How to hire a project engineer

How to hire a project engineer, step by step

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

What does a project engineer do?

Post a project engineer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your project 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 project 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

   Hiring the perfect project 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 project engineers.

   Type of Project Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   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.	$26-48
   Mechanical Design Engineer	A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals... Show more	$28-46
   Research And Development Engineer	Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies... Show more	$35-64

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Autocad
   • Construction Management
   • CAD
   • UL
   • Cost Estimates
   • Engineering Design
   • Technical Support
   • Project Scope
   • Work Ethic
   • Engineering Projects
   • OSHA
   • Construction Projects
   • Shop Drawings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage TCP/IP LAN environment for the time during implementation.
   • Support and manage the development of a CNC base electron beam drill.
   • Lead a MGPP six sigma project to improve the accuracy of 3D clutch cooling analysis
   • Manage the BHP enterprise wide migration from e-rooms to SharePoint for document management and team collaboration.
   • Manage the installation of a CNC laser cutting system with full responsibility for all aspects of the project.
   • Coordinate and manage activities of the 787-9 IPT's to complete the specific aircraft side of the test cells.

   More project engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your project engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A project engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, project engineers' average salary in montana is 27% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level project engineers 45% less than senior-level project engineers.
   • Certifications. A project engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a project engineer's salary.

   Average project engineer salary

   $75,050yearly

   $36.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level project engineer salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average project engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$91,529	$44
   2	District of Columbia	$87,389	$42
   3	Washington	$86,779	$42
   4	Maryland	$86,201	$41
   5	Massachusetts	$84,996	$41
   6	New York	$82,408	$40
   7	Texas	$81,938	$39
   8	Virginia	$80,540	$39
   9	Oregon	$79,191	$38
   10	Arizona	$79,052	$38
   11	Maine	$78,815	$38
   12	Illinois	$77,966	$37
   13	Colorado	$77,334	$37
   14	Michigan	$75,475	$36
   15	Nevada	$75,371	$36
   16	Oklahoma	$74,884	$36
   17	Ohio	$73,566	$35
   18	Georgia	$73,246	$35
   19	Indiana	$73,086	$35
   20	North Carolina	$72,422	$35

   Average project engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$134,563	$64.69	544
   2	Meta	$129,077	$62.06	531
   3	Google	$126,175	$60.66	129
   4	Mayo Clinic	$124,666	$59.94	13
   5	BP America Inc	$121,974	$58.64	8
   6	Microsoft	$121,341	$58.34	97
   7	Applied Materials	$116,232	$55.88	65
   8	Intuitive Surgical	$114,114	$54.86	32
   9	ConocoPhillips	$113,212	$54.43
   10	BGC Partners	$113,178	$54.41	1
   11	Panasonic Avionics	$112,716	$54.19	5
   12	Bunge	$111,099	$53.41	2
   13	Amazon	$110,549	$53.15	627
   14	Bayer	$110,447	$53.10	10
   15	Genentech	$110,406	$53.08	47
   16	Avid	$110,244	$53.00	2
   17	Marathon Petroleum	$109,957	$52.86	15
   18	Joby Aviation	$106,320	$51.12	48
   19	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$105,756	$50.84	6
   20	Dolby Laboratories	$105,459	$50.70	2

4. Writing a project engineer job description

   A project 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 project engineer job description:

   Project engineer job description example

   Project Engineer 3 leads the development of a product. 1.Define and implement the development plan according to Safran's standard development processes and in line with the performance, quality, delivery and cost commitments. 2.Lead the project team. This involves circulating bottom-up and top-down information about the project and formally defining, in conjunction with project team members' line managers, the availability of the requisite skills and resources. 3.Produce summaries of development quotes drawn up in conjunction with the relevant business lines and draft technical and financial proposals to be submitted for approval 4.Define the project reference system (document reference system, approval records, configuration reports, etc.) in accordance with regulatory requirements. 5.Oversee application of the project schedule and updates of management indicators (KPIs). 6.Oversee the rigorous implementation and application of all project management methods in accordance with regulations and standards: weekly management meetings, KPIs, dashboards, reports, etc. 7.As part of the development process, provide input for technical choices in conjunction with the technical teams and relevant business lines. 8.Provide IPT support when dealing with the customer and the authorities (certification/flightworthiness). 9.Oversee management of development risks and opportunities by integrating experience feedback. 10.If necessary, set up task forces to resolve development sticking points and/or contingencies. 11.Participate in project development reviews (technical, production engineering, support) to prepare program milestone reviews. 12.Take part in IPT team meetings. 13.Mentor Project Engineers 1, 2, on engineering project management practices, tools and expectations. 14.Perform all other duties as assigned.
   Job Requirements
   
   Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent, in Engineering or related field Experience: Minimum 5 year related experience in aerospace or engineering project management. Computer Skills: •Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and CAD & PLM Systems •Strong knowledge of Project management tools
   
   Specificity of the job
   
   Traveling is required
   
   Locate your future workplace
   
   5701 Bolsa Ave CA 92647 Huntington Beach California United States
   
   Copy Address
   
   To view this content please accept Functional cookies. Privacy settings
   
   10.10.2022 Architecture and systems engineering Configuration Engineer 1 Permanent Huntington Beach, California
   
   See All
   
   76,800 employees worldwide
   
   27 Number of countries where Safran is located
   
   35 business area families
   
   Credits © Safran

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with project engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 project engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect project engineer 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new project 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a project engineer?