Commissioning Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Commissioning engineers oversee system testing and startup for infrastructure projects, qualifying for H-1B visa and EB-2 visas with engineering degrees. Major contractors like Bechtel, Fluor, and Jacobs regularly sponsor international talent for power plants, manufacturing facilities, and data centers across the U.S. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Associate Director, Commissioning and Start-Up is responsible for providing operational leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities supporting new manufacturing sites, facilities expansion, utilities, equipment, and related systems. This role ensures assets are delivered safely, compliantly, and on schedule in a state of readiness for GMP operations, while meeting AbbVie quality, operational, and business objectives. The Associate Director leads cross-functional teams and external partners while enabling a smooth transition from project execution to sustained operational performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities across facilities, utilities, equipment, and supporting systems.
- Develop program strategy and lead detailed execution of Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies for all capital programs.
- Develop, align, and execute commissioning and start-up strategies, plans, schedules, protocols, and turnover packages.
- Ensure readiness of systems for GMP operations in compliance with applicable regulatory, quality, safety, and company standards.
- Partner cross-functionally with engineering, validation, manufacturing, quality, EHS, automation, project management, and third-party contractors to deliver integrated startup execution.
- Manage risks, dependencies, timelines, budgets, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
- Support and oversee site walkdown processes against as built Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams along with Equipment installations to ensure accuracy and operational readiness.
- Lead troubleshooting and corrective action efforts during startup to support successful implementation and stable operations.
- Lead operational readiness and the successful integration of new assets into routine site operations.
- Support budgeting, resource planning, for commissioning and start-up efforts.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
- Typically, 10-12 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing and engineering or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Broad experience in commissioning, qualification, start-up, validation, or operational readiness.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams. Ability to manage multiple priorities, work through ambiguity, and drive execution in a matrixed organization.
- Strong track record of delivering results in a GMP-regulated environment.
- Strong project leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to influence and drive alignment across functions and business units.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting facility expansions, new product introductions, or major capital projects.
- Experience in sterile injectables, biologics, API, or oral solid dose manufacturing.
- Experience with risk-based CQV methodology and digital turnover systems.
- Prior people leadership experience in a matrixed, global, or highly collaborative environment.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic leadership
- Enterprise Mindset
- Cross-functional influence
- Accountability and decision-making
- Change leadership
- Operational excellence
- Compliance and quality focus
Work Environment:
This role may require travel to project and manufacturing sites and extended hours during critical commissioning and start-up phases.
Key internal stakeholders for an Associate Director of Commissioning and Plant Start-Up typically include:
- Site Leadership and Site Director – overall site strategy, priorities, and operational readiness
- Engineering Leadership through Director and VP – design execution, utilities, facilities, and project delivery
- Validation / CQV Team – commissioning, qualification, and validation strategy and execution
- Quality Assurance leadership thru Director Level – cGMP compliance, documentation, and release readiness
- EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) thru Director and VP Level – safe startup, risk controls, and compliance
- Automation / IT / Digital Systems – control systems, data integrity, MES, and infrastructure readiness
- Maintenance / Reliability (MEP) Team – asset readiness, PM strategy, spares, and maintainability
- Project Management / PMO Organization – schedule, scope, budget, and governance
- Procurement / Strategic Sourcing thru Director Level – contractor and vendor management
- HR / Talent / Learning – staffing, training, and organizational readiness
- Finance – budget tracking and capital spend governance
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Associate Director, Commissioning and Start-Up is responsible for providing operational leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities supporting new manufacturing sites, facilities expansion, utilities, equipment, and related systems. This role ensures assets are delivered safely, compliantly, and on schedule in a state of readiness for GMP operations, while meeting AbbVie quality, operational, and business objectives. The Associate Director leads cross-functional teams and external partners while enabling a smooth transition from project execution to sustained operational performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities across facilities, utilities, equipment, and supporting systems.
- Develop program strategy and lead detailed execution of Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies for all capital programs.
- Develop, align, and execute commissioning and start-up strategies, plans, schedules, protocols, and turnover packages.
- Ensure readiness of systems for GMP operations in compliance with applicable regulatory, quality, safety, and company standards.
- Partner cross-functionally with engineering, validation, manufacturing, quality, EHS, automation, project management, and third-party contractors to deliver integrated startup execution.
- Manage risks, dependencies, timelines, budgets, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
- Support and oversee site walkdown processes against as built Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams along with Equipment installations to ensure accuracy and operational readiness.
- Lead troubleshooting and corrective action efforts during startup to support successful implementation and stable operations.
- Lead operational readiness and the successful integration of new assets into routine site operations.
- Support budgeting, resource planning, for commissioning and start-up efforts.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
- Typically, 10-12 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing and engineering or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Broad experience in commissioning, qualification, start-up, validation, or operational readiness.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams. Ability to manage multiple priorities, work through ambiguity, and drive execution in a matrixed organization.
- Strong track record of delivering results in a GMP-regulated environment.
- Strong project leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to influence and drive alignment across functions and business units.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting facility expansions, new product introductions, or major capital projects.
- Experience in sterile injectables, biologics, API, or oral solid dose manufacturing.
- Experience with risk-based CQV methodology and digital turnover systems.
- Prior people leadership experience in a matrixed, global, or highly collaborative environment.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic leadership
- Enterprise Mindset
- Cross-functional influence
- Accountability and decision-making
- Change leadership
- Operational excellence
- Compliance and quality focus
Work Environment:
This role may require travel to project and manufacturing sites and extended hours during critical commissioning and start-up phases.
Key internal stakeholders for an Associate Director of Commissioning and Plant Start-Up typically include:
- Site Leadership and Site Director – overall site strategy, priorities, and operational readiness
- Engineering Leadership through Director and VP – design execution, utilities, facilities, and project delivery
- Validation / CQV Team – commissioning, qualification, and validation strategy and execution
- Quality Assurance leadership thru Director Level – cGMP compliance, documentation, and release readiness
- EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) thru Director and VP Level – safe startup, risk controls, and compliance
- Automation / IT / Digital Systems – control systems, data integrity, MES, and infrastructure readiness
- Maintenance / Reliability (MEP) Team – asset readiness, PM strategy, spares, and maintainability
- Project Management / PMO Organization – schedule, scope, budget, and governance
- Procurement / Strategic Sourcing thru Director Level – contractor and vendor management
- HR / Talent / Learning – staffing, training, and organizational readiness
- Finance – budget tracking and capital spend governance
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
See all 457+ Commissioning Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Commissioning Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Commissioning Engineer
Target EPC contractors and industrial firms
Engineering, procurement, and construction companies like KBR, Worley, and Burns & McDonnell frequently sponsor commissioning engineers for large-scale projects requiring specialized expertise.
Highlight project management certifications
PMP, Six Sigma, or industry-specific certifications strengthen your H-1B petition by demonstrating specialized knowledge beyond what a general engineering degree provides.
Emphasize system-specific expertise
HVAC commissioning, electrical testing, or process control experience creates clear specialty occupation requirements that differentiate your role from general engineering positions.
Consider power and energy sectors
Renewable energy projects, power plant upgrades, and grid modernization create high demand for commissioning engineers with relevant experience and security clearance potential.
Document complex project involvement
Detail your role in multi-million dollar projects, cross-functional team leadership, and technical problem-solving to establish the specialized nature of commissioning engineering work.
Leverage MEP and controls background
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing commissioning with building automation expertise aligns well with growing smart building and infrastructure modernization projects nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need for H-1B sponsorship as a commissioning engineer?
You need a bachelor's degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, industrial, or related field). Some employers accept engineering technology degrees with substantial commissioning experience. The degree field should relate directly to the systems you'll be commissioning, such as mechanical engineering for HVAC or electrical engineering for power systems.
Do commissioning engineers get approved for H-1B visas frequently?
Yes, commissioning engineering has strong H-1B visa approval rates because it requires specialized technical knowledge and engineering education. USCIS recognizes the role as a specialty occupation, especially when tied to complex industrial systems, power generation, or large infrastructure projects requiring professional engineering oversight.
Can I get sponsored without prior U.S. commissioning experience?
Yes, if you have relevant international commissioning experience with similar systems and technologies. Employers value experience with specific equipment manufacturers, control systems, or project types over geographic location. Strong technical documentation and project portfolios help demonstrate your qualifications to USCIS.
Which industries sponsor commissioning engineers most often?
Power generation companies, EPC contractors, manufacturing firms, and data center operators are the most active sponsors. Oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries also regularly sponsor for specialized commissioning roles. Government contractors may sponsor but often require security clearance eligibility.
How to find Commissioning Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Commissioning Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international engineers with sponsoring employers. Focus your search on engineering consultancies, manufacturing companies, and infrastructure firms that commonly hire commissioning engineers and sponsor H-1B, TN visa, or skilled worker visas. These employers typically need engineers for power plants, industrial facilities, and large-scale construction projects.
How does travel affect my visa status as a commissioned engineer?
Frequent project travel is expected in commissioning roles and doesn't impact your H-1B status as long as your employer remains your petitioner. For international travel, ensure your visa stamp is valid for re-entry. Some projects in remote locations may affect mail delivery for important immigration documents.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Commissioning Engineer 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.