How to hire an engineering scientist

How to hire an engineering scientist, step by step

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

What does an engineering scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The engineering scientist 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 engineering scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, engineering scientists 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 shows salaries for various types of engineering scientists.

   Type of Engineering Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Engineering Scientist	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$31-59
   Stress Analyst	A stress analyst is a type of aerospace engineer; they design, construct, and test aircraft. They may also work on missiles or spacecraft... Show more	$30-54
   Structural Analysis Engineer	A Structural Analysis Engineer is responsible for evaluating the construction processes of establishments and other industrial properties and ensuring adherence to high-quality standards. Structural Analysis Engineers assess the materials and equipment used for the operations to confirm compliance with the budget limitations and timetables... Show more	$31-69

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • C++
   • Python
   • Data Analysis
   • DOD
   • Project Management
   • RF
   • Java
   • Technical Reports
   • Technical Support
   • Test Results
   • CAD
   • PowerPoint
   • Linux
   • System Performance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
   • Work as a team member building PowerPoint presentations.
   • Determine socket port connections using Linux tools and research TCP errors.
   • Support design and prototyping of a small, portable numerical control drill tool.
   • Deliver on time software models on UNIX / Linux base systems for simulation applications.
   • Conduct system level specifications flow down to the sensor level for various DOD and NASA programs.

   More engineering scientist duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $90,138yearly

   $43.34 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engineering scientist salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average engineering scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$109,194	$53
   2	Rhode Island	$106,275	$51
   3	Washington	$105,633	$51
   4	Massachusetts	$103,723	$50
   5	District of Columbia	$101,147	$49
   6	Minnesota	$99,608	$48
   7	Ohio	$98,874	$48
   8	Colorado	$98,282	$47
   9	Connecticut	$95,688	$46
   10	Maryland	$95,492	$46
   11	Idaho	$94,604	$45
   12	West Virginia	$89,351	$43
   13	Texas	$84,557	$41
   14	Virginia	$84,035	$40
   15	Illinois	$83,801	$40
   16	North Carolina	$72,241	$35
   17	Kansas	$70,046	$34
   18	Tennessee	$69,343	$33

   Average engineering scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$150,089	$72.16	108
   2	Amazon	$139,420	$67.03	940
   3	Adobe	$124,047	$59.64	62
   4	ConocoPhillips	$123,977	$59.60
   5	AbbVie	$113,690	$54.66	96
   6	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$112,720	$54.19	94
   7	Nokia	$110,562	$53.15	11
   8	AstraZeneca	$108,793	$52.30	16
   9	Editas Medicine	$105,712	$50.82
   10	United Technology Group	$105,562	$50.75
   11	Tesla	$105,057	$50.51	23
   12	Aureon HR	$101,909	$48.99
   13	Keysight Technologies	$100,182	$48.16
   14	Daltile	$99,894	$48.03
   15	Avery Dennison	$99,714	$47.94
   16	Kelly Services	$99,640	$47.90	33
   17	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$99,456	$47.82	9
   18	DuPont	$98,535	$47.37	12
   19	Sdc	$98,054	$47.14
   20	Mylan	$97,764	$47.00

4. Writing an engineering scientist job description

   A job description for an engineering scientist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an engineering scientist job description:

   Engineering scientist job description example

   It's a Perfect Day to change the world! At Perfect Day, we're doing just that.
   
   Perfect Day was founded in 2014 to create delicious, nutritious dairy products that everyone can love. We're using fermentation (not animals) to make dairy proteins that are the foundation for foods like ice cream, cheese and yogurt - all with the distinctive taste and textures that consumers demand, but without lactose or environmental downsides. Through partnerships with respected brands, we're working to launch a whole range of dairy products that will help shape a humane, sustainable food system for future generations.
   
   We are seeking an enthusiastic and skilled fungal strain engineering Scientist to join our strain engineering team and support strain development in filamentous fungi. You will be working independently or as part of a team to develop experimental plans to generate production strains, develop and implement strain engineering technologies in filamentous fungi. The position will be 80-90 % bench work.
   Essential functions:Design and construct DNA for strain engineering using molecular biology methods. Generate and engineer fungal strains for protein expression.Design and conduct research to improve protein expression and/or strain engineering workflow. Develop and implement new technologies for strain engineering.WGS analysis for fungal genomics.Prepare and present technical reports and regulatory documentations.
   Other functions:Provide technical and scientific support to team members Effectively communicate project goals, progress, and achievements with internal and external teams.Mentor and supervise Junior members of the team Stay current on relevant IP, literature, and technology developments.
   Competencies:Open-minded, motivated, detail-oriented, organized and a team player.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, to effectively communicate and report in a collaborative and dynamic environment.Strong analytic mindset with bio-statistical background.Effective planning, multi-tasking, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.Capable of providing training and mentorship to junior staff to develop competency in strain engineering strategies and recombinant protein production.Promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture Be an advocate for and adhere to all laboratory safety (including COVID-19) protocols.Comfortable working in a fast paced, startup environment
   Work environment:Mixture of laboratory (including standard laboratory hazards) and office. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Perfect Day employees are following strict social distancing guidelines in the lab to make sure everyone can perform their work in a safe and relaxed environment.Position requires the ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods. Rare lifting of 5 lbs. - 20 lbs Potential rare travel to business partners or conferences, up to 2%
   Required education and experience:Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbial Engineering, Microbial Genetics or Microbiology, Metabolic engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related disciplines is required, plus 2+ years of relevant (ideally industrial) experience. Min 2 years of relevant experience in microorganism engineering and protein expression is required. Fungal strain engineering experience is preferred. Strain engineering experience using modern gene editing technologies.Experience with construct design, sequencing, and/or bioinformatics analysis software.A proven record of publications and/or patent applications (depending on experience).
   Preferred education and experience:Ph.D. with 2-3 years of relevant post graduate experience Automation and/or robotics is a plus.Experience with library design, construction, and high throughput screening.WGS & ONT sequencing experience is preferred.Experience with JMP, or other data analysis, visualization, and statistical tools is a plus.Experience with Python, R, or other programming language is desirable.Bench scale fermentation experience.Small scale cultivation and assay development.Project leading experience.Metabolic Pathway engineering experience.Experience with dd PCR, RT-PCR and inverse PCR.DNA sequencing experience.Experience with microbial physiology.Experience with Microbial Phenotype Microarrays.Experience with protein engineering.
   It's a Perfect Day to change the world. The day when delicious dairy goodness is something everyone can love. The day we say goodbye to the downsides of factory farming. The day we throw a big party with luscious, animal-free milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, all made with Perfect Day! We hope you join us!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit engineering scientists, 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 scientist

   Once you've decided on a perfect engineering scientist 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.

   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 engineering scientist. 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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