How to hire an associate process engineer

How to hire an associate process engineer, step by step

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

What does an associate process engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your associate process 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 associate process 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an associate process engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an associate process engineer that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Associate Process Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Process Engineer	Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. They design processes and equipment for large-scale manufacturing, plan and test production methods and byproducts treatment, and direct facility operations.	$30-46
   Research And Development Engineer	Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies... Show more	$35-64
   Manufacturing Engineer	Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for handling and developing an efficient manufacturing system or procedure that will help a company produce up to standard products while in adherence to the policies, regulations, and expected cost and schedule. Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineers must also monitor quality control, identify or detect errors, provide and suggest improvements, oversee the procurement of materials involved in the production, and coordinate with various teams or departments within the company to ensure the effectiveness of innovations or new developments.	$28-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Process Engineering
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Process Improvement
   • Sigma
   • GMP
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Process Equipment
   • Data Analysis
   • Minitab
   • Sops
   • Technical Support
   • Manufacturing Support
   • Statistical Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead and assist maintenance in resolving equipment malfunctions, troubleshoot process problems, and organize and implement preventative maintenance procedures.
   • Develop and characterize one-off GMP process equipment.
   • Conduct experiments and testing on non woven media and perform thorough statistical analysis using Minitab software.
   • Update facility maps on AutoCAD.
   • Use JMP statistical software to analyze data from range finding research.
   • Utilize AutoCAD to blueprint the factory, the machines, and the work flow.

   More associate process engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate process engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An associate process engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, associate process engineers' average salary in kansas is 39% less than in new mexico.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate process engineers earn 33% less than senior-level associate process engineers.
   • Certifications. An associate process engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an associate process engineer's salary.

   Average associate process engineer salary

   $79,046yearly

   $38.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate process engineer salary

   $64,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average associate process engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oklahoma	$94,855	$46
   2	Texas	$93,298	$45
   3	California	$86,084	$41
   4	Nebraska	$85,019	$41
   5	Virginia	$82,563	$40
   6	Washington	$76,211	$37
   7	South Carolina	$75,633	$36
   8	North Carolina	$74,908	$36
   9	Oregon	$74,681	$36
   10	Massachusetts	$73,843	$36
   11	New York	$73,686	$35
   12	Pennsylvania	$73,630	$35
   13	Illinois	$71,624	$34
   14	Nevada	$66,162	$32
   15	Delaware	$65,261	$31
   16	Connecticut	$60,333	$29

   Average associate process engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tesoro	$120,985	$58.17
   2	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$106,792	$51.34	7
   3	Alexion Pharmaceuticals	$103,983	$49.99	1
   4	Novo Nordisk	$102,904	$49.47	6
   5	SC Johnson	$95,802	$46.06	2
   6	McKinsey & Company Inc	$93,989	$45.19
   7	Eli Lilly and Company	$93,857	$45.12	37
   8	QuantumScape	$90,963	$43.73	4
   9	Tesla	$90,820	$43.66	80
   10	Air Liquide	$90,034	$43.29
   11	Pfizer	$89,938	$43.24	4
   12	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$89,861	$43.20	6
   13	MITRE	$89,107	$42.84	7
   14	McDermott International	$88,584	$42.59	1
   15	Dana Incorporated	$88,110	$42.36	5
   16	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$86,274	$41.48	28
   17	Dell	$84,842	$40.79
   18	The Kraft Group	$84,360	$40.56
   19	Lucid Motors	$84,357	$40.56	49
   20	Modern Meadow	$84,189	$40.48

4. Writing an associate process engineer job description

   A good associate process engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an associate process engineer job description:

   Associate process engineer job description example

   Under the supervision of the department manager, the Associate Process Engineer is responsible for:
   
   + Process Improvement & New Product Development - Conduct trials and experiments to develop new products and manufacturing processes. Analyze data, provide recommendations, and issue reports to plant technical management and corporate technical center on process improvements and new product and process development.
   
   + Specifications & Standards - Issue specifications and standards for assigned area of responsibility which may include incoming materials, component, assembled product, or curing process. Evaluate production data and laboratory test results, analyze production methods, and adjust specifications and standards to improve quality, productivity and reduce costs.
   
   + Technical Support - Monitor process specification compliance in assigned area and make recommendations to plant production management to improve quality, productivity, and costs. Evaluate non-conforming product or material and disposition in accordance with standards.
   
   + Special Assignments & Cross Functional Teams - Participate on cross functional team activities giving technical assistance and guidance to resolve chronic or acute production problems or attain significant process improvement. Utilize statistical analysis methods where appropriate to help determine root cause or key process input variables. Assist in presentations to management and teammates from corporate offices.
   
   Bachelor's degree; or equivalent work experience
   
   Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, one of the world's leading tire manufacturers, has a job opportunity for an Associate Process Engineer at the Bloomington, Illinois Off-Road Tire manufacturing facility. Associate Process Engineers maintain & establish plant specifications to meet requirements in quality, product performance, processability, productivity, standardization, and cost. The Associate Process Engineer will investigate issues with processes and finished products using data-driven problem-solving techniques to identify the root causes and develop countermeasures to remedy material or machine issues, reduce in-process waste and improve product quality.
   
   Wherever you work and whatever role you fill, when you represent the Bridgestone name you know that you are a valued teammate who is part of our larger mission to Serve Society with Superior Quality. We start by offering each teammate more than just a salary. We provide formal training, competitive performance incentives, paid vacation and holidays, healthcare packages for full-time and part-time employees, and a 401k plan to help build your future. We believe people can only provide superior service and quality to others when they are allowed to bring their whole selves to work and know they are supported. We believe in championing all perspectives, individuals and teams because we understand the importance of seeing the world and our business through many different lenses. We are building a team as diverse as the world we serve. So, show us what you are made of. Show us the smart stuff, the tough stuff, the bold, beautiful and brave stuff. Because who you are is what we need. Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone Americas and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand products to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.
   
   Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. It is our policy to consider for employment all individuals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find associate process 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 associate process engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit associate process engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting associate process 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. 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 process engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the associate process 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new associate process 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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