How to hire a build-release engineer

How to hire a build-release engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step build-release engineer hiring guide:

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

What does a build-release engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a build-release 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

   A build-release engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, build-release 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.

   Here's a comparison of build-release engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Build-Release Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Build-Release Engineer	Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device... Show more	$36-65
   SQL Server Developer	A structured query language (SQL) server developer is a specialist who is tasked to develop and maintain systems to store, organize, and access databases. With their experience in data architect and management, SQL server developers can develop and scale SQL databases based on the needs of their organization... Show more	$34-54
   Developer/Consultant	A developer/consultant is responsible for developing system databases and applications, depending on the business' needs and clients' specifications. Developers/consultants design their services to manage optimal performance and maximize productivity for timely submission of projects, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty... Show more	$34-64

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • GIT
   • Jenkins
   • Java
   • Linux
   • Jira
   • Continuous Integration Environment
   • Ant
   • Maven
   • Infrastructure
   • Configuration Management
   • SVN
   • Source Code
   • Amazon Web

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create scripts in bash to automate the build release processes and debug build failures.
   • Work on creation of puppet manifest files to install tomcat instances and to manage configuration files for multiple applications.
   • Develop python scripts to automate applications migration and monitor application health during migration.
   • Used SharePoint application and implementing tools that help organizations manage processes and data.
   • Manage TCP/IP setup network communications, network cabling and troubleshooting all network connectivity issues.
   • Learned UNIX base server administration, research and implement and oversee source control repository, backup technologies, and application servers.

   More build-release engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your build-release engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A build-release engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, build-release engineers' average salary in arkansas is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level build-release engineers earn 44% less than senior-level build-release engineers.
   • Certifications. A build-release 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 a build-release engineer's salary.

   Average build-release engineer salary

   $102,403yearly

   $49.23 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level build-release engineer salary

   $76,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average build-release engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$134,494	$65
   2	Washington	$110,123	$53
   3	Minnesota	$100,861	$48
   4	New York	$98,877	$48
   5	Virginia	$98,357	$47
   6	Oregon	$95,607	$46
   7	Maryland	$95,313	$46
   8	Texas	$94,864	$46
   9	Massachusetts	$94,765	$46
   10	Illinois	$94,733	$46
   11	Arizona	$94,435	$45
   12	North Carolina	$91,568	$44
   13	Ohio	$89,627	$43
   14	Georgia	$86,147	$41
   15	North Dakota	$85,008	$41
   16	Florida	$83,952	$40
   17	Oklahoma	$83,625	$40
   18	Arkansas	$77,815	$37

   Average build-release engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Credit Karma	$150,081	$72.15	2
   2	Apple	$146,661	$70.51	589
   3	Safeway	$140,834	$67.71
   4	The Walt Disney Company	$139,474	$67.05	283
   5	Intuitive Surgical	$136,175	$65.47	7
   6	Rivian	$132,902	$63.90	18
   7	Cloudera	$131,845	$63.39	6
   8	Applied Materials	$131,674	$63.30	21
   9	NVIDIA	$130,898	$62.93	126
   10	Varian Medical Systems	$130,893	$62.93
   11	Western Digital	$130,545	$62.76	8
   12	Walmart	$128,616	$61.83	372
   13	Amazon	$128,257	$61.66	855
   14	Barnes & Noble	$127,496	$61.30	2
   15	Juniper Networks	$126,680	$60.90
   16	Egnyte	$126,079	$60.61	1
   17	Joby Aviation	$124,315	$59.77	22
   18	Sony Interactive Entertainment America	$124,138	$59.68
   19	PlayStation	$123,446	$59.35	43
   20	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$122,822	$59.05	900

4. Writing a build-release engineer job description

   A build-release 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a build-release engineer job description:

   Build-release engineer job description example

   Embark Trucks is America's Longest-Running Self-Driving Truck Program and is bringing autonomous freight mainstream. As covered by the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes, TechCrunch and and other outlets, Embark went public via a ~$5 billion SPAC deal in November 2021, and is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol EMBK. Embark is headquartered in San Francisco, CA with operations centers in Fontana, CA and Houston, TX, moving freight daily using our purpose-built transfer hubs. Embark has aligned itself with truck manufacturers, shippers, and carriers to integrate our technology into the freight ecosystem, pursuing a business model where fleets own and operate Embark trucks. This is an incredibly exciting time for autonomous vehicles and our team is looking to grow.
   
   As a member of the Software Engineering team, the Build and Release Engineer is responsible for supporting and improving our build infrastructure and software tools that enable rapid iteration across the entire software team, and the design and implementation of the release and deployment pipelines for code that runs on a vehicle. The core role is to provide the tools, processes and building blocks that give internal developers an optimal development environment to enable them to achieve high throughput (build system, testing infrastructure, simulations tools, etc.) to the fleet.
   
   Duties And ResponsibilitiesOwn the software build process, including compiler choice, build system design and implementation.Create an infrastructure that enables rapid iteration across the entire team.Design and implement build, release, delivery, and deployment pipelines.Automated deployment of development environments, including test environments.Enforce best practices for polyglot software systems.Interface with real hardware in complex dynamic environments.
   
   What You NeedBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.4+ years of experience implementing best practices for CI/CD for Linux systems.4+ years of experience in Software Development, with C++/ Python 2 and 3 expertise.Proficiency using Jenkins tool chain in a professional environment.Expertise with scripting languages and build tools such as makefile, CMake or Bazel.Experience with containers (Docker, systemd-nspawn).Experience with related build technologies include package management and binary repositories (Artifactory).Extensive Knowledge of linux OS, in particular Ubuntu and Yocto.
   
   Things That Make a DifferenceEmbedded Linux, Robot Operating System (ROS) experience.Proficiency using the Atlassian tool chain in a professional environment.Customer focused working style and communication skills.Understanding of self-driving vehicles or robotics.
   
   At Embark we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
   
   Embark Trucks, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
   Embark in the Press:
   The Wall Street Journal - Embark Announces $5.2 Billion Deal to Go Public
   Business Insider - Embark's Original Pitch Deck
   Former “Mythbuster” Jamie Hyneman Hitches a Ride in an Embark Self-Driving Truck
   CNBC - Our Partner Development Program
   Forbes - The Embark Universal Interface
   Navigating Highway Work Zones with the Embark Driver
   
   A few company highlights:
   Embark Blog - Series C and Transfer Hubs
   Forbes - 70 Million Dollar Series C
   Video - Day in the life of a self-driving truck
   Embark Blog - Disengagement Report
   30 Million Dollar Series B led by Sequoia

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right build-release 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 build-release engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality build-release engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit build-release 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview build-release engineer candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • 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 build-release engineer

   Once you've selected the best build-release 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new build-release 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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