How to hire a mechanical design technician

How to hire a mechanical design technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mechanical design technician hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a mechanical design technician, 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 mechanical design technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mechanical design technicians 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of mechanical design technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Mechanical Design Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Mechanical Design Technician	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.	$22-37
   Product Engineer	A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis of the latest trends and marketing conditions to come up with new ideas and products for the public... Show more	$32-56
   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
   • Revit
   • Fire Protection
   • Solidworks
   • Assembly Drawings
   • BIM
   • HVAC
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Creo
   • Plumbing
   • Ladders
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Design Drawings
   • R

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide mechanical design and sustaining engineering expertise to troubleshoot manufacturing defect trends and achieve a more robust and producible product.
   • Design and model changes to drawings for support of fabrication and installation of HVAC, plumbing and major commercial/industrial/residential pipe systems.
   • Engineer air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration, plumbing, and electrical power supply for renovate building spaces.
   • Convert and clean-up architectural background drawings and establish mechanical and plumbing drawings.
   • Create BOM for the lines; compose design documentation utilizing technical drawings and engineering specifications.
   • Design and manufacture documentation for custom smart power distribution products including customer specifications and vendor BOM's.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mechanical design technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A mechanical design technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, mechanical design technicians' average salary in arkansas is 40% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mechanical design technicians 39% less than senior-level mechanical design technicians.
   • Certifications. A mechanical design technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a mechanical design technician's salary.

   Average mechanical design technician salary

   $60,714yearly

   $29.19 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mechanical design technician salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 6, 2025

4. Writing a mechanical design technician job description

   A good mechanical design technician 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 mechanical design technician job description:

   Mechanical design technician job description example

   Our People & Places Solutions business - reinforces our drive to improve the lives of people everywhere and epitomizes the "why" of what we do - the tremendous positive impact and value our solutions bring to our communities and society as a whole. From facilities delivering life-saving therapies and ensuring clean water to enabling the connection of people through all modes of transportation and providing access to technology - we're integrating a multitude of these solution elements to build the smart environments of tomorrow.
   
   Start your Jacobs career with a company that inspires and empowers you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow and succeed - today and into tomorrow.
   Your Impact:
   
   Start your Jacobs career with a company that inspires and empowers you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow and succeed - today and into tomorrow.
   
   At Jacobs, we're transforming intangible ideas into innovative solutions designing the future - today. As a Mechanical Designer in Boise, ID, you will too.
   
   Collaborating with a team of designers and engineers, you'll help us engage with clients and subcontractors, designing some of the world's most advanced facilities. You'll design and draft mechanical systems for construction, including HVAC, Utilities, Plumbing and Fire Protection. Your role keeps our company connected and we'll support you with what you need to be successful.
   
   At this level you will be expected to have developed proficiency in a range of processes or procedure through prior project training and work experience. You are able to work independently with a limited degree of supervision, partnering with senior designers and engineers on complex new assignments. You are expected to serve as an informal mentor and resource for less experienced designers.
   
   Build your career with a company that inspires and empowers you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow and succeed - today and into tomorrow.
   
   Here's What You'll Need:
   
   * High school graduate or equivalent
   * At least three years of AutoCAD design experience
   * At least two years of work with building mechanical systems and equipment
   * At least one year of Revit design experience
   
   Ideally, you'll also have:
   
   * Technical or Associate's degree in a relevant field
   * SmartPlant or NavisWorks experience
   * Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
   * Strong problem-solving skills
   * Forward-thinking, eager to learn best practices, and contribute with innovative ideas
   * Displayed ability to learn quickly and driven to broaden knowledge base
   * Ability to collaborate and work effectively in a variety of teams, including multi-disciplinary teams
   * Industrial design experience, including high-tech manufacturing, semiconductor facilities, data centers, or similar
   
   afelectronics
   
   Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.
   
   At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.

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5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting mechanical design technicians 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 to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 mechanical design technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the mechanical design technician 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.

   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 mechanical design technician. 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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