Artificial Intelligence Scientist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Artificial Intelligence Scientists are among the most actively sponsored roles in the U.S. Employers routinely file H-1B visa petitions for this title, and the specialty occupation requirement is straightforwardly met by a master's or PhD in computer science, machine learning, or a closely related field. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Edmund Optics is seeking a Senior Director of Artificial Intelligence to lead the strategy, development, and deployment of AI initiatives across the organization. This role will define the enterprise AI roadmap, and build and mentor a high-performing team. This role will partner with the continuous improvement team to determine areas within the organization that can benefit the most from AI, as well as working with the analytics team on the development and rollout of AI-driven solutions for Edmund Optics. This role will partner with engineering, manufacturing, sales, and IT leadership to embed AI into core business processes. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong business acumen and the ability to translate AI capabilities into measurable value for a global optics and photonics manufacturer.
Responsibilities
- Strategy & Vision: Define and drive the company-wide AI strategy, identifying high-impact opportunities across manufacturing, HR, quality control, supply chain, R&D, sales, and customer service.
- Leadership & Team Building: Recruit, develop, and lead a team of new to industry AI designers and project managers to implement major AI projects. Work with the analytics team to establish best practices for model development, deployment, and governance. Move towards a hub-and-spoke operating model, with a centralized team of specialists defining standards and practices while working closely with embedded teams across the business.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with continuous improvement and with major functional areas such as optical engineering, manufacturing operations, IT, and commercial teams to identify use cases for advancement (e.g., computer vision for defect detection, predictive maintenance, generative AI for design/quoting tools, customer-facing chat/support tools).
- Solution Delivery: Be accountable for the full lifecycle of AI projects — from proof of concept through production deployment and monitoring — ensuring scalability, reliability, and ROI.
- Data Infrastructure: Partner with IT, analytics, and cybersecurity to ensure the organization has the data pipelines, infrastructure, and governance needed to support AI initiatives.
- Innovation & Emerging Tech: Stay current on advances in AI (including large language models, computer vision, generative AI, agentic AI, and industrial AI applications) and assess applicability to optics manufacturing and photonics R&D.
- Responsible AI & Governance: Establish policies for data privacy, model risk, security, and ethical use of AI across the enterprise.
- Executive Communication: Report to senior leadership on AI initiative progress, business impact, budget, and risk; build the business case for continued AI investment.
- Vendor & Partnership Management: Evaluate and manage relationships with AI technology vendors, cloud providers, and external research partners.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required Skills & Abilities
- Proven track record of deploying AI and/or ML solutions at scale in a manufacturing, industrial, or engineering-driven environment.
- Strong knowledge of machine learning, computer vision, agentic AI, and/or generative AI techniques and their practical business applications.
- Strong change management skills, especially implementing AI solutions in major functional areas of a large organization.
- Experience building and leading technical teams.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical executive stakeholders.
- Experience managing budgets and demonstrating ROI on technology investments.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
Education/Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field (Master's or PhD preferred).
- 5+ years of experience in AI, ML, data science, or related technical fields, with 5+ years in a leadership role adjacent to AI (computer science, engineering, data analytics or other related fields).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in optics, photonics, precision manufacturing, or a related technical industry.
- Experience with cloud AI or ML platforms, especially agentic AI tools.
- Experience with AI data platforms, especially Snowflake.
Physical Requirements
Ability to operate office equipment such as a copier; ability to see details at a close range; ability to sit at desk or PC for long periods of time; work in office setting.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Think you meet some of the requirements but not all? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs for which they do not meet every qualification. If you see a role that interests you, we encourage you to apply, regardless of whether or not your experience is completely aligned with the job description. Edmund Optics is committed to becoming the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace within the Optics and Photonics Industry and beyond. You may be a great candidate for this role or others within Edmund Optics.
COMPENSATION RANGE TRANSPARENCY
At Edmund Optics, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring practices. The posted salary range for this role reflects the expected base pay. The actual offer will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to relevant skills, education, work experience, business needs, and geographic location.
Salary Range:
$190,000 - $235,000 per year
BENEFITS:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life, AD&D, Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Tuition Reimbursement
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match up to 3%
- Daycare and Gym Reimbursement
- Paid Parental Leave and New Mother Benefits
- Training and Development Opportunities
Availability of these benefits may depend on the country and employment type.
INTRODUCTION
Edmund Optics is seeking a Senior Director of Artificial Intelligence to lead the strategy, development, and deployment of AI initiatives across the organization. This role will define the enterprise AI roadmap, and build and mentor a high-performing team. This role will partner with the continuous improvement team to determine areas within the organization that can benefit the most from AI, as well as working with the analytics team on the development and rollout of AI-driven solutions for Edmund Optics. This role will partner with engineering, manufacturing, sales, and IT leadership to embed AI into core business processes. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong business acumen and the ability to translate AI capabilities into measurable value for a global optics and photonics manufacturer.
Responsibilities
- Strategy & Vision: Define and drive the company-wide AI strategy, identifying high-impact opportunities across manufacturing, HR, quality control, supply chain, R&D, sales, and customer service.
- Leadership & Team Building: Recruit, develop, and lead a team of new to industry AI designers and project managers to implement major AI projects. Work with the analytics team to establish best practices for model development, deployment, and governance. Move towards a hub-and-spoke operating model, with a centralized team of specialists defining standards and practices while working closely with embedded teams across the business.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with continuous improvement and with major functional areas such as optical engineering, manufacturing operations, IT, and commercial teams to identify use cases for advancement (e.g., computer vision for defect detection, predictive maintenance, generative AI for design/quoting tools, customer-facing chat/support tools).
- Solution Delivery: Be accountable for the full lifecycle of AI projects — from proof of concept through production deployment and monitoring — ensuring scalability, reliability, and ROI.
- Data Infrastructure: Partner with IT, analytics, and cybersecurity to ensure the organization has the data pipelines, infrastructure, and governance needed to support AI initiatives.
- Innovation & Emerging Tech: Stay current on advances in AI (including large language models, computer vision, generative AI, agentic AI, and industrial AI applications) and assess applicability to optics manufacturing and photonics R&D.
- Responsible AI & Governance: Establish policies for data privacy, model risk, security, and ethical use of AI across the enterprise.
- Executive Communication: Report to senior leadership on AI initiative progress, business impact, budget, and risk; build the business case for continued AI investment.
- Vendor & Partnership Management: Evaluate and manage relationships with AI technology vendors, cloud providers, and external research partners.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required Skills & Abilities
- Proven track record of deploying AI and/or ML solutions at scale in a manufacturing, industrial, or engineering-driven environment.
- Strong knowledge of machine learning, computer vision, agentic AI, and/or generative AI techniques and their practical business applications.
- Strong change management skills, especially implementing AI solutions in major functional areas of a large organization.
- Experience building and leading technical teams.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical executive stakeholders.
- Experience managing budgets and demonstrating ROI on technology investments.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
Education/Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field (Master's or PhD preferred).
- 5+ years of experience in AI, ML, data science, or related technical fields, with 5+ years in a leadership role adjacent to AI (computer science, engineering, data analytics or other related fields).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in optics, photonics, precision manufacturing, or a related technical industry.
- Experience with cloud AI or ML platforms, especially agentic AI tools.
- Experience with AI data platforms, especially Snowflake.
Physical Requirements
Ability to operate office equipment such as a copier; ability to see details at a close range; ability to sit at desk or PC for long periods of time; work in office setting.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Think you meet some of the requirements but not all? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs for which they do not meet every qualification. If you see a role that interests you, we encourage you to apply, regardless of whether or not your experience is completely aligned with the job description. Edmund Optics is committed to becoming the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace within the Optics and Photonics Industry and beyond. You may be a great candidate for this role or others within Edmund Optics.
COMPENSATION RANGE TRANSPARENCY
At Edmund Optics, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring practices. The posted salary range for this role reflects the expected base pay. The actual offer will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to relevant skills, education, work experience, business needs, and geographic location.
Salary Range:
$190,000 - $235,000 per year
BENEFITS:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life, AD&D, Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Tuition Reimbursement
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match up to 3%
- Daycare and Gym Reimbursement
- Paid Parental Leave and New Mother Benefits
- Training and Development Opportunities
Availability of these benefits may depend on the country and employment type.
See all 5,986+ Artificial Intelligence Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Artificial Intelligence Scientist roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Artificial Intelligence Scientist
Target employers with a history of H-1B filings for AI roles
Companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon file hundreds of H-1B petitions annually for AI Scientist roles. Filtering by employers with consistent LCA filings for this title significantly improves your odds of finding a genuine sponsor.
Lead with published research when approaching employers
Sponsors for AI Scientist roles respond strongly to peer-reviewed publications, conference papers at NeurIPS or ICML, and open-source contributions. These signal the specialized expertise that justifies sponsorship over a domestic candidate.
A master's degree is the floor, a PhD opens more doors
Most H-1B petitions for AI Scientist roles cite a master's or PhD in a quantitative field. A bachelor's degree alone makes specialty occupation harder to establish, especially at research-focused labs and enterprise AI teams.
Understand the H-1B lottery timeline before you apply
H-1B registration opens in March, with selection in late March and petitions filed by June 30. Most AI Scientist roles require cap-subject H-1B sponsorship, so aligning your job search to this calendar matters significantly.
Cap-exempt employers can hire you outside the lottery
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and certain government-affiliated labs are cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions at any time of year with no lottery. These are worth targeting if you miss the annual cap cycle.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers actively sponsoring AI roles
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for visa sponsorship, so you can browse AI Scientist openings from employers with documented H-1B filing histories rather than guessing which companies will actually sponsor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Artificial Intelligence Scientist a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. USCIS consistently recognizes AI Scientist roles as specialty occupations because the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field, typically computer science, machine learning, statistics, or electrical engineering. Research-oriented AI roles with a PhD requirement are among the stronger H-1B visa petition categories, facing relatively low RFE rates compared to generalist tech titles.
Do I need a PhD to get sponsored as an AI Scientist?
Not always, but it depends heavily on the employer and role type. Applied AI Scientist positions at product companies often accept a strong master's degree plus relevant research experience. Pure research scientist roles at labs, including those at large tech companies, frequently require a PhD. If your degree is a master's, pairing it with publications or a strong research portfolio materially strengthens the petition.
How competitive is the H-1B lottery for AI Scientists?
AI Scientists enter the same lottery as all other H-1B cap-subject workers. In FY2025, the overall selection rate was approximately 25%. However, candidates with an advanced U.S. degree (master's or PhD from a U.S. institution) get two chances at selection, first in the master's cap pool, then in the general pool, which meaningfully improves overall odds.
Can I get sponsored as an AI Scientist without going through the H-1B lottery?
Yes, through a few paths. Universities and nonprofit research organizations are cap-exempt and can file H-1B petitions year-round. The O-1A visa is another option for AI Scientists who can demonstrate extraordinary ability through publications, awards, peer review, or significant contributions to the field. Some candidates on F-1 OPT also continue working while their employer files in the next lottery cycle.
Where can I find AI Scientist jobs that explicitly offer visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates seeking visa sponsorship. You can browse AI Scientist roles filtered by employers with H-1B filing history, which removes the guesswork of reaching out to companies that won't actually sponsor. Most general job boards don't surface this information reliably, making sponsorship-specific platforms significantly more efficient for this search.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Artificial Intelligence Scientist jobs?
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.