Senior Test Development Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Senior Test Development Engineer roles are among the more straightforward H-1B visa specialty occupation cases, the degree requirement in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field is well-established, and employers in semiconductor, aerospace, and defense routinely sponsor. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation:
Alhambra, CA
Job Summary:
Seeking a full-time Senior Test Engineer who will report to Director of Backend Fab Production. The Individual in this role will be able to design and implement efficient and streamlined automated production test setup and programs for fiberoptics laser alignment and test systems in a manufacturing environment. The Senior Test Design Engineer position will be based at Semtech Photonics Products group located in Alhambra, CA.
The following is a list of current essential job responsibilities of the position. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time at its discretion.
Responsibilities:
- Ownership of production test stations design, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing test efficiency.
- Develop and deploy automated test stations with Active Alignment and Pick-and-Place machine integration.
- Collaborate with Device Design Engineering teams to understand the performance requirements and establish production tests and performance specifications.
- Coordinate with engineering and quality teams to validate new testing approaches and methods for production.
- Work closely with the software development engineers to augment production test systems to support new test updates and features for product specifications.
- Understand the manufacturing test failures, troubleshooting, root cause analysis and correction on the production test stations.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, electronics, manufacturing, or related technical field
- Minimum 10+ years of relevant semiconductor lasers automated test stations development experience
- Must have extensive experience in Active Alignment Systems and Pick-and-Place machines development and system integration.
- Will have led end-to-end development of automated test stations, incorporating Active Alignment Systems and Pick-and-Place machines to optimize manufacturing precision and efficiency.
- Advanced knowledge of wafer probe test methodologies, ATE systems, parametric testing, and yield analysis
- Experience in semiconductor wafer fabrication and product test environment preferred
- Proficient in at least one programming language (VBA, C/C++, or Python)
- Knowledgeable about automatic test equipment implementations a must
- Proficient with fiberoptics test instruments such as semiconductor laser controllers, optical power meters, and optical spectrum analyzers
- Must have extensive experience in semiconductor lasers and photodiodes manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated organizational skill and the ability to manage multiple tasks
Desired Qualifications:
- Programing with APIs for test instruments
- Programing and scripting in Windows OS
- MATLAB
Travel Requirements
- May need to travel for International CM for production stations implementation.
The intent of this job description is to describe the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically included in this description.
All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
A reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is $117,000-165,000. There are several factors taken into consideration in determining base salary, including but not limited to: job-related qualifications, skills, education and experience, as well as job location and the value of other elements of an employee’s total compensation package.
Location:
Alhambra, CA
Job Summary:
Seeking a full-time Senior Test Engineer who will report to Director of Backend Fab Production. The Individual in this role will be able to design and implement efficient and streamlined automated production test setup and programs for fiberoptics laser alignment and test systems in a manufacturing environment. The Senior Test Design Engineer position will be based at Semtech Photonics Products group located in Alhambra, CA.
The following is a list of current essential job responsibilities of the position. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time at its discretion.
Responsibilities:
- Ownership of production test stations design, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing test efficiency.
- Develop and deploy automated test stations with Active Alignment and Pick-and-Place machine integration.
- Collaborate with Device Design Engineering teams to understand the performance requirements and establish production tests and performance specifications.
- Coordinate with engineering and quality teams to validate new testing approaches and methods for production.
- Work closely with the software development engineers to augment production test systems to support new test updates and features for product specifications.
- Understand the manufacturing test failures, troubleshooting, root cause analysis and correction on the production test stations.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, electronics, manufacturing, or related technical field
- Minimum 10+ years of relevant semiconductor lasers automated test stations development experience
- Must have extensive experience in Active Alignment Systems and Pick-and-Place machines development and system integration.
- Will have led end-to-end development of automated test stations, incorporating Active Alignment Systems and Pick-and-Place machines to optimize manufacturing precision and efficiency.
- Advanced knowledge of wafer probe test methodologies, ATE systems, parametric testing, and yield analysis
- Experience in semiconductor wafer fabrication and product test environment preferred
- Proficient in at least one programming language (VBA, C/C++, or Python)
- Knowledgeable about automatic test equipment implementations a must
- Proficient with fiberoptics test instruments such as semiconductor laser controllers, optical power meters, and optical spectrum analyzers
- Must have extensive experience in semiconductor lasers and photodiodes manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated organizational skill and the ability to manage multiple tasks
Desired Qualifications:
- Programing with APIs for test instruments
- Programing and scripting in Windows OS
- MATLAB
Travel Requirements
- May need to travel for International CM for production stations implementation.
The intent of this job description is to describe the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically included in this description.
All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
A reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is $117,000-165,000. There are several factors taken into consideration in determining base salary, including but not limited to: job-related qualifications, skills, education and experience, as well as job location and the value of other elements of an employee’s total compensation package.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Senior Test Development Engineer
Target industries with established sponsorship pipelines
Semiconductor, aerospace, defense, and automotive companies sponsor Senior Test Development Engineers regularly. These industries file LCAs in volume, which means their HR and legal teams already know the H-1B process and won't treat your visa as a special project.
Lead with your hardware and software stack
Employers evaluating sponsorship risk want to see specialized skills that justify the investment. Highlight specific platforms like LabVIEW, NI TestStand, or ATE systems upfront, this signals you're a narrow specialist, which strengthens the specialty occupation argument.
Understand the LCA before your offer stage
Your employer files a Labor Condition Application with the DOL before petitioning USCIS. It certifies the role's prevailing wage and working conditions. Knowing this process helps you ask informed questions during negotiations and signals you're not a sponsorship novice.
Use your OPT period to build a targeted employer list
If you're on F-1 OPT, use that window to identify companies that have previously sponsored Test Development Engineers via public LCA disclosure data. Applying to known sponsors dramatically improves your odds before the H-1B cap deadline approaches.
Frame your degree field precisely on your resume
USCIS evaluates whether your degree field directly relates to Test Development Engineering. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and systems engineering are the strongest matches. If your degree is adjacent, a credentials evaluation letter can help close the gap.
Don't overlook cap-exempt employers
Universities, nonprofits affiliated with research institutions, and certain government contractors are exempt from the H-1B annual cap and lottery. Test development roles exist in these settings, and a cap-exempt petition can be filed at any time of year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Test Development Engineer role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, consistently. USCIS treats Test Development Engineer roles as specialty occupations when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a directly related field. Generic engineering degrees without field alignment can complicate the case, so your resume and the employer's job description both need to reflect specific technical requirements, not just broad engineering knowledge.
Which visa types are realistic for Senior Test Development Engineers beyond H-1B?
The O-1A is an option if you have published research, patents, or significant industry recognition, some senior engineers in specialized ATE or semiconductor testing fields qualify. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and a far shorter processing timeline. Canadian and Mexican nationals can pursue TN visa status under the engineer category. Each path has different employer filing requirements and timelines worth understanding before you apply.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor Test Development Engineers?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this, it aggregates visa-sponsoring employers and filters by role type, so you're not manually sorting through job postings that never mention sponsorship. Outside of that, public LCA disclosure data from the Department of Labor shows which companies have filed for Test Development Engineer roles in the past, giving you a concrete list of proven sponsors to target directly.
Does my degree field matter, or is any engineering degree sufficient for H-1B sponsorship in this role?
Field alignment matters more than most applicants expect. USCIS looks for a direct relationship between your degree and the specific duties of the role. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and systems engineering are the strongest fits for Test Development Engineering. A general mechanical engineering degree may require additional documentation, a credential evaluation or a supporting letter from the employer explaining the connection between the coursework and the job's technical demands.
How long does H-1B sponsorship take for this type of role, and what can slow it down?
Standard H-1B visa processing for a new cap-subject petition runs three to five months after USCIS receives the petition, which itself can't be filed until April 1 for an October 1 start date. Premium processing cuts USCIS adjudication to 15 business days. What slows things down: a Request for Evidence challenging specialty occupation, delays in the employer getting the LCA certified, or administrative processing at the consulate if you're applying from abroad. Roles with vague or overly broad job descriptions draw more RFEs.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Senior Test Development 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.