How to hire a computer designer

How to hire a computer designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step computer designer hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a computer designer, 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

   Hiring the perfect computer designer 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 computer designer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Computer Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Computer Designer	Interior designers make interior spaces functional, safe, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting decorative items, such as colors, lighting, and materials. They read blueprints and must be aware of building codes and inspection regulations, as well as universal accessibility standards.	$19-52
   Design Consultant	A design consultant is a professional who provides expertise incorporating functionality and aesthetics to a space or product based on the evaluation of the needs of customers or clients. Design consultants may collaborate with other professionals such as architects, graphic designers, or fashion designers to cater to the needs of their customers... Show more	$24-57
   Interior Design Consultant	An interior design consultant is responsible for designing the interior space of a client's property according to their specifications and budget requirements. Interior design consultants draft their initial layouts, including the cost forecasting and resources for the operations, to determine the client's approval or revise plans as necessary... Show more	$20-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Auto CAD
   • Solidworks
   • Aided Design
   • Revit
   • R
   • HVAC
   • Panel Layouts
   • GD
   • Design Development
   • Design Drawings
   • Mechanical Design
   • Assembly Drawings
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Elevations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Modify SRV-1 source code using JavaScript software to attain tracking at any instantaneous time.
   • Design customer products in SolidWorks and manufacture the product in-house on CNC milling machines.
   • Create and adjust BOM's on drawings.
   • Create business cases for hardware improvement and network capacity for PDM.
   • Work as part of a team to implement at full BOM process.
   • Used SolidWorks to develop design layouts of form sheet steel & weld fabricated assemblies.

   More computer designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the computer designer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A computer designer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a computer designer in Vermont may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level computer designer. Additionally, a computer designer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average computer designer salary

   $66,479yearly

   $31.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level computer designer salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average computer designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$86,744	$42
   2	Oregon	$79,506	$38
   3	Georgia	$77,131	$37
   4	New York	$74,464	$36
   5	Ohio	$64,996	$31
   6	Arizona	$64,212	$31
   7	Michigan	$63,740	$31
   8	Texas	$63,000	$30
   9	Illinois	$53,024	$25

   Average computer designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$133,137	$64.01	136
   2	HTC Global Services - Official Page	$100,330	$48.24
   3	Nike	$99,364	$47.77	125
   4	Lands' End	$92,376	$44.41	6
   5	Hi-Rez Studios	$91,330	$43.91
   6	Leviton	$75,769	$36.43	1
   7	New Hudson Facades	$74,206	$35.68
   8	LERA Consulting Structural Engineers	$70,098	$33.70
   9	Perkins&Will	$64,553	$31.04	56
   10	Honeywell	$62,675	$30.13	40
   11	Thornton Tomasetti	$62,075	$29.84
   12	Architect	$58,289	$28.02	5
   13	TRC Companies	$56,675	$27.25	20
   14	GCR	$55,139	$26.51
   15	PSEA	$52,648	$25.31	4

4. Writing a computer designer job description

   A job description for a computer designer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a computer designer job description:

   Computer designer job description example

   Electrical Designer
   Contract, M-F 40 hours weekly On going...
   
   Multiple Openings, Remote to start with expectation of onsite in the future. Client is targeting early fall. Preference for NX and Zuken E3.
   
   Must have strong cable harness experience.
   
   Our client,creates equipment that allows chipmakers to build device features more than 1,000 times smaller than a grain of sand. This tiny scale has a huge impact. Our products and services are used to make virtually every leading-edge chip inside the electronic products you use every day, from smartphones and laptops to cars and even medical devices.
   
   We are looking for self-starters with high integrity, who thrive in the face of chaos, excel in a team environment, and communicate to influence. ELECTRICAL DESIGNER, CABLE & WIRE HARNESS We are looking for a professional with strong skills in CAD and a desire in packaging wire harnesses and electronic modules. The ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and will be expected to demonstrate excellence in their respective fields, to possess the ability to learn quickly and to strive for perfection within a fast-paced environment.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS: ? Understanding of mechanical and electronic parts, components, and Bill of Materials (BOM). ? Understanding of wiring, schematic, and interconnect diagram. ? Must have basic drafting knowledge: dimensioning and view projections. ? Willingness to learn required software on the job: E3 Zuken, SAP, MS Office ? Ability to read and comprehend electrical component specification and validate proper usage as per design requirements. ? Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and find solutions to meet deadlines. ? Good interpersonal and communication skills.
   
   PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: ? AA degree in an Engineering discipline or CAD Certifications. ? Cable & wire harness hands-on experience is a plus. ? Familiarity with SAP, E3 Zuken, NX 3D model. ? Knowledge of IPC-620 (Requirements & Acceptance for Cable & Wire, Harness Assemblies) ? Knowledge of engineering specifications (ANSI, ASME, MIL-STD-XXX) is a plus.
   
   RESPONSIBILITIES: • Design manufacturing documents in E3 Zuken CAD software (wire list, cable & wire harness assembly, enclosure schematics, and system interconnect diagram). ? Create Bill of Materials (BOM) ? Interact with cross-functional team members on design concepts and progress. ? Support electrical engineering team on components for new cable/harness designs. ? Attention to detail and accuracy is a MUST. ? Perform other duties as assigned.
   
   We are looking for a self-motivated, strong communicator, and team player. You should apply if you are an Electrical Designer professional looking to grow in a premier company and to develop in a highly successful and experienced team.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find computer designers 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 computer designer job on Zippia to find and attract quality computer designer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting computer designers 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 computer designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the computer designer 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new computer designer. 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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