years of experience creating or interpreting engineering drawings, 3D models, specifications, and bills of materials (BOM).
Preferred Qualifications
- Proficiency with 3D CAD software and engineering documentation practices.
- Working knowledge of engineering calculations, GD&T, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience with compressors, pumps, engines, rotating equipment, reciprocating equipment, pressure systems, or industrial machinery.
- Experience supporting design verification, validation testing, performance testing, or simulation and analysis activities.
- Exposure to reliability, durability, vibration, thermal, fatigue, airflow, or pressure-related design considerations.
- Experience working across manufacturing, quality, sourcing, service, testing, or product management teams.
- Familiarity with Design for Manufacturing/Assembly, value engineering, cost reduction, or continuous improvement initiatives.
Key Competencies
- Strong mechanical engineering aptitude with the ability to analyze complex technical challenges, develop practical solutions, and drive continuous improvement in product performance, reliability, and quality.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage engineering projects and product development activities of moderate to high complexity, balancing technical, schedule, and business objectives.
- Effective collaborator and communicator who works successfully across multidisciplinary teams and influences stakeholders to achieve project goals.
- Results oriented professional with strong organizational skills and a customer-focused mindset, committed to delivering high-quality engineering solutions throughout the product lifecycle.
Travel & Work Arrangements / Requirements
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 10-15%, primarily to manufacturing facilities, testing laboratories, customer sites, and supplier locations.
- Occasional hands-on support of prototype builds, testing activities, and field investigations.
What We Offer?
At Ingersoll Rand, we embrace a culture of personal ownership – taking responsibility for our company, our communities, and our environment, as well as our individual health and well-being. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to empower you with the tools and support necessary to take charge of your health, ensuring that together, we can continue to make life better. Our range of benefits includes health care options like medical and prescription plans, dental and vision coverage, as well as wellness programs. Additionally, we provide life insurance, a robust 401(k) plan, paid time off, and even an employee stock grant, among other offerings. These benefits are our commitment to you, so you can be your best at work and beyond.
Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR), driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset, is dedicated to helping make life better for our employees, customers and communities. Customers lean on us for our technology-driven excellence in mission-critical flow creation and industrial solutions across 40+ respected brands where our products and services excel in the most complex and harsh conditions. Our employees develop customers for life through their daily commitment to expertise, productivity and efficiency. For more information, visit www.IRCO.com.
Design Engineer Job Roles in Kentucky
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Search Design Engineer Jobs in KentuckyDesign Engineer Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for design engineers in Kentucky?
Large manufacturers with established legal and HR teams are the most consistent sponsors. In Kentucky, that includes Toyota's Georgetown assembly plant, Ford's Louisville operations, and companies in the aerospace and defense supply chain around Louisville. Engineering consultancies and firms with federal contracts also appear in sponsorship records. Smaller manufacturers rarely sponsor due to cost and administrative complexity.
Which visa types are most common for design engineers in Kentucky?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa for design engineers, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a relevant bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. TN visas are available for Canadian and Mexican citizens working in engineering roles. Employers with multinational operations, like Toyota's Kentucky plants, may also use L-1 visas for internal transfers.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most design engineer sponsorship jobs?
Louisville is the largest market, driven by its manufacturing base, logistics infrastructure, and GE Appliances' headquarters. Georgetown and Lexington benefit from Toyota's significant presence and the broader central Kentucky automotive supplier network. Bowling Green has activity connected to the Corvette assembly plant and its supplier ecosystem. Most sponsoring employers in the state are concentrated in these four cities.
How to find design engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it easier to identify Kentucky design engineer roles where employers are actively open to sponsoring. Rather than sorting through general job boards, you can search by role and state to surface relevant openings at manufacturers, engineering firms, and automotive suppliers across Louisville, Lexington, and Georgetown.
Are there any state-specific factors design engineers should know about when pursuing sponsorship in Kentucky?
Kentucky's engineering job market is heavily tied to automotive and advanced manufacturing, so a background in mechanical, manufacturing, or industrial design engineering aligns well with what local employers need. The University of Kentucky and University of Louisville both produce engineering graduates and maintain industry partnerships, which can inform which employers are familiar with international hiring. Prevailing wage requirements for H-1B petitions apply nationally, so Kentucky employers must pay the DOL-determined wage for the role and location regardless of local cost of living.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored design engineer jobs in Kentucky?
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.