Scientist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in South Dakota
Scientist roles in South Dakota are concentrated around research institutions like South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, and federal facilities including the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead. Sioux Falls and Rapid City anchor most private-sector hiring. Employers in agriculture, life sciences, and physics research have a consistent record of sponsoring work visas for qualified international scientists.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
At HDR, our employee‑ownership model shapes everything we do, including how we support and care for our people. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward‑thinking communities around the world. Across these disciplines, our teams design and deliver solutions that safeguard public health, enhance quality of life, power innovation, and drive responsible growth. Whether advancing clean water, creating healing and learning environments, engineering next‑generation facilities, or building the infrastructure that moves people and energy, our work is rooted in technical excellence and a shared sense of purpose. Our employee‑owners collaborate across specialties, combining creativity, precision, and deep expertise to solve the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities.
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In the role of Data Scientist, we'll count on you to:
- Leverage AI, automation, and data analytics tools to improve project delivery, quality assurance, and operational efficiency.
- Develop and maintain automated processes to validate project documentation, compliance requirements, checklists, and project standards.
- Design and implement dashboards, reports, and visualizations that provide project managers and leadership with actionable insights into project performance and resource utilization.
- Analyze project data to identify trends, risks, cost impacts, schedule concerns, and opportunities for process improvement.
- Handle highly sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to improve business decisions by identifying patterns and trends in data.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- A degree in a closely related field or combination of education and relevant experience.
- Self-motivated, detail-oriented professional, ability to multitask a must.
- Proficiency with MS Office including Word and Outlook.
- Proficiency with data engineering tools and languages such as SQL, Power Query, and Pandas.
- Proficiency with business intelligence tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Plotly, Seaborn, and Matplotlib.
- Proficiency with data science languages such as Python and R.
- Ability to handle confidential information.
- Excellent writing and people skills.
- Strong math and organizational skills.
- Flexibility and ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and various managers in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills including grammar, punctuation, proofreading, spelling and telephone skills.
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree.
- Preference given to local candidates.
This position does not have any relocation assistance available, strong preference will be given to local candidates.
LOCATION
Primary Location: United States-South Dakota-Sioux Falls
INDUSTRY
Water
SCHEDULE
Full-time
EMPLOYEE STATUS
Regular
BUSINESS CLASS
Water Treatment
JOB POSTING
Sep 9, 2026
WHAT WE BELIEVE
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
OUR COMMITMENT
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
INTRODUCTION
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
At HDR, our employee‑ownership model shapes everything we do, including how we support and care for our people. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward‑thinking communities around the world. Across these disciplines, our teams design and deliver solutions that safeguard public health, enhance quality of life, power innovation, and drive responsible growth. Whether advancing clean water, creating healing and learning environments, engineering next‑generation facilities, or building the infrastructure that moves people and energy, our work is rooted in technical excellence and a shared sense of purpose. Our employee‑owners collaborate across specialties, combining creativity, precision, and deep expertise to solve the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities.
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In the role of Data Scientist, we'll count on you to:
- Leverage AI, automation, and data analytics tools to improve project delivery, quality assurance, and operational efficiency.
- Develop and maintain automated processes to validate project documentation, compliance requirements, checklists, and project standards.
- Design and implement dashboards, reports, and visualizations that provide project managers and leadership with actionable insights into project performance and resource utilization.
- Analyze project data to identify trends, risks, cost impacts, schedule concerns, and opportunities for process improvement.
- Handle highly sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to improve business decisions by identifying patterns and trends in data.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- A degree in a closely related field or combination of education and relevant experience.
- Self-motivated, detail-oriented professional, ability to multitask a must.
- Proficiency with MS Office including Word and Outlook.
- Proficiency with data engineering tools and languages such as SQL, Power Query, and Pandas.
- Proficiency with business intelligence tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Plotly, Seaborn, and Matplotlib.
- Proficiency with data science languages such as Python and R.
- Ability to handle confidential information.
- Excellent writing and people skills.
- Strong math and organizational skills.
- Flexibility and ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and various managers in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills including grammar, punctuation, proofreading, spelling and telephone skills.
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree.
- Preference given to local candidates.
This position does not have any relocation assistance available, strong preference will be given to local candidates.
LOCATION
Primary Location: United States-South Dakota-Sioux Falls
INDUSTRY
Water
SCHEDULE
Full-time
EMPLOYEE STATUS
Regular
BUSINESS CLASS
Water Treatment
JOB POSTING
Sep 9, 2026
WHAT WE BELIEVE
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
OUR COMMITMENT
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
Scientist Job Roles in South Dakota
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Search Scientist Jobs in South DakotaScientist Jobs in South Dakota: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies and institutions sponsor visas for scientists in South Dakota?
The most active sponsors for scientist roles in South Dakota include South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, and the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). Agricultural research companies operating in the state, along with federal labs and clinical research organizations in Sioux Falls, have also filed for H-1B visa and O-1 visas on behalf of scientists. University research departments tend to be the most consistent sponsors.
Which visa types are most common for scientist roles in South Dakota?
The H-1B is the most common visa for scientist positions in South Dakota, covering roles in biology, chemistry, physics, and agricultural science that require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. The O-1A is an option for scientists with demonstrated exceptional achievement, such as published research or major awards. J-1 visa research scholar status is also common at South Dakota universities for postdoctoral and visiting scientist positions.
Which cities in South Dakota have the most scientist visa sponsorship jobs?
Sioux Falls has the highest concentration of scientist sponsorship activity in South Dakota, driven by healthcare systems, clinical research, and life sciences employers. Brookings is a notable hub due to South Dakota State University and its associated agricultural and biological research programs. Lead, home to the Sanford Underground Research Facility, attracts physicists and geoscientists. Vermillion, where the University of South Dakota is located, also generates consistent research-focused hiring.
How to find scientist visa sponsorship jobs in South Dakota?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters scientist roles in South Dakota by visa sponsorship history, so you're not sorting through listings that won't support work authorization. The platform surfaces employers with verified H-1B and O-1 filing records in the state. Focusing your search on research universities and federally affiliated labs in Brookings, Sioux Falls, and Lead will return the most relevant results.
Are there any state-specific considerations for scientists seeking sponsorship in South Dakota?
South Dakota's scientist hiring is heavily tied to its agricultural research sector and its growing role in physics research through SURF, which receives federal funding and regularly employs international researchers. The state has fewer large private-sector employers than coastal states, so university and federally affiliated positions make up a larger share of sponsorship opportunities. Scientists in niche research areas, particularly particle physics and crop science, may find South Dakota employers more willing to sponsor than the national average would suggest.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored scientist jobs in South Dakota?
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.