How to hire a loads engineer

How to hire a loads engineer, step by step

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

What does a loads engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The loads 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect loads 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.

   Here's a comparison of loads engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Loads Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Loads Engineer	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$32-67
   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
   Engineering Scientist	An engineering scientist is responsible for designing new technological systems through the evaluation of scientific methods and innovative solutions. Engineering scientists analyze technical parts and components, researching the current engineering trends to meet public demands and interests... Show more	$31-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • MATLAB
   • Loads Analysis
   • Dynamic Analysis
   • FAA
   • Design Loads
   • NASA
   • CATIA
   • Linux
   • PSD
   • Software Tools
   • CFD
   • FEM
   • In-House Tools
   • Calculation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Write certification documents for the FAA in agreement with relevant CFRs.
   • Support extended wind tunnel testing at AEDC, LM, NASA Langley and NASA Marshall facilities.
   • Provide subsystem product concept evaluations and assembly design suggestions to support new product development for missile subsystems energy management.
   • Develop synthesize-able decimation filter architecture.
   • Work as an aerospace engineer in the field of GPS technology.

   More loads engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, loads engineers' average salary in iowa is 34% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level loads engineers earn 51% less than senior-level loads engineers.
   • Certifications. A loads 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 loads engineer's salary.

   Average loads engineer salary

   $98,255yearly

   $47.24 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level loads engineer salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average loads engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$120,963	$58
   2	Washington	$113,685	$55
   3	Massachusetts	$99,248	$48
   4	Colorado	$98,557	$47
   5	Virginia	$97,391	$47
   6	Texas	$97,027	$47
   7	Michigan	$91,968	$44
   8	Illinois	$91,861	$44
   9	Arkansas	$91,497	$44
   10	Florida	$89,314	$43
   11	Kansas	$87,311	$42
   12	Tennessee	$84,898	$41

   Average loads engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amazon	$128,626	$61.84	29
   2	Joby Aviation	$117,475	$56.48	13
   3	CTS Corporation	$111,528	$53.62
   4	eviCore healthcare	$104,433	$50.21
   5	Roush	$103,480	$49.75
   6	ABL Space Systems	$103,341	$49.68
   7	Ogin	$103,270	$49.65
   8	Bell Flight	$102,933	$49.49
   9	Relativity	$102,747	$49.40	23
   10	Lucid Motors	$102,258	$49.16
   11	Boeing	$100,713	$48.42	70
   12	FCA US LLC	$100,270	$48.21	4
   13	Textron	$100,184	$48.17	16
   14	Rivian	$98,847	$47.52
   15	Vestas Blades America	$98,102	$47.16
   16	Firefly Aerospace	$95,754	$46.04	1
   17	General Dynamics	$93,813	$45.10	5
   18	Northrop Grumman	$89,041	$42.81	86
   19	L3Harris	$88,539	$42.57	12
   20	Boom Supersonic	$88,211	$42.41	3

4. Writing a loads engineer job description

   A loads 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a loads engineer job description:

   Loads engineer job description example

   ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 by veterans of SpaceX and Morgan Stanley to develop low-cost launch vehicles for the small satellite industry. More importantly, we're building a launch system we are truly proud of - no gimmicks or over-design, just reliable, rapidly deployable launches. We're an ambitious team with big goals and, together, we're determined to prove that reaching space can be simple, efficient, and routine.
   When launch day arrives, we want you by our side
   
   Loads & Dynamics Engineer
   As a Loads & Dynamics Engineer, you will be responsible for developing loads for primary and secondary structures on current and future launch vehicles. Work includes building vehicle dynamics models, performing CLA and dynamic analyses, and maturing analysis methods and codes. You are detail oriented and enjoy improving automation. You will work closely with design and test engineers as well as business development teams to support internal and customer needs.
   This is a role that contributes to every mission and every flight we fly as we continue to reimagine the future of space launches.
   RESPONSIBILITIES:Build and maintain dynamics models for CLA; perform CLAPerform dynamic analyses Provide peer review and guidance for other's analysis including appropriate application of loads Collaborate with customer payload analysis teams Generate products for payload customers and cross-disciplinary analyses Build and maintain analysis and automation tools
   BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:B.S. from an accredited university in engineering or science Competency using FEMAP, NX Nastran, Matlab/PythonProficient in building and running finite element models for dynamic analyses using NastranStrong fundamentals in dynamics
   PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:M.S. from an accredited university in engineering or science Experience building and managing finite element models with multiple configurations in FEMAP Experience building HYDRO and Craig-Bampton models Experience performing static, fatigue, fracture, buckling, nonlinear, and dynamic analyses using Nastran Advanced Matlab/Python skills including dynamic signal processing and automation
   WHAT WE LOOK FORCritical thinking: ABL engineers understand the “why” behind all design decisions, operational events and test outcomes Ability to deal with ambiguity: ABL engineers must be comfortable defining their own pathway to an objective End-to-end ownership
   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENTS:Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time Ability to use a computer to complete assignments Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and telepresence While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
   ITAR Requirement
   This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, permanent residents, asylees, and refugees) is a required qualification for this position.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer
   We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with loads 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.

   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 loads engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect loads 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

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