How to hire an automation engineering technician

How to hire an automation engineering technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step automation engineering technician hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the automation engineering technician you need to hire. Certain automation engineering technician 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an automation engineering technician 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 automation engineering technician that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of automation engineering technicians.

   Type of Automation Engineering Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Automation Engineering Technician	Industrial engineering technicians help industrial engineers implement designs to use personnel, materials, and machines effectively in factories, stores, healthcare organizations, repair shops, and offices. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs.	$31-58
   Validation Technologist	A validation technologist works with a process chief and applies validation methods to complete tasks and carry out installations. They perform operational protocol duties and do reviews daily... Show more	$18-31
   Quality Technician Engineer	Quality specialists are quality assurance professionals who make sure that the organization's standards are constantly maintained in their products. They are employed in various industries, like technology and manufacturing... Show more	$30-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PLC
   • HMI
   • Automation Engineering
   • Windows
   • Automation Systems
   • Control Systems
   • Linux
   • Autocad
   • VFD
   • CNC
   • Process Instrumentation
   • Technical Support
   • Frequency Drives
   • Debugging

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
   • Research previous governmental projects on PLC to create new program simulations for team
   • Used Siemens PLC programming (STL) to improve efficiency of production line.
   • Train manufacturing personnel on new and current product assemblies, and to maintain compliance with GMP and ISO standards.
   • Work on improvements to and calibration of a reverberation chamber used for RF susceptibility testing.
   • Troubleshoot, design, calibrate, manufacture and maintain modern air traffic control communications and RF equipment.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, automation engineering technicians' average salary in arkansas is 38% less than in maryland.
   • Seniority. Entry-level automation engineering technicians earn 45% less than senior-level automation engineering technicians.
   • Certifications. An automation engineering technician 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 automation engineering technician's salary.

   Average automation engineering technician salary

   $89,591yearly

   $43.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level automation engineering technician salary

   $66,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing an automation engineering technician job description

   A good automation engineering technician 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 automation engineering technician job description:

   Automation engineering technician job description example

   Help us build the DNA of tech.
   
   Vishay manufactures one of the world's largest portfolios of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components that are essential to innovative designs in the automotive, industrial, computing, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. We help the world's most in-demand technologies come to life. Every day our products touch your life and the lives of people across the world, though you likely do not know it. Come join us and help us build The DNA of tech.™
   
   Do you want to be a part of the critical infrastructure in today's growing technology? Vishay Dale in Columbus, NE is currently seeking a full-time Automation Engineering Technician.
   
   Responsibilities:
   
   * Work from schematics, diagrams, written and verbal descriptions, layouts or defined plans to perform testing, check-out and troubleshooting functions.
   * Performs operational test and fault isolation on systems and equipment.
   * Assists in determining methods or actions to remedy malfunctions.
   * Assists in the design, construction, test and check-out of test equipment.
   * Uses manufacturing, test, development or diagnostic equipment, including but not limited to, test programs, oscilloscopes, signal generators and specialized test apparatus.
   
   Requirements:
   
   * Two year electromechanical degree
   * Ability to lift 50 pounds.
   
   Benefits:
   
   * Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance
   * 401(k)
   * Paid Time Off
   * Employee Assistance Programs
   * Tuition Reimbursement
   
   This position requires access to information subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, this position is open only to applicants who qualify as "U.S. Persons" according to U.S. federal law.
   
   Vishay offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs including health care coverage, financial support programs and other resources designed to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. With us, you'll experience unique career paths, an open and collaborative culture, a stable business that will be there for you, and opportunities to work globally and locally. Do you have the skills we need? Are you ready to power your career as you power the world? If so, apply today.
   
   Vishay is an AAP and Equal Opportunity Employer

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find automation engineering technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any automation engineering technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level automation engineering technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with automation engineering technician 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.

   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 automation engineering technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect automation engineering technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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