How to hire a shift engineer

How to hire a shift engineer, step by step

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

What does a shift engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The shift 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 shift engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, shift 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of shift engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Shift Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Shift Engineer	Stationary engineers and boiler operators control stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or for industrial purposes.	$30-61
   Boiler Operator	A boiler operator specializes in the maintenance and repair of boiler machines and similar facilities in industrial establishments such as warehouses, power plants, and factories. As a boiler operator, it is their responsibility to monitor and operate systems and equipment, perform adjustments, observe factors such as temperature and pressure, write daily records, and replace equipment parts as needed... Show more	$16-33
   Boiler Plant Operator	A boiler plant operator is primarily in charge of operating and monitoring boilers to ensure they function safely and efficiently. Their daily responsibilities often include starting and shutting down boilers, conducting safety and maintenance inspections, tracking the water levels and gauges, checking fuel supplies, and recording daily readings while adhering to the protocols and standards... Show more	$15-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Plumbing
   • General Maintenance
   • Ladders
   • Building Maintenance
   • Maintenance Tasks
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Guest Rooms
   • Electrical Systems
   • Switches
   • Life Safety Systems
   • SPC
   • Technical Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and sustain manufacturing processes via monitoring, SPC, and data analysis to maintain overall process health and stability.
   • General maintenance including painting, floor care, grounds maintenance, plumbing, electrical and carpentry skills.
   • General trades and building repair which include maintenance of boilers and HVAC systems, basic electricity, plumbing and strong carpentry skill
   • Replace filters, switches, belts; pulls cables.
   • Schedule periodic preventive maintenance on low pressure boilers, all refrigeration equipment, and fire safety inspections.
   • Operate and maintain high and low pressure boilers, chillers, cooling towers and all other relate HVAC equipment.

   More shift engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average shift engineer salary

   $91,237yearly

   $43.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level shift engineer salary

   $64,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average shift engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$110,812	$53
   2	Massachusetts	$100,376	$48
   3	Delaware	$99,630	$48
   4	Maryland	$99,372	$48
   5	Illinois	$99,197	$48
   6	New York	$97,090	$47
   7	Kentucky	$91,343	$44
   8	Ohio	$90,487	$44
   9	New Jersey	$88,464	$43
   10	Colorado	$86,939	$42
   11	Arizona	$86,480	$42
   12	Virginia	$85,649	$41
   13	Washington	$84,617	$41
   14	Utah	$83,966	$40
   15	Tennessee	$83,404	$40
   16	Missouri	$82,317	$40
   17	Georgia	$81,742	$39
   18	Louisiana	$81,057	$39
   19	Oklahoma	$78,695	$38
   20	Florida	$77,669	$37

   Average shift engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$116,801	$56.15	7
   2	Amazon	$108,882	$52.35	16
   3	Baxter International	$104,873	$50.42
   4	ASML Holding	$102,151	$49.11	1
   5	Children's National Medical Center	$101,662	$48.88	2
   6	Bank of America	$100,801	$48.46	3
   7	Accenture	$100,452	$48.29
   8	Intel	$100,447	$48.29
   9	SYSMIND	$100,372	$48.26
   10	CSC Holdings LLC	$99,364	$47.77
   11	Micron Technology	$99,009	$47.60	6
   12	ConvergeOne	$98,715	$47.46
   13	IBM	$97,421	$46.84
   14	Northrop Grumman	$97,025	$46.65
   15	PPG	$96,769	$46.52	1
   16	Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display)	$96,266	$46.28	4
   17	Swedish Hospital	$95,503	$45.91
   18	Keste	$95,242	$45.79
   19	JNIT	$94,079	$45.23
   20	J.F. Shea Co	$93,395	$44.90

4. Writing a shift engineer job description

   A shift 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. Below, you can find an example of a shift engineer job description:

   Shift engineer job description example

   The Career Potential
   
   Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is committed to improving and saving lives with diagnostics. To do this we hire people who share this dream and are ready for new adventures. As a valued team member, you will carve your own career path and be part of building this company stronger and better than ever before. There is no limit to the experiences, opportunities and new directions you will have access to here at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. More importantly, you will be driving the surge of a whole new direction in important medicine. That's something we can all take pride in as we take this journey together.
   
   Ortho is known in the industry as a leader in customer service and support. Deeply understanding and exceeding the needs of our clinical lab, hospital and blood bank customers is what we do. It's who we are. If you join Ortho, no matter what your role, you will be expected to keep that Customer Excellence focus in your work.
   
   The Opportunity
   
   As the company continues to grow we are seeking a Manufacturing Shift Engineer I to work in our Assay manufacturing facility. The Manufacturing Shift Engineer I is an integral member of the Assay Manufacturing Engineering team. This position will support a 24x7 high speed automated manufacturing operation and the associated engineering and maintenance functions when required to troubleshoot high level issues when impacting production. The ability to thrive in a cross-functional collaborative environment is a must. Additionally, the Manufacturing Shift Engineer shall focus on process and equipment improvements with a goal to increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
   This position is in Rochester, NY.
   
   The Responsibilities
   Provide production support to manufacturing which will result in lowering product cost, improving labor performance, cycle times, eliminating bottlenecks and improving throughput levels. Work with Manufacturing support personnel as a technical lead to troubleshoot and repair electrical and mechanical process systems. Work activities must be documented via a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), as well as completing various other computer-related tasks (time reporting, spare part retrieval, document management, on-line training). Acts as management representative for off shift production and maintenance personnel and completes timely escalations of significant equipment downtime events to subject matter experts and stakeholders.Maintains clear communication with internal and external business partners regarding expectations, satisfaction, and/or quality of results. Initiate and facilitate continuous improvement activities including smaller scoped projects related to OEE and equipment obsolescence. Identifies new opportunities to increase equipment uptime and reduce business risk. Supports the implementation of new equipment and/or the modifications to existing to improve plant efficiency and performance yields.
   
   The Individual
   BS in Engineering (BSME, BSEE or BET is preferred) with <2 years work experience or MS with experience in engineering as an intern or coop. Computer skills including Microsoft Office & CMMS systems.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.Excellent communication skills - verbal and written.Ability to manage competing priorities in a results-driven environment is essential.Experience working in an FDA Medical Device Manufacturing Facility with associated FDA and ISO regulations is preferred.Enjoys being on the floor hands on with all teams to drive performance improvements.
   
   EOE/AA Disability/Veteran
   #LI-SP1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right shift 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 shift engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit shift 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 shift engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit shift engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with shift 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.

   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 shift engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the shift 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new shift 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 shift engineer?