AI Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's AI engineer hiring is anchored in Milwaukee, Madison, and the Fox Valley, where employers in healthcare technology, manufacturing automation, and enterprise software actively seek talent. Companies like Epic Systems, Rockwell Automation, and Harley-Davidson have built out applied AI teams, and several have established records of sponsoring skilled international workers for qualifying roles.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is transforming the future of buildings through smart, connected, and increasingly autonomous technologies. Our Building Automation Systems (BAS) portfolio helps customers operate facilities more efficiently, reduce energy consumption, improve occupant comfort, and achieve sustainability goals through intelligent controls, software, and digital services.
As we accelerate our Autonomous Buildings vision, we are investing in AI-enabled technologies that simplify operations, improve technician productivity, and unlock new levels of building intelligence. This role will help define and lead that transformation.
Your Role
The Director, AI Architecture & Autonomous Building Systems will serve as the technology and architecture leader for our Building Automation Systems (BAS) and Controls portfolio.
This role will define the long-term architecture strategy spanning edge controllers, building networks, enterprise platforms, AI services, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity, and autonomous operations. The successful candidate will help drive the evolution from traditional building automation systems to intelligent, self-optimizing building ecosystems while enabling scalable innovation across controls, software, and digital services.
This position is fundamental to accelerating our Autonomous Buildings vision, providing the architectural leadership, technical governance, and engineering alignment necessary to deliver differentiated market solutions, strengthen competitive advantage, and unlock new growth opportunities through AI-enabled building intelligence and edge-to-cloud innovation.
Your Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Define and execute the software development and deployment strategy for IoT edge, cloud-hosted, and AI-enabled software products.
- Partner with Building Automation Systems product leadership to prioritize and deliver technology roadmaps.
- Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering teams to prioritize and refine system requirements.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to advance AI-enabled building controls and autonomous building capabilities.
Team Management and Development
- Lead and inspire global teams of software engineering managers, architects, and engineers across multiple engineering centers.
- Foster effective collaboration across geographies and cultures while providing clear direction and accountability.
- Promote a culture of quality, technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Recruit, develop, and retain top technical talent.
- Coach and mentor engineering leaders and team members to support their professional growth and development.
Management and Delivery
- Drive the transformation of installation, configuration, commissioning, monitoring, and service workflows through AI-enabled solutions.
- Ensure successful delivery of product functionality, performance, quality, compliance, and productivity objectives.
- Implement and continuously improve Agile development practices and software lifecycle processes.
- Monitor program health, identify risks, and proactively drive mitigation plans.
- Improve engineering effectiveness through AI-assisted development practices and modern software delivery methodologies.
Technical Oversight
- Define end-to-end architecture spanning edge controllers, building networks, enterprise platforms, AI services, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity, and autonomous operations.
- Establish architecture standards and technical direction across the BAS portfolio.
- Drive adoption of modern development tools, frameworks, and engineering best practices.
- Champion DevOps, CI/CD, automation, and AI-enhanced software development methodologies to accelerate delivery and improve quality.
- Leverage AI-powered development tools and intelligent agents to enhance developer productivity and accelerate innovation.
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Partner with Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and Engineering teams to ensure alignment between R&D initiatives and market needs.
- Collaborate with external vendors and technology partners to integrate capabilities and accelerate innovation.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders including User Experience, IT, and Cybersecurity teams.
Operational Excellence
- Establish KPIs to measure technology adoption, engineering effectiveness, product performance, and project success.
- Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, regulatory, industry, and quality requirements.
- Evaluate cloud infrastructure utilization and identify opportunities to optimize cost, performance, and scalability.
What We Are Looking For
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering, systems architecture, product development, or related technical disciplines.
- 3+ years of experience leading engineering teams, architecture functions, or large-scale technology initiatives.
- Proven experience defining architecture strategy for complex software platforms spanning cloud, edge, and connected systems.
- Experience delivering cloud-connected, AI-enabled, or intelligent software products.
- Deep understanding of enterprise software architecture, distributed systems, cloud platforms, APIs, and modern software development practices.
- Experience with Agile software development, DevOps, CI/CD, and software lifecycle management.
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and secure software design.
- Demonstrated ability to influence technical strategy across large organizations and multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (MS, MBA, or PhD) in a relevant technical or business discipline.
- Domain expertise in Building Automation Systems (BAS), Building Management Systems (BMS), smart buildings, HVAC controls, energy management, industrial automation, IoT, or other connected systems environments.
- Proven success driving AI-enabled innovation, intelligent automation, or enterprise-scale technology transformation initiatives.
- Familiarity with software solutions supporting installation, commissioning, monitoring, service, or technician workflows.
- Experience leading globally distributed engineering organizations.
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $145,000 - 217,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.) This role offers a competitive Bonus plan that will take into account individual, group, and corporate performance. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is transforming the future of buildings through smart, connected, and increasingly autonomous technologies. Our Building Automation Systems (BAS) portfolio helps customers operate facilities more efficiently, reduce energy consumption, improve occupant comfort, and achieve sustainability goals through intelligent controls, software, and digital services.
As we accelerate our Autonomous Buildings vision, we are investing in AI-enabled technologies that simplify operations, improve technician productivity, and unlock new levels of building intelligence. This role will help define and lead that transformation.
Your Role
The Director, AI Architecture & Autonomous Building Systems will serve as the technology and architecture leader for our Building Automation Systems (BAS) and Controls portfolio.
This role will define the long-term architecture strategy spanning edge controllers, building networks, enterprise platforms, AI services, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity, and autonomous operations. The successful candidate will help drive the evolution from traditional building automation systems to intelligent, self-optimizing building ecosystems while enabling scalable innovation across controls, software, and digital services.
This position is fundamental to accelerating our Autonomous Buildings vision, providing the architectural leadership, technical governance, and engineering alignment necessary to deliver differentiated market solutions, strengthen competitive advantage, and unlock new growth opportunities through AI-enabled building intelligence and edge-to-cloud innovation.
Your Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Define and execute the software development and deployment strategy for IoT edge, cloud-hosted, and AI-enabled software products.
- Partner with Building Automation Systems product leadership to prioritize and deliver technology roadmaps.
- Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering teams to prioritize and refine system requirements.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to advance AI-enabled building controls and autonomous building capabilities.
Team Management and Development
- Lead and inspire global teams of software engineering managers, architects, and engineers across multiple engineering centers.
- Foster effective collaboration across geographies and cultures while providing clear direction and accountability.
- Promote a culture of quality, technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Recruit, develop, and retain top technical talent.
- Coach and mentor engineering leaders and team members to support their professional growth and development.
Management and Delivery
- Drive the transformation of installation, configuration, commissioning, monitoring, and service workflows through AI-enabled solutions.
- Ensure successful delivery of product functionality, performance, quality, compliance, and productivity objectives.
- Implement and continuously improve Agile development practices and software lifecycle processes.
- Monitor program health, identify risks, and proactively drive mitigation plans.
- Improve engineering effectiveness through AI-assisted development practices and modern software delivery methodologies.
Technical Oversight
- Define end-to-end architecture spanning edge controllers, building networks, enterprise platforms, AI services, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity, and autonomous operations.
- Establish architecture standards and technical direction across the BAS portfolio.
- Drive adoption of modern development tools, frameworks, and engineering best practices.
- Champion DevOps, CI/CD, automation, and AI-enhanced software development methodologies to accelerate delivery and improve quality.
- Leverage AI-powered development tools and intelligent agents to enhance developer productivity and accelerate innovation.
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Partner with Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and Engineering teams to ensure alignment between R&D initiatives and market needs.
- Collaborate with external vendors and technology partners to integrate capabilities and accelerate innovation.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders including User Experience, IT, and Cybersecurity teams.
Operational Excellence
- Establish KPIs to measure technology adoption, engineering effectiveness, product performance, and project success.
- Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, regulatory, industry, and quality requirements.
- Evaluate cloud infrastructure utilization and identify opportunities to optimize cost, performance, and scalability.
What We Are Looking For
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering, systems architecture, product development, or related technical disciplines.
- 3+ years of experience leading engineering teams, architecture functions, or large-scale technology initiatives.
- Proven experience defining architecture strategy for complex software platforms spanning cloud, edge, and connected systems.
- Experience delivering cloud-connected, AI-enabled, or intelligent software products.
- Deep understanding of enterprise software architecture, distributed systems, cloud platforms, APIs, and modern software development practices.
- Experience with Agile software development, DevOps, CI/CD, and software lifecycle management.
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and secure software design.
- Demonstrated ability to influence technical strategy across large organizations and multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (MS, MBA, or PhD) in a relevant technical or business discipline.
- Domain expertise in Building Automation Systems (BAS), Building Management Systems (BMS), smart buildings, HVAC controls, energy management, industrial automation, IoT, or other connected systems environments.
- Proven success driving AI-enabled innovation, intelligent automation, or enterprise-scale technology transformation initiatives.
- Familiarity with software solutions supporting installation, commissioning, monitoring, service, or technician workflows.
- Experience leading globally distributed engineering organizations.
HIRING SALARY RANGE: $145,000 - 217,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.) This role offers a competitive Bonus plan that will take into account individual, group, and corporate performance. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site.
AI Engineer Job Roles in Wisconsin
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Search AI Engineer Jobs in WisconsinAI Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for AI engineers in Wisconsin?
Epic Systems in Verona is among the most active sponsors in the state, given its scale in healthcare software and ongoing investment in machine learning infrastructure. Rockwell Automation in Milwaukee sponsors for AI and automation engineering roles tied to industrial applications. Smaller employers in insurtech, agricultural technology, and university research computing have also filed sponsorships for AI engineer positions, though at lower volumes.
Which visa types are most common for AI engineer roles in Wisconsin?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa category for AI engineers in Wisconsin, as the role typically meets the specialty occupation requirement through its degree-level demand in computer science, machine learning, or a related field. Candidates from Australia may qualify for the E-3 visa, and Canadian and Mexican nationals can explore TN visa status under the engineer category. O-1A petitions are also filed for AI engineers with recognized research or publication records.
Which cities in Wisconsin have the most AI engineer sponsorship jobs?
Madison concentrates the largest share of AI engineering activity, driven by Epic Systems, the University of Wisconsin-Madison's research commercialization pipeline, and a growing cluster of health-tech startups. Milwaukee is the second most active market, with demand coming from manufacturing automation, financial services, and logistics technology firms. Green Bay and Appleton have smaller but emerging AI hiring footprints, particularly in insurance technology and supply chain applications.
How to find ai engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin?
Migrate Mate filters AI engineer jobs specifically to employers with a history of visa sponsorship, saving you from applying to postings where sponsorship is unavailable. You can narrow results to Wisconsin and browse by city or industry sector. Because AI engineer roles in this state span healthcare IT, manufacturing, and fintech, filtering by sponsorship history is especially useful for identifying which employers are genuinely open to international candidates.
Are there any state-specific considerations for AI engineers seeking sponsorship in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's university pipeline, particularly from UW-Madison's computer sciences and data science programs, means many AI engineer candidates enter the market on F-1 OPT, which creates a practical window to secure H-1B sponsorship before OPT expires. Employers in Wisconsin's healthcare IT sector, which is unusually concentrated in this state, often have established immigration processes due to consistent international hiring, making them more predictable sponsorship partners than early-stage startups.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored ai engineer jobs in Wisconsin?
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.