How to hire a design engineer

How to hire a design engineer, step by step

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

What does a design engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a design 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a design engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a design engineer that fits the bill.

   This list presents design engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Design Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Design 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.	$27-49
   Research And Development Engineer	Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies... Show more	$35-64
   Product Development Engineer	A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.	$30-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • C++
   • UL
   • Project Management
   • Work Ethic
   • Engineering Design
   • RF
   • Product Design
   • Auto CAD
   • IP
   • Product Development
   • GD
   • FEA
   • Creo
   • BOM

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize CREO surfacing to achieve stylize toilets and components.
   • Lead innovative cost reduction activities for MBD which lead to industry wide changes.
   • Develop software in MATLAB & LabVIEW to post-process data, analyze images, and automate test modules.
   • Participate in new product design reviews, lead DFM sessions with suppliers, and develop part specifications.
   • Validate specifications that achieve function requirements and Honda standards using FTA, FMEA, simulation, design logic & team collaboration.
   • Develop tools using Perl script to automate integration/verification process.

   More design engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the design engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A design engineer 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 design engineer in Wisconsin may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level design engineer. Additionally, a design engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average design engineer salary

   $77,134yearly

   $37.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level design engineer salary

   $57,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average design engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$107,737	$52
   2	Massachusetts	$87,589	$42
   3	Oregon	$84,893	$41
   4	Texas	$82,565	$40
   5	Arizona	$81,816	$39
   6	Washington	$80,393	$39
   7	Connecticut	$78,064	$38
   8	Virginia	$77,811	$37
   9	Colorado	$75,225	$36
   10	New York	$73,259	$35
   11	Illinois	$71,865	$35
   12	Michigan	$70,265	$34
   13	Florida	$69,223	$33
   14	Georgia	$68,030	$33
   15	North Carolina	$67,497	$32
   16	Indiana	$66,584	$32
   17	Ohio	$65,193	$31
   18	Minnesota	$64,208	$31
   19	Kansas	$64,085	$31
   20	Mississippi	$61,047	$29

   Average design engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$152,424	$73.28	599
   2	Apple	$139,116	$66.88	581
   3	Google	$136,285	$65.52	178
   4	PayPal	$136,136	$65.45	11
   5	Fungible	$135,130	$64.97
   6	ByteDance	$132,825	$63.86	4
   7	Microsoft	$131,936	$63.43	183
   8	Waymo	$130,532	$62.76	47
   9	eBay	$125,198	$60.19	11
   10	Brocade Services Corporation	$123,055	$59.16
   11	Magnum Semiconductor	$122,815	$59.05
   12	NVIDIA	$122,600	$58.94	215
   13	Bloomberg	$118,530	$56.99	14
   14	Palo Alto Networks	$117,463	$56.47	77
   15	Cornerstone Research	$117,215	$56.35
   16	Applied Materials	$117,152	$56.32	126
   17	RealSelf	$117,035	$56.27
   18	Amazon	$116,889	$56.20	686
   19	SiFive	$115,514	$55.54	4
   20	Cisco	$114,419	$55.01	127

4. Writing a design engineer job description

   A good design engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a design engineer job description:

   Design engineer job description example

   Because this role involves a combination of collaborative/in-person and independent work, it will take the form of a hybrid work format, with time split between working onsite and remotely.
   
   You don't see it, but it's there. Our employees work on the world's most advanced electronics - from saving emissions in the City of Lights to powering the Mars Rover to protecting the F-35 fighter jet. At Electronic Systems, you'll be among the brightest minds, working on the aerospace and defense industry's most difficult problems. Drawing strength from our differences, we're innovating for the future. And you can, too.
   
   Our flexible work environment provides you a chance to change the world without giving up your personal life. We put our customers first - exemplified by our missions: "We Protect Those Who Protect Us®" and "We Innovate For Those Who Move The WorldTM."Sound like a team you want to be a part of? Come build your career with us.
   
   Our Manassas, Virginia team has an opening for a microelectronics hardware engineer to develop the most advanced radiation hardened computer processors, ASICs, and FPGAs to support our Space Systems line of business. We are seeking team players with strong interests in computer architecture, digital logic, VLSI, custom IC design, design verification, digital system testing, re-configurable computing, or systems on a chip.
   
   You would be a member of the team whose products have been deployed in commercial, civil and national security space missions; including GPS, weather monitoring, satellite TV and radio, exploring the universe; most notably the Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Additional work opportunities would include electronic warfare technology to deliver superior situational awareness, even in the most complex battlespace - defeating threats long before they can be seen. With this job, you will have the opportunity to be an integral part of developing hardware from concept to deployment.
   
   Please note that pursuant to a government contract, this specific position requires US citizenship status.
   Required Education, Experience, & Skills
   Bachelors degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering Strong written and oral communication skills Self-starter and a good team player Strong debug and problem solving skills Experience in VLSI and Integrated Circuit Design, including: Digital and/or Analog integrated circuit design and analysis, Schematic entry, spice simulations, layout, and parasitic extraction, Synthesis, place and route, and DRC/LVS, Cadence or Synopsys IC design tools and flows, Familiarity with revision control (git, cvs, clearcase, etc.) Experience and willingness for supporting device bring-up
   Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
   Masters degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering Experience with Matlab/Simulink Experience with Verilog or VHDL Experience with System Verilog Experience with Design for Test and Chip Test Experience in leading a teams Experience with generating scripts (Perl, Tcl, Python, other) Experience with Radiation Hardening, ADC/DACs, SERDES, Memory, Standard Logic, Band-gaps, Amplifiers
   About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
   BAE Systems Electronic Systems is the global innovator behind game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere - from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact - for our customers and the communities we serve.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting design 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. 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 design engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the design 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.

   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.

   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 design engineer?