How to hire an avionics engineer

How to hire an avionics engineer, step by step

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

What does an avionics engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your avionics 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 avionics 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?

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

   Type of Avionics Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Avionics Engineer	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$32-64
   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 Technician	An Engineering Technician's duties vary according to the industry or company, whether mechanical, industrial, civil, agricultural, or more. However, most of the time, the responsibilities often revolve around resolving technical issues, working with and assisting Engineers in building, assembling, designing, gathering and testing data, and conducting more manual activities... Show more	$17-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • FAA
   • Avionics Systems
   • Electrical Systems
   • DOD
   • System Integration
   • Troubleshoot
   • Technical Data
   • Technical Support
   • Data Analysis
   • System Design
   • Engineering Support
   • GPS
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Flight Test

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the fuel supply and aircraft electrical distribution system on board ship, including radar tank gauging and filtration systems.
   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Test and integrate DSP and RF ASIC and FPGA interface into designs.
   • Serve as consultant and technical expert on a multitude of RF and electrical systems.
   • Maintain communications systems, radar, autopilot, TCAS, weapon targeting, navigation and CVR.
   • Develop long term MATLAB programs that are able to model flight data of current and future programs for analysis and decision-making.

   More avionics engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your avionics engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An avionics engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an avionics engineer in Kansas may be lower than in Colorado, and an entry-level avionics engineer usually earns less than a senior-level avionics engineer. Additionally, an avionics engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average avionics engineer salary

   $95,470yearly

   $45.90 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level avionics engineer salary

   $67,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average avionics engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$115,826	$56
   2	California	$113,165	$54
   3	Texas	$109,636	$53
   4	Washington	$104,447	$50
   5	Arizona	$102,394	$49
   6	Minnesota	$101,643	$49
   7	Alabama	$94,709	$46
   8	Missouri	$94,314	$45
   9	Michigan	$91,364	$44
   10	Utah	$91,314	$44
   11	Oklahoma	$90,590	$44
   12	Virginia	$90,092	$43
   13	Ohio	$85,561	$41
   14	Georgia	$83,051	$40
   15	Kansas	$80,601	$39
   16	Florida	$77,960	$37

   Average avionics engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Allegiant International	$113,033	$54.34	2
   2	Booz Allen Hamilton	$111,984	$53.84	44
   3	Bell Flight	$103,086	$49.56
   4	Oceaneering	$102,312	$49.19	1
   5	Boeing	$102,128	$49.10	149
   6	Textron	$101,741	$48.91	61
   7	MD Helicopters	$100,730	$48.43
   8	Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services	$100,216	$48.18	2
   9	Professional Aircraft Accessories	$98,321	$47.27
   10	Randstad North America, Inc.	$98,165	$47.19
   11	Rocket Lab	$98,016	$47.12	13
   12	Stratolaunch	$97,791	$47.01	4
   13	Astranis	$97,495	$46.87	1
   14	(i)Structure	$97,458	$46.85
   15	Huntington Ingalls Industries	$97,458	$46.85	5
   16	Sun Country Airlines	$97,458	$46.85	2
   17	Millennium Space Systems	$97,392	$46.82	6
   18	ABL Space Systems	$97,370	$46.81
   19	Sierra Nevada	$97,231	$46.75	23
   20	PDS Tech	$97,224	$46.74	6

4. Writing an avionics engineer job description

   An avionics 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 avionics engineer job description:

   Avionics engineer job description example

   We are pioneers being the first to break the sound barrier and design the first functional jetpack. We were aboard NASA's first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we are defining the future of Vertical Lift Platforms. At Bell, we are proud to be an iconic company with superb talent, rapidly creating novel and coveted vertical lift experiences.
   Autonomy Avionics Engineer - Innovation Team:
   
   Bell is seeking a self-motivated Autonomy Avionics Engineer to join the Innovation Team and support the development of new and novel products and platforms. The avionics requirements associated with the integration of Autonomy on vertical lift vehicles are challenging and exciting. This position will be part of a diverse team of engineers capable of executing in a fast-paced environment. Opportunities available are in the development, integration, and testing of Autonomous Manned (OPV) and Unmanned Systems (UAS).
   
   Responsibilities: Support prototype design, fabrication, evaluation, troubleshooting, and root-cause and corrective action analyses of autonomy avionics systems Perform advanced electrical and avionics design and integration Prepare wiring diagrams and harness assembly preparation using computer-based design software Support lab, ground and flight testing of autonomous systems Evaluate and analyze avionics and electrical system design for completion of function hazard assessments and system safety assessments Involvement in root cause analysis of complex failures. Participate in the development and improvement of the team's processes and tools
   
   Education Requirements: Bachelor's Degree required in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering, or other related Engineering field Position Requirements: Experience at all levels with avionics and electrical system design will be considered. Experience with computer-aided wiring diagram and harnessing software is desired. Strong computer, written and verbal communication skills required. Experience with Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint are required, Visio experience is desired. Familiarity with modern programming languages (e.g. C++, C#, Java, Python) Familiarity with a broad set of aircraft avionics technologies and interfaces Familiarity with aviation regulations, standards, and best practices. Experience with sensors, compute, networking, power, and communications systems Experience with Autonomy Development, Unmanned Systems (Air, Ground, Sea), Flight Controls, Sensor Systems (EO, IR, LiDAR, etc.), STANAG-4586 and FACE highly desired Motivated person with strong problem-solving abilities, willingness to perform a wide variety of related tasks. Effective communication skills (both verbal and written) Works well with others, including understanding organizational and team differences to accomplish a project. Preference with familiarity of commercial and military qualification and certification of aircraft systems. Textron Relocation Assistance policy is in effect / applies for this position for candidates who qualify
   
   Our employees work on the world's most advanced vertical lift systems and our engineers are the lifeblood of our company. With our robust offering of educational and career development opportunities, your chances to grow are limitless. In this exciting role, you will enjoy opportunities to take on diverse and challenging work assignments, flexible scheduling with every other Friday off, an inviting and supportive culture, competitive compensation, and an excellent benefits package.
   
   Our most cherished core value is to Lift Each Other up, creating a diverse and inclusive environment. As a member of our global workforce, you will collaborate with dedicated, enthusiastic teams where differences in experiences, backgrounds, and ideas combined with a strong passion for our products take us above and beyond flight.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit avionics 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.

   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 avionics engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the avionics 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.

   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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