Research Director Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Research Director roles qualify for H-1B visa, O-1A, and EB-1 sponsorship. Employers regularly sponsor this position because it requires a graduate degree in a specialized field and demonstrates the advanced expertise USCIS looks for in specialty occupation and extraordinary ability petitions. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
Find Research Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 707+ Research Director jobs
See all 707+ Research Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Director roles.
Get Access To All JobsJob Description
Our goal is to build the next generation of AI: autonomous agents that can reason, plan, act, and learn to solve critical problems for an industry leading financial institution. We are looking for architects who will define the future of banking through Agentic AI. The Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning team in Commercial and Investment Banking is transforming operations by leveraging the latest advancements in agentic AI and frontier models. As an Applied AI ML Researcher Director in the Applied AI Research team, you will be a builder, a scientific pioneer and mentor who bridges the gap between leading edge theory and enterprise-grade, large-scale, deployable systems.
Job Responsibilities
- Architect and develop GenAI and agentic solutions to automate complex operational processes
- Assist Lines of Business and teams to directly solve priority use cases within the domain
- Deliver multiple agents that collaborate to solve large, complex problems, orchestrate end-to-end workflows, and scale across JPMC
- Design and build services and libraries that AI teams want to use
- Mentor and inspire a team of AI engineers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous learning
- Ensure the scalability, reliability, and security of AI/ML solutions in a production environment, with a focus on long-term sustainability
- Collaborate with stakeholders and technical partners across Lines of Business and firmwide to scale solutions and maximize impact
Required Qualifications, Capabilities, And Skills
- PhD in Computer Science or a related quantitative discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience or MS in Computer Science or a related field with 12+ years of relevant experience
- Research experience or work in a top commercial AI research lab
- Deep understanding of AI fundamentals and practical experience with data analysis and experimental design
- Proven track record of deploying AI/ML applications in a production environment at scale
- Familiarity with distributed computing patterns for training, serving, and persistence of state
- Experience integrating user feedback to establish agentic refinement and self-improving AI applications
- Experience in building and leading high-performing AI teams
Preferred Qualifications, Capabilities, And Skills
- Experience deploying models on AWS platforms such as SageMaker or Bedrock will be strongly considered, but not required
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT: This position is subject to Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. As such, an employment offer for this position is contingent on JPMorganChase's review of criminal conviction history, including pretrial diversions or program entries.
About us
JPMorganChase, one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. We offer a competitive total rewards package including base salary determined based on the role, experience, skill set and location. Those in eligible roles may receive commission-based pay and/or discretionary incentive compensation, paid in the form of cash and/or forfeitable equity, awarded in recognition of individual achievements and contributions. We also offer a range of benefits and programs to meet employee needs, based on eligibility. These benefits include comprehensive health care coverage, on-site health and wellness centers, a retirement savings plan, backup childcare, tuition reimbursement, mental health support, financial coaching and more. Additional details about total compensation and benefits will be provided during the hiring process. We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. We also make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as mental health or physical disability needs. Visit our FAQs for more information about requesting an accommodation. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Veterans
About The Team
J.P. Morgan's Commercial & Investment Bank is a global leader across banking, markets, securities services and payments. Corporations, governments and institutions throughout the world entrust us with their business in more than 100 countries. The Commercial & Investment Bank provides strategic advice, raises capital, manages risk and extends liquidity in markets around the world.
Job Description
Our goal is to build the next generation of AI: autonomous agents that can reason, plan, act, and learn to solve critical problems for an industry leading financial institution. We are looking for architects who will define the future of banking through Agentic AI. The Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning team in Commercial and Investment Banking is transforming operations by leveraging the latest advancements in agentic AI and frontier models. As an Applied AI ML Researcher Director in the Applied AI Research team, you will be a builder, a scientific pioneer and mentor who bridges the gap between leading edge theory and enterprise-grade, large-scale, deployable systems.
Job Responsibilities
- Architect and develop GenAI and agentic solutions to automate complex operational processes
- Assist Lines of Business and teams to directly solve priority use cases within the domain
- Deliver multiple agents that collaborate to solve large, complex problems, orchestrate end-to-end workflows, and scale across JPMC
- Design and build services and libraries that AI teams want to use
- Mentor and inspire a team of AI engineers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous learning
- Ensure the scalability, reliability, and security of AI/ML solutions in a production environment, with a focus on long-term sustainability
- Collaborate with stakeholders and technical partners across Lines of Business and firmwide to scale solutions and maximize impact
Required Qualifications, Capabilities, And Skills
- PhD in Computer Science or a related quantitative discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience or MS in Computer Science or a related field with 12+ years of relevant experience
- Research experience or work in a top commercial AI research lab
- Deep understanding of AI fundamentals and practical experience with data analysis and experimental design
- Proven track record of deploying AI/ML applications in a production environment at scale
- Familiarity with distributed computing patterns for training, serving, and persistence of state
- Experience integrating user feedback to establish agentic refinement and self-improving AI applications
- Experience in building and leading high-performing AI teams
Preferred Qualifications, Capabilities, And Skills
- Experience deploying models on AWS platforms such as SageMaker or Bedrock will be strongly considered, but not required
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT: This position is subject to Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. As such, an employment offer for this position is contingent on JPMorganChase's review of criminal conviction history, including pretrial diversions or program entries.
About us
JPMorganChase, one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. We offer a competitive total rewards package including base salary determined based on the role, experience, skill set and location. Those in eligible roles may receive commission-based pay and/or discretionary incentive compensation, paid in the form of cash and/or forfeitable equity, awarded in recognition of individual achievements and contributions. We also offer a range of benefits and programs to meet employee needs, based on eligibility. These benefits include comprehensive health care coverage, on-site health and wellness centers, a retirement savings plan, backup childcare, tuition reimbursement, mental health support, financial coaching and more. Additional details about total compensation and benefits will be provided during the hiring process. We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. We also make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as mental health or physical disability needs. Visit our FAQs for more information about requesting an accommodation. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Veterans
About The Team
J.P. Morgan's Commercial & Investment Bank is a global leader across banking, markets, securities services and payments. Corporations, governments and institutions throughout the world entrust us with their business in more than 100 countries. The Commercial & Investment Bank provides strategic advice, raises capital, manages risk and extends liquidity in markets around the world.
See all 707+ Research Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Director roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Research Director Jobs
Lead with your publication and citation record
USCIS officers weigh scholarly output heavily for Research Director petitions. A strong publication record with measurable citations strengthens both H-1B specialty occupation arguments and O-1A extraordinary ability claims significantly.
Ensure your degree field matches the research domain
Your graduate degree must align specifically with the research area you'll be directing. A PhD in molecular biology won't support a Research Director role in economics. The field match is a core specialty occupation requirement USCIS scrutinizes.
Document your leadership over research teams and budgets
Research Director petitions benefit from evidence of organizational leadership. Offer letters and employer support letters should specify staff headcount, grant funding managed, and institutional scope to distinguish the role from individual contributor researcher positions.
Target employers with established immigration infrastructure
Universities, research hospitals, national laboratories, and large pharmaceutical or technology firms routinely sponsor Research Directors. These institutions have in-house immigration counsel and understand the documentation requirements, which reduces delays and RFE risk considerably.
Consider the O-1A if you have exceptional credentials
Research Directors with peer-reviewed publications, grants awarded, judging or reviewing experience, or press coverage may qualify for O-1A status. This path bypasses the H-1B lottery entirely and can be filed at any time of year.
Prepare for peer review and judging evidence requests
If applying for O-1A or EB-1A, document any conference peer reviewing, grant panel participation, or editorial board service. These activities satisfy the USCIS criterion for judging others' work, one of the most accessible criteria for senior researchers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Research Director title qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Research Director is a recognized specialty occupation because it requires at minimum a bachelor's degree, and typically a master's or PhD, in a specific field directly related to the research domain. USCIS has consistently approved H-1B visa petitions for this title across academia, biotech, government contractors, and private industry.
What visa options exist for Research Directors beyond the H-1B?
Research Directors with a strong scholarly record often qualify for the O-1A extraordinary ability visa, which has no lottery and can be filed year-round. Those pursuing permanent residence may be strong EB-1A or EB-2 NIW candidates, particularly if their research serves a national interest. Browse Research Director roles on Migrate Mate to filter by employers who sponsor multiple visa types.
What degree level does USCIS expect for a Research Director petition?
Most approved Research Director H-1B petitions involve a master's degree or PhD in the relevant discipline. A bachelor's degree alone can work if it's in a highly specific field and the role description clearly requires that specialization, but expect closer scrutiny. Employers typically require a graduate degree in job postings, which supports the specialty occupation argument.
How does the EB-1A path work for Research Directors?
The EB-1A requires meeting at least three of ten USCIS criteria demonstrating extraordinary ability. Research Directors commonly satisfy criteria through prizes or awards, peer-reviewed publications, high citation counts, judging roles, and leading or critical roles at distinguished institutions. USCIS approved approximately 56% of EB-1A petitions in FY 2024, and the category is current for most nationalities.
Do Research Director roles at universities sponsor differently than private sector roles?
Universities and nonprofit research institutions are cap-exempt for H-1B purposes, meaning they can file H-1B petitions at any time of year without entering the lottery. This is a significant practical advantage. Private sector Research Director roles are cap-subject and must go through the annual April lottery registration, making the O-1A or TN visa an important backup depending on your nationality.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Research Director 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.