How to hire a mechanical field engineer

How to hire a mechanical field engineer, step by step

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

What does a mechanical field engineer do?

Post a mechanical field engineer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your mechanical field engineer 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 field engineer 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a mechanical field engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a mechanical field engineer that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of mechanical field engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Mechanical Field Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Mechanical Field 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.	$28-53
   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
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Troubleshoot
   • Outage
   • Gas Turbines
   • Technical Direction
   • Technical Issues
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Design Drawings
   • Field Supervision
   • Cranes
   • Construction Management
   • HVAC
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Engineering Design

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate and supervise mechanical and craft trades to achieve proper and timely completion of the HVAC work.
   • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
   • Create and maintain the project's RFI and change notice log.
   • Gain experience in HVAC system and piping design engineering, schedules and purchasing.
   • Design conduit layout, conduit fill, cable sizes to comply with NEC codes.
   • Analyze force distributions and design rigging arrangements for complicate lifts with manual rigging and heavy lift cranes

   More mechanical field engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the mechanical field engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A mechanical field 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 field engineer in North Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level mechanical field engineer. Additionally, a mechanical field engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average mechanical field engineer salary

   $82,132yearly

   $39.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mechanical field engineer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average mechanical field engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$116,307	$56
   2	Massachusetts	$94,086	$45
   3	Delaware	$92,853	$45
   4	Nevada	$86,497	$42
   5	Texas	$85,653	$41
   6	New York	$82,649	$40
   7	Virginia	$79,295	$38
   8	Georgia	$77,557	$37
   9	Pennsylvania	$77,010	$37
   10	Tennessee	$74,518	$36
   11	Michigan	$72,913	$35
   12	Florida	$69,057	$33

   Average mechanical field engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amazon	$129,189	$62.11	291
   2	Cleveland Brothers	$96,970	$46.62	16
   3	General Electric	$95,366	$45.85	176
   4	DuPont	$92,448	$44.45	32
   5	SYSTRA USA	$88,695	$42.64	6
   6	Primoris Services	$88,242	$42.42	58
   7	Peraton	$87,516	$42.08	32
   8	Kiewit	$84,018	$40.39	729
   9	Bechtel Corporation	$83,321	$40.06	158
   10	Ghafari Associates	$80,842	$38.87	36
   11	Lockheed Martin	$80,614	$38.76	404
   12	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$80,445	$38.68	264
   13	Northrop Grumman	$80,072	$38.50	180
   14	Sundt Construction	$77,537	$37.28	30
   15	Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants	$77,374	$37.20
   16	Vencore	$71,118	$34.19	12

4. Writing a mechanical field engineer job description

   A good mechanical field 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 mechanical field engineer job description:

   Mechanical field engineer job description example

   The focus of this position will be to provide electric power generation service, industrial engine service, and service to the petroleum industry for our customers. The successful candidate must possess appropriate training and relevant work experience on electric power generation systems and industrial engines to successfully diagnose, repair, and complete technical startup of diesel and gas engines and generator sets, transfer switches, and switch gear; provide support for the oil and gas industry, to service natural gas and diesel products for our customers. Must possess appropriate training and relevant work experience on natural gas, diesel and industrial engine systems to successfully diagnose, repair, and complete technical startup of diesel and natural gas engines. After hours and weekend assignments are often required to satisfy customer demands and repair time schedules.
   The essential functions of this position includes the following:
   
   * Independently diagnose and repair prime power and stand-by electrical power installations in both multiple or parallel operation
   * Understand and have a working knowledge of automatic start and stop controls, safety shut-downs, switch gear, circuit breakers, and control panel wiring
   * Independently and successfully diagnose, repair, rebuild, and maintain diesel, gas, and marine engines
   * Perform work on generators and component parts in various environmental and working conditions
   * Safely assemble and disassemble equipment and component parts according to the manufacturer's specifications
   * Repair and maintain temperature control and air compression equipment
   * Independently diagnose and repair compression gas and diesel engines along with independently and successfully diagnose, repair, rebuild, and maintain diesel, gas, and marine engines
   * Perform work on generators and component parts in various environmental and working conditions
   * Safely assemble and disassemble equipment and component parts according to the manufacturer's specifications
   * Repair and maintain temperature control and air compression equipment
   * Accurately complete service reports and provide the details to complete work orders
   * Meet the Department of Transportation physical examination and licensing requirements as mandated by law
   * Work overtime as required and maintain tool requirements
   
   When field electrical power generation or industrial engine work is available, the Mechanic will be dispatched to perform that work. When there is no field work, the successful candidate will work in the shop facility for the balance or duration of the shift.
   
   This position requires a commercial driver's license. The successful candidate will be required to pass a driver's physical and all applicable tests associated with driving a service truck.
   
   As a Field Mechanic you are required to work in an industrial environment which includes exposure to significant environmental conditions. Physical requirements include: overall stamina; sitting; standing; climbing; walking; lifting; pulling and/or pushing; carrying; grasping; reaching; stooping and crouching; listening; and speaking. Must have good motor coordination skills; coordination of eyes, hands, and feet; verbal intelligence; and numerical intelligence. The workplace environmental conditions include subject to noise; heat; cold; injury exposures; and atmospheric exposures. Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
   
   Graduate of a technical school, military school, or relevant working experience acceptable to the company.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right mechanical field engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with mechanical field engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit mechanical field engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mechanical field engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit mechanical field 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 field 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 field engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the mechanical field engineer 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with 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 field 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

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