How to hire a stress engineer

How to hire a stress engineer, step by step

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

What does a stress engineer do?

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

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   This list shows salaries for various types of stress engineers.

   Type of Stress Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Stress Engineer	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$35-75
   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
   Product Development Engineer	A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.	$30-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Finite Element Analysis
   • Structural Analysis
   • Autocad
   • Fatigue Analysis
   • MRB
   • Ansys
   • Nastran
   • CAD
   • FAA
   • Patran
   • Finite Element Models
   • Pipe Stress Analysis
   • Structural Integrity
   • Abaqus

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead CFD analyses on various aircraft types.
   • Manage the development and design data in PDM to ensure successful completion.
   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Develop Perl, TCL, and Bourne shell tools to improve the CFD process.
   • Perform FEA static analysis on primary and secondary MLG structural parts using ABAQUS as solver.
   • Perform mission analysis using PATRAN, ABAQUS, and NASTRAN as well as basic hand calculations.

   More stress engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, stress engineers' average salary in wisconsin is 45% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level stress engineers earn 53% less than senior-level stress engineers.
   • Certifications. A stress 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 stress engineer's salary.

   Average stress engineer salary

   $107,036yearly

   $51.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level stress engineer salary

   $73,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 17, 2026

   Average stress engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$120,749	$58
   2	Texas	$116,795	$56
   3	California	$113,023	$54
   4	Arizona	$112,934	$54
   5	Georgia	$107,730	$52
   6	Tennessee	$99,485	$48
   7	Alabama	$97,614	$47
   8	Michigan	$88,929	$43
   9	North Carolina	$88,444	$43
   10	South Carolina	$87,617	$42
   11	Missouri	$86,996	$42
   12	Kansas	$84,447	$41
   13	Arkansas	$81,028	$39
   14	Oklahoma	$79,319	$38
   15	Wisconsin	$66,231	$32

   Average stress engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	CTS Corporation	$130,579	$62.78
   2	Apollo Professional Solutions	$129,620	$62.32	2
   3	Axis	$128,532	$61.79
   4	Hi-Tec Systems	$127,144	$61.13
   5	Honeywell	$126,731	$60.93	15
   6	Gulfstream Aerospace	$126,261	$60.70
   7	Romeo Power, Inc.	$125,102	$60.15
   8	Andromeda Systems Incorporated	$125,069	$60.13
   9	Jacobs Enterprises	$124,972	$60.08	300
   10	(i)Structure	$124,967	$60.08
   11	Hi-Tek	$124,967	$60.08
   12	PDS Tech	$124,948	$60.07	4
   13	Driessen Aircraft Interior Systems, Inc.	$124,847	$60.02
   14	Valdes Engineering	$123,522	$59.39
   15	S & B Engineers and Constructors	$123,286	$59.27	2
   16	Labinal Inc	$123,286	$59.27
   17	Joby Aviation	$120,374	$57.87	24
   18	System One	$119,488	$57.45	22
   19	Learjet	$119,264	$57.34
   20	Day & Zimmermann	$118,309	$56.88	1

4. Writing a stress engineer job description

   A stress 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 stress engineer job description:

   Stress engineer job description example

   • Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
   • Experience and capabilities should include 8-10 years of classical aircraft hand stress analysis methods and NASTRAN (FEMAP) finite element modeling.
   • Familiarity with resources such as MMPDS, Bruhn, Roark, etc., aircraft fasteners, materials, sheet metal assemblies, machined fittings, composites (fiberglass/carbon fiber), and honeycomb and solid laminate construction
   • The applicant must have good communication skills, be fluent in English (spoken and written) and proficient in MS Word and Excel for report writing and analysis preparation

   
   
   

   AEVEX provides a full suite of comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k)-retirement plan, comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance group coverage with a portion of the premiums paid by the company, professional development funds, and an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) with counseling, legal help, child and elder care support, among other benefits.

   About AEVEX Aerospace

   AEVEX Aerospace, headquartered in Solana Beach, California, supports the U.S. national security mission and partner nation needs around the world by providing full-spectrum aviation, remote sensing, and analysis solutions. The company's capabilities include custom design and engineering; rapid prototyping; sensor integration and sustainment; aircraft modification and certification; flight test instrumentation and support; mission operations service; advanced intelligence data processing, exploitation, and dissemination solutions; and tailored hardware and software mission-system tools. AEVEX uses agile and customized approaches to rapidly define, develop, and deliver specialized solutions for airborne special mission needs for the U.S. Government, partner nations, and commercial businesses. AEVEX has major offices in California, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.

   #LI-Onsite

   The Stress Engineer performs functions, or is immediately available to perform functions that are considered safety sensitive for the purpose of maintenance or preventive maintenance as defined by 14 CFR 121. Therefore, employment and continued employment with the company is conditioned upon full compliance with the company's Antidrug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program as required by 14 CFR Part 120, 135, 145 and 49 CFR Part 40.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right stress engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your stress engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit stress 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 stress 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 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 stress engineer

   Once you've selected the best stress engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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 stress 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 stress engineer?