How to hire a mechanical designer

How to hire a mechanical designer, step by step

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

What does a mechanical designer do?

Post a mechanical designer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your mechanical designer 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 mechanical designer 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

   No

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

   Type of Mechanical Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Mechanical Designer	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.	$22-39
   Autocad Drafter	An Autocad Drafter develops drawings and plans for the construction and manufacturing industries. They use various types of computer-aided design and drafting software.	$14-26
   Computer Aided Design Designer	A computer-aided design (CAD) designer is responsible for creating plan outlines and project designs for a specific business need. A CAD designer utilizes various technologies and software applications to generate graphic illustrations... Show more	$19-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Mechanical Design
   • Revit
   • Auto CAD
   • HVAC
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Creo
   • Design Software
   • Plumbing
   • Assembly Drawings
   • GD
   • Layout Drawings
   • Aided Design
   • IDS
   • Mechanical Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work with JPL / NASA packaging and fabrication engineering leads (on-site).
   • Manage documentation of existing projects, perform ECN resolutions.
   • Produce REVIT models for the mechanical department o HVAC sheet metal and HVAC piping.
   • Develop company's AutoCAD customize menu, prepare cad department logistics, organize and staff cad department.
   • Apply mechanical engineering design and manufacturing expertise to develop MR and XR medical imaging devices utilizing AutoCAD.
   • Experience with ASME and ANSI codes.

   More mechanical designer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, mechanical designers' average salary in arkansas is 37% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mechanical designers 45% less than senior-level mechanical designers.
   • Certifications. A mechanical designer 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 designer's salary.

   Average mechanical designer salary

   $62,541yearly

   $30.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mechanical designer salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average mechanical designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$77,989	$37
   2	Massachusetts	$74,562	$36
   3	Washington	$72,236	$35
   4	Michigan	$68,611	$33
   5	South Carolina	$68,096	$33
   6	Illinois	$67,028	$32
   7	North Carolina	$64,668	$31
   8	New York	$64,391	$31
   9	Tennessee	$63,719	$31
   10	Texas	$62,890	$30
   11	Wisconsin	$62,652	$30
   12	Pennsylvania	$62,371	$30
   13	Ohio	$61,949	$30
   14	Kansas	$61,094	$29
   15	Arizona	$61,001	$29
   16	Colorado	$60,745	$29
   17	Missouri	$60,718	$29
   18	Indiana	$59,818	$29
   19	Georgia	$59,558	$29
   20	Minnesota	$59,095	$28

   Average mechanical designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$112,706	$54.19	202
   2	VIA Motors	$94,274	$45.32
   3	Nikola Motor	$85,890	$41.29
   4	Seagate Technology	$85,286	$41.00	3
   5	Amphenol	$84,269	$40.51	6
   6	Vicor	$84,200	$40.48	1
   7	LUFKIN Industries	$84,115	$40.44
   8	Tesla	$82,741	$39.78	82
   9	Nabors Industries	$79,595	$38.27	1
   10	Amazon	$76,881	$36.96	274
   11	Halliburton	$76,663	$36.86	3
   12	IBM	$75,620	$36.36	28
   13	Bayer	$75,414	$36.26
   14	Arora Engineers	$75,081	$36.10	9
   15	Ghafari Associates	$74,760	$35.94	113
   16	Smith Seckman Reid	$74,712	$35.92	20
   17	Jefferson Lab	$74,341	$35.74
   18	Hargrove Engineers + Constructors	$74,217	$35.68	20
   19	Interface Engineering	$74,039	$35.60	13
   20	Henderson Engineers	$73,656	$35.41

4. Writing a mechanical designer job description

   A good mechanical designer 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 designer job description:

   Mechanical designer job description example

   Our Culture:
   The heart and soul of ITW are the more than 48,000 hard-working and dedicated people around the world who thrive in the companys decentralized entrepreneurial culture. ITWs unique culture is a competitive advantage, and the company is working hard to make sure that its divisions continue to think and act like smaller companies. ITW businesses have significant flexibility within the framework of the ITW Business Model to customize their approach in order to best serve their customers and maximize performance. The foundation of our company is the ITW Business Model, a unique and differentiated set of core capabilities and business practices that comprises three key elements: ITWs 80/20 Front to Back Process, customer-back innovation and a decentralized entrepreneurial culture.
   
   Our Division:
   ITW North American Stamped Fastener Division, (NASF), serves the major OEMs and their tier suppliers in the North American automotive market. The division supplies stamped metal fasteners and engineered fastener assemblies that leverage our deep-draw stamping technologies. The annual revenue for the division is approximately $170M.

   
   The division drives profitability by leveraging its innovative solutions and application engineering. In addition to ITWs industry leading research and development capabilities, NASF enhances our customers competitive advantage by:

   • Maintaining advanced engineering and manufacturing facilities in N.A.
   • Exchanging product, process and benchmarking information with sister units worldwide.
   • Continually improving processes, material and designs to ensure every product exceeds customer specifications while providing unparalleled value.

   This is a first shift, full time, direct job with full benefits. Ideal candidates will have one to three years of mechanical drafting experience. Primary duties will include working on various Eyelet and Progressive stamping press tooling, machine parts, gages and test equipment designs.

   Mechanical Drafter and Design Job Duties

   Solid part modeling, detailing, and creating assemblies using Solidworks 2016 or higher

   Creating/maintaining tooling prints using AutoCAD LT 2015 or higher

   Drafting and design of various stamping press tooling, machine parts, gages, test equipment, and fixtures

   Proper use of mechanical detailing standards and procedures including geometric tolerancing

   Fluent using Microsoft Office including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

   Create and present customer design reviews

   All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

   ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

   As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

   One to three+ years of experience in mechanical drafting & design

   Proficiency in Solidworks, AutoCAD LT, and Microsoft Office

   Strong interpersonal skills

   Ability to work independently

   Willing to work overtime as necessary

   Legal authorization to work in the US required

   Desired but Not Required Skills

   Certificate or Degree in a Mechanically oriented course for Drafting & Design

   Completed College courses or Degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar

   RequiredPreferredJob Industries

   • Warehouse & Production

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find mechanical designers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit mechanical designers, 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 designer

   Once you've decided on a perfect mechanical designer 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new mechanical designer 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a mechanical designer?