How to hire an air conditioning engineer

How to hire an air conditioning engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step air conditioning engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an air conditioning engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new air conditioning engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your air conditioning engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an air conditioning engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An air conditioning engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, air conditioning engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of air conditioning engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Air Conditioning Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Air Conditioning Engineer	Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.	$31-62
   Research Engineer	Research Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.	$32-66
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC
   • Plumbing
   • Condition Monitoring
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Ventilation
   • Taps

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Complete cost estimations OSP software.
   • Coordinate the integration of HVAC designs with other building operating systems.
   • Design and draft mechanical and plumbing systems using AutoCAD and Revit.
   • Develop pair bonding, bridge taps, multiples, and shot-gun pairs.
   • Participate in groups to review, edit and publish relate ASHRAE and ISO standards.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your air conditioning engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An air conditioning engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, air conditioning engineers' average salary in arkansas is 45% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level air conditioning engineers 50% less than senior-level air conditioning engineers.
   • Certifications. An air conditioning engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an air conditioning engineer's salary.

   Average air conditioning engineer salary

   $91,987yearly

   $44.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level air conditioning engineer salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

4. Writing an air conditioning engineer job description

   An air conditioning engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an air conditioning engineer job description:

   Air conditioning engineer job description example

   D481 provides waterfront engineering support for fluid-based ship systems for VIRGINIA Class submarines under new construction. The department is in specific need of experienced Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) engineers.
   
   The department interfaces with and provides direct support to the trades during ship construction and testing in Groton, Quonset Point, and Newport News by addressing and clearing liabilities impacting achievement of major milestones. This position requires significant interaction with various disciplines within and outside of Electric Boat, including equipment vendors, ships management program office, test organizations, SUPSHIP and others.
   As a part of D481, the successful candidate will have several responsibilities which include:
   
   * Providing engineering support for the testing of the ship's HVAC systems to ensure that the systems provide the correct heating, cooling and air flow for all modes of operation.
   * Providing direct support for freeze protection during the winter months for submarine module shipments between the QP, Groton and Newport News shipyards.
   * Performance of calculations, as required, to verify the technical quality of as-built design conditions (i.e. HVAC sizing, fluid system flow balancing, thermal analysis, etc.)
   * Investigation of emergent shipyard issues which would lead to the generation of technical dispositions in response to Engineering Reports (ERs) or test inspection reports (TIRs)/UNSATs.
   * Development of technical letters to NAVSEA to resolve long term technical or class-wide issues.
   * Coordination with design personnel on system modifications to minimize the impact to construction schedules while ensuring technical requirements are still met.
   * Providing technical support to shipyard trades for construction issues.
   * Providing technical support to shipyard test organizations regarding issues with test procedures or results.
   * Investigation of Vendor generated issues and generation of technical dispositions in response to vendor information requests (VIRs).
   
   Qualifications
   
   REQUIRED
   
   * Bachelor of Science in Engineering [Mechanical, Aerospace preferred]
   * At least 3 years of direct experience with HVAC system design and/or test.
   
   Skills
   
   * A strong understanding of the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and materials is required.
   * Strong organizational skills combined with the ability to self-manage both short term and long term projects are desired.
   * Communication skills (both written and oral) are needed to effectively interact with all internal and external customers

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find air conditioning engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your air conditioning engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit air conditioning engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting air conditioning engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new air conditioning engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the air conditioning engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new air conditioning engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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