How to hire an engineering assistant

How to hire an engineering assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step engineering assistant hiring guide:

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

What does an engineering assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an engineering assistant, 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 engineering assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, engineering assistants 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 engineering assistants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Engineering Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Engineering Assistant	Industrial engineering technicians help industrial engineers implement designs to use personnel, materials, and machines effectively in factories, stores, healthcare organizations, repair shops, and offices. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs.	$19-47
   Quality Laboratory Technician	A Quality Laboratory Technician ensures that lab procedures and equipment meet a certain standard, as well as monitors production. They maintain quality service and a safe and healthy work environment through following organization standards.	$14-23
   Quality Control Technician	Usually assigned in a manufacturing plant, a quality control technician's role focuses on testing and assessing materials before, after, and during a production process to ensure its efficiency. They also have responsibilities in implementing the policies and regulations of the company, all to maintain a safe and productive working environment for every employee... Show more	$14-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Troubleshoot
   • C++
   • Worksheets
   • Java
   • Debugging
   • Auto CAD
   • Data Collection
   • Test Procedures
   • Shop Drawings
   • R
   • Construction Projects
   • Solidworks
   • RF
   • Engineering Design

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the RFI process to clarify discrepancies and questions concerning the plans and specifications.
   • Create, manage and maintain the ECR process to ensure accurate and timely processing.
   • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
   • Assist in the maintenance of files for engineering drawings, ECO's, manufacturing specs, and BOM's.
   • Ensure documentation load into IP vault.
   • Review systems implementation to comply with RFP and plans.

   More engineering assistant duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, engineering assistants' average salary in indiana is 43% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level engineering assistants earn 59% less than senior-level engineering assistants.
   • Certifications. An engineering assistant 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 engineering assistant's salary.

   Average engineering assistant salary

   $64,402yearly

   $30.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engineering assistant salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average engineering assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$87,148	$42
   2	District of Columbia	$86,302	$41
   3	New Jersey	$75,718	$36
   4	Maryland	$74,750	$36
   5	New York	$71,798	$35
   6	Massachusetts	$70,730	$34
   7	South Carolina	$70,179	$34
   8	Virginia	$70,175	$34
   9	Illinois	$69,733	$34
   10	Arizona	$68,414	$33
   11	Alaska	$68,337	$33
   12	Texas	$66,182	$32
   13	Oregon	$66,077	$32
   14	New Hampshire	$65,620	$32
   15	Washington	$63,236	$30
   16	Michigan	$63,063	$30
   17	Nevada	$62,159	$30
   18	Pennsylvania	$61,137	$29
   19	Missouri	$61,087	$29
   20	South Dakota	$59,702	$29

   Average engineering assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$131,768	$63.35	104
   2	Amazon	$117,257	$56.37	235
   3	Oracle	$111,388	$53.55	601
   4	Workday	$109,809	$52.79	3
   5	Waymo	$108,696	$52.26
   6	Moody's	$108,006	$51.93	4
   7	Cruise Automation	$107,455	$51.66
   8	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$96,998	$46.63	84
   9	MDU Resources	$94,904	$45.63	2
   10	Ford Motor	$91,541	$44.01	111
   11	Amphenol	$89,588	$43.07	10
   12	Siemens	$89,365	$42.96	6
   13	Federal Reserve Bank	$88,509	$42.55
   14	Intertek	$87,870	$42.25	9
   15	General Electric	$84,468	$40.61	46
   16	Arrow Electronics	$82,790	$39.80	78
   17	Ontario City Library	$82,410	$39.62	1
   18	STV Group	$82,025	$39.44	18
   19	MITRE	$80,129	$38.52	44
   20	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution	$79,985	$38.45	2

4. Writing an engineering assistant job description

   An engineering assistant 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 engineering assistant job description:

   Engineering assistant job description example

   · Update Q360 Master Inventory Items with current catalog/spec sheets and O&M sections

   · Update pricing values for all manufacturers and vendors as price lists are received

   · Manage PDF Share drive of catalog/specification sheets used for the creation of Equipment Submittals and Owner’s & Operations Manuals

   · Prepare, transmit, track, and receive electronic Project Submittals

   · Prepare electronic Owner’s & Operators Manuals and any other documentation required for job closeouts and transmitting to the customer(s)

   · Reconcile room numbers from drawing into material list

   · Record minutes for weekly Engineering meetings and follow up on action items

   · Assist Designers in CAD background drawing clean-ups

   · Coordinate with Operations department to complete As-built drawings

   · Create the project folder in the “Projects Location” on the network

   · Complete and send Introduction Letters when a new project is created

   · Assist Project Managers in tracking closeout documents required to close a project

   · Other duties as assigned

   Qualifications

   · High School Diploma or GED; on the job training may substitute as equivalent

   · Minimum of 3 years office related experience

   · Ability to read, write, and speak the English language and have basic math skills

   Skills

   · Be able to write reports and essays with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar

   · Be well versed on computers, including experience with Microsoft Office Applications

   · Intermediate experience on Microsoft Excel & Microsoft Word

   · Ability to become well versed with Bluebeam PDF Editor and AutoCAD

   · Be very people oriented and talk well on the phone

   · Have a positive attitude and be confident about yourself

   · Be willing to learn both in organized classroom environment and on your own

   · Be willing to take college and other classes on non-company time to increase knowledge in computers and electronics.

   Company DescriptionLone Star Communications is one of the fastest-growing systems integration and communications technology providers in the United States. We have grown by 300% in the last three years.
   
   Our focus on compassion, selflessness, integrity, and customer experience is unparalleled – and has led to numerous awards including Top 100 Places to Work (2016) from the Dallas Morning News.
   
   We value A+ Candidates that support a culture that is built on trust, communication, and collaboration. We require strong, self-reliant leadership capable of working a rapidly evolving and growing team environment. All candidates must be focused on providing solutions and are passionate about making a difference for our customers.
   
   We are committed to our employees. A+ Candidates will receive competitive salaries and benefits to grow in their position.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right engineering assistant 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 engineering assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit engineering assistants 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 engineering assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit engineering assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit engineering assistants, 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.

   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 engineering assistant

   Once you've found the engineering assistant 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.

   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.

   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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