How to hire a combustion engineer

How to hire a combustion engineer, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your combustion 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 a combustion 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?

   Yes

   No

   A combustion engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, combustion 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 combustion engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Combustion Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Combustion Engineer	Mechanical 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.	$29-59
   Facility Engineer	A facilities engineer specializes in managing and maintaining equipment and machinery in manufacturing plants or similar settings. Duties will revolve around conducting research and analysis through extensive data and blueprints, evaluating systems using various reports, handling issues, providing corrective measures, and performing regular inspections and maintenance... Show more	$30-60
   Research Engineer	Research Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.	$32-66

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Heat Transfer
   • CAD
   • Computational Fluid Dynamics
   • Project Budget
   • PLC
   • NOX
   • Design Reviews
   • DCS
   • Data Reduction
   • EPA
   • Production Issues

   Responsibilities:

   • Drafted/Modele detailed components and packaging material contouring to product for shipping and storage using SolidWorks to accomplish jigs/fixture configurations.
   • Conduct geotechnical and environmental subsurface investigations.
   • Design ventilation and humidification system to provide comfort for the missile combat crews and control pollutant concentration inside the facilities.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, combustion engineers' average salary in arkansas is 43% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level combustion engineers 50% less than senior-level combustion engineers.
   • Certifications. A combustion 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 combustion engineer's salary.

   Average combustion engineer salary

   $87,464yearly

   $42.05 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level combustion engineer salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average combustion engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$105,911	$51
   2	Connecticut	$98,761	$47
   3	Texas	$96,565	$46
   4	Maryland	$94,806	$46
   5	Michigan	$91,661	$44
   6	Washington	$91,511	$44
   7	Arizona	$88,341	$42
   8	Illinois	$85,702	$41
   9	South Carolina	$84,009	$40
   10	Florida	$83,584	$40
   11	Georgia	$81,416	$39
   12	Indiana	$78,945	$38
   13	Alabama	$76,306	$37
   14	Ohio	$73,149	$35
   15	Kansas	$73,060	$35

   Average combustion engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Argonne National Laboratory	$103,603	$49.81
   2	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America	$99,740	$47.95	7
   3	General Electric	$98,074	$47.15	160
   4	General Motors	$94,987	$45.67	252
   5	Greenville County	$94,351	$45.36
   6	FCA US LLC	$94,055	$45.22	7
   7	Faurecia Emissions Control Systems Na, LLC	$92,822	$44.63
   8	Raytheon Technologies	$92,582	$44.51	90
   9	Solar.com	$91,373	$43.93	6
   10	GasTechnology	$91,204	$43.85
   11	The Owens Group	$90,571	$43.54	2
   12	Advanced Green Innovations	$90,570	$43.54
   13	Jacobs Enterprises	$90,568	$43.54	116
   14	Power Systems Mfg., LLC, Ansaldo Energia Group	$89,213	$42.89	5
   15	Jacobs Engineering Group	$88,076	$42.34
   16	O-I Glass	$88,038	$42.33	3
   17	TECO Energy	$88,037	$42.33
   18	R.W. Beckett	$87,807	$42.21
   19	The AES	$87,665	$42.15	3
   20	Florida Power and Light	$87,370	$42.00	12

4. Writing a combustion engineer job description

   A combustion 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 a combustion engineer job description:

   Combustion engineer job description example

   The successful candidate's research will involve synergetic collaborations with a multidisciplinary team involving engine modelers and experimentalists, and computational scientists to enhance the predictive capability of engine modeling codes.
   
   Perform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of fuel injection, ignition, and combustion processes for combustion engines using High-Performance Computing. Evaluate the impact of fuel properties and kinetics on combustion. Analyze advanced mixing and combustion methods for engines. Develop sub-models that improve CFD predictions and implement those models into commercial CFD codes. Use Machine Learning tools to gain further insights into complex datasets that are generated.
   **Position Requirements**
   
   + Candidates must have a Ph.D. in mechanical/aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, chemical engineering, or a related discipline.
   
   + Knowledge of multi-dimensional code development (in C++/C/Fortran) for turbulent combustion modeling, internal combustion engine theory and operation, and parallel scientific computing is required.
   
   + Knowledge of large scientific code management and optimization is desirable.
   
   + Collaborative skills, including the ability to work well with other divisions, laboratories, and universities.
   
   + Skilled in oral and written communications at all levels of the organization.
   
   + A successful candidate must have the ability to model Argonne's Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
   
   What will put you ahead:
   
   + Experience in modeling non-reacting and reacting flows using CFD codes used by industry (e.g., CONVERGE).
   
   + Experience in gaseous fuels and liquid sprays injection modeling.
   
   + Experience in geometry optimization with computer-aided design software.
   
   **Job Family**
   
   Postdoctoral Family
   
   **Job Profile**
   
   Postdoctoral Appointee
   
   **Worker Type**
   
   Long-Term (Fixed Term)
   
   **Time Type**
   
   Full time
   
   _As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law._
   
   _Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department._
   
   _All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment._
   
   _Please note that all Argonne employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. All successful applicants will be required to provide their COVID-19 vaccination verification as a condition of employment, subject to limited legally recognized exemptions to COVID-19 vaccination._

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right combustion engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with combustion engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit combustion engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting combustion engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 combustion engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect combustion engineer 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new combustion 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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