How to hire a programming engineer

How to hire a programming engineer, step by step

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

What does a programming engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a programming engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A programming engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, programming 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 shows salaries for various types of programming engineers.

   Type of Programming Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Programming 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.	$28-51
   Quality Control Engineer	A quality control engineer is responsible for conducting quality assessments for the company's products and services to ensure adherence to federal regulations and quality standards. Quality control engineers recommend strategic methods by analyzing processes and writing test results... Show more	$25-45
   Application Engineer	An application engineer is responsible for creating and re-designing system applications based on clients' specifications and sales demands. Application engineers run diagnostic tests on software programs, identify areas of improvement, install necessary updates, upgrade optimization, revise system codes, and provide technical support for customers' needs... Show more	$33-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • C++
   • Program Management
   • PowerPoint
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Product Development
   • CAD
   • HVAC
   • UI
   • Technical Support
   • Prototype
   • Java
   • DOD
   • Design Reviews

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Design and manage the implementation of production tooling (fixtures, jigs, gauges, cutting tools, etc . )
   • Manage the manufacturing of defense and aerospace electro-mechanical print circuit boards from prototype to production level.
   • Install setup and configure UNIX servers.
   • Create assembly and layout drawings using AutoCAD and SolidWorks software.
   • Create detail job reports and schedule CNC machine cutting functions.
   • Program and troubleshoot CNC machinery for the production of Honda engine parts.

   More programming engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average programming engineer salary

   $80,616yearly

   $38.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level programming engineer salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average programming engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$113,340	$54
   2	Virginia	$96,945	$47
   3	Washington	$95,645	$46
   4	New York	$92,458	$44
   5	Massachusetts	$91,464	$44
   6	Arizona	$86,621	$42
   7	New Mexico	$79,647	$38
   8	Michigan	$79,427	$38
   9	Connecticut	$75,060	$36
   10	Texas	$74,977	$36
   11	Colorado	$73,564	$35
   12	Florida	$72,155	$35
   13	Indiana	$71,307	$34
   14	Ohio	$71,055	$34
   15	Oklahoma	$67,886	$33
   16	North Carolina	$67,808	$33
   17	Nebraska	$61,898	$30

   Average programming engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$136,667	$65.71	466
   2	Meta	$135,233	$65.02	415
   3	Chevron	$127,205	$61.16
   4	Google	$126,177	$60.66	101
   5	Amazon	$124,208	$59.72	428
   6	BNP Paribas	$114,005	$54.81
   7	Texas Instruments	$111,767	$53.73	11
   8	Amd	$111,470	$53.59	77
   9	Bank of the West	$111,442	$53.58
   10	Bayer	$110,572	$53.16	4
   11	Yahoo	$110,409	$53.08
   12	Dynegy	$110,389	$53.07
   13	General Motors	$105,560	$50.75	301
   14	Siemens Enterprise Communications Inc	$103,334	$49.68
   15	Caterpillar	$100,872	$48.50	78
   16	Abbott	$100,451	$48.29	63
   17	Constellation Energy Partners	$100,341	$48.24	31
   18	FMC	$100,260	$48.20	1
   19	Electric Reliability Council of Texas	$99,524	$47.85	3
   20	Corning Incorporated	$97,938	$47.09	55

4. Writing a programming engineer job description

   A job description for a programming engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a programming engineer job description:

   Programming engineer job description example

   for recent engineering college graduates (Bachelor's, Masters or PhD)
   NOTE: This “evergreen” Wolfspeed Rotational Program job posting for graduates with engineering degrees is an expression of interest. We will contact you directly if specific WRP program opportunities that align with your resume become available. At Wolfspeed, we do amazing things in a human way. We know that the achievements of our organization are due to the passion, hard work and creativity of our employees. We celebrate different perspectives to foster excellence across our organization, and our goal is to make diversity, equity and inclusion a foundation of what we do. We are proudly building an environment where you can bring your authentic self to work. Enjoy doing things that people say can't be done? Innovation is at the center of everything we do.
   Hate red tape? We remove roadblocks instead of creating them. Working parent? We provide childcare assistance and paid parental leave. Lifelong learner? We offer continuing education assistance. Looking for community? There are many ways to get involved, from Employee Resource Groups to local outreach. If you are looking for an amazing place to start your career, come join us!
   Here's the Gist:
   We are hiring engineers into our Wolfspeed Rotational Program (WRP) within the following businesses functions:
   WRP Program:Global OperationsEngineering Degrees or Concentrations: electrical, chemical, materials science, manufacturing, mechanical, industrial, mechatronics, computer science WRP Total Length (months) : 24 months # Rotations During WRP : 4
   Power Engineering Degrees or Concentrations : electrical, power electronics, mechanical, chemical, materials science, physics WRP Total Length (months) : 12 months# Rotations During WRP : 4Radio Frequency (RF) Engineering Degrees or Concentrations: electrical, computer science WRP Total Length (months) : 24 months # Rotations During WRP : 4Test Engineering Engineering Degrees or Concentrations: electrical, physics, computer, electronics engineering technology, materials science WRP Total Length (months) : 24 months # Rotations During WRP : 4During your time in this early career talent development program, you'll experience multiple rotations within various Wolfspeed teams to leverage career advancement and business impact while developing a broad base of understanding across your functional area. As you see on the chart above, the total length of the program and the number of rotations varies per business function. Your day-to-day work within each rotation will vary depending on the program type you join. In addition to your rotational assignments, all Wolfspeed Rotational Program participants will be part of a Pack (cohort) and: Learn about our business, product lines and functions through on-the-job experiences, site visits and classroom training Complete meaningful projects
   Engage with executives, rotational managers and mentors to network and learn Participate in regular professional development opportunities including webinars and in-person immersions Give back through community service Actively live Wolfspeed's value pairs of integrity & respect, ownership & accountability and ingenuity & passion Upon successful completion of the Wolfspeed Rotational Program, you'll roll into a longer-term position within Wolfspeed to continue your exciting career journey with us.
   Our Wolfspeed Rotational Program is Right for You if: You graduated (or will be graduating) with a related undergraduate or graduate degree within the last two years You're an engaged student who achieved excellent grades, with a preferred 3.2 cumulative GPA minimum For Bachelor's degree level graduates: At the time of accepting a verbal offer, you already have a work authorization that allows you to begin work full time for Wolfspeed in the United States, on the agreed upon start date
   For Master's or PhD degree level graduates: Employment sponsorship will only be considered for individuals with specialized skills needed at Wolfspeed. Employment sponsorship is not guaranteed. The Program is Especially Right for You if You Are Also: Ecstatic for the opportunity to interact with a global team Able to think on your feet and brainstorm fresh ideas
   Someone who works hard to get the job done and can easily adapt to any type of working environment An analytical and critical thinker with a drive for problem-solving A motivated self-starter with strong interpersonal skills Able to laugh in the face of data and drive valuable insights to make recommendations and sound business decisions Curious about new technological advancements and eager for the opportunity to make an impact and grow your career
   Experienced through internships and/or previous jobs - we particularly love converting former Wolfspeed interns into full time hires! A FINAL REMINDER: This “evergreen” Wolfspeed Rotational Program job posting for graduates with engineering degrees is an expression of interest. We will contact you directly if specific WRP program opportunities that align with your resume become available.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find programming engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any programming engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level programming engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting programming engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 programming engineer

   Once you've found the programming engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new programming engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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