How to hire a hydraulic engineer

How to hire a hydraulic engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hydraulic engineer hiring guide:

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

What does a hydraulic engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The hydraulic engineer 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?

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   Hiring the perfect hydraulic engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents hydraulic engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Hydraulic Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Hydraulic Engineer	Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.	$28-56
   Development Engineer	A Development Engineer is responsible for the development and validation of products, systems, and components. They are also responsible for quality control of work and continuous improvement of engineer activities.	$33-58
   Lead Design Engineer	A Lead Design Engineer produces design solutions that can be purchased, installed, and commissioned effectively. They are also responsible for the cost-effectiviness and safety of new designs.	$39-68

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hec Ras
   • Civil Engineering
   • HEC-RAS
   • Project Management
   • Cost Estimates
   • Hydraulic Analysis
   • GIS
   • SWMM
   • Engineering Analysis
   • CAD
   • Plumbing
   • HEC-HMS
   • Solidworks
   • FEMA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Used HEC-HMS to generate hydrographs of design floods.
   • Assist the work of less experience engineers and technical assistants in GIS matters.
   • Compile spatial data using raster and vector layers in GIS to facilitate design changes.
   • Apply ANSYS/Multi-Physics, CFX, Solidworks simulations and FE-Safe to perform FEA/CFD analyses and mentore others on methods.
   • Perform engineering services specializing in floodplain and floodway delineations on behalf of FEMA, and soil erosion control plans.

   More hydraulic engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, hydraulic engineers' average salary in kansas is 39% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level hydraulic engineers earn 49% less than senior-level hydraulic engineers.
   • Certifications. A hydraulic engineer 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 a hydraulic engineer's salary.

   Average hydraulic engineer salary

   $84,440yearly

   $40.60 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hydraulic engineer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average hydraulic engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$122,271	$59
   2	Washington	$109,154	$52
   3	Texas	$101,678	$49
   4	New Jersey	$101,026	$49
   5	Oregon	$99,258	$48
   6	Nevada	$95,055	$46
   7	Rhode Island	$94,286	$45
   8	Arizona	$93,634	$45
   9	Louisiana	$91,001	$44
   10	Maryland	$90,855	$44
   11	Colorado	$90,303	$43
   12	Michigan	$90,263	$43
   13	Virginia	$88,342	$42
   14	Connecticut	$84,761	$41
   15	Oklahoma	$83,264	$40
   16	Illinois	$81,955	$39
   17	Florida	$77,645	$37
   18	North Carolina	$77,248	$37
   19	Maine	$77,125	$37
   20	Ohio	$76,553	$37

   Average hydraulic engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Phillips 66	$118,037	$56.75	2
   2	BP America Inc	$115,532	$55.54	6
   3	Nevada DOT	$96,735	$46.51
   4	Stanadyne	$93,639	$45.02	4
   5	Volvo Construction Equipment	$93,567	$44.98
   6	Taco Comfort Solutions	$93,532	$44.97
   7	General Electric	$92,521	$44.48	207
   8	NOV	$90,420	$43.47	14
   9	Randstad North America, Inc.	$90,158	$43.35
   10	ProPetro Holding	$89,943	$43.24	2
   11	URS E&C Holdings Inc	$88,229	$42.42
   12	CNH Industrial	$88,229	$42.42	3
   13	Colorado State Express	$88,229	$42.42
   14	KIT Professionals	$88,229	$42.42
   15	Electrolux	$88,229	$42.42
   16	*n/a*	$88,092	$42.35	9
   17	PDS Tech	$88,030	$42.32	5
   18	Goodwin Recruiting	$88,000	$42.31	1
   19	Whitney Bailey Cox & Magnani, LLC	$87,834	$42.23
   20	PSEG	$86,979	$41.82	11

4. Writing a hydraulic engineer job description

   A hydraulic engineer 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. Below, you can find an example of a hydraulic engineer job description:

   Hydraulic engineer job description example

   Professional Engineer possessing a comprehensive understanding of Civil Engineering as it pertains to Hydrology & Hydraulics analysis and design. Familiar with principles and industry standards. Provides direction and supervision to less experienced staff and manages their daily responsibilities to meet project deadlines.
   Responsibilities • Prepare Hydrologic & Hydraulic calculations and reports for civil infrastructure improvements for public and private projects.
   • Analysis and design of complex detention/retention systems.
   • WPAP/CZP preparation.
   • Prepare CLOMR/LOMR applications through local municipalities and FEMA
   • Provide project information to interested contractors, developers, and other interested parties.
   • Monitor construction progress projects and inspect to confirm compliance with specifications and standards.
   • Monitor project costs and changes against budget.
   • Monitor, specify, review and analyze engineering plans, specifications and reports.
   • Review construction and design industry standards.
   • Function as point of contact for consultants, contractors, professional and trade organizations, and other government agencies.
   • Lead, organize and review the work of subordinate employees.
   • Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
   • Other duties as assigned. Qualifications Proficiency in HEC-RAS & HEC-HMS 2-dimensional Hydraulic experience a plus Proficiency in ArcGIS required Minimum 3-7 Years of previous civil engineering Experience is preferred Experience in Civil3D preferred What We Offer At KFW we work hard but we always take time to enjoy our teams and have fun together because our people are our most important resource. We are committed to providing all our employees with a safe, comfortable work environment, potential for career advancement, and the ability to impact society through their projects as well as Company sponsored activities.
   This dedication begins with supporting a work life balance through a generous compensation package that includes: company paid healthcare coverage; short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; 401(k)/Roth retirement plan with employer contribution; paid time off plus paid holidays; employee referral bonus program and an overtime/straight time policy.
   We have also created an internal culture that provides the resources and technology needed to encourage personal and professional growth opportunities through reimbursement for education; a free in-house resource for hundreds of educational and self-enrichment courses; mentorship program; and ongoing philanthropic opportunities.
   Apply today to learn how you can join our team of professionals, so we can help you Accelerate Your Success!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with hydraulic engineer 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.

   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 hydraulic engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the hydraulic engineer 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new hydraulic engineer. 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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