How to hire an electrical design technician

How to hire an electrical design technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step electrical design technician hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an electrical design technician, 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

   An electrical design technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, electrical design technicians 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of electrical design technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Electrical Design Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical Design Technician	Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment... Show more	$13-44
   Technician	Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with... Show more	$11-27
   Electrical Engineer	Electrical engineers are responsible for designing and developing new electrical systems, solving issues, and testing equipment. They work on various technologies, including telecommunication systems, satellite communications, and electrical power stations... Show more	$28-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Revit
   • Electrical Drawings
   • Electrical Design
   • BIM
   • Design Changes
   • Aided Design
   • Electrical Systems
   • NEC
   • Electrical CAD
   • Auto CAD
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Panel Layouts
   • Plumbing
   • Construction Drawings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead technicians and engineers to accomplish a cross-functional CNC fixture design to improve production capabilities.
   • Develop RF products base on low to high level implementation specifications base on customer or requests or company design modification requirements.
   • Design experience include power applications using gas turbines, diesel generators, substation, and switchgear design.
   • Test operational elements include normal and emergency operation of PLCs, validation of Rsview32 HMI operation and SCADA system interface.
   • Design emergency switchgear and emergency generator conduit routing through congest boiler room area.
   • Furnish substation battery & charger size calculation utilizing IEEE format.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your electrical design technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An electrical design technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, electrical design technicians' average salary in vermont is 51% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level electrical design technicians 70% less than senior-level electrical design technicians.
   • Certifications. An electrical design technician 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 an electrical design technician's salary.

   Average electrical design technician salary

   $51,226yearly

   $24.63 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrical design technician salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing an electrical design technician job description

   An electrical design technician 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 an electrical design technician job description:

   Electrical design technician job description example

   The Electrical Design Technician II position is an experienced Electrical Design Technician who is recognized as a leader within the company in their area of expertise; responsible for projects of considerable scope and complexity; mostly with little or no supervision for extended periods of time; including frequent interaction with internal associates and suppliers. Primary focus includes mounting and wiring electrical components to enclosure panels of considerable complexity for automated packaging machines as well as completing both panel and assembly electrical schematic reviews.
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: include the following. Other duties may be assigned:
   
   1. Steward our mission (to enrich lives by providing differentiated packaging automation and services) and values (unwavering integrity, servant's heart, ownership spirit and continuous innovation and improvement).
   
   2. Expert in performing electrical design technician functions of which include mounting and wiring electrical hardware components to enclosure panels for automated packaging machines in accordance with the applicable electrical schematics, company standards, and custom requested machine specifications.
   
   3. Complete reviews of electrical prints and make updates as required to meet national codes (NEC, NFPA79 and UL508A), engineering and assembly standards, and customer specifications.
   
   4. Share information on print review findings with electrical design engineers in a constructive, respectful, and supportive manner.
   
   5. Attend Electrical Engineering trainings and be well-versed in UL and NFPA standards including component spacing, wire sizing, and fuse sizing.
   
   6. Participate in team meetings by providing insight and improvement ideas for Electrical Engineering.
   
   7. Follow all Douglas electrical standards including engineering and assembly standards, national codes (NEC, NFPA79 and UL508A), and any other applicable standards and codes such as electrical component spacing and proper wire & fuse sizing.
   
   8. Able to safely operate or use a variety of power tools, hand tools, shop equipment, testing and measuring devices.
   
   9. Create and maintain project schedules and complete assigned projects within allocated hours.
   
   10. Identify opportunities for cost reductions and quality improvements in equipment.
   
   11. Determine if electrical components match machine specifications.
   
   12. Update and maintain machine documentation.
   
   13. Identify and locate all the required electrical components.
   
   14. Maintains necessary product inventory levels in department.
   
   15. Update machine electrical schematics as required.
   
   16. Follow the proper procedure for ordering electrical components.
   
   17. Communicate with coworkers in a respectful and effective manner.
   
   18. Maintain an orderly, clean, and safe work environment which includes toolbox, test materials, carts, shop equipment and surrounding area.
   
   19. Responsible for complying with all safety policies and procedures.
   
   20. Leads hardware assembly training for new employees including Technicians, Design Engineers, and Controls Engineers.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   
   * Stewards what it means to be a team player with a can-do attitude, empathy, and humility.
   * Expert level ability to read, understand, and apply knowledge of written information, electrical wiring diagrams, OEM manuals, schematics, etc.
   * Able to use power and hand tools, shop equipment, testing and measuring devices in a safe and productive manner.
   * Strong creativity and problem-solving skills.
   * Effective oral and written communication skills.
   * Packaging machine experience preferred.
   
   EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
   
   * Associate's degree in Mechatronics, Robotics or related education and 5 years of relevant work experience; or High School Diploma/GED and 9 years of relevant work experience.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find electrical design technicians 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 electrical design technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level electrical design technicians 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 electrical design technician job on Zippia to find and recruit electrical design technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with electrical design technician 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 electrical design technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect electrical design technician 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.

   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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