How to hire a mechanical development engineer

How to hire a mechanical development engineer, step by step

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

What does a mechanical development engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The mechanical development 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?

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   Hiring the perfect mechanical development 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of mechanical development engineers.

   Type of Mechanical Development Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Mechanical Development 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.	$33-58
   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
   Staff Engineer	Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations... Show more	$33-80

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CAD
   • Solidworks
   • FEA
   • Product Design
   • R
   • Mechanical Design
   • Data Acquisition
   • Sigma
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Mechanical Development
   • Design Reviews
   • GD
   • Prototyping
   • Product Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage the first BOM and release management process for communicating and tracking build changes/status with global factories.
   • Manage design control including FMEA risk analysis, surgeon clinical input documentation, design verification and validation activities.
   • Verify designs and concepts by testing finish product and system capabilities using computer base FEA , 3D printing/component prototyping.
   • Specialize in product development services utilizing SolidWorks.
   • Design and validate 3D-2D parts, manufacturing drawings, assemblies, BOM using SolidWorks.
   • Compose and implement an automate MATLAB computing script to improve data processing time and efficiency.

   More mechanical development engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the mechanical development engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A mechanical development engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a mechanical development engineer in South Carolina may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level mechanical development engineer. Additionally, a mechanical development engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average mechanical development engineer salary

   $91,933yearly

   $44.20 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mechanical development engineer salary

   $69,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average mechanical development engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$131,573	$63
   2	Washington	$107,222	$52
   3	Texas	$105,979	$51
   4	Massachusetts	$100,174	$48
   5	Maryland	$98,420	$47
   6	New York	$96,175	$46
   7	Michigan	$93,874	$45
   8	Arizona	$90,589	$44
   9	Alabama	$84,662	$41
   10	Pennsylvania	$84,350	$41
   11	Utah	$83,453	$40
   12	Minnesota	$81,938	$39
   13	North Carolina	$80,994	$39
   14	Florida	$80,314	$39
   15	Oklahoma	$78,588	$38
   16	Iowa	$78,104	$38
   17	Indiana	$77,825	$37
   18	South Carolina	$74,033	$36
   19	Wisconsin	$73,374	$35

   Average mechanical development engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amazon	$127,399	$61.25	535
   2	PRO Unlimited	$120,294	$57.83
   3	Canon	$100,396	$48.27	5
   4	Kelly Services	$98,169	$47.20	43
   5	ICONMA	$97,253	$46.76
   6	Henny Penny	$97,055	$46.66	1
   7	PROVEN BUSINESS SYSTEMS	$95,733	$46.03
   8	Solectron Corp	$94,562	$45.46	18
   9	A123 Systems	$94,315	$45.34	1
   10	Corning Incorporated	$93,906	$45.15	53
   11	Rockwell Automation	$91,696	$44.08	21
   12	FCA US LLC	$91,676	$44.08	38
   13	Brunswick	$90,956	$43.73	19
   14	LHP	$90,893	$43.70
   15	Kinsley Power Systems	$90,765	$43.64
   16	G-TECH	$89,379	$42.97	2
   17	Philips	$89,283	$42.92	2
   18	Ansys	$88,592	$42.59
   19	Wagner Spray Tech	$88,188	$42.40	3
   20	Kratos Defense & Security Solutions	$88,099	$42.36	13

4. Writing a mechanical development engineer job description

   A mechanical development 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 mechanical development engineer job description:

   Mechanical development engineer job description example

   Mueller Water Products is a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services in the water industry; our products are essential to transmission, distribution, and measurement of water
   
   Our mission is to develop products and solutions that help cities and water utilities deliver clean, safe drinking water. Our broad product and service portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, pipe connection and repair products, metering products, leak detection, pipe condition assessment, pressure management products and software technology that provides critical water data.
   
   As worldwide infrastructure ages, Mueller Water Products' solutions are well-positioned to help cities and water utilities address their critical issues surrounding water quality and scarcity.
   
   This position is a part of Mueller's Development Program (MDP). The program is 2 years in duration (may vary based on employee's start date), and consists of rotational experiences, formal mentorship, and a standardized training curriculum; all of which are designed to provide a broad range of experiences in various facets to accelerate development in desired function. Rotation location will be assigned based on business need and career aspirations.
   
   Our Mechanical Engineering Development Program offers experience in product design, manufacturing, application of additive manufacturing, continuous improvement, validation/testing, project management and sales support. Come explore the vast array of challenging careers available at Mueller Water Products!
   
   This opportunity will provide you with challenging work and accelerated growth while supporting senior management in their decision making to directly impact the business. This includes customer focused and data driven strategy implementation, goal formation, and product development to support company growth.
   Our Development Program targets December and May graduates. Desired Skills: Flexibility to relocate for 6-12-month rotations through at least 3 different plants (Albertville, AL, Chattanooga, TN, Decatur, IL, Cleveland, NC, or Brownsville, TX) Team player with excellent written and communication skills Exceptional critical thinking and analytical proficiency Ability to work independently and adapt to change quickly Effectively problem-solve and deliver high quality results Qualifications: Graduating December 2022 or May 2023Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field0-2 years of relevant work experience Working knowledge of mechanical design and material science Knowledge of industrial manufacturing processes We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other category protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find mechanical development engineers 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 development engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit mechanical development engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit mechanical development engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 development engineer

   Once you've selected the best mechanical development engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new mechanical development engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire a mechanical development engineer?