Principal Project Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Principal Project Engineer roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, E-3 visa, and TN visa categories, making employer sponsorship straightforward for candidates with a relevant engineering degree. Employers in infrastructure, energy, and advanced manufacturing file LCAs regularly for this title, so verified sponsorship history is easy to confirm before you apply.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Principal Project Engineer is responsible for leading mechanical engineering projects from concept through start-up, with a focus on technical execution, cost, schedule, and scope management. This role applies strong engineering principles to design, install, and commission process equipment, while collaborating with internal teams, suppliers, and contractors to deliver projects safely, on time, and within budget.
The position also involves evaluating and implementing new technologies, improving existing process equipment, conducting design reviews and risk assessments, and solving complex technical challenges where standard solutions may not exist. The ideal candidate combines strong mechanical engineering expertise with project management capability, CAD proficiency, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
- 3–8 years of experience in mechanical design and/or project engineering.
- Demonstrated ability to solve technical challenges with creative and innovative solutions.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD design (SolidWorks experience preferred) and 2D CAD (DraftSight/AutoCAD preferred).
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team, delivering results with minimal guidance from management.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and a work ethic that aligns with SEE’s core values.
- Proficient with project management tools such as Smartsheet and Microsoft Project, as well as Microsoft Office products.
- Experience working on plastic extrusion platforms is preferred.
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 25–30% of the time.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Enthusiastic, proactive, and driven, with a passion for problem-solving; the ability to work collaboratively as part of an integrated team; and a strong sense of responsibility.
LOCATION
Location: Charlotte
Requisition id: 57132
Relocation: Yes
Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
Please be cautious of fraudulent recruiting efforts using the Sealed Air name or logo. Sealed Air will never request private information during the application process, such as a Driver's License or Social Security Number. If you have any concerns about information received from SEE during the application process, please reach out to us directly at globalta@sealedair.com.
INTRODUCTION
Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Principal Project Engineer is responsible for leading mechanical engineering projects from concept through start-up, with a focus on technical execution, cost, schedule, and scope management. This role applies strong engineering principles to design, install, and commission process equipment, while collaborating with internal teams, suppliers, and contractors to deliver projects safely, on time, and within budget.
The position also involves evaluating and implementing new technologies, improving existing process equipment, conducting design reviews and risk assessments, and solving complex technical challenges where standard solutions may not exist. The ideal candidate combines strong mechanical engineering expertise with project management capability, CAD proficiency, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
- 3–8 years of experience in mechanical design and/or project engineering.
- Demonstrated ability to solve technical challenges with creative and innovative solutions.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD design (SolidWorks experience preferred) and 2D CAD (DraftSight/AutoCAD preferred).
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team, delivering results with minimal guidance from management.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and a work ethic that aligns with SEE’s core values.
- Proficient with project management tools such as Smartsheet and Microsoft Project, as well as Microsoft Office products.
- Experience working on plastic extrusion platforms is preferred.
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 25–30% of the time.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Enthusiastic, proactive, and driven, with a passion for problem-solving; the ability to work collaboratively as part of an integrated team; and a strong sense of responsibility.
LOCATION
Location: Charlotte
Requisition id: 57132
Relocation: Yes
Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
Please be cautious of fraudulent recruiting efforts using the Sealed Air name or logo. Sealed Air will never request private information during the application process, such as a Driver's License or Social Security Number. If you have any concerns about information received from SEE during the application process, please reach out to us directly at globalta@sealedair.com.
See all 460+ Principal Project Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Principal Project Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Principal Project Engineer
Align your degree to the role
Principal Project Engineer positions require a bachelor's degree in a directly related engineering discipline, mechanical, civil, electrical, or industrial. A degree in business or general management won't satisfy the specialty occupation standard, even with years of project engineering experience.
Pull prevailing wage data before negotiating
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level III or IV prevailing wage for your target metro area. Your offered salary must meet or exceed this threshold on the LCA, so knowing the floor before salary discussions protects your sponsorship eligibility.
Target employers with active LCA filing history
Search Migrate Mate's database of employers with verified LCA sponsorship history filtered by engineering roles. Firms in energy, defense contracting, and large-scale infrastructure consistently file for Principal Project Engineer titles, giving you a shortlist of proven sponsors.
Clarify PERM timing if you need a green card
Many Principal Project Engineer roles are permanent positions, so ask during offer negotiations whether the employer will initiate PERM labor certification. EB-2 and EB-3 timelines vary significantly by country of birth, and starting the process early matters for Indian and Chinese nationals facing long priority date backlogs.
Distinguish TN eligibility if you're Canadian or Mexican
Canadian and Mexican nationals can enter on a TN visa under the Engineer category without an employer-filed petition or USCIS approval. The role must require a qualifying engineering degree, and Canadians can secure TN status directly at a port of entry with an offer letter and credentials.
Verify your license requirements before the offer stage
Some Principal Project Engineer roles in civil, structural, or public-works sectors require a Professional Engineer license as a condition of employment. Confirm with the hiring manager whether PE licensure is required, since your visa petition documents must accurately reflect the position's actual minimum requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Principal Project Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Principal Project Engineer consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related engineering field, mechanical, civil, electrical, or similar. Generalist management degrees don't satisfy the requirement. USCIS looks at both the job duties and the degree field, so your offer letter should clearly tie specific technical responsibilities to your engineering discipline.
Which visa types can sponsor a Principal Project Engineer?
H-1B is the most common path for most nationalities. Australian citizens can use the E-3, which has a 10,500 annual cap that has never been exhausted and requires no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals qualify for TN visa status under the Engineer category. Each requires a job offer for a role that demands a relevant engineering degree, plus an employer-filed Labor Condition Application for H-1B and E-3.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor Principal Project Engineers?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for engineering roles, so you can focus your search on companies that have already filed for this title rather than guessing. Industries worth prioritizing include oil and gas, defense contractors, semiconductor manufacturing, and large infrastructure firms, all of which file for Principal Project Engineer titles with high frequency.
Does having a Professional Engineer license strengthen a sponsorship application?
A PE license doesn't replace the degree requirement, but it can reinforce the specialty occupation argument if the employer lists licensure as a minimum qualification. For roles in civil, structural, or public-works engineering, some employers require PE licensure, and including it in the job description strengthens the USCIS determination that the position genuinely requires specialized expertise beyond a generalist background.
Can a Principal Project Engineer on H-1B change employers mid-project?
Yes. A worker already in H-1B status can start with a new employer once the new petition is filed with USCIS, there's no waiting period required before beginning work. The new employer files a fresh I-129 petition, and you can transition immediately upon filing. Maintaining continuous, uninterrupted employment is straightforward as long as the new role also qualifies as a specialty occupation.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Principal Project 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.