Software Test Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Software Test Engineer positions regularly qualify for H-1B visa, E-3 visa, and TN visa sponsorship as specialty occupation roles. Most employers require a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related technical field. The role's focus on test automation, quality assurance frameworks, and technical documentation clearly meets specialty occupation criteria. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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INTRODUCTION
It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.
We're a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.
The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.
The Future Forward organization is Intuitive’s advanced concepts group. We explore emerging technologies, prototype next-generation solutions, and build software experiences that shape the future of robotic-assisted surgery.
If you're ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you'll find your purpose here.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Primary Function of Position:
As a Software Test Engineer within the Future Forward engineering team, you will be responsible for all the aspects relating to software testing. You will partner with the development team and with the clinical team to develop procedures leading up to the full verification of the system software for a novel surgical robot architecture.
The primary function of this position is to own all aspects of system verification for robotic surgical systems, including ownership of the top-level test strategy, design, development, and execution of test protocols, test report generation, and defect management.
The successful candidate must excel in a focused, high-energy small-team environment. The position will require close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including but not limited to product development teams, clinical team, systems analysts, design team, quality, and regulatory teams.
Quick learning and a desire to understand requirements from a user’s and engineering’s perspective are essential to become a valuable system developer. A strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward is required.
Your responsibilities will encompass all aspects related to the system software verification, ranging from a clear understanding of the system architecture design and risk analysis to ownership of requirements discussions and change impact analysis. You will understand the system from both a technical perspective and the user’s viewpoint, and drive definition and development of robust test strategy, as well as recommend design improvements.
Essential Job Duties
This position has responsibility for all aspects related to the software verification of robotic surgical systems and instruments. Specifically, the Software Test Engineer is responsible for:
- Designing, developing, and executing test scripts and protocols for functional software verification for complex robotic surgical systems.
- Generating test reports and complete requirement tracing for all requirements under test.
- Logging and managing issues found within the issue tracking system; working with software and cross-functional teams to identify the root cause and assess the impact of each issue.
- Contributing to requirements discussions and providing inputs from system test engineering perspective.
- Participating in design change reviews and provide feedback on test impact and regression analysis.
- Analyzing test data, identify non-conformance trends, generate concise executive summaries, and recommend design improvements.
- Execution of the verification protocols of robotic surgical systems and instruments.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education and Training:
- Bachelor’s degree or above in Computer Science, Software Engineer, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or adjacent technical field.
- A minimum of 8 years of experience in testing complex electro-mechanical or robotic systems (6 years for Master’s degree holders).
Required Skills and Experience:
- Strong skills in defining test methods based on a deep understanding of requirements, specifications and system software architecture.
- Strong experience in the planning and execution of Verification and Validation (V&V) activities for medical devices, under quality and regulatory compliance.
- Strong foundation in system engineering, Software Quality Assurance (SQA), software design principles.
- First-principles thinking and in-depth knowledge of failure mode and risk analysis processes.
- Strong problem-solving skills and debugging of complex embedded software and electromechanical systems.
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Experience with Python, Matlab, JavaScript, or other scripting language.
- Experience with Unit Test frameworks.
- Experience with Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) testing.
WORKING CONDITIONS
none
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.
Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.
MANDATORY NOTICES
U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.
Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).
For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes.
We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.
Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.
This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.
We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.
Base Compensation Range Region 1: $162,400 USD - $233,600 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $138,000 USD - $198,600 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.
LOCATION
Sunnyvale, CA, United States
Not Remote
Engineering
JOB216006
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Software Test Engineer
Emphasize automation and technical skills
Highlight experience with test automation frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, or TestComplete. Technical testing skills differentiate you from manual QA roles and strengthen specialty occupation requirements.
Target companies with established QA processes
Focus on mid-to-large companies with dedicated testing teams and formal SDLC processes. These employers better understand the technical nature of test engineering roles.
Showcase programming knowledge
Demonstrate proficiency in programming languages used for test automation like Python, Java, or C#. This technical depth supports the specialty occupation classification for visa applications.
Highlight degree relevance
Connect your computer science or engineering degree directly to testing methodologies, software architecture, and quality assurance principles in your application materials and interviews.
Research company testing infrastructure
Learn about the employer's testing tools, CI/CD pipelines, and quality processes. Technical knowledge shows genuine interest and reinforces your qualifications for sponsorship consideration.
Consider consulting and contract-to-hire
Testing roles at consulting firms and contract positions often convert to permanent sponsorship opportunities. These paths can provide faster entry into the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Software Test Engineer roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship?
Yes, Software Test Engineer positions typically qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations. The role requires specialized knowledge of testing frameworks, automation tools, and software development processes. Most employers require a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related technical field, which satisfies the degree requirement.
What degree do I need for test engineer visa sponsorship?
Most employers require a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, information technology, or related technical field. Some accept degrees in mathematics or engineering with relevant testing experience. The degree must relate to the specialized knowledge required for test automation, quality assurance methodologies, and software development lifecycle processes.
How to find Software Test Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Software Test Engineer jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international candidates with sponsoring employers. Focus your search on technology companies, fintech firms, and healthcare organizations that commonly hire QA professionals on H-1B, TN visa, or other work visas. These industries frequently need skilled testers for their software development teams and are experienced with sponsorship processes.
Can manual QA testers get visa sponsorship as Software Test Engineers?
It's challenging without automation experience. Software Test Engineer roles typically require technical skills in test automation frameworks, scripting languages, and CI/CD integration. Manual testing experience alone may not meet specialty occupation requirements. Consider developing automation skills in Selenium, Python, or similar tools to strengthen your sponsorship case.
Which industries sponsor Software Test Engineers most frequently?
Technology companies, financial services, healthcare software, and consulting firms frequently sponsor test engineers. Companies with complex software products requiring extensive quality assurance are most likely to sponsor. SaaS companies, fintech firms, and enterprise software developers particularly value specialized testing expertise and often provide visa sponsorship.
How does SDET differ from Software Test Engineer for visa purposes?
Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) roles typically have stronger visa sponsorship prospects due to the development focus. SDETs write production code, design test frameworks, and contribute to software architecture. Both qualify as specialty occupations, but SDET roles often command higher compensation and may face less scrutiny during the visa process.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Software Test 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.