How to hire an associate systems engineer

How to hire an associate systems engineer, step by step

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

What does an associate systems engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the associate systems engineer you need to hire. Certain associate systems engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 systems 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.

   This list presents associate systems engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Associate Systems Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Systems Engineer	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$28-50
   Systems Analyst	A systems analyst is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of technology systems and analyzing its efficiency for business operations and clients' needs. Systems analysts create specific modifications to operating systems and help design solutions and processes... Show more	$27-46
   Systems Operator	Systems operators often act as the front liners whose primary job is to ensure the reliable delivery of electricity service to consumers and businesses. They are responsible for overseeing and managing the power grid and controlling electricity flow through transmission lines... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Infrastructure
   • MATLAB
   • C++
   • C #
   • Java
   • Troubleshoot
   • DOD
   • Linux
   • System Integration
   • Data Analysis
   • RF
   • Technical Support
   • Unix

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work with VMware to manage virtual environment.
   • Develop codes using COBOL to manage the data of orders of electrical equipment receive.
   • Manage connectivity using JDBC for querying/inserting & data management.
   • Perform responsibilities of collecting and understanding business requirements for an internal TCS project to automate the report generations.
   • Research vendors to find an effective EAI for the company to integrate accounting, CRM and EDI applications.
   • Complete routine check of in house data center for any alarms on servers, switches, SAN's, and routers.

   More associate systems engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, associate systems engineers' average salary in missouri is 29% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate systems engineers earn 42% less than senior-level associate systems engineers.
   • Certifications. An associate systems 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 systems engineer's salary.

   Average associate systems engineer salary

   $79,720yearly

   $38.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate systems engineer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average associate systems engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$93,435	$45
   2	New York	$84,613	$41
   3	Maryland	$83,671	$40
   4	Nebraska	$83,306	$40
   5	Washington	$79,401	$38
   6	New Jersey	$79,177	$38
   7	Massachusetts	$78,399	$38
   8	Michigan	$77,269	$37
   9	Arizona	$77,140	$37
   10	Virginia	$76,194	$37
   11	Texas	$75,446	$36
   12	North Carolina	$74,260	$36
   13	Georgia	$72,216	$35
   14	Tennessee	$71,205	$34
   15	Illinois	$70,425	$34
   16	Colorado	$69,206	$33
   17	District of Columbia	$67,807	$33
   18	Iowa	$67,287	$32
   19	Utah	$66,420	$32
   20	Alabama	$66,328	$32

   Average associate systems engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dimensional Fund Advisors	$103,045	$49.54	5
   2	Walmart	$102,635	$49.34	152
   3	Loup Logistics	$102,299	$49.18	2
   4	Inspire Medical Systems	$99,823	$47.99
   5	Workday	$99,004	$47.60	7
   6	Palo Alto Networks	$98,489	$47.35	32
   7	RH	$96,629	$46.46
   8	Goldman Sachs	$96,515	$46.40	3
   9	L.L.Bean	$94,067	$45.22	1
   10	Carvana	$94,026	$45.20	10
   11	Intralinks	$93,522	$44.96	10
   12	Brocade Services Corporation	$93,081	$44.75
   13	Pacific Gas and Electric	$92,350	$44.40
   14	Arista Networks	$91,606	$44.04	25
   15	Harley-Davidson	$91,595	$44.04	1
   16	Randstad North America, Inc.	$89,948	$43.24	26
   17	Conga	$89,909	$43.23
   18	Unisys	$89,301	$42.93	10
   19	Bungie	$87,757	$42.19	1
   20	T. Rowe Price	$87,572	$42.10	13

4. Writing an associate systems engineer job description

   An associate systems 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 systems engineer job description:

   Associate systems engineer job description example

   We Believe in Better!
   We are a global information technology company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions that can help change the world. Enhancing people's lives through secure, reliable advanced technology is our vision.
   At Unisys, we believe in better! Here, you have the opportunity to learn new skills, apply your expertise, and solve complex problems with cutting edge technologies and solutions. You are part of a global diverse team that supports you, drives change, and delivers successful results consistently.
   
   Our associates are at the forefront of everything we do, driving our clients' successes while giving back to communities and making this world a safer and more secure place to live and work. Our success is a direct result of the work of our people who live and breathe our Core Beliefs. Simply put, we believe in better lives. Join us!
   
   Learn more about Unisys and our key solution offerings: Unisys, Stealth™, CloudForte , InteliServe™
   
   What success looks like in this role:
   
   • Team member • Learning processes and tools. • Escalate issues as and when required. • Learning an area or product. Rely on team for domain knowledge. • Contribute towards team learning and efficiency as experience is gained. • Receive task estimates typically from supervisor/mentor with some input. Tasks are of limited number and duration. Capture actual efforts in status reports. • Aware of requirements in area of defined tasks. • Implement defined tasks. Implement simple features or test cases with assistance. • Write/run tests in defined product areas. Document problems found. • Execute prewritten tests. Document problems encountered. Participate on team responsible for system set-up and maintenance. • Provide initial analysis of problems in defined areas. Assist in gathering information to assist in problem debug and resolution. • Fix defects in defined areas of code. Fix simple problems with assistance. Create clear and accurate change/patch documentation. Review test cases for clarity and accuracy. • Handle Contacts and UCFs in defined product areas with assistance. Expedite resolutions. • Work effectively in virtual teams. Receive guidance from team members in any location. • Participates in Innovation activities as part of a team. Creation of Knowledge Documents.
   
   #LI-DNI
   
   You will be successful in this role if you have:
   • Computer Science/EE undergraduate degree required • No experience required, Intern/COOP experience preferred • Knowledge of Engineering Concepts • Ability to work in a global team, with multiple stakeholders across functions, business units and geographical regions • Ability to communicate task information with clients • Team Player • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with good command over English language.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right associate systems engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate systems engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality associate systems engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit associate systems engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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.

   If your interviews with associate systems engineer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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 systems engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the associate systems 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 associate systems 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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