How to hire a mechanical engineering director

How to hire a mechanical engineering director, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The mechanical engineering director 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?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect mechanical engineering director 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of mechanical engineering directors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Mechanical Engineering Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Mechanical Engineering Director	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.	$33-115
   Research And Development Manager	A research and development manager is responsible for supervising project development procedures to support business operations and identify business opportunities that would pave the way for more revenue resources and profits. Research and development managers monitor the production plans from the conceptualization to the final outputs, inspecting inconsistencies and flaws in every phase and revising strategies as needed to achieve the required specifications and requirements... Show more	$37-83
   Design Manager	A design manager is responsible for creating graphic and digital designs, following clients' specifications, and managing project deliverables efficiently. Design managers work closely with the marketing and public relations department, developing strategies to promote the brand to the target audience... Show more	$33-72

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Mechanical Engineering
   • Solidworks
   • FEA
   • CAD
   • Fire Protection
   • Mechanical Engineering Design
   • Plumbing
   • Design Reviews
   • Mechanical Systems
   • HVAC
   • R
   • Prototype
   • BOM
   • Product Design

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage QA for research orient development efforts and for high visibility, production focuse development efforts tie to revenue generation.
   • Spearhead the design of HVAC systems and project management for new medical facilities.
   • Determine the current and future enterprise infrastructure which oversee the design and implementation of information systems that support the business requirements.
   • Manage design, tooling, equipment implementations and process improvements for foundry/machining metalworking manufacturer of automotive OEM products.

   More mechanical engineering director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mechanical engineering director job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A mechanical engineering director 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 mechanical engineering director in Minnesota may be lower than in Nevada, and an entry-level mechanical engineering director usually earns less than a senior-level mechanical engineering director. Additionally, a mechanical engineering director 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 mechanical engineering director salary

   $130,415yearly

   $62.70 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mechanical engineering director salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average mechanical engineering director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$156,328	$75
   2	Massachusetts	$141,077	$68
   3	Arizona	$135,662	$65
   4	Connecticut	$135,598	$65
   5	New York	$133,480	$64
   6	Texas	$132,351	$64
   7	New Jersey	$131,381	$63
   8	Oregon	$129,681	$62
   9	Pennsylvania	$119,684	$58
   10	Indiana	$118,890	$57
   11	Georgia	$116,653	$56
   12	Alabama	$115,795	$56
   13	District of Columbia	$104,652	$50
   14	Utah	$104,180	$50
   15	South Carolina	$99,673	$48
   16	Florida	$92,762	$45
   17	Puerto Rico	$68,507	$33

   Average mechanical engineering director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Desktop Metal	$175,193	$84.23
   2	Barry-Wehmiller	$159,981	$76.91	62
   3	Paramount	$152,212	$73.18	2
   4	Future Motion	$150,445	$72.33	1
   5	Hulcher Services	$146,358	$70.36
   6	Nabors Industries	$141,771	$68.16	2
   7	Northrop Grumman	$120,575	$57.97	186
   8	AE Works	$111,165	$53.44	1
   9	Presco	$109,163	$52.48
   10	New Jersey Institute of Technology	$107,964	$51.91	4
   11	Sanmina	$106,946	$51.42	17
   12	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$90,701	$43.61	369
   13	AMG Engineering	$89,752	$43.15

4. Writing a mechanical engineering director job description

   A mechanical engineering director 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 engineering director job description:

   Mechanical engineering director job description example

   Be visionary
   
   At Teledyne FLIR, we have a simple but ambitious mission: to develop market-leading thermal and sensing technologies which enhance everyday life. From saving energy, to saving lives Teledyne FLIR is making a real difference in our world.Our products are used in a wide array of situations to rescue people in danger, detect criminals, conserve energy, navigate safely, provide security around the globe, and protect our environment.
   
   We are looking for individuals who thrive on making an impact and want the excitement of being on a team that wins.
   
   Job Description
   
   This role is onsite M-F at Teledyne FLIR's facility in Billerica, MA. This is not a remote role. Local candidates are given preference.
   
   Job Summary: Director of Optical Engineering
   Directs the activities of a staff integrating hardware and software product design functions for advanced infrared zoom lens systems. Assesses system requirements, scopes development work and oversees projects to timely completion. Evaluates final design assuring accomplishment of technical objectives. Interfaces with external and internal customers, presenting reports outlining the outcome of projects and makes recommendations for actions necessary to achieve desired product objectives. Selects, develops and evaluates personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the optical engineering design team.
   
   Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
   Directs product conceptualization, design and verification for infrared zoom lens development Allocates work within team and sets milestones for concurrent development projects Technical interface with key customers Manages team of 6-8 engineers, providing performance feedback and coaching Ensure the engineering department is meeting its goals Provides quotation and product costing support for new sales Some travel required
   
   Job Qualifications:
   Technical degree with over 15 years related work experience Mastery of either optical design or mechanical design, with some lens development experience Broad knowledge of opto-mechanical design Proven leadership acumen Strong communication skills, particularly with highly technical content Effectively handles multiple projects and competing priorities
   
   Applicants must be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, legal permanent resident, asylee, refugee or must be eligible to apply for and obtain the appropriate export control license from the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce.
   
   Teledyne FLIR and all of our employees are committed to conducting business with the highest ethical standards. We require all employees to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, rules and regulatory orders. Our reputation for honesty, integrity and high ethics is as important to us as our reputation for making innovative sensing solutions.
   
   Teledyne FLIR is an equal opportunity employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right mechanical engineering director 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 mechanical engineering director job on Zippia to find and recruit mechanical engineering director 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 engineering directors, 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 engineering director

   Once you've decided on a perfect mechanical engineering director 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 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 mechanical engineering director 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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