How to hire an electrical engineering director

How to hire an electrical engineering director, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The electrical engineering director hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An electrical engineering director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, electrical engineering directors 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 engineering directors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Electrical Engineering Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical Engineering Director	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.	$48-92
   Research And Development Manager	A research and development manager is responsible for supervising project development procedures to support business operations and identify business opportunities that would pave the way for more revenue resources and profits. Research and development managers monitor the production plans from the conceptualization to the final outputs, inspecting inconsistencies and flaws in every phase and revising strategies as needed to achieve the required specifications and requirements... Show more	$37-83
   Design Manager	A design manager is responsible for creating graphic and digital designs, following clients' specifications, and managing project deliverables efficiently. Design managers work closely with the marketing and public relations department, developing strategies to promote the brand to the target audience... Show more	$33-72

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PCB
   • System Design
   • Electrical Design
   • Electrical Systems
   • Technical Leadership
   • Direct Reports
   • FDA
   • Renewable Energy
   • Prototyping
   • Electrical Equipment
   • R
   • ASIC
   • NEC
   • System Architecture

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop LabVIEW code to automate test procedures and to communicate with units for verification of functionality and accuracy.
   • Design hardware schematic in Orcad and outsource the layout of PCB's.
   • Develop project definitions and all require documentation base on international construction as well as NEC standards.
   • Determine the current and future enterprise infrastructure which oversee the design and implementation of information systems that support the business requirements.
   • Process flight avionics batteries in a laboratory environment including activation and operational simulation testing with manual and LabView automate test tools.

   More electrical engineering director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your electrical engineering director job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An electrical engineering director salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an electrical engineering director in Wyoming may be lower than in California, and an entry-level electrical engineering director usually earns less than a senior-level electrical engineering director. Additionally, an electrical engineering director with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average electrical engineering director salary

   $139,603yearly

   $67.12 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrical engineering director salary

   $100,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average electrical engineering director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$177,944	$86
   2	Nevada	$160,681	$77
   3	Massachusetts	$157,750	$76
   4	New York	$154,387	$74
   5	Washington	$152,866	$73
   6	New Jersey	$150,097	$72
   7	Texas	$140,831	$68
   8	Oregon	$140,407	$68
   9	Arizona	$137,778	$66
   10	Arkansas	$135,945	$65
   11	North Carolina	$131,388	$63
   12	Ohio	$130,926	$63
   13	Colorado	$130,918	$63
   14	Utah	$121,182	$58
   15	Missouri	$112,135	$54
   16	Florida	$107,122	$52
   17	Puerto Rico	$60,165	$29

   Average electrical engineering director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Zoox	$168,685	$81.10	14
   2	National Grid plc	$161,920	$77.85	3
   3	NJ Transit	$161,036	$77.42
   4	First Transit	$160,128	$76.98
   5	Renesas Electronics	$157,556	$75.75	5
   6	First Student	$157,215	$75.58
   7	McCarthy Holdings, Inc.	$154,466	$74.26	20
   8	Barry-Wehmiller	$143,886	$69.18	57
   9	Mears Transportation Group	$137,341	$66.03	1
   10	Power International Holding	$133,401	$64.14	1
   11	City Of Statesville	$133,200	$64.04
   12	Johnson & Johnson	$132,994	$63.94	20
   13	PEAK Technical Staffing USA	$131,898	$63.41	1
   14	Eargo	$130,528	$62.75
   15	Goodwin Recruiting	$130,193	$62.59
   16	Moog	$129,008	$62.02	23
   17	CMN - Cardenas Marketing Network	$128,276	$61.67
   18	Techtronic Industries TTI	$127,125	$61.12	27
   19	Tyson Foods	$126,933	$61.03	2
   20	Randstad North America, Inc.	$126,544	$60.84	1

4. Writing an electrical engineering director job description

   An electrical engineering director 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 an electrical engineering director job description:

   Electrical engineering director job description example

   The Director of Electrical Engineering directs, coordinates, and exercises functional authority for engineering of electrical aspects of our product line to ensure functionality, quality, cost and schedule by performing the following duties.
   
   Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees, planning, assigning, and directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints and resolving problems.
   
   Works with various departments investigating material suitability, integrating new products, modifying existing designs, improving production techniques, and developing test procedures.
   
   Advises management and resolves problems with new processes and technology which may affect profit, schedule, costs, customer relations, and/or inter-departmental relations.
   
   Confers with management, production, and marketing staff to determine engineering feasibility, cost effectiveness, and customer demand for new and existing products.
   Assists with maintaining scheduling and budgeting for the assigned engineering projects.
   
   Reviews product design for compliance with engineering principles, company standards, customer contract requirements, and related specifications.
   
   Coordinates/Facilitates R & D activities from planning to implementation for engineering design and test, fabrication procedures, new material or technical developments, resolving problems such as strength, weight, and costs ensuring attainment of design objectives and standards.
   
   Advises on design changes, specifications, and drawing releases.
   
   Interfaces with others in the organization and customers to jointly determine customer needs and solutions.
   
   Uses computer assisted engineering and design software to perform and develop engineering calculations on specific projects and provide state stamp when applicable.
   
   Reviews product failure data and interprets analyses to establish or rule out material and process causes.
   
   Other duties as assigned.
   
   Endeavors to create a work environment that is enjoyable, engenders pride in the product and focus on the customer, and provides room for individual responsibilities and ideas.
   
   Requirements
   
   Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent, or six to ten years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
   
   Licensed Professional Engineer is required.
   
   Working knowledge of the National Electric Code.
   
   Benefits
   
   Why work with us?
   
   $2,500 Sign on Bonus
   
   Competitive starting wage
   
   Excellent benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance
   
   Company paid life insurance
   
   Paid vacation
   
   8 Paid holidays
   
   Retirement plan with company match
   
   Tuition reimbursement
   
   Advancement opportunities
   
   Potential for annual bonus
   
   Learn more about us at

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with electrical engineering director 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 engineering director

   Once you've selected the best electrical engineering director candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new electrical engineering director. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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