Design Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Design engineering is a strong category for H-1B visa sponsorship. The role clearly requires an engineering degree, making it a textbook specialty occupation. Automotive companies, aerospace firms, consumer electronics manufacturers, and industrial equipment companies all sponsor regularly. L-1 visa transfers are also common at multinational engineering firms with U.S. operations. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsWhat You'll Be Doing
Job Scope: Generally responsible for supervision and technical direction over a team of designers when functioning as a lead designer. As lead designer, responsibilities will include total delivery of the electrical and instrumentation deliverables and services on time, within performance budget and meeting quality expectations. Duties may include performing advanced design work serving as a technical specialist for a complex design assignment. This level requires extensive progressive experience in electrical and instrumentation design and involves utilization of project controls for cost, schedule and quality of projects. This work will be performed under minimal supervision.
Primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Familiarity with and utilizing department design and drafting standards.
- Recognizing and communicating project scope, specifications and design criteria upon assignment to a project task team.
- Producing installation details, motor control center single lines, electric room layouts, motor control elementaries, connection diagrams, cable schedules, control panel layouts and grounding, lighting, power and instrumentation plans under minimal supervision.
- Recognizing and communicating scope and design changes promptly.
- On-site assistance during startup.
- Providing technical guidance to less experienced drafting personnel in the department.
- Coordinating work activities with other staff members and the discipline lead.
- Providing discipline lead with the current status of project work, including identification of delays or improvements in the projected finish date.
- Conferring with clients to determine scopes of work and interact with clients on technical matters.
- Producing 480VAC equipment specifications with engineering review and approval.
- Producing 15kV/5kV equipment specifications with engineering review and approval.
- Producing electrical installation specifications with engineering review and approval.
- Complete understanding of the skills and experience required to perform design functions.
- Proactively lead and coordinate the efforts of a design staff to achieve scope, schedule and budget objectives.
- Mentoring subordinates.
- Participating in team or cross-discipline checks to ensure coordination between the design disciplines.
- Checking calculations made by other designers to ensure accuracy, conformance to codes, specifications, design criteria and conformance to good engineering practice.
- Determining construction quantities and provide construction cost estimates.
- Delegating work to designers in proportion to their technical skills and experience, then following up for support to ensure efficient progress and quality.
- Consulting with design leaders from other disciplines in proportion to their technical skills and experience, then following up for support to ensure efficient progress and quality.
- Participating in the planning of training programs, continuous education opportunities and professional development of staff.
Ideal Background
Education: Associate degree in Engineering Technology or Computer-Aided Drafting is required.
Certification: Certification is not required at this level.
Experience: This position requires 15+ years of relevant industrial experience in electrical and instrumentation drafting and design.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Familiarity with the current version of the National Electrical Code (NEC).
- Ability to perform lighting level calculations.
- Ability to size wire, conduit and overcurrent protection for both lighting and power applications.
- Ability to perform voltage drop calculations.
- Ability to route conduit and cable tray.
- Ability to calculate tray and conduit fill.
- Able to determine motor control center loading.
- Familiarity with specifications and installation details of construction bulk materials and equipment.
- Ability to create accurate electrical installation documents from the information found on vendor equipment drawings.
- Ability to determine load center unit substation loading.
- Knowledge and understanding of work flow/information flow between disciplines.
- Knowledge and understanding of schedule constraints and information requirements for the production of all electrical deliverables.
- Ability to accurately estimate completion of assigned tasks.
- Ability to determine load center unit substation loading.
- Ability to develop equipment specifications for 480VAC equipment such as, motor control centers, variable frequency drivers, induction and synchronous motors, load center unit substations, etc. with engineering review and approval.
- Ability to produce a 15kV power system equipment and installation techniques both above and below ground.
- Familiarity with 15kV power system equipment and installation techniques both above and below ground.
- Ability to develop equipment specifications for 15kV/5kV equipment such as, switchgear, load break switches, motor control centers, etc. and capable of performing calculations for required short circuit and overcurrent protective device ratings with engineering review and approval.
- Ability to develop electrical installation specifications with engineering review and approval.
- Ability to develop a construction cost estimate, a detailed engineering schedule and a man-hour budget for a small project or an area for a larger project.
- Ability to determine construction material quantities.
- Developing design criteria and scope of work.
- Forecasting hours to complete professional services.
- Developing staffing plans based on deliverables to be produced and the project schedule.
- Identifying information required and proactively obtaining it.
- Coordinating with other disciplines regarding design development, changes, etc.
- Knowledge and application of company engineering design and CAD drafting standards.
- Proficient in the use of MS Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Working knowledge of 2D AutoCAD and Microstation.
- Programming experience with Programmable Logic controller (PLC), Human Machine Interface (HMI), and/or Distributed Control System (DCS) equipment.
- Ability to lead a small team to deliver on commitments.
- Ability to coordinate with the process group to provide efficient equipment layouts and space usage.
- Ability to deliver presentations of Hargrove Engineers & Constructors services.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Proficient in the use of 2D AutoCAD and Microstation. 3D AutoCAD preferred.
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Virtual team skills and cross divisional relationships are highly developed and able to provide interoffice execution support with no supervision. Interoffice execution leadership is developed and visible.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time.
Hargrove Culture
We work to create an environment founded on trust, personal integrity, and a “team mentality” so that each person understands the value of their contributions both on a project and company-wide level. We know that each person on our team contributes to the success of our company by pairing expertise and passion to meet and exceed the needs of the clients we serve across the globe.
Our safety culture protects and promotes the well-being of every person who works with us and every person touched by our work.
As a 100% Teammate owned company, we proudly offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible Teammates.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Hargrove is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (including gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, sexual identity, marital or family status), disability, military service or obligations, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Hargrove is a drug-free workplace.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
What You'll Be Doing
Job Scope: Generally responsible for supervision and technical direction over a team of designers when functioning as a lead designer. As lead designer, responsibilities will include total delivery of the electrical and instrumentation deliverables and services on time, within performance budget and meeting quality expectations. Duties may include performing advanced design work serving as a technical specialist for a complex design assignment. This level requires extensive progressive experience in electrical and instrumentation design and involves utilization of project controls for cost, schedule and quality of projects. This work will be performed under minimal supervision.
Primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Familiarity with and utilizing department design and drafting standards.
- Recognizing and communicating project scope, specifications and design criteria upon assignment to a project task team.
- Producing installation details, motor control center single lines, electric room layouts, motor control elementaries, connection diagrams, cable schedules, control panel layouts and grounding, lighting, power and instrumentation plans under minimal supervision.
- Recognizing and communicating scope and design changes promptly.
- On-site assistance during startup.
- Providing technical guidance to less experienced drafting personnel in the department.
- Coordinating work activities with other staff members and the discipline lead.
- Providing discipline lead with the current status of project work, including identification of delays or improvements in the projected finish date.
- Conferring with clients to determine scopes of work and interact with clients on technical matters.
- Producing 480VAC equipment specifications with engineering review and approval.
- Producing 15kV/5kV equipment specifications with engineering review and approval.
- Producing electrical installation specifications with engineering review and approval.
- Complete understanding of the skills and experience required to perform design functions.
- Proactively lead and coordinate the efforts of a design staff to achieve scope, schedule and budget objectives.
- Mentoring subordinates.
- Participating in team or cross-discipline checks to ensure coordination between the design disciplines.
- Checking calculations made by other designers to ensure accuracy, conformance to codes, specifications, design criteria and conformance to good engineering practice.
- Determining construction quantities and provide construction cost estimates.
- Delegating work to designers in proportion to their technical skills and experience, then following up for support to ensure efficient progress and quality.
- Consulting with design leaders from other disciplines in proportion to their technical skills and experience, then following up for support to ensure efficient progress and quality.
- Participating in the planning of training programs, continuous education opportunities and professional development of staff.
Ideal Background
Education: Associate degree in Engineering Technology or Computer-Aided Drafting is required.
Certification: Certification is not required at this level.
Experience: This position requires 15+ years of relevant industrial experience in electrical and instrumentation drafting and design.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Familiarity with the current version of the National Electrical Code (NEC).
- Ability to perform lighting level calculations.
- Ability to size wire, conduit and overcurrent protection for both lighting and power applications.
- Ability to perform voltage drop calculations.
- Ability to route conduit and cable tray.
- Ability to calculate tray and conduit fill.
- Able to determine motor control center loading.
- Familiarity with specifications and installation details of construction bulk materials and equipment.
- Ability to create accurate electrical installation documents from the information found on vendor equipment drawings.
- Ability to determine load center unit substation loading.
- Knowledge and understanding of work flow/information flow between disciplines.
- Knowledge and understanding of schedule constraints and information requirements for the production of all electrical deliverables.
- Ability to accurately estimate completion of assigned tasks.
- Ability to determine load center unit substation loading.
- Ability to develop equipment specifications for 480VAC equipment such as, motor control centers, variable frequency drivers, induction and synchronous motors, load center unit substations, etc. with engineering review and approval.
- Ability to produce a 15kV power system equipment and installation techniques both above and below ground.
- Familiarity with 15kV power system equipment and installation techniques both above and below ground.
- Ability to develop equipment specifications for 15kV/5kV equipment such as, switchgear, load break switches, motor control centers, etc. and capable of performing calculations for required short circuit and overcurrent protective device ratings with engineering review and approval.
- Ability to develop electrical installation specifications with engineering review and approval.
- Ability to develop a construction cost estimate, a detailed engineering schedule and a man-hour budget for a small project or an area for a larger project.
- Ability to determine construction material quantities.
- Developing design criteria and scope of work.
- Forecasting hours to complete professional services.
- Developing staffing plans based on deliverables to be produced and the project schedule.
- Identifying information required and proactively obtaining it.
- Coordinating with other disciplines regarding design development, changes, etc.
- Knowledge and application of company engineering design and CAD drafting standards.
- Proficient in the use of MS Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Working knowledge of 2D AutoCAD and Microstation.
- Programming experience with Programmable Logic controller (PLC), Human Machine Interface (HMI), and/or Distributed Control System (DCS) equipment.
- Ability to lead a small team to deliver on commitments.
- Ability to coordinate with the process group to provide efficient equipment layouts and space usage.
- Ability to deliver presentations of Hargrove Engineers & Constructors services.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Proficient in the use of 2D AutoCAD and Microstation. 3D AutoCAD preferred.
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Virtual team skills and cross divisional relationships are highly developed and able to provide interoffice execution support with no supervision. Interoffice execution leadership is developed and visible.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time.
Hargrove Culture
We work to create an environment founded on trust, personal integrity, and a “team mentality” so that each person understands the value of their contributions both on a project and company-wide level. We know that each person on our team contributes to the success of our company by pairing expertise and passion to meet and exceed the needs of the clients we serve across the globe.
Our safety culture protects and promotes the well-being of every person who works with us and every person touched by our work.
As a 100% Teammate owned company, we proudly offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible Teammates.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Hargrove is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (including gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, sexual identity, marital or family status), disability, military service or obligations, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Hargrove is a drug-free workplace.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
See all 7,179+ Design Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Design Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Design Engineer
Build a strong portfolio with CAD and simulation tools
Proficiency in SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or Creo combined with FEA tools like ANSYS or Abaqus is expected for most design engineering roles. A portfolio that shows complete design-through-analysis workflows demonstrates the specialized skills employers need to justify sponsorship.
Target consumer electronics and automotive OEMs
Apple, Tesla, Ford, and General Motors have sponsored design engineers for product development roles. Large OEMs and tier-1 suppliers with complex product lines need mechanical and industrial design engineers who can work within established PLM systems like Teamcenter or Windchill.
Leverage STEM OPT to build a track record of shipped products
Mechanical and industrial engineering degrees qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Use the full 36-month OPT period to contribute to products that go through prototyping, validation, and production launch - this concrete track record strengthens your case for sponsorship.
Specialize in DFM and tolerance analysis
Design engineers who understand manufacturing constraints like injection molding, sheet metal, CNC machining, or additive manufacturing add value that pure CAD operators do not. GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) expertise per ASME Y14.5 is particularly valued and demonstrates specialized training.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of design engineering roles are most likely to be sponsored?
Product design engineers working on complex electromechanical assemblies, thermal management systems, or structural components tend to have stronger sponsorship prospects. Roles that require both CAD proficiency and engineering analysis (FEA, CFD) are considered more specialized than pure drafting positions. Medical device and aerospace design roles carry additional regulatory requirements that further support the specialty occupation argument.
How to find Design Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Design Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international talent with sponsoring employers. Focus your search on manufacturing companies, automotive firms, aerospace organizations, and tech companies that commonly sponsor H-1B visa, TN visa, and O-1 visas for Design Engineers. These industries frequently need specialized engineering talent and have established visa sponsorship processes.
Do I need a master's degree for design engineer visa sponsorship?
A bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or product design engineering is typically sufficient for design engineering H-1B petitions. A master's degree can help, especially if your work involves advanced simulation, optimization, or research-driven design. Some employers may use a master's degree to justify a higher prevailing wage level.
Which CAD software should I learn for the best sponsorship opportunities?
SolidWorks is the most widely used in consumer products and mid-size manufacturers. CATIA and NX dominate aerospace and automotive OEMs. Creo is common at companies in the PTC ecosystem. Learning the tool used by your target industry matters more than learning every platform, and pairing CAD with simulation tools like ANSYS or HyperMesh further strengthens your profile.
Can industrial designers get H-1B sponsorship?
Industrial designers can be sponsored, though it depends on the role's requirements. Positions classified under engineering SOC codes with technical design and analysis responsibilities generally have a stronger case for H-1B approval. Roles that are primarily aesthetic or conceptual design may face more scrutiny regarding the specialty occupation requirement, so combining industrial design with engineering skills is advantageous.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Design Engineer jobs?
When a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a work visa, they are legally required to pay at least the "prevailing wage" — the average wage paid to workers in the same occupation, in the same geographic area, with similar experience. This is set by the Department of Labor to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at below-market rates. The prevailing wage varies significantly by role, location, and experience level — for example, a design engineer in California will have a different prevailing wage than the same role in a smaller state. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search.