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How to hire an engineering/maintenance manager

Engineering/maintenance manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring engineering/maintenance managers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire an engineering/maintenance manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per engineering/maintenance manager on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 80,894 engineering/maintenance managers in the US, and there are currently 125,639 job openings in this field.
  • Industry, CA, has the highest demand for engineering/maintenance managers, with 4 job openings.

How to hire an engineering/maintenance manager, step by step

To hire an engineering/maintenance manager, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an engineering/maintenance manager:

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

What does an engineering/maintenance manager do?

Engineering and maintenance managers are skilled executive professionals who manage the daily activities of the engineering department while directing the maintenance of all types of machinery in a manufacturing plant. These managers are required to develop preventive maintenance procedures and inspections for all manufacturing equipment so that they can reduce machine downtime. They must ensure that contractors are trained to respond to emergencies and follow all the processes that are documented within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Engineering and maintenance managers must also create a budget to manage the expenditures related to plant equipment upgrades.

Learn more about the specifics of what an engineering/maintenance manager does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The engineering/maintenance manager 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an engineering/maintenance manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an engineering/maintenance manager that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of engineering/maintenance managers.

    Type of Engineering/Maintenance ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Engineering/Maintenance ManagerArchitectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.$36-62
    Director Of FacilitiesThe director of facilities is responsible for monitoring the facilities' operations, including the inspection of tools, equipment, and machinery, scheduling routine maintenance, and managing resource budgets. Directors of facilities also maintain the safety and security of the facilities, immediately reporting potential risks to avoid hazards within the premises... Show more$28-64
    Director, Facilities & OperationsDirectors of facilities operations plan, organize and maintain the operations of an organization's infrastructure systems and facilities. They hire, evaluate, train, discipline, and recommend staff dismissal... Show more$15-47
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Capital Projects
    • OSHA
    • Project Management
    • Facility Maintenance
    • Plant Maintenance
    • Predictive Maintenance
    • Lean Manufacturing
    • PLC
    • Process Improvement
    • Sigma
    • Maintenance Supervisors
    • CMMS
    • Capital Budgets
    • Plant Equipment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Used Bizx's internal tool to coordinate and manage the SEO department's link exchanges.
    • Develop, manage and monitor self inspection and safety program (OSHA) develop and train personnel in hazardous materials/waste program.
    • Implement new CMMS system to automate and document preventative maintenance procedures.
    • Manage QA for research orient development efforts and for high visibility, production focuse development efforts tie to revenue generation.
    • Write work instructions for the ISO & AAR help maintain the ISO & AAR certification.
    • Maintain all aspects of plumbing, electrical systems, heating and cooling.
    More engineering/maintenance manager duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your engineering/maintenance manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An engineering/maintenance manager 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 engineering/maintenance manager in Kansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineering/maintenance manager usually earns less than a senior-level engineering/maintenance manager. Additionally, an engineering/maintenance manager 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 engineering/maintenance manager salary

    $99,907yearly

    $48.03 hourly rate

    Entry-level engineering/maintenance manager salary
    $75,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 22, 2025

    Average engineering/maintenance manager salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$123,847$60
    2Georgia$103,661$50
    3Minnesota$102,989$50
    4Texas$101,702$49
    5North Carolina$97,155$47
    6Virginia$96,540$46
    7District of Columbia$94,950$46
    8Tennessee$90,490$44
    9Ohio$89,711$43
    10Indiana$88,131$42
    11New Mexico$86,457$42
    12Kansas$82,527$40
    13Colorado$79,708$38

    Average engineering/maintenance manager salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Cargill$129,714$62.3625
    2Koppers$122,700$58.996
    3Nucor$120,893$58.1211
    4Tesla$119,180$57.3068
    5PPG$114,962$55.272
    6Novo Nordisk$113,684$54.66
    7Golden State Foods$110,779$53.261
    8BJ Energy Solutions$110,428$53.09
    9Sage Hospitality Group$108,479$52.153
    10Goodwin Recruiting$108,190$52.013
    11Stryker$107,519$51.6943
    12Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.$106,975$51.43
    13Hilton Grand Vacations$106,894$51.392
    14PEAK Technical Staffing USA$106,341$51.13
    15Eastman$104,954$50.461
    16Gopher Resource$104,459$50.224
    17Tyson Foods$104,368$50.1811
    18St Bernard Soap Co$104,362$50.17
    19Amcor$104,102$50.0516
    20Randstad North America, Inc.$103,908$49.961
  4. Writing an engineering/maintenance manager job description

    An engineering/maintenance manager 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/maintenance manager job description:

    Engineering/maintenance manager job description example

    T he Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. We're a globally trusted producer of high-quality, great-tasting, and nutritious foods for over 150 years. Our brands are truly global, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries. These beloved products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and numerous other grocery products in a portfolio of more than 200 legacy and emerging brands.

    No matter the brand, we're united under one vision: To sustainably grow by delighting more consumers globally . Bringing this vision to life is our team of 39,000+ food lovers, creative thinkers, and high performers worldwide. Together, we help provide meals to those in need through our global partnership with Rise Against Hunger. We also stand committed to responsible, sustainable practices that extend to every facet of our business, our consumers, and our communities. Every day, we're transforming the food industry with bold thinking and unprecedented results. If you share our passion - and are ready to create the future, build a legacy, and lead as a global citizen - there's only one thing to do: join our table and let's make life delicious!

    Our Culture of Ownership, Meritocracy & Collaboration

    We're not afraid to think differently. Embrace new ideas. Dream big. We empower our people at every level - from entry-level intern to senior leader - to own their work. We share a responsibility to think like Owners - to be mindful of the collective and sustained success of Kraft Heinz - which we apply to every situation, every day. As part of Kraft Heinz, you're supported to grow and achieve. You're expected to bring your authentic self to work every day, to lead with humility, and drive outstanding performance at every level - and you'll be rewarded. You're given opportunities to leave a mark and build a legacy. But you won't do it alone. You're supported by passionate teammates along the way, and our collective, collaborative spirit fuels our incredible progress.

    Job Description

    Key Responsibilities of the Role

    • Protect the environment, and the company's good name and assets from harm by meeting all applicable environmental regulations and responding immediately to potential violations.

    • Protect the company's employees through focus on ergonomic issues and employee safety during both the planning and execution of capital projects, and enforcement of factory safety regulations such as lock out/tag out for outside contractors and company employees.

    • Develop, monitor and control the annual capital budget, maintenance expenses, and utility budgets.

    • Manage capital and facility maintenance projects and resources through timely equipment installation, service and repair.

    • Develop ideas and projects to reduce utility and energy costs.

    • Support the efficient operation of the Plant through effective utilization of Engineering and Facility Maintenance resources.

    • Assist and oversee maintenance of the plant equipment, buildings, and other assets to protect these assets and reduce equipment related downtime.

    • Research and develop new processing techniques to improve quality of product and production efficiencies.

    • Establish departmental goals that maintain focus on improving line efficiencies and product quality.

    • Determine equipment capabilities for new or revised factory layouts.

    • Evaluate production and packaging needs for Capital Equipment.

    • Participate on the Food Safety and HACCP Team.

    • Assist and partner with business leaders on implementation of process improvement (Six Sigma / Lean/Heinz Global Production System (HGPS)), including leading change initiatives, planning, and facilitation.

    • Participate in the QRMP yearly audit and assist in the development of procedures and corrective actions

    • Accountable for the QRMP (Quality Risk Management Process) system and operational standards as outlined in the plant accountability list

    • Manage and evaluate the Finance staff including but not limited to performance management and employee

    Qualifications

    • Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field is required

    • Minimum of 7 years of increasing responsibility in plant engineering and project management in manufacturing

    • Minimum of 3 years of experience with full cycle capital project management from appropriation preparation to field start up.

    • Minimum 5 years' experience working with process and high speed/automation equipment.

    • Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices, OSHA safety regulations, EPA regulations

    • Working knowledge of boiler and compressed air operations in order to evaluate operating efficiencies.

    • Must be familiar with maintenance management system operations.

    • Clear understanding of engineering economics and project justification.

    • Leadership skills gained through course work, seminars, and experience in supervisory positions in maintenance and/or supervising contractors on capital projects

    Location(s) Avon Plant Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact for assistance.
  5. Post your job

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

    To successfully recruit engineering/maintenance managers, 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 engineering/maintenance manager

    Once you've selected the best engineering/maintenance manager 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.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new engineering/maintenance manager. 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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How much does it cost to hire an engineering/maintenance manager?

There are different types of costs for hiring engineering/maintenance managers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new engineering/maintenance manager employee.

The median annual salary for engineering/maintenance managers is $99,907 in the US. However, the cost of engineering/maintenance manager hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an engineering/maintenance manager for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $36 and $62 an hour.

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