Research Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Research engineer visa sponsorship is common at tech companies, national labs, and R&D-focused organizations. Most positions qualify for H-1B visas since they require specialized engineering or computer science degrees. Many research roles also qualify for O-1 visas if you have significant publications or patents. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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INTRODUCTION
APP Engineering, Inc. is a leading original equipment manufacturer of electrical recording equipment for power companies and large industrial plants. Our recording equipment, disturbance monitoring equipment, is installed in transmission line substations, sub transmission substations, distribution substations, and various types of power plants to record bulk electric system voltages, currents, power, and stream power system telemetry. Our product line of instrumentation performs digital fault recording, sequence of event recording, dynamic disturbance recording, synchro phasor streaming, and power quality recording. With a need for innovative recording products and a need to meet power company requested recording and analyzing functions, APP Engineering needs to grow our Research and Development Department.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER (RDE)
The RDE position applies broad based knowledge involving theoretical aspects of power generation, transmission, and distribution; digital signal processing; digital electronics and hardware; basic manufacturing processes; computer hardware, design and develop new and improve features for multifunction recording instruments while understanding bulk electric standards developed by IEEE and IEC.
The RDE in this position should be able to design, implement, and code algorithms for digital signal processing, develop and maintain software for interfacing with hardware, and create testing procedures and documentation for new products and features. They should also be able to configure and troubleshoot the platforms used by the software. They should be able to lead and guide a team of engineers.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Master’s degree in both electrical engineering and computer engineering with a minimum of two years of experience in design and development.
JOB DUTIES
1) The RDE will research, develop, and test design new recording instrumentation that has been identified by senior management and requested by power company protection and control engineers and power quality engineers.
2) The RDE will test, research, develop, and design new recording features for existing products identified by senior management and requested by power company protection and control engineers and power quality engineers.
3) The RDE will test, research, develop, and design improvements for existing products that will increase reliability and allow operation in substation and power plant conditions for a period of 20 years.
4) The RDE will define and oversee industry type testing, in-house and with third party laboratories, which must be passed to install such recording equipment on the bulk electric system.
5) The RDE will ensure these newly developed products can be manufactured in a cost-effective way and will demonstrate such processes to senior management.
6) The RDE will test, design, and implement computer hardware to be used with recording instrumentation.
7) The RDE will test, design, and implement software for network communications and recording, interfacing with hardware to record and analyze signals.
8) The RDE will test and document new features and procedures for installations and deployment of new equipment and improved equipment.
9) The RDE will select and configure operating systems or micro controls or PLC’s that are integral to the operation of the recording and PQ equipment. Such as Windows, Windows Enterprise Iot operating systems, and Linux operating systems.
10) The RDE will test, design, and develop software that analyzes data from our recorders, and such software must be application and web based.
11) The RDE will apply mathematical theories to process incoming data, captured or streamed, by recording instrumentation. This mathematical processing will provide meaningful data and analysis for the engineers and technicians working at power companies to remedy problems with power signals.
12) The RDE will seek to identify scientific trends by attending industry conferences such as the Georgia Tech University, Texas A&M University, and Washington State University protective relaying and fault disturbance analysis conferences to research industry needed instrumentation and trends such as cutting edge 61850 digital substation.
13) The RDE will be programming in C++, C#/.NET, Assembly, and CSHARP.
14) The RDE will interface with APP Engineering customers to explain operational theory and functions of our Disturbance Monitoring Equipment as well as assist with any applicable troubleshooting.
15) The RDE will interface with APP Engineering vendors and contractors.
16) The RDE will communicate with senior level management regarding R&D projects and provide road maps with timelines.
17) The RDE will supervise other engineers and provide technical support and improved manufacturing tools and software for various areas with APP Engineering.
SKILLS
The RDE will have used programming languages of at least C++ and C#. The RDE will have used AutoCAD and circuit board layout software. The RDE will have excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills, deductive reasoning ability, ability to influence and persuade to achieve desired outcomes, ability to multi-task and lead, strong organizational skills, and be proficient with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
COMMENTS
Signing an employment agreement is required. APP Engineering, Inc. is an E-Verify Participant, an ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001 Registered Company, and Equal Opportunity Employer.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- Did you provide a resume and cover letter?
- Do you have experience with ISO 9001?
- Do you have experience with ISO 27001?
- Do you have a PE certificate?
Education
Bachelor's (Required)
Experience
ISO9001/ISO27001: 1 year (Required)
Electrical engineering: 4 years (Required)
LANGUAGE
English (Required)
LICENSE/CERTIFICATION
Drivers License (Required)
PE Certificate (Preferred)
LOCATION
Indianapolis, IN 46203 (Required)
ABILITY TO COMMUTE
Indianapolis, IN 46203 (Required)
WILLINGNESS TO TRAVEL
25% (Required)
WORK LOCATION: In person
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Research Engineer
Target R&D-heavy companies
Focus on organizations with active research divisions like Google Research, Microsoft Research, or national laboratories. These employers regularly sponsor visas and understand the value of international research talent.
Highlight your publications and patents
Research engineers with published papers, conference presentations, or patent applications have stronger H-1B cases and may qualify for O-1 visas, which have no annual caps or lottery requirements.
Consider university research positions
Universities and affiliated research institutes are H-1B cap-exempt, meaning no lottery. Research engineer roles at academic institutions can provide immediate visa sponsorship without waiting periods.
Emphasize specialized technical skills
Machine learning, AI research, robotics, and advanced algorithms strengthen your specialty occupation argument. Document specific technologies, frameworks, and research methodologies you've used in previous roles or projects.
Apply to government contractors
Defense contractors and companies with government research contracts often need research engineers and are experienced with visa sponsorship processes. Security clearance requirements may limit some positions to citizens only.
Network through academic conferences
Research conferences and academic symposiums are excellent venues to meet hiring managers from sponsoring employers. Many research engineer positions are filled through professional networks rather than traditional job boards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need for research engineer H-1B sponsorship?
Most research engineer positions require a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or a closely related technical field. The degree field must directly relate to the research work you'll be doing. Some advanced research roles may require a master's or PhD, which can strengthen your H-1B petition and may qualify you for O-1 consideration.
How to find Research Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Research Engineer positions with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international candidates with sponsoring employers. Focus on tech companies, research institutions, and R&D divisions that commonly sponsor H-1B, O-1, or EB-2 visas for engineering roles. Target organizations developing AI, biotechnology, automotive, or aerospace technologies, as they frequently need specialized research talent and offer sponsorship.
Do research engineers have good H-1B approval rates?
Research engineer H-1B petitions generally have strong approval rates because the role clearly requires specialized knowledge and typically involves degree-specific work. Petitions are stronger when accompanied by detailed job descriptions, evidence of the employer's research activities, and documentation of the candidate's relevant technical background and publications.
Can I get an O-1 visa as a research engineer?
Research engineers with significant publications, patents, conference presentations, or recognition in their field may qualify for O-1 visas. You need to demonstrate extraordinary ability through evidence like peer-reviewed papers, citations, awards, or serving as a reviewer for academic journals. O-1 visas have no caps and can be processed faster than H-1B.
Which companies sponsor research engineers most often?
Technology giants with dedicated research divisions (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta), national laboratories (Sandia, Lawrence Berkeley), aerospace companies (Boeing, Lockheed Martin), and research universities commonly sponsor research engineers. Government contractors and AI-focused startups are also increasingly sponsoring these roles, especially for machine learning and robotics research.
Can I work as a research engineer at a university on H-1B?
Yes, and universities are H-1B cap-exempt, meaning no lottery or annual limits. Research engineer positions at universities, affiliated research institutes, or non-profit research organizations can begin immediately upon approval. Many university research roles also offer paths to permanent residence through the EB-1 or EB-2 categories.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Research 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.