How to hire a manufacturing/industrial engineer

How to hire a manufacturing/industrial engineer, step by step

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

What does a manufacturing/industrial engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your manufacturing/industrial engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a manufacturing/industrial engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect manufacturing/industrial 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 manufacturing/industrial engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Manufacturing/Industrial Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Manufacturing/Industrial Engineer	Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.	$28-47
   Process Improvement Engineer	A process improvement engineer specializes in conducting research and analysis to develop new strategies and ideas to improve the processes in a manufacturing plant or a similar setting. They prioritize efficiency and profitability... Show more	$29-52
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CAD
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Sigma
   • Process Flow
   • Project Management
   • Value Stream
   • Process Improvement
   • Solidworks
   • Shop Floor
   • Kaizen
   • Process Changes
   • CNC
   • Cost Reduction
   • ERP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead several independent, cross-functional projects and improve manufacturing quality, reduce cost, ensure environment are supported and FDA compliant.
   • Used DMAIC process to identify that the pre coat glass process are not necessary saving $510K.
   • Resolve manufacturing and system concerns through DMAIC process resulting in identification of opportunity in improvements.
   • Champion ergonomics evaluation team, assess manufacturing projects for ergonomic risk and generate solutions to resolve or mitigate risk exposure.
   • Perform IQ/OQ/PQ to validate mold components and processes by following customer protocols or self develop protocols and complete OQ/PQ validation reports.

   More manufacturing/industrial engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your manufacturing/industrial engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A manufacturing/industrial 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 manufacturing/industrial engineer in Tennessee may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level manufacturing/industrial engineer usually earns less than a senior-level manufacturing/industrial engineer. Additionally, a manufacturing/industrial 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 manufacturing/industrial engineer salary

   $77,045yearly

   $37.04 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level manufacturing/industrial engineer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average manufacturing/industrial engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$99,453	$48
   2	Virginia	$84,644	$41
   3	New York	$81,705	$39
   4	Texas	$81,416	$39
   5	Michigan	$79,288	$38
   6	Minnesota	$77,784	$37
   7	Florida	$76,510	$37
   8	North Carolina	$76,422	$37
   9	Pennsylvania	$75,585	$36
   10	Colorado	$73,497	$35
   11	Kansas	$72,669	$35
   12	Ohio	$72,033	$35
   13	Hawaii	$71,709	$34
   14	Illinois	$71,525	$34
   15	Alabama	$69,755	$34
   16	Georgia	$69,663	$33
   17	Indiana	$69,482	$33
   18	Tennessee	$66,666	$32
   19	Iowa	$61,344	$29

   Average manufacturing/industrial engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Philips Medical Systems	$92,338	$44.39
   2	PPG	$90,783	$43.65
   3	Tesla	$90,720	$43.62	22
   4	Micron Technology	$90,190	$43.36	54
   5	Rivian	$89,498	$43.03	11
   6	HP	$89,015	$42.80	1
   7	Medtronic	$88,684	$42.64	65
   8	Technip USA Corporation	$85,417	$41.07
   9	Textron	$85,298	$41.01	74
   10	POP Displays USA	$82,560	$39.69
   11	Nabholz	$81,247	$39.06	6
   12	Siemens	$81,031	$38.96	32
   13	Northrop Grumman	$80,954	$38.92	107
   14	Terex	$80,666	$38.78	10
   15	Lockheed Martin	$80,624	$38.76	511
   16	AMETEK	$80,621	$38.76	22
   17	Magna International	$80,497	$38.70	52
   18	Continental Automotive Systems	$79,489	$38.22
   19	Pentair Valves & Controls	$79,390	$38.17
   20	Meritor	$78,212	$37.60

4. Writing a manufacturing/industrial engineer job description

   A manufacturing/industrial 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 manufacturing/industrial engineer job description:

   Manufacturing/industrial engineer job description example

   What You'll Do
   
   As a Manufacturing & Industrial Engineer New Graduate you will drive the long-range strategic planning process for operations by leading and running all of Cisco's manufacturing operations throughout the life cycle. You will define goals, improve technologies, and resolve problems in conjunction with managers of manufacturing, quality assurance, engineering, and sales. You will convert customer requirements into state-of-the-art manufacturing strategies and processes. You will also develop operations-related plans, budgets, policies and procedures and provide analysis of manufacturing data while looking for ways to improve quality, reliability, and cost.
   
   Who You'll Work With
   
   Come collaborate with a diverse group of peers on projects that have a real world impact as part of Cisco's Supply Chain Operations. From our processes to manufacturing you'll deliver an extraordinary customer experience of Cisco products and services. Take your creative ideas from the drawing board to deliver powerful solutions. You'll collaborate with multi-functional teams to determine our infrastructural needs and product specifications.
   
   Who You Are
   
   * Including but not limited to a graduate/upcoming graduate of a technical degree or certification program from a Technical Boot Camp, Apprenticeship, Community College or 4-Year University.
   
   * Eligible to start July/August 2023
   
   * You possess a proven understanding of manufacturing & industrial engineering fundamentals
   
   * You are a results-driven individual with a strong attention to detail and creative problem solving skills
   
   * You have experience in establishing and sustaining excellent relationships with the extended team.
   
   * You possess excellent verbal and written skills
   
   * Able to legally live and work in the country for which you're applying, without visa support or sponsorship
   
   Why Cisco
   
   #WeAreCisco, where each person is unique, but we bring our talents to work as a team and make a difference powering an inclusive future for all.
   
   We embrace digital, and help our customers implement change in their digital businesses. Some may think we're "old" (36 years strong) and only about hardware, but we're also a software company. And a security company. We even invented an intuitive network that adapts, predicts, learns and protects. No other company can do what we do - you can't put us in a box!
   
   But "Digital Transformation" is an empty buzz phrase without a culture that allows for innovation, creativity, and yes, even failure (if you learn from it.)
   
   Day to day, we focus on the give and take. We give our best, give our egos a break, and give of ourselves (because giving back is built into our DNA.) We take accountability, bold steps, and take difference to heart. Because without diversity of thought and a dedication to equality for all, there is no moving forward.
   
   So, you have colorful hair? Don't care. Tattoos? Show off your ink. Like polka dots? That's cool. Pop culture geek? Many of us are. Passion for technology and world changing? Be you, with us!
   
   Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.
   
   Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting manufacturing/industrial engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 manufacturing/industrial engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect manufacturing/industrial 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.

   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.

   To prepare for the new manufacturing/industrial engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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