Automation Test Lead Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Automation Test Lead roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Employers file a Labor Condition Application before sponsorship begins, and the annual H-1B cap and lottery apply unless you're with a cap-exempt organization.
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Get Access To All JobsPrimary Duties & Responsibilities
Leadership & Technical Strategy
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of driver developers, embedded firmware engineers, and test automation engineers.
- Define and communicate roadmap for embedded driver development, automation architecture, DSP-based test workflows, and system integration.
- Provide architectural oversight of test software, firmware platforms, and high-speed transceiver evaluation frameworks.
- Partner cross-functionally with hardware design, systems engineering, and global manufacturing teams to ensure alignment of technical direction and deliverables.
Hands-On Technical Responsibilities (Individual Contributor)
- Design and develop embedded firmware and low-level software drivers for STM32-based and custom Coherent test platforms using C/C++, C#, and VB.NET.
- Develop automated test solutions for high-speed transceiver modules, including waveform analysis, DSP-driven measurements, and ML-enabled optimization.
- Integrate new test boards into the existing software architecture and ensure seamless deployment across engineering and manufacturing.
- Support U.S. contract manufacturers with test implementation, system bring-up, debugging, troubleshooting, and sustaining support.
- Perform advanced statistical analysis (SPC, GR&R, correlation studies) to qualify automated testers and validate system performance.
- Collaborate with hardware engineering on debugging, functional validation, and release of new instruments and boards into production.
- Work hands-on with laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, DMMs, logic analyzers, and high-speed signal analyzers.
Education & Experience
- BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in embedded systems, driver development, or test automation, with at least 3–5 years in leadership, technical management, or team-lead capacity.
- Proven experience developing firmware and low-level drivers in C, C++, C#, and VB.NET, with strong preference for STM32 microcontroller experience.
- Strong understanding of high-speed digital signaling, transceiver testing (NRZ, PAM4), and DSP concepts.
- Experience building and deploying automation frameworks and factory-level test systems.
- Proficiency in instrument communication protocols: GPIB, SCPI, I²C, UART.
- Experience with Python, .NET platforms, MATLAB, or ML-based test optimization is a strong plus.
Skills
- Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Excellent project-management skills with a track record of driving complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Strong communication, presentation, and documentation skills.
- Able to collaborate effectively with contract manufacturers to support test deployment and continuous improvement.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of balancing strategic leadership with hands-on technical execution.
Working Conditions
- This position is predominantly onsite.
- May require occasional off-site meetings or travel.
- Regular use of a computer and other office equipment is necessary.
- Interaction with team members and external contacts is a regular part of the job.
- May require occasional overtime and flexibility in work hours to accommodate the executive’s needs.
Physical Requirements
- Sitting for extended periods while working on a computer or conducting meetings.
- Use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, and handling documents.
- Occasional lifting of objects or materials up to 20 pounds for administrative tasks.
- Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
- Mobility within the office environment to attend meetings or interact with colleagues.
Safety Requirements
All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Quality and Environmental Responsibilities
Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.
Culture Commitment
Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:
I ntegrity – Create an Environment of Trust
C ollaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas
A ccountability – Own the Process and the Outcome
R espect – Recognize the Value in Everyone
E nthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work
Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at talentacquisition@coherent.com.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
Leadership & Technical Strategy
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of driver developers, embedded firmware engineers, and test automation engineers.
- Define and communicate roadmap for embedded driver development, automation architecture, DSP-based test workflows, and system integration.
- Provide architectural oversight of test software, firmware platforms, and high-speed transceiver evaluation frameworks.
- Partner cross-functionally with hardware design, systems engineering, and global manufacturing teams to ensure alignment of technical direction and deliverables.
Hands-On Technical Responsibilities (Individual Contributor)
- Design and develop embedded firmware and low-level software drivers for STM32-based and custom Coherent test platforms using C/C++, C#, and VB.NET.
- Develop automated test solutions for high-speed transceiver modules, including waveform analysis, DSP-driven measurements, and ML-enabled optimization.
- Integrate new test boards into the existing software architecture and ensure seamless deployment across engineering and manufacturing.
- Support U.S. contract manufacturers with test implementation, system bring-up, debugging, troubleshooting, and sustaining support.
- Perform advanced statistical analysis (SPC, GR&R, correlation studies) to qualify automated testers and validate system performance.
- Collaborate with hardware engineering on debugging, functional validation, and release of new instruments and boards into production.
- Work hands-on with laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, DMMs, logic analyzers, and high-speed signal analyzers.
Education & Experience
- BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in embedded systems, driver development, or test automation, with at least 3–5 years in leadership, technical management, or team-lead capacity.
- Proven experience developing firmware and low-level drivers in C, C++, C#, and VB.NET, with strong preference for STM32 microcontroller experience.
- Strong understanding of high-speed digital signaling, transceiver testing (NRZ, PAM4), and DSP concepts.
- Experience building and deploying automation frameworks and factory-level test systems.
- Proficiency in instrument communication protocols: GPIB, SCPI, I²C, UART.
- Experience with Python, .NET platforms, MATLAB, or ML-based test optimization is a strong plus.
Skills
- Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Excellent project-management skills with a track record of driving complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Strong communication, presentation, and documentation skills.
- Able to collaborate effectively with contract manufacturers to support test deployment and continuous improvement.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of balancing strategic leadership with hands-on technical execution.
Working Conditions
- This position is predominantly onsite.
- May require occasional off-site meetings or travel.
- Regular use of a computer and other office equipment is necessary.
- Interaction with team members and external contacts is a regular part of the job.
- May require occasional overtime and flexibility in work hours to accommodate the executive’s needs.
Physical Requirements
- Sitting for extended periods while working on a computer or conducting meetings.
- Use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, and handling documents.
- Occasional lifting of objects or materials up to 20 pounds for administrative tasks.
- Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
- Mobility within the office environment to attend meetings or interact with colleagues.
Safety Requirements
All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Quality and Environmental Responsibilities
Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.
Culture Commitment
Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:
I ntegrity – Create an Environment of Trust
C ollaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas
A ccountability – Own the Process and the Outcome
R espect – Recognize the Value in Everyone
E nthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work
Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at talentacquisition@coherent.com.
See all 136+ Automation Test Lead Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Automation Test Lead Jobs
Map your degree to your role
Automation Test Lead positions require a directly related degree for H-1B specialty occupation status. If your degree is in a adjacent field like electrical engineering or information systems, gather coursework transcripts showing test automation, software development, or QA methodology to strengthen the connection.
Target companies with cap-exempt status
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated entities are exempt from the H-1B annual cap and lottery. Automation Test Lead roles at these organizations can be filed any time of year, skipping the April registration window entirely.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating offers
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your location and role. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV wage tiers for software quality assurance engineers in your target metro before salary discussions begin.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate by role
Search Migrate Mate for Automation Test Lead openings at employers with verified LCA filing history. Focusing on companies that have already certified wages for QA and test engineering roles confirms they understand the sponsorship process, which reduces offer-to-filing delays.
Clarify job duties match O*NET classifications
USCIS scrutinizes whether an Automation Test Lead role genuinely requires a specific bachelor's degree. Cross-reference your job description against the O*NET profile for software quality assurance engineers and confirm your offer letter lists duties like test framework architecture, CI/CD integration, and defect lifecycle management.
Ask about LCA filing timeline at offer stage
Your employer must file and receive a certified LCA from DOL before submitting your H-1B petition to USCIS. Confirm your prospective employer knows this sequence and has an immigration counsel or HR process in place, so certification delays don't push your start date past October 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Automation Test Lead role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, provided the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as computer science, software engineering, or information technology. Generic QA roles that accept any bachelor's degree can face USCIS challenges, so your offer letter should specify the degree field requirement and tie it to duties like designing test frameworks, scripting automated test suites, and managing CI/CD pipelines.
Which visa types are realistic for Automation Test Lead candidates?
H-1B is the primary path for most candidates, subject to the annual cap and lottery. Australian citizens can pursue the E-3 visa, which has its own 10,500 annual allocation and has never been exhausted. Chilean nationals can use the H-1B1 visa with a 1,400-person cap, and Singaporean nationals have the H-1B1 with a 5,400-person cap. TN visa status is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals if the role fits a qualifying USMCA profession, though test engineering roles require careful classification.
How do I find Automation Test Lead employers who actively sponsor visas?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA filing history for software quality assurance and test engineering roles, so you can focus your applications on companies that have already navigated the sponsorship process. This is more reliable than applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a company doesn't sponsor.
Will a three-year bachelor's degree satisfy H-1B specialty occupation requirements?
USCIS evaluates foreign three-year degrees on a case-by-case basis. A credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization can confirm U.S. equivalency, and some evaluators will assess a three-year degree as equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor's if the coursework and credit hours align. Including this evaluation with your petition reduces the risk of a Request for Evidence on educational credentials.
What happens to my H-1B status if my Automation Test Lead role changes significantly after approval?
A material change in job duties, location, or employer-employee relationship can require an amended H-1B petition filed with USCIS before the change takes effect. Moving to a new worksite in a different metropolitan statistical area always requires a new LCA certified at the prevailing wage for that location. Failing to file an amendment when required can jeopardize your status and future green card eligibility.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Automation Test Lead 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.