How to hire an electrical/mechanical designer

How to hire an electrical/mechanical designer, step by step

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

Post an electrical/mechanical designer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your electrical/mechanical designer 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 an electrical/mechanical designer 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

   An electrical/mechanical designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, electrical/mechanical designers 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 presents electrical/mechanical designer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Electrical/Mechanical Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Electrical/Mechanical Designer		$21-40
   Energy Efficiency Engineer	Energy Efficiency Engineer conducts audits to inspect, survey, model, and analyze the energy flows in existing buildings, whether commercial, residential, or industrial. These engineers apply engineering principles to develop energy distribution systems that operate efficiently... Show more	$29-59
   Energy Engineer	An energy engineer is a professional who is involved with the production of energy using natural resources as well as renewable or sustainable sources of energy. Energy engineers are required to research new methods and techniques to extract energy from scarce natural resources... Show more	$29-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Autocad
   • Assembly Drawings
   • CAD
   • Panel Layouts
   • Solidworks
   • Mechanical Design
   • R
   • Aided Design
   • Electrical Schematics
   • Control Systems
   • Electrical Design
   • HVAC
   • Test Equipment
   • Electrical Components

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Control and manage the testing documentation of magnetics and mechanical documents using custom small scale PDM system base on windows files.
   • Create BOM's to document assemblies.
   • Input BOM into company MRP system and created/modify schematic and wiring diagrams.
   • Design and automate electro-mechanical machinery to customer specifications.
   • Maintain and establish standard libraries for control, power, I/O wiring, enclosure, and back plate layout drawings.
   • Design and automate electro-mechanical machinery to customer specifications.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your electrical/mechanical designer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An electrical/mechanical designer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, electrical/mechanical designers' average salary in delaware is 38% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level electrical/mechanical designers earn 47% less than senior-level electrical/mechanical designers.
   • Certifications. An electrical/mechanical designer 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 an electrical/mechanical designer's salary.

   Average electrical/mechanical designer salary

   $62,155yearly

   $29.88 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electrical/mechanical designer salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing an electrical/mechanical designer job description

   An electrical/mechanical designer 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/mechanical designer job description:

   Electrical/mechanical designer job description example

   In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!
   
   When it comes to what you want in your career, if you can imagine it, you can do it at Parsons. Imagine a career working with intelligent, diverse people sharing a common quest. Imagine a workplace where you can be yourself. Where you can thrive. Where you can find your next, right now. We've got what you're looking for.
   
   **Job Description:**
   
   Ready to be part of a team that tackles infrastructure challenges? Want to take your Engineering skills to the next level to work on tough projects that will make a huge impact on the community? Parsons Corporation is seeking a talented electrical/hardware engineer to support efforts in our Columbia, MD office.
   
   Duties will include:
   
   Parsons is now hiring early stage Electrical Engineers with a desire to work on projects that change the fabric of our community. Parsons extensive experience in this field, combined with your engineering knowledge, will propel your career forward with opportunity for advancement with top performance. Training, development and opportunities to work on marquee projects as you and our fast paced business grow and evolve. We need our engineers to be versatile, enthusiastic to work in highly flexible, team oriented environment and who have exceptional communication, analytical and organizational skills.
   
   In this role you will design, develop, and test hardware and/or electrical components, mechanisms, materials, circuitry, processes, etc. The successful candidate will prepare technical and progress reports on assigned projects as well as specifications.
   
   Responsibilities:
   
   + Applies advanced principles, theories and concepts, and contributes to the development of innovative principles and ideas.
   
   + Works on unusually complex problems and provides solutions that are highly creative
   
   + Works under consultative direction toward predetermining long range targets
   
   + Performs other responsibilities associated with this position as may be appropriate.
   
   Qualifications:
   
   + Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (or closely related field)
   
   + 3+ years of professional work experience
   
   + Eligible to obtain a Security Clearance
   
   Preferred:
   
   + Experience with Altium Designer
   
   **Minimum Clearance Required to Start:**
   
   Not Applicable/None
   
   This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.
   
   Our Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our diverse, intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what's next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.
   
   We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!
   
   The position may require a COVID vaccination or an approved accommodation/exemption for a disability/medical condition or religious belief as required by federal, state, provincial or local mandates or customer requirements.
   
   Parsons is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace. Diversity is ingrained in who we are, how we do business, and is one of our company's core values. Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels for minority, female, disabled, protected veteran and LGBTQ+.
   
   We truly invest and care about our employee's wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-APPLY TODAY!About Us
   
   Parsons is a digitally enabled solutions provider focused on the defense, security, and infrastructure markets. With nearly 75 years of experience, Parsons is uniquely qualified to deliver cyber/converged security, technology-based intellectual property, and other innovative services to federal, regional, and local government agencies, as well as to private industrial customers worldwide.
   
   Parsons is an equal opportunity, drug-free employer committed to diversity in the workplace. Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veteran/LGBTQ+.
   
   For more about Parsons, visit parsons.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right electrical/mechanical designer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with electrical/mechanical designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit electrical/mechanical designers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your electrical/mechanical designer job on Zippia to find and recruit electrical/mechanical designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit electrical/mechanical designers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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/mechanical designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the electrical/mechanical designer 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an electrical/mechanical designer?