How to hire an associate mechanical engineer

How to hire an associate mechanical engineer, step by step

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

What does an associate mechanical engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an associate mechanical 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

   Hiring the perfect associate mechanical engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of associate mechanical engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Associate Mechanical Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Mechanical 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.	$26-42
   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
   Product Design Engineer	A Product Design Engineer designs new products that customers will want to purchase. They are responsible for designing, modeling, and testing prototypes for products.	$33-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CAD
   • Mechanical Design
   • Solidworks
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Engineering Design
   • FEA
   • HVAC
   • Engineering Drawings
   • System Design
   • MATLAB
   • Engineering Support
   • Hand Tools
   • Additive Manufacturing
   • Project Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Attain SolidWorks CSWP certification and maintaining proficiency within CREO & AutoCad
   • Participate in FMEA s and recommend design improvements.
   • Document and confirm risk management activities (DFMEA & PFMEA).
   • Create tolerance stacks, risk assessments and DFMEA, used results to improve designs.
   • Design, create, and correct assign manufacturing drawings and solid models with the use of SolidWorks.
   • Design in accordance with both commercial and military standards and include cost management preparation and reporting per full DoD requirements.

   More associate mechanical engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the associate mechanical engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. An associate mechanical engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an associate mechanical engineer in South Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level associate mechanical engineer. Additionally, an associate mechanical engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average associate mechanical engineer salary

   $71,432yearly

   $34.34 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate mechanical engineer salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average associate mechanical engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$93,802	$45
   2	Massachusetts	$81,442	$39
   3	Illinois	$80,772	$39
   4	Washington	$80,722	$39
   5	New York	$80,239	$39
   6	New Jersey	$77,562	$37
   7	Michigan	$77,498	$37
   8	Arizona	$76,734	$37
   9	Texas	$74,698	$36
   10	Wisconsin	$74,046	$36
   11	Colorado	$71,374	$34
   12	Connecticut	$70,263	$34
   13	Pennsylvania	$69,290	$33
   14	South Carolina	$68,846	$33
   15	Oklahoma	$67,737	$33
   16	North Carolina	$67,516	$32
   17	Indiana	$67,470	$32
   18	Florida	$66,752	$32
   19	Utah	$63,539	$31
   20	South Dakota	$62,688	$30

   Average associate mechanical engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Koch Industries	$114,418	$55.01	5
   2	Nike	$108,358	$52.10	4
   3	Intuitive Surgical	$104,381	$50.18	24
   4	Tesla	$92,033	$44.25	57
   5	Halliburton	$87,660	$42.14	3
   6	Corning Incorporated	$86,064	$41.38	45
   7	NuvoSun	$85,723	$41.21
   8	SC Johnson	$84,361	$40.56	2
   9	CarMax	$81,107	$38.99	10
   10	Santa Clara Valley Water District	$80,228	$38.57
   11	Nexteer Automotive	$78,825	$37.90
   12	Whirlpool	$78,366	$37.68
   13	HHMI	$78,298	$37.64	1
   14	Schindler Elevator	$77,961	$37.48	2
   15	Moog	$76,810	$36.93	37
   16	QuantumScape	$76,322	$36.69	1
   17	Florida Power and Light	$76,238	$36.65	11
   18	MWH Americas Inc	$75,592	$36.34	21
   19	Continental Automotive Systems	$74,758	$35.94
   20	Xerox	$73,931	$35.54

4. Writing an associate mechanical engineer job description

   An associate mechanical 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 associate mechanical engineer job description:

   Associate mechanical engineer job description example

   Collaboration drives Nordson's success as a market leader in Industrial Precision Solutions and Advanced Technology. Our employees thrive in an environment where we help each other reach our personal best and enable our company to continuously improve and grow, and our customers to succeed. You will find Nordson employees sharing our success by giving back in the communities around the world where we live and work.
   
   Nordson Adhesive Dispensing Systems (ADS) sets the global standard in hot melt machines and dispensing, coating, and laminating systems. Manufacturers rely on our equipment for packaging, product assembly and surface treatment applications. With a leading services and support network, we help our customers worldwide increase manufacturing efficiencies and produce the highest quality products.
   
   Performs manufacturing engineering functions in the execution of production projects as part of a cross functional team. This includes project planning, optimization of manufacturing processes, technical problem solving, and development of new manufacturing processes.
   Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
   Design assembly tools for production of new parts and cycle time or quality improvement of existing parts Design and fabricate fixtures and custom tooling Use CAD software for fixture and process design Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce costs and improve overall effectiveness of manufacturing processes Assure product and process quality through development of standard work Perform other duties as assigned Participate in new product reviews and influence design for manufacturing
   Education and Experience Requirements
   
   Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering with 0-2 years of prior experience.
   
   Preferred Skills and Abilities
   SolidWorks experience PLC, robotics, or other industrial automation experience Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles Use of quality inspection equipment Capital procurement project experience
   Working Conditions and Physical Demands
   
   Manufacturing environment. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   
   Travel Required
   
   Minimal
   
   #LI-KS1
   Nordson Corporation provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees. No person is to be discriminated against in any aspect of the employment relationship due to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of our pre-employment drug screening and background/criminal check, consistent with applicable laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right associate mechanical 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 associate mechanical engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit associate mechanical 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 associate mechanical engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit associate mechanical engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit associate mechanical engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 associate mechanical engineer

   Once you've selected the best associate mechanical engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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.

   To prepare for the new associate mechanical 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 associate mechanical engineer?