How to hire a contracting engineer

How to hire a contracting engineer, step by step

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

What does a contracting engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your contracting 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 contracting 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

   Hiring the perfect contracting 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 shows salaries for various types of contracting engineers.

   Type of Contracting Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Contracting 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.	$41-83
   Team Lead Engineer	A team leads engineer is in charge of spearheading and overseeing the efforts of an engineering team, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although the duties may depend on one's industry of employment, it typically includes designing and developing systems according to project requirements, setting objectives and construction guidelines, delegating tasks, managing budgets and schedules, and monitoring the workflow, performing corrective measures as needed... Show more	$40-75
   Application Engineer	An application engineer is responsible for creating and re-designing system applications based on clients' specifications and sales demands. Application engineers run diagnostic tests on software programs, identify areas of improvement, install necessary updates, upgrade optimization, revise system codes, and provide technical support for customers' needs... Show more	$33-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • C++
   • C #
   • R
   • Python
   • Windows
   • Test Procedures
   • JavaScript
   • SQL
   • CAD
   • Control Systems
   • Autocad
   • API
   • Solidworks
   • Linux

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Design engineering work are accomplished with Pro/E WF5.0 and Windchill PDMLink.
   • Develop graphical user interfaces to automate design library release process using Perl and Perl/Tk.
   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Create larger Creo FEA model of wider frame which notably sped up the design cycle.
   • Test prototypes to find flaws in the design and to troubleshoot those problems.
   • Design and implement application to do performance testing for REX toolkit components on the Linux platform.

   More contracting engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, contracting engineers' average salary in arkansas is 42% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level contracting engineers 50% less than senior-level contracting engineers.
   • Certifications. A contracting 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 contracting engineer's salary.

   Average contracting engineer salary

   $122,620yearly

   $58.95 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level contracting engineer salary

   $86,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average contracting engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$141,450	$68
   2	California	$140,257	$67
   3	District of Columbia	$132,480	$64
   4	Maine	$127,948	$62
   5	Alaska	$127,458	$61
   6	Massachusetts	$126,845	$61
   7	West Virginia	$119,650	$58
   8	Vermont	$119,329	$57
   9	Maryland	$115,664	$56
   10	Oregon	$114,284	$55
   11	New Mexico	$114,190	$55
   12	Arizona	$113,959	$55
   13	Virginia	$113,260	$54
   14	Pennsylvania	$109,747	$53
   15	Colorado	$105,031	$51
   16	Texas	$103,591	$50
   17	Oklahoma	$103,328	$50
   18	Michigan	$98,196	$47
   19	Montana	$97,827	$47
   20	Illinois	$97,548	$47

   Average contracting engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	EquiLend	$135,452	$65.12
   2	Chain	$132,152	$63.53
   3	Acro Service	$131,532	$63.24	5
   4	CyberCoders	$130,785	$62.88	4
   5	Exxon Mobil	$130,191	$62.59	31
   6	Kelly Services	$129,455	$62.24	34
   7	Enel X	$128,871	$61.96
   8	ICONMA	$128,608	$61.83
   9	Chainlink	$126,770	$60.95
   10	Motion Recruitment	$126,532	$60.83	14
   11	Honeywell	$126,397	$60.77	125
   12	PDS Tech	$125,058	$60.12	9
   13	Randstad North America, Inc.	$124,585	$59.90	6
   14	Zachary Nunn	$119,703	$57.55	2
   15	Parexel International	$118,230	$56.84	1
   16	Royal Bank of Canada	$116,195	$55.86	2
   17	Cengage Learning	$116,084	$55.81
   18	Zachry Group	$115,244	$55.41	19
   19	Moderna	$112,827	$54.24
   20	Exterran Corporation HQ	$112,065	$53.88

4. Writing a contracting engineer job description

   A contracting 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 contracting engineer job description:

   Contracting engineer job description example

   CONTRACT - Associate Engineer - GPU Tools (NTD) (22000000B4) Nintendo Technology Development
   
   The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Nintendo Switch™ system and the Nintendo 3DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.7 billion video games and more than 740 million hardware units globally, including Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS™ family of systems, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™, Wii™ and Wii U™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names, such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokémon. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo Technology Development, based in Redmond, Washington, creates future hardware/software technology and researches North American-based technologies.
   
   DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
   
   Take ownership of development and maintenance on core components of the GPU Tools applications
   Ability to use or learn a variety of languages currently used in development, including: C++, C# and Web technologies
   Writes correct and clean code to defined specifications
   Debugs code effectively within primary area
   Effectively and proactively documents work
   Collaborates with peer groups at Nintendo Co., Ltd. (NCL) and its subsidiaries
   May assist with on-boarding new hires and/or participating in the hiring process
   Up to 10% travel; domestic and international
   
   SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS
   
   0-5 years related experience
   Solid knowledge of application software design and emerging technologies • Solid knowledge of real-time interactive platform technologies or industry related trends
   Proficient in C, C++, C# or equivalent
   Experience with WPF is a plus • Experience with Web development is a plus
   Experience with graphics (OpenGL/Vulkan/DirectX) or graphics profiling is a plus
   BS or MS in engineering or equivalent
   Valid passport may be required
   
   Job: Software DevelopmentPrimary Location: WA-RedmondOrganization: Nintendo Technology DevelopmentSchedule: ContingentNumber of Openings: 1Work Days: M-FHours/Week: 40Salary: DOE

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right contracting 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 contracting engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit contracting engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with contracting 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.

   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.

   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 contracting engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the contracting 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.

   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.

   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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How much does it cost to hire a contracting engineer?