How to hire a product/project engineer

How to hire a product/project engineer, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The product/project 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?

   Yes

   No

   A product/project engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, product/project engineers 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 product/project engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Product/Project Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Product/Project 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.	$31-53
   Team Lead Engineer	A team leads engineer is in charge of spearheading and overseeing the efforts of an engineering team, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although the duties may depend on one's industry of employment, it typically includes designing and developing systems according to project requirements, setting objectives and construction guidelines, delegating tasks, managing budgets and schedules, and monitoring the workflow, performing corrective measures as needed... Show more	$40-75
   Co-Operations Engineer	A Co-Operations Engineer ensures that operations-related activities are performed in compliance with company standards and regulations. They optimize the overall efficiency of business.	$14-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • CAD
   • Solidworks
   • Aerospace
   • Product Development
   • Technical Support
   • Product Line
   • Product Design
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • R
   • Technical Specifications
   • Engineering Support
   • BOM
   • CATIA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the manufacturing of defense and aerospace electro-mechanical print circuit boards from prototype to production level.
   • Convert part and assembly drawings from AutoCad to Solidworks.
   • Review, audit and create ISO 9000 area procedures, flow charts, test procedures and forms.
   • Award special recognition from NIBCO's chairman of the board for efforts in gaining ISO certification quickly and smoothly.
   • Utilize Solidworks for design, AutoCad for legacy document maintenance.
   • Design and develop aircraft seal devices through engineering analysis, prototyping, risk assessment and appropriate qualification testing with customer expectation.

   More product/project engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your product/project engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A product/project engineer 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 product/project engineer in North Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level product/project engineer usually earns less than a senior-level product/project engineer. Additionally, a product/project engineer 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 product/project engineer salary

   $85,558yearly

   $41.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level product/project engineer salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average product/project engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$121,689	$59
   2	Nevada	$94,166	$45
   3	Georgia	$93,250	$45
   4	Arizona	$92,039	$44
   5	Texas	$86,582	$42
   6	Michigan	$85,838	$41
   7	New York	$84,005	$40
   8	Pennsylvania	$82,687	$40
   9	New Jersey	$79,995	$38
   10	Minnesota	$78,830	$38
   11	Illinois	$78,707	$38
   12	Florida	$76,037	$37
   13	Indiana	$74,666	$36
   14	Wisconsin	$71,019	$34
   15	South Carolina	$70,635	$34

   Average product/project engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tesla	$93,355	$44.88	187
   2	CTS Corporation	$87,053	$41.85	2
   3	Overhead Door	$85,080	$40.90	2
   4	Aerojet Rocketdyne	$84,299	$40.53
   5	Textron	$82,040	$39.44	69
   6	Scale AI Inc	$82,011	$39.43	28
   7	Freudenberg-NOK	$81,969	$39.41
   8	Construction Specialties	$81,969	$39.41	4
   9	Ducommun	$81,585	$39.22	10
   10	Persistent Systems	$81,552	$39.21	2
   11	Select Source International	$81,216	$39.05	1
   12	Carrier	$80,355	$38.63	14
   13	Bell Flight	$79,590	$38.26
   14	Techtronic Industries TTI	$79,174	$38.06	25
   15	S&C Electric	$78,019	$37.51	18
   16	Kohler Co.	$74,361	$35.75	18
   17	David Yurman	$71,893	$34.56
   18	Wahl Clipper	$71,108	$34.19	1

4. Writing a product/project engineer job description

   A good product/project 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 product/project engineer job description:

   Product/project engineer job description example

   We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and design the first functional jetpack. We were aboard NASA's first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we are defining the future of on-demand mobility. At Bell, we are proud to be an iconic company with superb talent, rapidly creating novel and coveted vertical lift experiences.
   Bell in Fort Worth, TX has an opening for askilled and motivated Project Engineer with strong project management skills to support an on-going development program for Commercial Aircraft Product Development . The project engineer will work closely with a multi-disciplinary team including engineers, supply chain, integrated operation and finance to manage the program from current phase to completion.
   
   Specific assignation on the development program: The Project Engineer will be managing work packages related to design, stress analysis and fatigue testing on rotor / drive components.
   
   This role will be located in Bells Commercial Business Center, just south of the DFW Airport.
   
   Project Engineer Responsibilities: Plan, organize and manage technical projects from conception to completion in the high-pace and demanding world of product development The project engineer on the commercial development team is responsible for analyzing multiple product options including technical feasibility / scope / schedule / budget, building full program plans and executing projects to plan to use modernized project management tools along with supporting bids and proposals for both customer contracts and external funding opportunities The role involves a high degree of ambiguity and requires creativity in determining solutions along with the engineering team to meet multi-disciplinary problems faced when looking at increasing revenue and profitability of the commercial business Capture process and product requirements defined by Subject Matter Experts Coordinate engineering efforts to complete the development of engineering design Coordinate design reviews based on engineering design and requirements Coordinate the integration of changes into the production line Coordinate with multiple departments (engineering - all disciplines, manufacturing, procurement, finance, marketing, strategy, IT, technical publications, customer support, integrated operations, quality, contracts), customers, suppliers and partners from different locations Coordinate the engineering/planning change process and configuration management tasks required Create project plans (using planning tools, phased/gated approach), determine required deliverables, assign resources and estimate tasks Manage and control quality, tests and certification, requirements, risks and contingency plans, budget, deliverables, project changes Contribute to project management tools and processes and shared lessons learned Monitor project progress and report project performance status (cost and schedule earned values) Build and provide presentations to senior management for on-going bids as well as for program status
   
   Required Education: BS Engineering, or Technical Degree. (MS or MBA preferred) Required Skill and Experience: At least 5 years of engineering experience in relevant or related area Broad Knowledge of all Engineering Disciplines related to Helicopter design, analysis, testing, fabrication, and commercial certification Requirements Analysis skills, Aerospace Design knowledge, Project Management skills, Knowledge of standard manufacturing processes, Process Improvement skills, Technical Understanding of rotorcraft Solid project management experience and project management software Ability to influence direction of program or drive decisions Ability to drive the development of technical solutions to complex problems, using ingenuity and creativity Demonstrated leadership in a matrixed environment, with challenging goals/objectives Excellent presentation and communication skills with all levels in the organization Demonstrated team building and coordination skills Interpersonal and communication skills Knowledge of Enovia, SAP, Primavera or MS Project are a plus. * Bell will consider candidates nationally, however, this position does not offer relocation assistance
   
   You have the unique opportunity to join a different kind of team; one that is focused on pushing boundaries, one that advocates for our customers by presenting them with the very best and by cultivating a culture of inclusivity and excitement for what's ahead.
   
   We're an award-winning organization with a legacy of reliability, precision, and exceeding expectations. Be on the forefront of flight technology and join our team! If you want to get the scoop on our culture, leadership and benefits directly from our employees, you can check out our verified employee reviews exclusively on our partner site Comparably at comparably.com/companies

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit product/project engineers, 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.

   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 product/project engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the product/project 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 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 product/project engineer 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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