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How to hire a chief engineer

Chief engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring chief engineers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a chief engineer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per chief engineer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 16,610 chief engineers in the US, and there are currently 88,473 job openings in this field.
  • Washington, DC, has the highest demand for chief engineers, with 38 job openings.

How to hire a chief engineer, step by step

To hire a chief engineer, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a chief engineer:

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

What does a chief engineer do?

A chief engineer is responsible for monitoring the engineering department's overall operations, ensuring performance efficiency, and everyone's strict compliance with the safety standards and regulatory procedures. Chief engineers manage the distribution of the tasks to the team, communicate with the clients and management for instructions and specifications, monitor expenses and forecast sales reports, analyze and approve designs, negotiate contracts, and process disputes. A chief engineer must have excellent knowledge of the engineering disciplines and exemplary leadership skills to handle the team's performance towards the company's objectives.

Learn more about the specifics of what a chief engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a chief 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?

    Hiring the perfect chief 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 chief engineer salaries for various positions.

    Type of Chief EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Chief EngineerMechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.$31-85
    Lead Design EngineerA Lead Design Engineer produces design solutions that can be purchased, installed, and commissioned effectively. They are also responsible for the cost-effectiviness and safety of new designs.$39-68
    Integration EngineerAn integration engineer specializes in developing programs and projects to improve business systems for optimal processes. Their responsibilities revolve around meeting with clients to determine their needs, coordinating with analysts to identify the company's strengths and weaknesses, implementing various solutions for business processes, and performing corrective measures as needed... Show more$35-63
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • HVAC
    • Plumbing
    • Customer Service
    • Life Safety Systems
    • Boilers
    • Ladders
    • OSHA
    • Electrical Systems
    • Management System
    • Project Management
    • Building Maintenance
    • Mechanical Equipment
    • General Maintenance
    • Troubleshoot
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead SQL performance overhaul for SaaS web applications.
    • Manage A/E design contracts, evaluate cost proposals and provide construction inspection.
    • Maintain HVAC/R equipment and kitchen equipment throughout a number of different properties that LPC manages.
    • Manage staff, contracts, vendor relations, bids, projects, RFP's and negotiations.
    • Co-Authore OSHA VPP application and lead ongoing safety training and documentation administration.
    • Initiate and manage several CMMS programs for productivity and inventory control programs.
    More chief engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your chief engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A chief engineer can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, chief engineers' average salary in south dakota is 50% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level chief engineers 63% less than senior-level chief engineers.
    • Certifications. A chief engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a chief engineer's salary.

    Average chief engineer salary

    $108,050yearly

    $51.95 hourly rate

    Entry-level chief engineer salary
    $65,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 23, 2025

    Average chief engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$160,400$77
    2Texas$143,423$69
    3Arizona$137,622$66
    4Nevada$128,177$62
    5District of Columbia$126,499$61
    6Alabama$124,925$60
    7Maryland$124,085$60
    8Massachusetts$120,516$58
    9Virginia$119,716$58
    10Pennsylvania$111,052$53
    11Utah$108,749$52
    12Colorado$108,443$52
    13Indiana$102,504$49
    14Alaska$102,279$49
    15Illinois$101,657$49
    16Wisconsin$100,144$48
    17Oregon$99,007$48
    18New York$96,334$46
    19Georgia$95,712$46
    20Florida$95,006$46

    Average chief engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1BGC Partners$163,391$78.551
    2Kaiser Permanente$155,607$74.8117
    3Google$152,788$73.4692
    4Amazon$152,054$73.10458
    5Brookfield Properties$149,972$72.10
    6Macy's$142,642$68.582
    7BXP$140,157$67.38
    8Hireology$138,954$66.80
    9Hines Corporation$132,812$63.85
    10Amd$131,300$63.1380
    11Booz Allen Hamilton$130,823$62.9078
    12Newmark Grubb Knight Frank$129,958$62.484
    13Martin Midstream GP$128,795$61.92
    14Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (sgt)$128,718$61.88
    15Ball$128,551$61.802
    16Harvard University$127,325$61.21
    17Parsons$127,128$61.1258
    18Spanish Broadcasting System$126,857$60.99
    19MITRE$126,831$60.9813
    20ITT$126,289$60.7211
  4. Writing a chief engineer job description

    A chief 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 chief engineer job description:

    Chief engineer job description example

    • Bachelor's degree in a cyber related discipline
    • 10 + years of relevant experience.
    • CISSP certification
    • DOE Q, L, or TS clearance.

    WHAT GDIT CAN OFFER YOU:

    • Full-flex work week.
    • 401K with company match.
    • Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you own your career.
    • Collaborative teams of highly motivated critical thinkers and innovators.
    • Ability to make a real impact on the world around you.

    Not sure this job's the one for you? Check out our other openings at gdit.com/careers.

    Do you have a friend or colleague this posting describes? Let them know about the opportunity by clicking “Share.”

    The likely salary range for this position is $118,810 - $198,411, this is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary; rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

    Scheduled Weekly Hours:

    40

    Travel Required:

    Less than 10%

    Telecommuting Options:

    Hybrid

    Work Location:

    USA DC Washington

    Additional Work Locations:

    USA NV Las Vegas

    Total Rewards at GDIT:

    Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.COVID-19 Vaccination: GDIT does not have a vaccination mandate applicable to all employees. To protect the health and safety of its employees and to comply with customer requirements, however, GDIT may require employees in certain positions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination requirements will depend on the status of the federal contractor mandate and customer site requirements.We are GDIT. The people supporting some of the most complex government, defense, and intelligence projects across the country. We deliver. Bringing the expertise needed to understand and advance critical missions. We transform. Shifting the ways clients invest in, integrate, and innovate technology solutions. We ensure today is safe and tomorrow is smarter. We are there. On the ground, beside our clients, in the lab, and everywhere in between. Offering the technology transformations, strategy, and mission services needed to get the job done.GDIT is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.
  5. Post your job

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

    Your first interview with chief engineer 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.

    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 chief engineer

    Once you've found the chief engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new chief engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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How much does it cost to hire a chief engineer?

Recruiting chief engineers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $108,050 per year for a chief engineer, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for chief engineers in the US typically range between $31 and $85 an hour.

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