How to hire a senior mechanical designer

How to hire a senior mechanical designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior mechanical designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior mechanical designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior mechanical designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior mechanical designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a senior mechanical designer, 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 senior mechanical designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior mechanical designers 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 senior mechanical designer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Senior Mechanical Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Mechanical Designer	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.	$38-62
   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
   Design Engineer	A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs... Show more	$27-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CAD
   • Mechanical Design
   • GD
   • Creo
   • Autocad
   • FEA
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Engineering Design
   • Product Design
   • Engineering Drawings
   • SR
   • Electro-mechanical
   • Project Management
   • Product Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead FPGA development of key digital communication component used in successful demonstration of spacecraft radio link.
   • Create and modify very large assemblies in Creo which are used to create drawings for top level spacecraft assemblies.
   • Generate fabrication and assembly drawings for fabrication of commercial/Industrial water heaters and boilers base on ISO 9000 and AWA standards.
   • Perform complex interference fit checks, motion studies, and tolerance stack-up analysis on large assemblies using Pro/E - Creo software.
   • Verify all design factors including performance, tolerances, fitting, materials, surface finish and BOM for components and systems.
   • Improve dynamic response of microscope using ANSYS vibration simulation.

   More senior mechanical designer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, senior mechanical designers' average salary in south dakota is 40% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior mechanical designers earn 38% less than senior-level senior mechanical designers.
   • Certifications. A senior mechanical designer 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 senior mechanical designer's salary.

   Average senior mechanical designer salary

   $103,765yearly

   $49.89 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior mechanical designer salary

   $81,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average senior mechanical designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$133,518	$64
   2	District of Columbia	$129,246	$62
   3	Washington	$123,401	$59
   4	Nevada	$117,141	$56
   5	Arizona	$110,912	$53
   6	Massachusetts	$107,395	$52
   7	Texas	$106,961	$51
   8	Illinois	$98,514	$47
   9	North Carolina	$97,558	$47
   10	Florida	$97,361	$47
   11	Colorado	$96,994	$47
   12	Georgia	$93,389	$45
   13	Alabama	$92,407	$44
   14	South Carolina	$90,288	$43
   15	Minnesota	$90,202	$43
   16	Michigan	$88,738	$43
   17	Ohio	$82,217	$40
   18	Wisconsin	$79,853	$38

   Average senior mechanical designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$150,503	$72.36	189
   2	Apple	$137,053	$65.89	267
   3	Postmates	$128,994	$62.02
   4	The Walt Disney Company	$127,946	$61.51	32
   5	NVIDIA	$126,436	$60.79	84
   6	Amazon	$120,904	$58.13	348
   7	CyberCoders	$117,941	$56.70
   8	Koch Industries	$116,253	$55.89	20
   9	Rivian	$113,132	$54.39	25
   10	Arista Networks	$112,555	$54.11	5
   11	KLA	$112,464	$54.07	26
   12	Nokia	$111,371	$53.54	16
   13	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$110,887	$53.31
   14	Yoh	$110,610	$53.18	2
   15	ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.	$110,574	$53.16
   16	Woods Services	$110,565	$53.16
   17	Ergotron	$110,428	$53.09
   18	Hargrove Engineers + Constructors	$110,225	$52.99	32
   19	ASTRA	$109,847	$52.81
   20	Jefferson Lab	$109,842	$52.81

4. Writing a senior mechanical designer job description

   A senior mechanical designer 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 senior mechanical designer job description:

   Senior mechanical designer job description example

   Leading the future in luxury electric and mobility
   At Lucid, we set out to introduce the most captivating, luxury electric vehicles that elevate the human experience and transcend the perceived limitations of space, performance, and intelligence. Vehicles that are intuitive, liberating, and designed for the future of mobility.
   
   We plan to lead in this new era of luxury electric by returning to the fundamentals of great design - where every decision we make is in service of the individual and environment. Because when you are no longer bound by convention, you are free to define your own experience.
   
   Come work alongside some of the most accomplished minds in the industry. Beyond providing competitive salaries, we're providing a community for innovators who want to make an immediate and significant impact. If you are driven to create a better, more sustainable future, then this is the right place for you.
   
   We are looking for a highly motivated Sr. Mechanical Engineer with extensive structural design experience for our Battery Pack Engineering Team. If you're the kind of person who sees a problem, develops a solution, and engineers an improvement no one's asked for yet, then we want to talk with you!
   
   Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches his or her work with vigor and determination. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in their respective fields, to possess the ability to adapt quickly within a fast-paced environment, and to always strive for perfection in product design.
   The Role:Take responsibility for system level designs, from concept through production launch and ramp Optimize mechanical designs for size, weight, durability, and cost3D design and GD&T drawings of complex parts and assemblies Integrate mechanical designs with high voltage electrical systems in a multidisciplinary environment Be able to demonstrate technical excellence and apply first-principle engineering to new applications Designing and owning basic testing that verify the system functions Strong interactions with suppliers for DFMTravel to support production start and ramp
   Qualifications:Previous ownership of complex parts that have shipped in volume3+ years of professional structural design experience Strong materials knowledge. Good understanding of various material/grades and their tradeoffs, as well as coatings Strong CAD experience, proficient with CATIA or similar software Demonstrate previous cross-functional collaboration to solve problemsA desire to work hard and push boundaries Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals Well-developed team working and interpersonal skills
   Preferred:Design release engineering experience Experience in designing to meet ingress protection requirements
   Education:BS in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent degree
   At Lucid, we don't just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.
   
   Notice regarding COVID-19 protocols
   At Lucid, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, and friends above all else. In response to the novel Coronavirus all new Lucid employees, whose job will be based in the United States may or may not be required to provide original documentation confirming status as having received the prescribed inoculation (doses). Vaccination requirements are dependent upon location and position, please refer to the job description for more details.
   
   Individuals in positions requiring vaccinations may seek a medical and/or religious exemption from this requirement and may be granted such an accommodation after submitting a formal request to and the subsequent review and approval thereof by our dedicated Covid-19 Response team.
   
   To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our careers alias or other Lucid Motors employees. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find senior mechanical designers 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 senior mechanical designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level senior mechanical designers 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 senior mechanical designer job on Zippia to find and recruit senior mechanical designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with senior mechanical designer 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.

   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 senior mechanical designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior mechanical designer 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior mechanical designer. 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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