How to hire a junior field engineer

How to hire a junior field engineer, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the junior field engineer you need to hire. Certain junior field engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect junior field 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of junior field engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Junior Field Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Junior Field Engineer	Petroleum engineers design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the Earth’s surface. Petroleum engineers also find new ways to extract oil and gas from older wells.	$24-46
   Gas Analyst	A gas analyst is faced with different responsibilities in the workplace. They are required to manage internal physical transactions with the gas management system... Show more	$24-48
   Petroleum Engineer	A petroleum engineer is responsible for developing safe and efficient extracting procedures of drilling oil and gas from the underground surface. Petroleum engineers inspect the safety and stability of tools and equipment before and after every operation, conducting preventive maintenance with the machinery for its optimal performance... Show more	$31-72

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rig
   • Autocad
   • Oilfield
   • Troubleshoot
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Pressure Control
   • CDL
   • Classroom Management
   • Data Acquisition Systems
   • DOT
   • Hydraulic Fracturing
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Mathematics
   • Site Operations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
   • Assign IP addresses to each component in the system to enable remote RF communication with specific components.
   • Analyze malfunctions and equipment failures of various network operating systems such as servers, gateways and routers used in radio communications systems
   • Work with wireline operators during rig-up/rig-down of logging tools.

   More junior field engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your junior field engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A junior field engineer 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 a junior field engineer in Pennsylvania may be lower than in Nevada, and an entry-level junior field engineer usually earns less than a senior-level junior field engineer. Additionally, a junior field engineer 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 junior field engineer salary

   $70,984yearly

   $34.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level junior field engineer salary

   $51,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average junior field engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nevada	$104,144	$50
   2	District of Columbia	$89,765	$43
   3	New York	$84,495	$41
   4	Oklahoma	$81,931	$39
   5	Arizona	$81,211	$39
   6	Texas	$80,350	$39
   7	Virginia	$79,874	$38
   8	California	$78,603	$38
   9	Colorado	$71,939	$35
   10	Louisiana	$68,460	$33
   11	Arkansas	$63,332	$30
   12	North Dakota	$53,021	$25
   13	New Mexico	$48,588	$23

   Average junior field engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Woods Services	$76,436	$36.75
   2	Datrose	$75,479	$36.29
   3	Amec Foster Wheeler	$72,506	$34.86
   4	BAE Systems	$71,180	$34.22	36
   5	APTIM	$68,473	$32.92	10

4. Writing a junior field engineer job description

   A junior field 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 junior field engineer job description:

   Junior field engineer job description example

   
   **Junior Field Geotechnical Engineer**
   
   **Who We Are**
   
   At WSP, we are driven by inspiring future-ready pioneers to innovate. We're looking to grow our teams with people who are ready to collaborate in building communities and expanding our skylines. To do this, we hire candidates of all experiences, skillsets, backgrounds and walks of life. We actively foster a work environment and culture where inclusion and diversity is part of our fundamental structure. This is delivered behaviorally, through our policies, trainings, local partnerships with professional diverse organizations, internal networks and most importantly with the support and sponsorship of our leaders who help drive our commitment to an inclusive, diverse, welcoming and equitable work environment. Anything is within our reach and yours as a WSP employee. Come join us and help shape the future!
   
   **Our Business**
   
   We are a global leader in environmental consulting - made stronger with the recent acquisition of Wood's Environment & Infrastructure business and Golder - with world-class expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG), climate resiliency & sustainability (CRS), and earth sciences. Combined we have over 20,000 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide collaborating daily to protect and conserve natural landscapes, create firm foundations for communities to stand on, and champion sustainable development to combat climate change. As part of the team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.
   
   **This Opportunity**
   
   We have a career opportunity for a Junior Field Geotechnical Engineer, to join our global mining team reporting to our Denver, CO office. The successful candidate will become part of a dynamic mining team with clients in the US, Mexico, and South America. Our ideal candidate has a geotechnical mining background. We are also open to individuals with a civil land development background or geological engineers interested in transitioning into this field.
   
   **Your Impact**
   
   + Carry out analytical and design functions for projects at stages ranging from scoping to detailed engineering, construction, and closure.
   
   + Work approximately 50% in the office and 50% in the field. This can vary, depending on client needs.
   
   + Develop and carry out geotechnical investigations, laboratory testing plans and instrumentation installation.
   
   + Manage and direct site investigations and prepare technical reports.
   
   + Manage and coordinate project teams, ensure the technical quality of deliverables.
   
   + Provide geotechnical engineering services related to tailings, heap leach and mine waste facilities, including seepage, stability, and settlement analysis.
   
   + Provide Civil 3D design services for various mining projects.
   
   + Provide construction quality assurance (CQA) services for mining projects.
   
   + Be encouraged to become a senior contributing member of the WSP Mining Group, which is a global team of professionals responsible for the design, operating assistance and closure/reclamation planning of tailings, leach pad and mine waste facilities around the world.
   
   **Who You Are**
   
   **Required Qualifications**
   
   + BS in Civil or Geological Engineering.
   
   + 0 - 5 years of experience in the geotechnical / mining field is a plus
   
   + EIT required. PE or the ability to obtain a PE within one year of hire or as soon as eligible.
   
   + Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
   
   + Ability and willingness to travel to project sites in the US and internationally. Approximately 70% overnight trave.
   
   + Excellent verbal and written communication skills
   
   + Superior time management, planning and ability to interact with clients.
   
   + Ability to think "outside the box" to create innovative engineering and design solutions
   
   + Demonstrated maturity in judgment and initiative
   
   + Demonstrated report writing skills
   
   + Must pass drug test, physical, background check and must have a satisfactory driving record in accordance with the Company's driving (MVR) policy
   
   **Preferred Qualifications**
   
   + MS degree in Geotechnical Engineering preferred.
   
   + CQA field experience for earthworks and geomembrane installation on mining projects.
   
   + AutoCAD Civil 3D advanced level.
   
   + Experience in tailings dam and/or heap leach design and construction.
   
   **Compensation and Benefits**
   
   WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career.
   
   Expected Salary: $50,900 - $91,700 based on nationwide (not specific to Colorado) salary ranges and commensurate with experience
   
   WSP USA is providing the compensation range and general description of other compensation and benefits that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position based on the successful applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant's sex or other status protected by local, state, or federal law.
   
   \#LI-TB3
   
   **Additional Requirements**
   
   + To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
   
   **Additional Details**
   
   + **Travel Required:** 50%
   
   + **Job Status:** Regular
   
   + **Employee Type:** Full
   
   + **Primary Location:** DENVER - S COLORADO BLVD
   
   + **All locations:** US-CO-Denver, US-NV-Elko, US-NV-Reno
   
   **About WSP**
   
   WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 12,000 employees in over 200 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. www.wsp.com
   
   WSP provides a flexible, agile and hybrid workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career.
   
   At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
   
   WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
   
   The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right junior field engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your junior field engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit junior field engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit junior field engineers, 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 junior field engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect junior field engineer 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new junior field 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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