Proposal Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Proposal Engineer roles sit at the intersection of technical expertise and business development, making them strong candidates for H-1B visa specialty occupation status. Employers in engineering, defense, and energy sectors regularly sponsor, and your degree field alignment is the key credential that unlocks the LCA filing process.
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Senior Sales & Proposal Engineer
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Onsite)
Summary
The Senior Sales and Proposal Engineer will develop technical and commercial proposals for electrical and automation modernization projects and new equipment installations in the metals industry. Working closely with engineering teams, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, this role develops proposals for melt shops, casters, rolling mills, and process lines. The successful candidate brings a proactive, customer-focused approach to sales, a technical background, and the ability to guide proposal development from initial requirements through customer presentation.
Who we are
At SMS group, our people are our greatest asset. We offer an entrepreneurial environment that promotes a culture of innovation, growth, and inclusion. We offer company events, activities, and opportunities to participate in charitable initiatives that benefit the communities where we are located.
- Work with the engineering team to propose technical solutions for sales projects based on customer requirements, SMS standards, and relevant reference projects.
- Prepare project cost estimates based on the proposed technical solution, including input from required vendors and reference estimates.
- Present SMS group’s proposed solutions to customers as part of your sales activities.
- Coordinate and communicate with colleagues across our global engineering team, as well as with customers and suppliers.
- Manage assignments independently within broad objectives and established limits.
- Provide guidance and support to less-experienced sales and proposal engineers.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Computer Programming, or a related engineering or technical field; equivalent relevant experience may also be considered.
- At least 10 years of experience in an engineering and/or sales role in the metals industry or a similar industry, or with an automation, controls, power, or drives company.
- Background in electrical and automation practices and control systems, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), drives, and process models.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Willingness to travel up to 20% to support project and proposal work, investigations, and meetings.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent written and spoken English.
- Adaptability and flexibility when addressing challenges and exploring different approaches.
- Ability to manage multiple sales projects at different stages simultaneously.
- Interest in developing toward a management role.
- Authorization to work in the United States and willingness to undergo a background check in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
What we offer
Competitive compensation, medical/dental/vision coverage, paid vacation, paid holiday time, 401k with a company match, training, a tuition reimbursement program and more!
What we do
SMS group is the leading partner in the world of metals. We are an original equipment supplier offering comprehensive maintenance and spare part services for metals production, continuous casting and rolling (flat and long products), tubes, welded pipes, forging, non-ferrous technology, and heat treatment plants - all from a single source.
SMS group Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, gender identity or other categories protected by law. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a drug screen and physical capacity profile test.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Proposal Engineer
Align your degree to the role description
Proposal Engineer positions often blend mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering with sales. Your degree field must map directly to the technical duties listed, not the business development component, or an H-1B specialty occupation claim becomes difficult to defend.
Target defense and energy sector employers
Federal contractors and energy infrastructure firms frequently have established immigration programs because Proposal Engineers are critical to their bid pipelines. These employers are more likely to have in-house counsel and faster LCA approval workflows than smaller firms.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV wage for your specific location before accepting an offer. Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the applicable prevailing wage, and knowing this protects you during salary discussions.
Clarify proposal responsibilities in your job description
USCIS scrutinizes whether a Proposal Engineer role genuinely requires a specific bachelor's degree. Ask your employer to include technical duties like system design, cost modeling, and engineering analysis in your offer letter and job description, not just bid writing or client coordination.
Search Migrate Mate for verified sponsoring employers
Migrate Mate lists employers with confirmed LCA sponsorship history for engineering roles, searchable by location and job type. This lets you focus your applications on companies that have already demonstrated willingness to sponsor rather than guessing from generic job postings.
Prepare for an H-1B RFE on specialty occupation grounds
Proposal Engineer roles draw Requests for Evidence more often than purely technical titles because adjudicators question whether a specific degree is required. Gather supporting evidence early: O*NET occupation data, industry job postings requiring your degree field, and a detailed duties breakdown from your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Proposal Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the role is structured. If your employer can demonstrate that the position requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific engineering discipline, such as mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering, USCIS will generally accept it. Roles that blend engineering duties with general sales or business development without a specific degree requirement face a higher risk of a specialty occupation Request for Evidence.
Which visa types are realistic for a Proposal Engineer seeking U.S. sponsorship?
H-1B is the primary path if your employer is willing to file and you're subject to the annual cap. Australian nationals can pursue the E-3 visa, which has a separate cap that has never been exhausted and doesn't require a lottery. TN visa status is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals if the role fits a qualifying USMCA profession. For longer-term options, EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship through PERM labor certification is also common in engineering-heavy industries.
What degree does a Proposal Engineer typically need to get sponsored?
Most employers sponsoring Proposal Engineers require a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline directly related to the products or systems the company sells. A general business or communications degree is unlikely to satisfy the H-1B specialty occupation standard, even if you have years of proposal writing experience. If your degree is in a related but adjacent field, your employer should document the connection explicitly in the LCA and petition.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor Proposal Engineers?
Migrate Mate shows employers with verified sponsorship history for engineering roles, so you can target companies that have already filed LCAs rather than applying broadly and hoping. Focus on defense contractors, industrial equipment manufacturers, and energy sector firms, as these industries have the highest concentration of sponsored Proposal Engineer positions.
Can I switch Proposal Engineer jobs while on H-1B status?
Yes. Under H-1B portability, you can start working for a new employer once they file a new H-1B petition on your behalf, without waiting for USCIS approval. The new role must still qualify as a specialty occupation. If the new employer's Proposal Engineer position has different technical duties or a different degree requirement, they'll need to file a new I-129 petition rather than relying on your existing approval.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Proposal 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.