Materials Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Materials engineers are sponsored at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE Aerospace, Intel, TSMC, Tesla, 3M, and Corning, with CHIPS Act semiconductor expansion and EV battery development creating acute demand for thin film, composites, and battery materials expertise. H-1B classification is straightforward because the role unambiguously requires a materials science or engineering degree.
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Join Amazon's Global Materials Science (GMS) organization as we pioneer the future of sustainable e-commerce packaging. As an Advanced Materials Engineer, you'll be at the forefront of materials innovation—developing breakthrough packaging materials that enable automation, reduce environmental impact, and deliver superior customer experiences at Amazon scale. This is a hands-on role where you'll conduct laboratory research, characterize materials properties, establish specifications, and work directly with suppliers to bring novel materials from concept to production across our global fulfillment network.
Key job responsibilities
Materials Development & Innovation:
- Lead hands-on laboratory research and development of packaging materials including paper substrates, adhesives, coatings, and alternative fiber technologies.
- Design and execute experiments to optimize material formulations and processing parameters, applying the materials science triangle framework (processing-structure-properties).
- Develop next-generation materials solutions that unlock step-change improvements in performance, cost, sustainability, and automation compatibility.
- Advance materials innovations from concept, pilot and deployment phases.
Materials Characterization & Testing:
- Perform comprehensive materials characterization using techniques including tensile/burst/tear testing, rheometry, thermal analysis (DSC, TGA), spectroscopy (FTIR), microscopy (SEM, optical), and surface analysis while utilizing ASTM, TAPPI, ISO, ISTA standards and non-standard methodologies.
- Establish correlations between fundamental materials properties and operational performance in fulfillment environments.
- Design and execute test plans that validate materials performance against specifications and requirements.
- Analyze test data using statistical methods to drive data-driven materials selection decisions.
Specifications & Quality:
- Define materials specifications based on critical performance thresholds required for packaging to protect products and survive the fulfillment network.
- Translate operational requirements into measurable materials properties and acceptable ranges.
- Develop quality control protocols and testing methodologies to ensure supplier compliance with specifications.
Supplier & Manufacturing Collaboration:
- Work directly with paper mills, adhesive manufacturers, converters, and other suppliers to develop and scale new materials.
- Conduct technical evaluations of supplier capabilities, processes, and quality control systems.
- Guide suppliers on process optimization to achieve target material properties and consistency.
Cross-Functional Partnership:
- Collaborate with Packaging Engineering on materials-design integration and automation equipment compatibility.
- Partner with Global Procurement (GPO) on strategic sourcing, supplier selection, and commercial negotiations.
- Support sustainability initiatives including carbon footprint modeling, recyclability assessment, and low-carbon sourcing.
- Provide technical expertise to program managers, product teams, and deployment teams.
- Communicate complex materials science concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Documentation & Knowledge Sharing:
- Author technical reports, test protocols, specifications documents, and research summaries.
- Document experimental procedures, results, and learnings to build institutional knowledge.
- Present findings at design reviews, technical workshops, and leadership reviews.
- Contribute to intellectual property generation through public disclosures and patent applications.
- Mentor junior engineers and technicians on materials science principles and testing methodologies.
A day in the life
You're pioneering the future of sustainable packaging—one experiment at a time.
Your morning starts hands-on in the lab, characterizing a breakthrough adhesive formulation that could enable a packaging materials change across our entire fulfillment network. The data looks promising—you're seeing the performance leap needed to replace significant amounts of plastic annually.
By midday, you're in a technical deep-dive with a supplier, using your materials science expertise to optimize their processing parameters. Your insights on fiber and chemistry are unlocking solutions they haven't considered.
Your afternoon shifts between analyzing test data from trials—turning waste into high-performance packaging materials—and updating specifications that will guide massive procurement decisions.
This isn't just lab work. Your materials innovations directly enable automation systems, reduce our carbon footprint, and touch millions of customer experiences daily. You're solving problems at the intersection of chemistry, sustainability, and massive scale—developing materials that don't exist today but will define the future of e-commerce packaging.
Every breakthrough you make in the lab can have a global impact.
About the team
The Global Materials Science (GMS) organization is Amazon's Center of Excellence for packaging materials development and supply chain transformation. Our team represents a fundamental shift in how Amazon approaches packaging innovation—moving from supplier-dependent solutions to owning the invention, development, and optimization of materials that power our fulfillment network.
Our Mission: We build deep expertise in packaging materials through rigorous research and testing, develop innovative packaging solutions that unlock automation potential and sustainability improvements, and establish robust supply chains that deliver superior solutions at lower cost.
Our Vision: To be the global leader in e-commerce packaging materials science and innovation, enabling the best customer packaging experience at the lowest cost to serve.
What Makes Us Unique: We're not just specifying materials—we're fundamentally understanding them through the materials science triangle framework (processing, structure, properties). Our integrated capabilities span from molecular-level materials characterization, to full packaging system testing, to automation compatibility testing. This end-to-end ownership enables us to innovate faster, unlock step-change improvements impossible for suppliers alone, and maintain freedom to operate across multiple supply chains.
Our Impact: We're driving Amazon's transition from plastic to paper packaging, developing breakthrough materials and establishing supply chains that reduce costs while advancing our 2040 net-zero commitment. Our work directly influences automation success, customer experience, and sustainability metrics.
Our Culture: We operate with high technical rigor while moving at startup speed. We embrace calculated risk-taking in R&D, fail fast, and iterate based on data. We believe in radical collaboration—our success requires seamless partnership across engineering, procurement, operations, and sustainability teams. We're building something that's never been done before in e-commerce, and we're looking for program managers who thrive in ambiguity, think strategically while executing tactically, and are energized by complex, high-impact challenges.
Our Team: We bring together materials scientists, chemists, engineers, and program managers who are passionate about solving hard problems. We partner with world-class academic institutions, leading materials suppliers, and internal Amazon teams to push the boundaries of what's possible in packaging materials.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working with interdisciplinary teams to execute product design from concept to production.
- Experience with the project management of technical projects.
- Experience in developing functional specifications, design verification plans and functional test procedures.
- 5 - 10+ years of experience with materials selection, testing, and scaling to manufacturing.
- Bachelor's degree in materials science engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, pulp/paper engineering or a related technical discipline.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in characterization techniques and equipment, such as SEM-EDS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA, rheometry, spectrophotometry, optical microscopy, and mechanical property testing related to packaging or other forest products with standard (ASTM, TAPPI, ISO, ISTA, etc.) and non-standard methodologies.
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, WA, Bellevue - 137,300.00 - 185,700.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 137,300.00 - 185,700.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Sumner - 137,300.00 - 185,700.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Join Amazon's Global Materials Science (GMS) organization as we pioneer the future of sustainable e-commerce packaging. As an Advanced Materials Engineer, you'll be at the forefront of materials innovation—developing breakthrough packaging materials that enable automation, reduce environmental impact, and deliver superior customer experiences at Amazon scale. This is a hands-on role where you'll conduct laboratory research, characterize materials properties, establish specifications, and work directly with suppliers to bring novel materials from concept to production across our global fulfillment network.
Key job responsibilities
Materials Development & Innovation:
- Lead hands-on laboratory research and development of packaging materials including paper substrates, adhesives, coatings, and alternative fiber technologies.
- Design and execute experiments to optimize material formulations and processing parameters, applying the materials science triangle framework (processing-structure-properties).
- Develop next-generation materials solutions that unlock step-change improvements in performance, cost, sustainability, and automation compatibility.
- Advance materials innovations from concept, pilot and deployment phases.
Materials Characterization & Testing:
- Perform comprehensive materials characterization using techniques including tensile/burst/tear testing, rheometry, thermal analysis (DSC, TGA), spectroscopy (FTIR), microscopy (SEM, optical), and surface analysis while utilizing ASTM, TAPPI, ISO, ISTA standards and non-standard methodologies.
- Establish correlations between fundamental materials properties and operational performance in fulfillment environments.
- Design and execute test plans that validate materials performance against specifications and requirements.
- Analyze test data using statistical methods to drive data-driven materials selection decisions.
Specifications & Quality:
- Define materials specifications based on critical performance thresholds required for packaging to protect products and survive the fulfillment network.
- Translate operational requirements into measurable materials properties and acceptable ranges.
- Develop quality control protocols and testing methodologies to ensure supplier compliance with specifications.
Supplier & Manufacturing Collaboration:
- Work directly with paper mills, adhesive manufacturers, converters, and other suppliers to develop and scale new materials.
- Conduct technical evaluations of supplier capabilities, processes, and quality control systems.
- Guide suppliers on process optimization to achieve target material properties and consistency.
Cross-Functional Partnership:
- Collaborate with Packaging Engineering on materials-design integration and automation equipment compatibility.
- Partner with Global Procurement (GPO) on strategic sourcing, supplier selection, and commercial negotiations.
- Support sustainability initiatives including carbon footprint modeling, recyclability assessment, and low-carbon sourcing.
- Provide technical expertise to program managers, product teams, and deployment teams.
- Communicate complex materials science concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Documentation & Knowledge Sharing:
- Author technical reports, test protocols, specifications documents, and research summaries.
- Document experimental procedures, results, and learnings to build institutional knowledge.
- Present findings at design reviews, technical workshops, and leadership reviews.
- Contribute to intellectual property generation through public disclosures and patent applications.
- Mentor junior engineers and technicians on materials science principles and testing methodologies.
A day in the life
You're pioneering the future of sustainable packaging—one experiment at a time.
Your morning starts hands-on in the lab, characterizing a breakthrough adhesive formulation that could enable a packaging materials change across our entire fulfillment network. The data looks promising—you're seeing the performance leap needed to replace significant amounts of plastic annually.
By midday, you're in a technical deep-dive with a supplier, using your materials science expertise to optimize their processing parameters. Your insights on fiber and chemistry are unlocking solutions they haven't considered.
Your afternoon shifts between analyzing test data from trials—turning waste into high-performance packaging materials—and updating specifications that will guide massive procurement decisions.
This isn't just lab work. Your materials innovations directly enable automation systems, reduce our carbon footprint, and touch millions of customer experiences daily. You're solving problems at the intersection of chemistry, sustainability, and massive scale—developing materials that don't exist today but will define the future of e-commerce packaging.
Every breakthrough you make in the lab can have a global impact.
About the team
The Global Materials Science (GMS) organization is Amazon's Center of Excellence for packaging materials development and supply chain transformation. Our team represents a fundamental shift in how Amazon approaches packaging innovation—moving from supplier-dependent solutions to owning the invention, development, and optimization of materials that power our fulfillment network.
Our Mission: We build deep expertise in packaging materials through rigorous research and testing, develop innovative packaging solutions that unlock automation potential and sustainability improvements, and establish robust supply chains that deliver superior solutions at lower cost.
Our Vision: To be the global leader in e-commerce packaging materials science and innovation, enabling the best customer packaging experience at the lowest cost to serve.
What Makes Us Unique: We're not just specifying materials—we're fundamentally understanding them through the materials science triangle framework (processing, structure, properties). Our integrated capabilities span from molecular-level materials characterization, to full packaging system testing, to automation compatibility testing. This end-to-end ownership enables us to innovate faster, unlock step-change improvements impossible for suppliers alone, and maintain freedom to operate across multiple supply chains.
Our Impact: We're driving Amazon's transition from plastic to paper packaging, developing breakthrough materials and establishing supply chains that reduce costs while advancing our 2040 net-zero commitment. Our work directly influences automation success, customer experience, and sustainability metrics.
Our Culture: We operate with high technical rigor while moving at startup speed. We embrace calculated risk-taking in R&D, fail fast, and iterate based on data. We believe in radical collaboration—our success requires seamless partnership across engineering, procurement, operations, and sustainability teams. We're building something that's never been done before in e-commerce, and we're looking for program managers who thrive in ambiguity, think strategically while executing tactically, and are energized by complex, high-impact challenges.
Our Team: We bring together materials scientists, chemists, engineers, and program managers who are passionate about solving hard problems. We partner with world-class academic institutions, leading materials suppliers, and internal Amazon teams to push the boundaries of what's possible in packaging materials.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working with interdisciplinary teams to execute product design from concept to production.
- Experience with the project management of technical projects.
- Experience in developing functional specifications, design verification plans and functional test procedures.
- 5 - 10+ years of experience with materials selection, testing, and scaling to manufacturing.
- Bachelor's degree in materials science engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, pulp/paper engineering or a related technical discipline.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in characterization techniques and equipment, such as SEM-EDS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA, rheometry, spectrophotometry, optical microscopy, and mechanical property testing related to packaging or other forest products with standard (ASTM, TAPPI, ISO, ISTA, etc.) and non-standard methodologies.
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, WA, Bellevue - 137,300.00 - 185,700.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 137,300.00 - 185,700.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Sumner - 137,300.00 - 185,700.00 USD annually
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Materials Engineer
Semiconductor Materials Is the Fastest-Growing Niche
CHIPS Act investments at Intel, TSMC, Samsung, and GlobalFoundries have created thousands of materials engineering positions for thin film deposition, etch process development, and advanced packaging. Equipment suppliers like Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA are also hiring aggressively. These companies sponsor on accelerated timelines because fab construction deadlines cannot wait for domestic talent.
Aerospace Companies Sponsor Materials Engineers Routinely
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, RTX, GE Aerospace, SpaceX, and Northrop Grumman all sponsor for structural materials, composites, superalloy, and failure analysis roles. Aerospace materials engineering requires specialized knowledge of fatigue testing, fracture mechanics, and qualification protocols that limits the domestic candidate pool. These companies have established H-1B filing history for materials roles.
EV Battery Materials Expertise Commands a Premium
Tesla, Rivian, QuantumScape, Solid Power, LG Energy Solution, and Samsung SDI are hiring materials engineers for cathode chemistry, electrolyte development, and cell characterization at new U.S. battery plants. Experience with lithium-ion or solid-state battery materials places you in one of the most aggressively sponsored niches in engineering because domestic expertise is extremely limited.
National Laboratories Offer Cap-Exempt and J-1 Pathways
DOE national laboratories (Argonne, Oak Ridge, Sandia, NREL, PNNL) hire materials scientists on J-1 Research Scholar and cap-exempt H-1B visas. Postdoctoral appointments pay $65,000 to $95,000 and provide U.S. research experience, publications, and professional networks that lead to industry positions with H-1B or green card sponsorship after 1 to 3 years.
Characterization Expertise Sets You Apart
Deep proficiency with SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, DSC, and mechanical testing equipment (tensile, fatigue, impact, hardness) is expected for materials engineering roles. If you have hands-on experience operating and interpreting results from multiple characterization platforms, you fill a practical skills gap that many U.S. graduates with theoretical training alone cannot match. Highlight specific equipment and techniques on your resume.
TN Engineer Category Works for Canadian and Mexican Materials Engineers
The Engineer profession on the USMCA treaty list covers materials engineering roles with no lottery, no cap, and same-day border approval for Canadians. Many Canadian materials engineers work at U.S. aerospace and automotive companies on TN status. TN renews indefinitely in three-year increments, making it a viable long-term pathway while pursuing green card sponsorship if desired.
Materials Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the typical salary for sponsored Materials Engineer roles in the U.S.?
Entry-level materials engineers earn $70,000 to $95,000. Mid-level engineers at Boeing, Intel, Tesla, and 3M earn $100,000 to $140,000. Senior materials engineers and technical specialists at aerospace and semiconductor companies earn $140,000 to $185,000. Materials engineers at national laboratories earn $90,000 to $130,000 on the federal pay scale. H-1B LCA filings for materials engineering roles typically show base salaries of $80,000 to $130,000.
Which visa types do Materials Engineers typically use?
H-1B is the primary pathway with high approval rates because the role clearly requires a materials science or engineering degree. TN visas serve Canadian and Mexican citizens under the Engineer category. L-1 transfers are common at multinational companies like Dow, 3M, BASF, and Saint-Gobain. O-1 is used for researchers with significant publications or patents. J-1 Research Scholar visas apply at DOE national laboratories and university research centers. E-3 is available for Australians.
What types of companies sponsor Materials Engineers?
Aerospace companies (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, RTX, GE Aerospace, SpaceX) sponsor for structural materials, composites, and superalloy roles. Semiconductor manufacturers (Intel, TSMC, Samsung, Applied Materials) sponsor for thin film, process integration, and etch/deposition roles. EV and battery companies (Tesla, Rivian, QuantumScape) sponsor for battery materials positions. Materials companies (Dow, 3M, Corning, DuPont) and medical device firms (Medtronic, Stryker) also sponsor routinely.
What qualifications do sponsored Materials Engineer roles require?
A bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering, metallurgical engineering, ceramic engineering, polymer science, or chemical engineering with a materials focus is the standard requirement. A master's or Ph.D. is preferred for R&D and failure analysis positions. Proficiency with characterization tools (SEM, TEM, XRD, DSC, FTIR) and mechanical testing equipment (tensile, fatigue, impact) is expected. Specialization in composites, semiconductors, battery materials, or additive manufacturing significantly increases demand and sponsorship willingness.
What is the career progression for a sponsored Materials Engineer?
The typical path moves from materials engineer to senior materials engineer to principal engineer or engineering manager. At aerospace companies like Boeing and GE Aerospace, technical fellow tracks allow advancement to the highest individual contributor levels without moving into management. Senior materials engineers earn $140,000 to $185,000 at major companies. Ph.D. holders in semiconductor materials or battery chemistry can advance rapidly into R&D leadership. Some materials engineers transition into quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, or product development management.
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