How to hire a diesel engine mechanic

How to hire a diesel engine mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step diesel engine mechanic hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a diesel engine mechanic, 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

   A diesel engine mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, diesel engine mechanics 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of diesel engine mechanics.

   Type of Diesel Engine Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Diesel Engine Mechanic	Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.	$17-31
   Automotive Service Technician	Automotive service technicians, often called service technicians, have a duty to inspect, maintain, and repair cars and even light trucks. It is their job as automotive service technicians to find problems, often by computerized diagnostic equipment... Show more	$12-35
   Mechanic Helper	The job of a mechanic helper is to support lead mechanics and perform a variety of duties and responsibilities. You will be assisting in the maintenance of cars, such as changing tires and oils, replacing brakes, and diagnosing vehicle issues... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Troubleshoot
   • Hand Tools
   • Cranes
   • Diagnosis
   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Devices
   • DOT
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Electrical Systems
   • Cummins
   • Field Training
   • Diagnostic Tests
   • A/C
   • Caterpillar

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
   • Perform complete overhauls on transmissions, steering units, repair or remove and replace in diesel trucks and marine environments.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your diesel engine mechanic job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A diesel engine mechanic salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, diesel engine mechanics' average salary in mississippi is 34% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level diesel engine mechanics earn 45% less than senior-level diesel engine mechanics.
   • Certifications. A diesel engine mechanic with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a diesel engine mechanic's salary.

   Average diesel engine mechanic salary

   $49,463yearly

   $23.78 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level diesel engine mechanic salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

4. Writing a diesel engine mechanic job description

   A job description for a diesel engine mechanic 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 diesel engine mechanic job description:

   Diesel engine mechanic job description example

   • Marine mechanics may work outdoors at docks or marinas, as well as in all weather conditions, when making repairs aboard boats.
   • They may work in cramped or awkward positions to reach a boat's engine. Must be able to daily and repeatedly stoop, kneel, bend and climb beside, onto and underneath various equipment to perform diagnosis and repairs.
   • Must be able to effectively see to perform repairs, research technical manuals, and develop written repair work order reports.
   • Must be able to routinely and physically lift/position various parts to perform repairs/service and manually handle parts up to 160 pounds, as well as use mechanical hoist for heavier parts.

   Other:

   • Will work remotely with rare trips to dispatching office. Must be able to effectively write repair activities on customer work orders.
   • Must have cognitive reasoning and problem solving skills to apply knowledge, written information and verbal instructions in repairing/servicing unusual and/or unknown technical equipment operational problems.
   • Can work independently with minimal supervision.
   • Proficient use of Caterpillar ET and SIS (Not required but preferred)

   Field Activity:

   • Must be able to daily operate an assigned service vehicle as well as be prequalified to operate under W.W.Williams Fleet Policy Standards.
   • The driver must be able to operate their assigned vehicle for extended periods in order to reach customer's locations.
   • Must be able to effectively communicate using telephones to receive instructions and to provide service information.
   • Must be able to effectively deal directly with customers at site locations in a professional manner.

   Competitive wages and benefits. EOE/AAP/M/F/Vets/Disabled, DFWP.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find diesel engine mechanics for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any diesel engine mechanics they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level diesel engine mechanics with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting diesel engine mechanics 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 diesel engine mechanic

   Once you've found the diesel engine mechanic 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.

   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 diesel engine mechanic. 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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