How to hire a research and development engineer

How to hire a research and development engineer, step by step

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

What does a research and development engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a research and development 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 research and development engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, research and development 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.

   Here's a comparison of research and development engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Research And Development Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Research And Development 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.	$35-64
   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
   Staff Engineer	Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations... Show more	$33-80

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • R
   • Solidworks
   • CAD
   • Data Analysis
   • Patients
   • Project Management
   • Prototype
   • DOE
   • Java
   • Medical Devices
   • Product Development
   • Test Methods
   • Prototyping

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage, design, and assist in development of product family reusable code libraries, visualization and GUI components.
   • Manage test suite jobs for the team creating configurations and building binaries for C++ code using Jenkins and bash shell.
   • Charge with managing a range of key operational functions in support of 3D visualization studio with $1.3M in annual contracts.
   • Lead a team of software QA test engineers in the prioritization and assignment of tasks and the solving of technical problems.
   • Manage quality issues during development/production and ensure ISO compliance.
   • Manage and maintain production equipment, including conformance to ISO calibration requirements.

   More research and development engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your research and development engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A research and development engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, research and development engineers' average salary in arkansas is 48% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level research and development engineers earn 45% less than senior-level research and development engineers.
   • Certifications. A research and development engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a research and development engineer's salary.

   Average research and development engineer salary

   $100,169yearly

   $48.16 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level research and development engineer salary

   $74,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average research and development engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$135,295	$65
   2	New Mexico	$111,648	$54
   3	Massachusetts	$100,025	$48
   4	Colorado	$99,388	$48
   5	Oregon	$96,178	$46
   6	Arizona	$95,952	$46
   7	Texas	$92,654	$45
   8	New York	$91,412	$44
   9	Illinois	$87,167	$42
   10	Michigan	$83,024	$40
   11	Vermont	$82,040	$39
   12	Pennsylvania	$80,376	$39
   13	Wisconsin	$80,029	$38
   14	Georgia	$79,715	$38
   15	Minnesota	$79,418	$38
   16	North Carolina	$76,863	$37
   17	Alabama	$75,293	$36

   Average research and development engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$161,816	$77.80	1,157
   2	Apple	$149,149	$71.71	392
   3	Amazon	$140,013	$67.31	630
   4	Neuralink IT Solutions	$135,578	$65.18	7
   5	Microsoft	$135,305	$65.05	339
   6	The Walt Disney Company	$133,165	$64.02	69
   7	NVIDIA	$132,176	$63.55	168
   8	Brocade Services Corporation	$131,815	$63.37
   9	Lucasfilm	$131,312	$63.13
   10	IDG	$128,578	$61.82
   11	Wilson Medical Center	$127,619	$61.36
   12	Western Digital	$126,863	$60.99	19
   13	Sony Pictures	$126,810	$60.97	4
   14	Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc.	$125,900	$60.53
   15	PlayStation	$125,373	$60.28	4
   16	Finisar	$124,543	$59.88
   17	GlassPoint	$123,236	$59.25
   18	Broadcom	$121,829	$58.57	128
   19	VMware	$121,730	$58.52
   20	Joby Aviation	$121,564	$58.44	33

4. Writing a research and development engineer job description

   A good research and development 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 research and development engineer job description:

   Research and development engineer job description example

   Please Note:
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   Job Description:
   
   Broadcom is seeking a Senior Test Development Engineer to join our office in US. In this role, you will focus on the following:
   Responsible for evaluating high speed and high power new product ideas/concept, and working with various functional teams to develop and bring the production from design to manufacturing.Define test hardware (package and wafer) specification according to selected ATE system to ensure full test coverage at minimum test time.Debug and bring up the test hardware on ATE.Develop production and characterization testing of various semi-conductor devices on ATE.Improve the yield and test time for both wafer sort as well as final test.Transfer (set-up, correlate, and release to production) new test hardware & software to various Asia based sub-contractors, utilizing correlation units to insure accurate production test results.Communicate to overseas (Asia) Product and Test Development engineers to resolve manufacturing issues.Strong collaborative skills are required.
   
   Required Skills
   Familiar with ATE test equipment, preferred Teradyne UltraFlex PA, Advantest 93k would be a benefit.Good programming skills (C++, Perl, Python and VBA) Strong trouble-shooting skills.Good communication skills in English is required Knowledge on PCB/Schematic design would be a plus.
   
   Required Experience
   Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic engineering. Master's degree is preferable.12+ plus years of direct experience on a production semi-conductor manufacturing test floor.Strong hands-on experience on Mix-signal device debugging on ATE and experience on SerDes (>50G) Test will be a plus.
   
   Broadcom is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability status, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We will also consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records consistent with local law.
   
   If you are located outside USA, please be sure to fill out a home address as this will be used for future correspondence.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right research and development 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 research and development engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit research and development 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 research and development engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit research and development 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 research and development 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 research and development engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect research and development 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.

   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.

   To prepare for the new research and development 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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How much does it cost to hire a research and development engineer?