Software Design Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Software Design Engineers are among the most frequently sponsored roles in the U.S. Employers routinely file H-1B visa, L-1 visa, and O-1 visa petitions for qualified candidates, and the specialty occupation standard is well-established for this title across hardware, embedded systems, and systems-level software work. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Apple Silicon Engineering is seeking Hardware-minded Software engineers to create innovative tools to design the next generation of Apple’s world-leading systems-on-chip (SOCs).
Apple’s multi-billion-transistor Ax SOCs are the brain of every iPhone and iPad. The Analog Mixed-Signal circuits connect them to the physical world via complex IPs such as SERDES for data communication, PLLs for clock generation, and sensors for measuring physical quantities.
Modeling Software Engineers bring a unique and versatile combination of software and hardware expertise. On their way from the designer's mind to becoming a piece of silicon, circuits take form in software. Modeling Software Engineers develop those software-representations of future hardware and then make them real. This includes both the circuits themselves, and the underlying tools to enable hundreds more designers. We use modern software design methodology and apply it to Hardware design.
DESCRIPTION
This role develops specialized software tools and simulation platforms that enable the design of analog mixed-signal circuits for Apple's custom silicon chips. You'll combine software engineering expertise with hardware knowledge to build automation frameworks, optimization algorithms, and modeling environments that help circuit designers create the physical interfaces connecting Apple's processors to the real world. The position requires strong programming skills in Python or C++ and involves working on challenging problems at the intersection of software development and hardware design.
Responsibilities
- Architect and maintain tools, frameworks, and simulation environments within the platform to support analog design workflows
- Design and manage the platform's data storage and compute architecture - including schemas, data models, and access layers - to support analog/mixed-signal design data and agentic AI orchestration at scale
- Own and extend the platform's agent trust surface - the registry that versions, rolls back, and audits automated agents, plus the human-in-the-loop review workflow that gates what they commit
- Develop web-based interfaces and visualization tools within the platform to improve designer productivity and workflow transparency
- Partner with analog/mixed-signal design teams to gather requirements and triage issues, feeding them into platform feature development and pipeline behavior discussions
- Support platform deployment and rollout across design teams, and contribute to adoption efforts through onboarding, documentation, and training
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Expert-level proficiency in Python and/or C++
- Strong background in object-oriented programming (OOP) and software architecture design
- Experience with data storage systems, schema design, and database architecture
- Knowledge of event-driven programming and system-level simulation frameworks
- Experience developing web applications (e.g., Flask, React) and designing frontend user interfaces
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, packaging, and deployment (e.g docker/cloud)
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience partnering with design engineers to gather requirements and drive adoption
PAY & BENEFITS
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
INTRODUCTION
Apple Silicon Engineering is seeking Hardware-minded Software engineers to create innovative tools to design the next generation of Apple’s world-leading systems-on-chip (SOCs).
Apple’s multi-billion-transistor Ax SOCs are the brain of every iPhone and iPad. The Analog Mixed-Signal circuits connect them to the physical world via complex IPs such as SERDES for data communication, PLLs for clock generation, and sensors for measuring physical quantities.
Modeling Software Engineers bring a unique and versatile combination of software and hardware expertise. On their way from the designer's mind to becoming a piece of silicon, circuits take form in software. Modeling Software Engineers develop those software-representations of future hardware and then make them real. This includes both the circuits themselves, and the underlying tools to enable hundreds more designers. We use modern software design methodology and apply it to Hardware design.
DESCRIPTION
This role develops specialized software tools and simulation platforms that enable the design of analog mixed-signal circuits for Apple's custom silicon chips. You'll combine software engineering expertise with hardware knowledge to build automation frameworks, optimization algorithms, and modeling environments that help circuit designers create the physical interfaces connecting Apple's processors to the real world. The position requires strong programming skills in Python or C++ and involves working on challenging problems at the intersection of software development and hardware design.
Responsibilities
- Architect and maintain tools, frameworks, and simulation environments within the platform to support analog design workflows
- Design and manage the platform's data storage and compute architecture - including schemas, data models, and access layers - to support analog/mixed-signal design data and agentic AI orchestration at scale
- Own and extend the platform's agent trust surface - the registry that versions, rolls back, and audits automated agents, plus the human-in-the-loop review workflow that gates what they commit
- Develop web-based interfaces and visualization tools within the platform to improve designer productivity and workflow transparency
- Partner with analog/mixed-signal design teams to gather requirements and triage issues, feeding them into platform feature development and pipeline behavior discussions
- Support platform deployment and rollout across design teams, and contribute to adoption efforts through onboarding, documentation, and training
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Expert-level proficiency in Python and/or C++
- Strong background in object-oriented programming (OOP) and software architecture design
- Experience with data storage systems, schema design, and database architecture
- Knowledge of event-driven programming and system-level simulation frameworks
- Experience developing web applications (e.g., Flask, React) and designing frontend user interfaces
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, packaging, and deployment (e.g docker/cloud)
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience partnering with design engineers to gather requirements and drive adoption
PAY & BENEFITS
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $129,300 and $225,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
See all 17,144+ Software Design Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Software Design Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Software Design Engineer
Align your degree to the role
USCIS expects a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science for Software Design Engineer roles. A degree in an unrelated field will require strong documentation showing the direct connection between your coursework and the position.
Target companies with H-1B filing history
Companies that have previously sponsored Software Design Engineers are far more likely to do it again. Check DOL LCA disclosure data to identify employers with approved filings for this specific title before applying, so you're not guessing at their willingness to sponsor.
Understand the H-1B lottery timeline
H-1B registration opens in March for an October 1 start date. If you're on OPT, your employer needs to file by April to preserve your work authorization through the gap period. Build your job search timeline around these dates, not the other way around.
Hardware-adjacent roles strengthen specialty occupation cases
Software Design Engineer positions involving firmware, FPGA, embedded systems, or ASIC design carry stronger specialty occupation arguments than general software roles. Employers should document the technical specificity of the position thoroughly in the H-1B support letter.
L-1B is a viable alternative if you're already employed
If you're working at a multinational company abroad in a Software Design Engineer role, the L-1B intracompany transfer lets you move to a U.S. office without entering the H-1B lottery. It requires one year of employment at the foreign entity within the past three years.
OPT STEM extension buys critical extra time
Software Design Engineer roles at E-Verify employers qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of post-graduation work authorization. That's two additional H-1B lottery attempts and significantly more runway to secure a long-term visa pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Software Design Engineer classified as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, Software Design Engineer is well-established as a specialty occupation under H-1B visa standards. USCIS and DOL consistently recognize it as requiring at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field such as computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science. Roles involving embedded systems, firmware, or hardware-software integration tend to have the strongest cases because the degree-to-job-duty connection is direct and well-documented across LCA filings.
Do I need a four-year degree to get sponsored as a Software Design Engineer?
A U.S.-equivalent four-year bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering or computer science field is the standard requirement. Australian three-year bachelor's degrees are generally accepted as equivalent. If you don't hold a relevant degree, USCIS allows three years of specialized work experience to substitute for one year of education, meaning 12 years of directly relevant experience could satisfy the requirement without a degree. An immigration attorney should evaluate your specific background before you apply.
Which visa types do employers typically use to sponsor Software Design Engineers?
H-1B is the most common path and applies to most nationalities. Australians can use the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and a much faster timeline. Canadians and Mexicans may qualify under TN visa status in the engineer category. For senior engineers with published research, patents, or industry recognition, O-1A is another option. L-1B applies if you're already employed at a multinational and transferring to a U.S. office.
How do I find Software Design Engineer jobs where the employer will actually sponsor a visa?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this. It filters Software Design Engineer roles by employers with active H-1B, E-3 visa, and other visa sponsorship histories, so you're not cold-applying to companies that have never filed a petition. Browsing Migrate Mate saves significant time compared to manually cross-referencing job postings against DOL disclosure data, and it's designed for international candidates in exactly your situation.
What happens to my H-1B status if my employer does layoffs or I want to change companies?
If your employment ends, you have a 60-day grace period to find a new employer and have them file an H-1B transfer petition. The new employer must file the transfer petition during this window for you to maintain valid status. H-1B portability rules allow you to start working for the new employer as soon as the petition is filed, without waiting for USCIS approval, as long as the petition is non-frivolous and you've maintained lawful status.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Software Design 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.