How to hire an aircraft engineer

How to hire an aircraft engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step aircraft 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 aircraft engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new aircraft engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an aircraft engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an aircraft engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An aircraft engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, aircraft 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of aircraft engineers.

   Type of Aircraft Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Aircraft Engineer	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$25-47
   Stress Analyst	A stress analyst is a type of aerospace engineer; they design, construct, and test aircraft. They may also work on missiles or spacecraft... Show more	$30-54
   Engineering Scientist	An engineering scientist is responsible for designing new technological systems through the evaluation of scientific methods and innovative solutions. Engineering scientists analyze technical parts and components, researching the current engineering trends to meet public demands and interests... Show more	$31-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOD
   • Aircraft Systems
   • CAD
   • Airframe
   • Aircraft Maintenance
   • Landing Gear
   • STC
   • Design Changes
   • Structural Repairs
   • Maintenance Actions
   • Federal Aviation Administration
   • Aircraft Engines
   • NDT
   • Test Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the software development for multiple successful NASA and DOD small business innovative research (SBIR) grants.
   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Design the galleys of private jets using AutoCAD.
   • Develop flight data extraction and visualization software suite in MATLAB.
   • Verify compliance with FARs, aircraft specifications, and customer requests.
   • Complete equipment installations, wiring diagrams, and test fixtures using CATIA V4, V5 and CADEX applications.

   More aircraft engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, aircraft engineers' average salary in louisiana is 36% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level aircraft engineers 46% less than senior-level aircraft engineers.
   • Certifications. An aircraft 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 aircraft engineer's salary.

   Average aircraft engineer salary

   $72,867yearly

   $35.03 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level aircraft engineer salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average aircraft engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$99,398	$48
   2	Washington	$85,449	$41
   3	Nevada	$82,459	$40
   4	Colorado	$79,853	$38
   5	Texas	$79,003	$38
   6	Arkansas	$75,273	$36
   7	Alabama	$75,255	$36
   8	Illinois	$75,219	$36
   9	New York	$69,329	$33
   10	Georgia	$68,912	$33
   11	Indiana	$66,226	$32
   12	Florida	$61,414	$30
   13	Louisiana	$61,250	$29

   Average aircraft engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Joby Aviation	$104,214	$50.10	20
   2	VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering, Inc.	$85,644	$41.17
   3	Astronics	$83,901	$40.34
   4	Global Eagle Entertainment	$82,999	$39.90
   5	ABX Air	$82,363	$39.60
   6	Dassault Falcon Jet	$80,888	$38.89	10
   7	Hi-Tek	$77,327	$37.18
   8	MEC	$77,327	$37.18
   9	*n/a*	$77,265	$37.15
   10	VT San Antonio Aerospace, Inc.	$77,157	$37.09
   11	Aeroframe	$77,098	$37.07
   12	Intelsat	$76,296	$36.68
   13	Smartronix	$76,152	$36.61
   14	Air Methods	$76,007	$36.54
   15	CTS Corporation	$74,544	$35.84
   16	UPS	$73,920	$35.54	27
   17	US Airways Center	$71,830	$34.53
   18	Allegiant Air	$68,444	$32.91
   19	SMX Convention Center	$66,868	$32.15
   20	Cathay Pacific	$56,616	$27.22

4. Writing an aircraft engineer job description

   An aircraft 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 aircraft engineer job description:

   Aircraft engineer job description example

   Job SummaryProvides engineering support for base and heavy maintenance for assigned area of responsibility. Provides engineering support for repairs, parts and material substitutions and alterations. Evaluates manufacturer's maintenance documents for applicability to the AMC fleet. Produces engineering documents to execute alterations and repairs as required. Works with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or Designated Engineering Representative (DER) for approval of major repairs and modifications and for conformity and compliance with applicable Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) as required.Essential Functions and Responsibilities include the following: • Review Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and Service Bulletins for applicability to Air Methods' (AMC's) fleet: develop Engineering Orders to accomplish modifications in response to ADs, Service Bulletins, SILs, etc.• Conduct research and data collection to aid in the development of Fleet Campaign Directives, Engineering authorizations, Engineering Orders, engineering Specifications, and other engineering documents• Provide engineering support for base and 145 maintenance to include minor repair authorizations, parts and materials substitutions, repairs, and reports• Provide support in maintaining configuration control• Respond to requests for engineering assistance to obtain or develop approved engineering data when that data is not in the Manufacturers manual, Structural Repair Manual (SRM), or other FAA approved documents• Interact with applicable departments to define, maintain and optimize the AMC Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (AAIP) and other maintenance program items• Analyze and determine disposition of all reliability issues and improvements• Evaluate and determine disposition of Beyond Economic Repair (BER) parts• Other duties as assigned Additional Job Requirements• Regular scheduled attendance• Indicate the percentage of time spent traveling: <1%Subject to applicable laws and Air Method's policies, regular attendance is an essential function of the position. All employees must follow Air Methods' employment practices and policies.Supervisory ResponsibilitiesThis position has no supervisory responsibilities. QualificationsTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. In accordance with applicable laws, Air Methods will provide reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden so disabled employees may perform the essential functions of the position.Education & Experience• Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field from four-year college or university and three (3) or more years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience• Aviation engineering experience: 5 years minimum preferred• Must demonstrate behavior that portrays the company core values of Safety, Respect, Trust, Collaboration and Passion while communicating with personnel and acting on behalf of the company Skills• Core understanding of electronic aircraft structure with knowledge of the hierarchal relationships between components• Knowledge of interchangeability rules for aircraft configuration• Experience with aircraft model / model variants relative to component applicability• Strengths in aircraft compliance recording and regulations• Strong knowledge in aviation engineering process and regulations regarding AD's and SB's• Practical understanding of electronic AMM / IPC / MSM / delivery docs / ICA's / 337's and functional competency • Independent, self-motivated, and organized• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills• Excellent interpersonal and people skills• Ability to achieve goals while working under tight time constraints while maintaining technical standards and integrity• Strong analytical and problem solving skills a must• In depth knowledge of aviation maintenance, records and compliance, engineering, and configuration control• Working knowledge of aviation regulatory affairs for FAA and other applicable regulatory environments• Ability to work with little oversight and manage workload and priorities appropriately Computer Skills• Proficient with Microsoft Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
   Salary
   
   + Hiring Salary Range: $60k - 85k
   
   + Bonus/Commission Eligible: No
   
   + Benefits: Air Methods provides a comprehensive benefits package. We believe our benefits should be as diverse as our teammates. We offer competitive medical, dental and vision coverage along with voluntary accident, hospitalization and critical illness coverage, short and long term disability, life and AD&D, time off programs, pretax and Roth 401(k) with a generous company match, tuition reimbursement, profession training and certifications, dependent care support, EAP and concierge services to name just some of what we have to offer.
   
   Air Methods is an EEO/AA employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
   
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right aircraft engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with aircraft engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit aircraft engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with aircraft engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 aircraft engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the aircraft 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new aircraft engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire an aircraft engineer?