How to hire a space engineer

How to hire a space engineer, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The space 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 space engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, space 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 space engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Space Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Space Engineer	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$35-60
   Stress Analyst	A stress analyst is a type of aerospace engineer; they design, construct, and test aircraft. They may also work on missiles or spacecraft... Show more	$30-54
   Engineering Scientist	An engineering scientist is responsible for designing new technological systems through the evaluation of scientific methods and innovative solutions. Engineering scientists analyze technical parts and components, researching the current engineering trends to meet public demands and interests... Show more	$31-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • MATLAB
   • Data Analysis
   • Payload
   • NASA
   • Engineering Support
   • Configuration Management
   • Autocad

   Responsibilities:

   • Involve working directly with engineering and other organizations and NASA personnel to accomplish these tasks.
   • Provide consultation to the ISO team in achieving certification, and enable company to win many more deals as a result.
   • Experience at maximum likelihood base approach to compute RF array direction finding performance.
   • Develop synthesize-able decimation filter architecture.
   • Develop synthesize-able decimation filter architecture.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, space engineers' average salary in indiana is 43% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level space engineers earn 41% less than senior-level space engineers.
   • Certifications. A space 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 space engineer's salary.

   Average space engineer salary

   $97,322yearly

   $46.79 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level space engineer salary

   $74,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

4. Writing a space engineer job description

   A space 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 space engineer job description:

   Space engineer job description example

   Modern Technology Solutions, Inc (MTSI) is seeking a Space IR Engineer to fill a SETA (Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance) position with the Space Development Agency (SDA). SDA is breaking the norms of the DoD acquisition cycle, delivering a new tranche of hundreds of satellites every two years. The IR Engineer will support the development of the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer. Each vendor of the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer will be designing, building, and launching satellites in approximately 30 months to provide near-global IR event detection. The IR Engineer will support the Government in the development of the sensor optics through the focal plane array. This position will be part of a team of MTSI personnel providing SETA support. A significant portion of the work may be done from home or remote, and occasional travel may be required. Travel to the vendor locations will be required.
   
   At MTSI, our more than 1,400+ co-owners recognize the high demand for specialized professionals within our industry and that you have many options to choose. As an employee owned company where culture matters, we believe that by investing in our people we are investing in our company’s future!
   
   MTSI’s core capabilities are Systems Engineering and Integration, Modeling and Simulation, Test and Evaluation, Acquisition and Program Support, and Mission Assurance services. Our expertise includes ballistic missile defense, air defense, air vehicle survivability, unmanned aircraft, flight test operations, intelligence support, and cyber/space/homeland defense.
   
   Recognized as an "employee comes first" company with over 28 years of consecutive growth we challenge our co-owners to provide the highest level of support and service, and reward them with some of the best benefits in the industry. Day one all new co-workers start accruing PTO at a rate of 20 days, 6% 401k match with immediate vesting, semi-annual bonuses, and eligibility to participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). We offer other employee focused benefits, including up to $10k in tuition reimbursement and an optional zero dollar deductible BCBS health insurance plan.
   For additional company information, please visit: www.mtsi-va.com
   Responsibilities
   
   As a Space IR Engineer with MTSI, you will apply knowledge and expertise to perform technical engineering support and analysis of spacecraft and payloads. A significant portion of the work may be done from home or remote. Travel to vendor locations will be required. Your essential job functions will include but may not be limited to: Assisting the Government in analyzing contractor designs at the system and subsystem levels. Identifying risks and appropriate mitigation strategies. Acting as the subject matter expert in EO/IR sensor design and performance. Modeling the performance of selected contractor systems in the context of mission CONOPs.
   Qualifications
   
   10+ years of experience in the development of EO/IR sensors
   Experience with sensor optical design. Demonstrated ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment. Self-starter capable of making decisions and taking actions with minimal direct supervision. Strong oral and written communication skills. Preferred/Desired Experience: 5+ years’ experience in the DoD or Intelligence Community. Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, physics, or a closely related field from an accredited university. Master's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, physics, or a closely related field from an accredited university, (DESIRED). Clearance Requirements: Active SECRET clearance to start, with SCI Eligibility. Active Top Secret/SCI Clearance (Desired). U.S. Citizenship is required for this position. #LI-MH1 #MTSIjobs #mtsi #LI-Remote

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5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit space engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 space engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect space 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 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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