Design Project Manager Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Design Project Manager roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree in design, architecture, or a related field. Employers file a Labor Condition Application with the DOL before sponsoring, and the H-1B is subject to an annual cap and selection process. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.
Position Brand Description:
The Global Facilities Delivery (GFD) Organization, part of Corporate Engineering and Continuous Improvement, delivers new and renovated capital assets around the world. Our mission is accomplished through a highly leveraged organization of design, construction and qualification contractors. Many of the assets delivered focus on medical innovation and delivering innovative solutions to patients. Some of the assets delivered will support an expansion in supply of existing medicines or making the supply chain more robust. The Design Lead (DL) will serve in the following capacity:
Responsibilities:
- Be responsible for the overall design delivery for capital project(s).
- Coordinate all design for the Project Manager during all design phases of the project and be responsible in delivering the conceptual design review and basic design review.
- Direct the development of the design requirements.
- Assist in development and maintenance of the design schedule to meet the project needs.
- Participate in the selection of the A/E firms.
- Coordinate with A/E firms to develop earned value progress systems to measure progress by discipline (monitor work versus invoice amounts).
- Expedite design decisions and coordinate information flow between the design team and system owners.
- Be responsible for ensuring the design meets approved intent through interactions between the design firm, design specialists, engineering tech center disciplines, and end user/customer.
- Be responsible for design activities and governance, resolving design-related problems.
- Examine areas of inefficiency and develop strategies for improvement to direct the design team to meet or improve on the design hours plan.
- Review and approve along with the respective Project Manager the key design project personnel (both internal and external resources).
- Work with Engineering Tech Center resources and other key project team technical/constructability resources to address and resolve design issues.
- Ensure replication is achieved during design when applicable.
- Support the Project Manager for value engineering exercises efforts to maximize project opportunities.
- Review design-related invoices prior to approval and participate in KPI reviews/assessments.
- Participate in the selection of the verification professional services.
- Take an active role/be responsible in mentoring and developing others, sometimes external to the organization.
Basic Requirements:
- BS in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical preferred)
- Minimum of 12 years of manufacturing and/or engineering experience supporting pharmaceutical or API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) networks
Additional Preferences:
- Pharmaceutical process or project engineer experience
- Strong project management skills
- Ability to effectively facilitate conflict to resolution
- Ability to influence all levels of the project and site personnel
- Understanding of the capital project delivery process, A/E design activities, and the understanding of the available Lilly technical resources (user reps, Engineering Tech Center resources, and design specialists)
- Demonstrated values that are consistent with the Lilly values
- Able to frame complex decisions/analyses, facilitate to a decision, and implement according to the plan
- Ability to create creditability and influence to align decision agreements between site(s), corporate engineering, A/E firm decision-makers, and stakeholders who have differing opinions
- Experience facilitating issue resolution, anticipating scope changes, and implementing projects safely with quality, speed and value
- Willingness to relocate and/or travel to locations outside of home state/country and have the demonstrated ability to work from long distances with little supervision
- Comfortable maintaining an in-office presence 3-4 days per week
Additional Information:
- Travel can be both domestic and international, on average about 25%, depending on the phase of the project
- The potential of co-location at the A/E firm or the job site for periods of time could occur based on project needs
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$130,500 - $211,200
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
WeAreLilly
At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.
Position Brand Description:
The Global Facilities Delivery (GFD) Organization, part of Corporate Engineering and Continuous Improvement, delivers new and renovated capital assets around the world. Our mission is accomplished through a highly leveraged organization of design, construction and qualification contractors. Many of the assets delivered focus on medical innovation and delivering innovative solutions to patients. Some of the assets delivered will support an expansion in supply of existing medicines or making the supply chain more robust. The Design Lead (DL) will serve in the following capacity:
Responsibilities:
- Be responsible for the overall design delivery for capital project(s).
- Coordinate all design for the Project Manager during all design phases of the project and be responsible in delivering the conceptual design review and basic design review.
- Direct the development of the design requirements.
- Assist in development and maintenance of the design schedule to meet the project needs.
- Participate in the selection of the A/E firms.
- Coordinate with A/E firms to develop earned value progress systems to measure progress by discipline (monitor work versus invoice amounts).
- Expedite design decisions and coordinate information flow between the design team and system owners.
- Be responsible for ensuring the design meets approved intent through interactions between the design firm, design specialists, engineering tech center disciplines, and end user/customer.
- Be responsible for design activities and governance, resolving design-related problems.
- Examine areas of inefficiency and develop strategies for improvement to direct the design team to meet or improve on the design hours plan.
- Review and approve along with the respective Project Manager the key design project personnel (both internal and external resources).
- Work with Engineering Tech Center resources and other key project team technical/constructability resources to address and resolve design issues.
- Ensure replication is achieved during design when applicable.
- Support the Project Manager for value engineering exercises efforts to maximize project opportunities.
- Review design-related invoices prior to approval and participate in KPI reviews/assessments.
- Participate in the selection of the verification professional services.
- Take an active role/be responsible in mentoring and developing others, sometimes external to the organization.
Basic Requirements:
- BS in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical preferred)
- Minimum of 12 years of manufacturing and/or engineering experience supporting pharmaceutical or API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) networks
Additional Preferences:
- Pharmaceutical process or project engineer experience
- Strong project management skills
- Ability to effectively facilitate conflict to resolution
- Ability to influence all levels of the project and site personnel
- Understanding of the capital project delivery process, A/E design activities, and the understanding of the available Lilly technical resources (user reps, Engineering Tech Center resources, and design specialists)
- Demonstrated values that are consistent with the Lilly values
- Able to frame complex decisions/analyses, facilitate to a decision, and implement according to the plan
- Ability to create creditability and influence to align decision agreements between site(s), corporate engineering, A/E firm decision-makers, and stakeholders who have differing opinions
- Experience facilitating issue resolution, anticipating scope changes, and implementing projects safely with quality, speed and value
- Willingness to relocate and/or travel to locations outside of home state/country and have the demonstrated ability to work from long distances with little supervision
- Comfortable maintaining an in-office presence 3-4 days per week
Additional Information:
- Travel can be both domestic and international, on average about 25%, depending on the phase of the project
- The potential of co-location at the A/E firm or the job site for periods of time could occur based on project needs
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$130,500 - $211,200
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
WeAreLilly
See all 9,002+ Design Project Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Design Project Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Design Project Manager
Frame your portfolio as specialty occupation evidence
USCIS scrutinizes whether Design Project Manager roles truly require a degree in a specific field. Curate your portfolio to show projects where your design education, not just management experience, drove outcomes. Vague project lists won't support an H-1B specialty occupation argument.
Verify your wage tier before accepting an offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a prevailing wage at the correct level for your experience. Use the OFLC Wage Search to check wage tiers for project management roles in your target metro before negotiations, so you're not surprised by an offer that falls below the certified wage.
Target studios embedded inside large corporations
In-house design teams at tech, automotive, and consumer goods companies file LCAs far more consistently than independent design agencies. These employers have established immigration infrastructure and are far less likely to withdraw sponsorship mid-process when project budgets shift.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring employers
Search Migrate Mate's job board to identify employers with verified LCA filing history for design and project management roles. This cuts out guesswork and surfaces companies that have already committed to sponsoring similar positions, so your outreach targets real opportunities.
Get your degree evaluated before the LCA is filed
If your design degree is from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization before your employer files the LCA. A three-year Australian or UK design degree often needs an equivalency letter on file to satisfy the specialty occupation requirement without an RFE.
Clarify cap-exempt status if switching from academia or nonprofits
If you're moving from a university design department or a qualifying nonprofit into a corporate Design Project Manager role, your H-1B cap exemption does not transfer. Your new employer must compete in the annual cap and selection process, so plan your timeline around that constraint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Design Project Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the role is defined. USCIS requires that the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field, such as industrial design, graphic design, architecture, or a closely related discipline. Generic project management roles that accept any degree background may not qualify. Employers strengthen the case by tying specific design deliverables and design-degree requirements explicitly to the job description.
Which visa types are available to Design Project Managers seeking sponsorship?
The H-1B is the primary path if the role qualifies as a specialty occupation. Australian citizens can apply for the E-3 visa, which has a separate annual allocation and no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa if the role fits a listed USMCA profession, though Design Project Manager is not explicitly listed and eligibility depends on the specific duties. F-1 students can use OPT or STEM OPT as a bridge before employer-sponsored status.
How do I find Design Project Manager jobs that offer visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for design and project management roles, so you can focus your applications on companies that have already committed to sponsoring similar positions. This is more reliable than applying broadly and hoping an employer is willing to file.
Does my employer need to do anything beyond filing the H-1B petition for a Design Project Manager role?
Yes. Before filing the I-129 petition with USCIS, your employer must have a certified Labor Condition Application from the DOL. The LCA confirms the offered wage meets the prevailing wage for the role and location, and that the employer has posted a public notice. For most EB-2 or EB-3 green card paths, the employer must also complete a PERM labor certification, which involves a formal test to show no qualified U.S. workers are available.
Does a design management certificate substitute for a bachelor's degree for H-1B sponsorship?
Generally, no. USCIS requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or its foreign equivalent in a specific related field. A certificate alone does not satisfy this requirement. However, O*NET and USCIS policy allow three years of relevant work experience to substitute for one year of formal education, so a combination of an associate degree and substantial hands-on design project management experience may cumulatively meet the standard, depending on how the employer documents it.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Design Project Manager 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.