Hardware Design Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Hardware Design Engineer jobs attract strong visa sponsorship because the role meets H-1B visa specialty occupation requirements, with a degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field as the standard baseline. Employers across semiconductor, aerospace, and consumer electronics regularly file Labor Condition Applications for this title.
Find Hardware Design Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 199+ Hardware Design Engineer jobs










See all 199+ Hardware Design Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Hardware Design Engineer roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
SUMMARY
Imagine the world without Apple devices! Does it feel strange? Apple products might even be one of the reasons you wanted to BE a Hardware Design Engineer. Now, imagine yourself designing future Apple products. Designing hardware for iPhone means learning how to build high-performance electronics where every cubic millimeter matters. It is a masterclass in modern hardware engineering—blending high-speed digital buses, ultra-low-noise power rails, and flexible circuits into an integrated system built at unprecedented quality and scale. The iPhone Hardware System Design team is looking for a driven Electrical Engineer who is passionate about circuit design, board-level bring-up, and hands-on problem solving. You will own the design, validation, and integration of critical rigid-board and flexible-circuit modules, working side-by-side with world-class engineers. If you are eager to dive deep into schematics, spend time in the lab probing waveforms, and see your designs ship in products used by millions, join us.
DESCRIPTION
In this role, you will be an active contributor to the hardware design and validation cycle of future iPhone hardware:
Circuit Design & Integration: Own schematics, component selection and collaborate closely with CAD layout engineers for dedicated rigid boards, flexible printed circuits (FPCs), and system interconnect modules.
Hands-On Lab Bring-Up: Lead the first-time power-on and functional bring-up of your hardware blocks in the lab; debug hardware bugs down to component level using high-speed scopes and digital analyzers.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with mechanical engineering (Product Design), firmware, thermal, silicon, and factory teams to ensure smooth mechanical and electrical integration. There will be opportunities for international travel.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent.
- 2+ years of experience in board-level electrical hardware design and verification.
- Strong grasp of core EE fundamentals: circuit theory, analog fundamentals, digital logic, and basic power regulation.
- Demonstrated hands-on lab experience bringing up and debugging prototype hardware.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- High speed digital design
- Schematic capture and PCB layout
- Hands-on lab experience with hardware bring-up and debug
- Fundamentals of signal and power integrity
- Understanding of low voltage power regulation solutions
- Integration of hardware into multi-functional systems
- Use of scripting languages to assist with hardware development
- Familiarity with the challenges of taking a product from design through to production
- Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
- Experience working with dynamic multi-functional teams
- Automation: Proficiency with tools to enable automation (AI usage to develop tools and for other efficiency improvements is a plus)
COMPENSATION
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
See all 199+ Hardware Design Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Hardware Design Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Hardware Design Engineer
Match your degree to the role
Hardware design roles require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field. If your degree is in a adjacent discipline like physics or applied mathematics, gather coursework transcripts that show circuit design, VLSI, or embedded systems content before applying.
Search LCA filings by job title
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up certified Labor Condition Applications under the job title 'Hardware Design Engineer' and related titles. This shows you which employers have an active history of sponsoring this role, cutting your research time significantly.
Target semiconductor and defense contractors specifically
Companies in semiconductor fabrication, aerospace systems, and defense electronics file disproportionately more H-1B petitions for hardware roles than general tech employers. Prioritize these subsectors when building your target employer list, as their hiring pipelines are built around international engineering talent.
Verify your role qualifies as a specialty occupation
USCIS evaluates whether the specific job duties require a directly related degree, not just any bachelor's degree. Use O*NET to confirm the standard education and task requirements for Hardware Design Engineers, and ensure your offer letter describes duties that align with that profile.
Clarify H-1B filing timing before accepting an offer
H-1B is subject to an annual cap and selection process, and the rules have changed recently. If you're not already in H-1B status, ask the employer before accepting whether they plan to file in the next registration cycle and what their internal timeline looks like.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsors
Find hardware engineering employers with confirmed LCA sponsorship history on Migrate Mate, searchable by role and location. This saves you from cold-applying to companies that have never sponsored the hardware design title and may not have an immigration process ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Hardware Design Engineer role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Hardware Design Engineering meets the H-1B specialty occupation definition because it typically requires a bachelor's degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field. USCIS expects the job duties to be directly tied to that degree, so your offer letter should describe tasks like circuit design, RTL coding, or hardware verification rather than general engineering work.
Which visa types can sponsor a Hardware Design Engineer in the U.S.?
H-1B is the most common path, covering most nationalities. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa, which has a separate cap and no lottery. Chilean and Singaporean nationals may qualify for H-1B1 visa. Canadian and Mexican nationals with an engineering degree may qualify for TN visa status, provided the specific hardware design role falls within USMCA-listed engineering professions. Each visa requires the employer to file a Labor Condition Application with DOL.
What degree do I need to get sponsored as a Hardware Design Engineer?
A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or electronics engineering is the standard baseline. Some employers also accept degrees in applied physics or computer science if your coursework included hardware-focused subjects like digital logic, FPGA design, or analog circuits. USCIS scrutinizes degree relevance closely, so the connection between your credential and your job duties needs to be clear in your petition.
Where can I find employers who sponsor Hardware Design Engineer roles?
Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified sponsorship history for hardware engineering roles, searchable by city and role type. This lets you focus your applications on companies that have an established process for filing LCAs and petitions, rather than testing whether a company will sponsor for the first time.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new hardware engineering employer mid-job?
Yes. If you're already in H-1B status, you can start working for a new employer once they file a new H-1B petition on your behalf. You don't need to wait for USCIS to approve the petition before starting. The new role must still qualify as a specialty occupation, so the new employer needs to file a fresh LCA with DOL and ensure your duties and wage meet prevailing wage requirements.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Hardware Design 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.