How to hire a manufacturing/mechanical engineer

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

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

What does a manufacturing/mechanical engineer do?

Post a manufacturing/mechanical engineer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a manufacturing/mechanical engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A manufacturing/mechanical engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, manufacturing/mechanical engineers 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 presents manufacturing/mechanical engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Manufacturing/Mechanical 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.	$20-46
   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
   Design Engineer	A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs... Show more	$27-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Solidworks
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Corrective Action
   • Hand Tools
   • Process Control
   • PLC
   • Technical Support
   • Product Quality
   • Troubleshoot
   • GD
   • Project Management
   • Production Lines
   • Sigma

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Collaborate with internal company users to manage software and database improvements.
   • Lead several independent, cross-functional projects and improve manufacturing quality, reduce cost, ensure environment are supported and FDA compliant.
   • Perform lab analysis on parts to confirm FEA solutions.
   • Create schematics and PCB layouts for various product revisions.
   • Identify stress concentrations and resolve plastic part failure utilizing FEA.
   • Develop financial reports for management team to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and determine make vs. buy issues.

   More manufacturing/mechanical engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $64,007yearly

   $30.77 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level manufacturing/mechanical engineer salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average manufacturing/mechanical engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$93,408	$45
   2	Connecticut	$76,608	$37
   3	Massachusetts	$70,429	$34
   4	New York	$69,022	$33
   5	Maryland	$64,961	$31
   6	Pennsylvania	$61,170	$29
   7	Illinois	$60,343	$29
   8	Colorado	$59,443	$29
   9	North Carolina	$53,551	$26
   10	Kentucky	$49,922	$24
   11	Texas	$48,843	$23
   12	Florida	$42,787	$21

   Average manufacturing/mechanical engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$133,553	$64.21	153
   2	Fitbit	$117,296	$56.39
   3	KLA	$104,663	$50.32	63
   4	General Motors	$99,599	$47.88	210
   5	Intuitive Surgical	$97,490	$46.87	45
   6	Corning Incorporated	$94,128	$45.25	79
   7	Waters	$94,124	$45.25	11
   8	Entegris	$94,080	$45.23	39
   9	Mevion Medical Systems	$93,745	$45.07	1
   10	Carestream	$93,510	$44.96	2
   11	Tesla	$90,960	$43.73	32
   12	Baker Hughes	$90,373	$43.45	21
   13	Arista Networks	$89,107	$42.84	9
   14	Amazon	$88,605	$42.60	484
   15	Neuralink IT Solutions	$87,892	$42.26	13
   16	Applied Materials	$87,640	$42.13	74
   17	The Chemours Company	$86,404	$41.54	15
   18	Mentor	$84,846	$40.79	22
   19	Aircell	$79,125	$38.04
   20	BWX Technologies	$78,021	$37.51	46

4. Writing a manufacturing/mechanical engineer job description

   A good manufacturing/mechanical engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a manufacturing/mechanical engineer job description:

   Manufacturing/mechanical engineer job description example

   The Career Potential
   
   Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is committed to improving and saving lives with diagnostics. To do this we hire people who share this dream and are ready for new adventures. As a valued team member, you will carve your own career path and be part of building this company stronger and better than ever before. There is no limit to the experiences, opportunities and new directions you will have access to here at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. More importantly, you will be driving the surge of a whole new direction in important medicine. That's something we can all take pride in as we take this journey together.
   
   Ortho is known in the industry as a leader in customer service and support. Deeply understanding and exceeding the needs of our clinical lab, hospital and blood bank customers is what we do. It's who we are. If you join Ortho, no matter what your role, you will be expected to keep that Customer Excellence focus in your work.
   
   The Opportunity
   
   As the company continues to grow, we are seeking a Machine Mechanic who will troubleshoot, repair, setup, and perform maintenance on manufacturing equipment to maximize uptime and minimize product defects. Our automated production equipment includes large batch chemical formulation, lyophilization (freeze drying), semi-automated and fully automated precision liquid filling, capping, labeling, printing and carton packaging systems. This position is in Rochester, New York.
   
   The Responsibilities
   
   Troubleshoot and repair equipment in manufacturing areas.Perform preventative maintenance tasks for production machinery or facilities.Order parts and supplies required to maintain equipment.Document preventative and corrective maintenance work utilizing a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).Recommend modifications to enhance equipment life or productivity.Read and interpret equipment manuals and work orders to perform required maintenance and service.Follow all safety and quality system requirements.
   
   The Individual
   
   Prefer certificate or AAS in mechanical/electrical technologies or related field or completion of an apprenticeship and/or formal automated equipment mechanic training.A minimum of 1 year related work experience.Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered.Knowledge of automated machinery and related subsystems, including:Mechanical systems Electrical and Control systems Hydraulics and PneumaticsProgrammable Logic Controls (PLCs) Advanced knowledge of PLCs highly desired.Ability to interpret drawings, schematics, equipment specifications, and maintenance procedures.Strong written and verbal communication skills Self-starter able to work independently or with a team Ability to work overtime, including weekends, and/or flex between shifts, if needed, to help support business needs.
   
   EOE/AA Disability/Veteran
   
   #LI-KS1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right manufacturing/mechanical 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 manufacturing/mechanical engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit manufacturing/mechanical engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit manufacturing/mechanical 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 manufacturing/mechanical engineer

   Once you've found the manufacturing/mechanical engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a manufacturing/mechanical engineer?