How to hire a Systems Engineer

How to hire a systems engineer, step by step

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

What does a Systems Engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   Type Of Systems Engineer	Description	Hourly Rate
   Systems Engineer	Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device... Show More	$29-52
   Information Engineer	An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence... Show More	$37-66
   Systems Consultant	A systems consultant is responsible for advising on the design, plan, and installation of information technology systems for clients. You will analyze data of an organization, determine the requirements of an information system, and define project objectives... Show More	$35-64

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Python
   • Linux
   • C++
   • C #
   • DOD
   • Java
   • Database
   • Troubleshoot
   • MATLAB
   • Windows Server
   • Project Management
   • PowerShell
   • Technical Support
   • SAN

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage compute clusters and all RHEL base workstations.
   • Manage and provide all PC & printer support and repair and audio visual /video conferencing equipment setup.
   • Manage and communicate requirements throughout the project life cycle, handle change management, and review QA test plans
   • Install and manage wireless Cisco/Hewlett Packard routers.
   • Manage and support installation of IIS servers hosting internal and external applications.
   • Manage enterprise level projects as a project manager using ITIL project management methodology.

   More Systems Engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your systems engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A systems engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a systems engineer in South Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level systems engineer usually earns less than a senior-level systems engineer. Additionally, a systems engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average systems engineer salary

   $82,834yearly

   $39.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level systems engineer salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 12, 2025

   Average systems engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	California	$102,767	$49
   2	Washington	$91,195	$44
   3	District of Columbia	$87,893	$42
   4	Maryland	$87,485	$42
   5	Virginia	$85,319	$41
   6	Nebraska	$84,510	$41
   7	New Jersey	$82,817	$40
   8	New York	$82,152	$40
   9	Texas	$81,705	$39
   10	Pennsylvania	$80,951	$39
   11	Michigan	$80,813	$39
   12	Arizona	$77,924	$37
   13	Ohio	$77,833	$37
   14	Colorado	$77,689	$37
   15	Arkansas	$77,175	$37
   16	Alabama	$76,756	$37
   17	Iowa	$76,707	$37
   18	Connecticut	$76,221	$37
   19	Illinois	$76,091	$37
   20	Georgia	$76,082	$37

   Average systems engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	The Citadel	$161,812	$77.79	1
   2	Meta	$148,883	$71.58	373
   3	Airbnb	$143,102	$68.80	7
   4	Cloudflare	$140,774	$67.68	46
   5	ByteDance	$139,398	$67.02	46
   6	Apple	$139,178	$66.91	812
   7	Twitter	$139,011	$66.83	15
   8	Google	$138,823	$66.74	151
   9	First Republic Bank	$136,305	$65.53
   10	PayPal	$136,280	$65.52	25
   11	Lyft	$134,932	$64.87	6
   12	Palo Alto Networks	$134,056	$64.45	48
   13	Mixpanel	$133,560	$64.21	9
   14	Waymo	$133,246	$64.06	28
   15	Atlassian	$133,122	$64.00	10
   16	eBay	$132,781	$63.84
   17	Snowflake Computing	$132,430	$63.67	10
   18	NVIDIA	$131,959	$63.44	394
   19	Practice Fusion	$131,919	$63.42
   20	CrowdStrike	$130,973	$62.97	19

4. Writing a Systems Engineer Job Description

   A good systems 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 systems engineer job description:

   Systems Engineer job description example

   Every year we look for university graduates from around the world to join Airbus. We need people with the aspiration, enthusiasm and the talent to help us move forward and to change the world and deliver our vision to
   pioneer sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world.
   When you begin your career with us, we accelerate your development through our Airbus Global Graduate Experience. You are part of a 2 year program where you develop your professional skills, build your networks, locally and internationally, and gain a unique perspective on the world of Airbus. You are part of a global community, so we bring you together once a year for a global graduate conference where you meet your peers, hear from our leaders and learn from the best.
   We are hiring the graduates we need to fill the critical roles for our future.
   By the end of the program, our aim is that you are ready to progress, having already demonstrated your value. You will have developed your skills in an area that is strategically important for Airbus, and undertaken at least two rotational business placements. You will know about the Airbus business; the opportunities; challenges and needs, and you will have learned more about yourself, and what makes you great.
   Above all you will have the opportunity to do your best work in an industry that is literally reshaping how we live in our world.
   If you are ready to join and be part of this journey please apply below.
   What you will be doing You will be on a development pathway to prepare you to be a Systems Engineer with specialization in Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) as part of the Product Development Engineering Team in our Mobile Engineering Center. In this role you will be supporting the development of aircraft cabin and cargo systems, and will: Apply System Engineering and MBSE knowledge in the development of Cabin and Cargo systems Develop operational concepts, requirements and architectural designs utilizing MBSE Grow the MBSE knowledge within the Airbus Cabin and Cargo Community Implement MBSE in product line engineering and work with Airbus suppliers during the development or cabin and cargo systems Define functional and system specifications by using model based or requirement based methodology, leading to the expected performance and robustness in any condition of use Ensure airworthiness certifiability by delivering the required artifacts Participate in MBSE Method Development and Standardization Provide the technical and Programmatic direction on development, integration and use of MBSE methodology Participate in Upskilling and MBSE Competency development for MBSE & System Engineering Develop solutions to simple/routine technical problems of limited scope. Apply technical principles and follow detailed instructions. Communicate issues, solutions, ideas, and status of current work to supervision. Learn and utilize tool sets effectively. What we look for To be a successful applicant to this position on the Airbus Global Graduate Program, you must be able to demonstrate: Attainment of a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering (Aero, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science) or a Master's Degree in Engineering. Experience in Model Based Systems Engineering is required for this position. Strong verbal and written communication in our business language (English). Conversational level French and/or German would be beneficial. A desire to work in a collaborative team environment, focused on driving future innovation. A desire to ask questions, and continuously learn and grow. The ability to be self-aware and a wish to be in the driving seat of your development. What you will need to apply Education: Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering (Aero, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science). Model Based Systems Engineering experience. Attainment or enrollment in a Master's Degree in Systems Engineering is preferred. Specific Experiences / Interests: Experience in Modeling & Simulation. Experience working as a research assistant in Systems Engineering projects, or contributed to MBSE projects Model Based System Engineering knowledge and experience (SysML/UML) and "state of the art" simulation and methods Working experience with MBSE Tools(e.g. IBM RHAPSODY, CAMEO, Enterprise Architect...) Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, & PowerPoint) Proficiency with G-Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Apps Script) and coding in Python would be beneficial but not essential to apply Eligibility: To be eligible for this position, you must be able to work in the US without a current or future need for visa sponsorship. Relocation: A modest relocation package may be available depending on location and experience of applicants. Start Date: For the US AGGP positions, you must be able to start June 26th, 2023. Any exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis and must be listed in the cover letter. Vaccination: AIRBUS requires that all new employees and temporary workers of Airbus be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Airbus allows candidates who are not fully vaccinated at the time of hire a reasonable amount of time to obtain vaccinated status. This position requires vaccination against COVID-19 or, if applicable, an approved accommodation for religious or medical reasons. Travel: This position is based in Mobile, AL with some business travel to Airbus offices in France or Germany as required. All long-term rotations will be based in Mobile, AL.
   Please note, we love your interest in working for Airbus but we do ask that you make only one application to the Airbus Global Graduate Program. We encourage you to take time to decide which of our exciting opportunities is right for you and then submit an application that best represents you, your skills and experience in connection with the role you have selected.
   Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process - you can share this with the Recruitment Business Partner who gets in touch if you are invited to interview. Examples of this may include (but is not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.
   The Job Posting will be open until November 6th, 2022. Please note that depending on the number of applicants the posting can be taken offline earlier or be kept open longer. If you are interested we would advise you to apply as soon as possible.
   With a career at Airbus, the future is yours for the taking... We look forward to hearing from you!
   As a leader in our field, Airbus in America provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.
   Airbus in America provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus in America complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training.
   Airbus in America expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. Improper interference with the ability of Airbus' employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
   As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered.
   Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice.
   
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5. Post your job

   To find systems 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 systems engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level systems 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 systems engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality systems engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit systems 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.

   If your interviews with systems engineer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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 systems engineer

   Once you've found the systems engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   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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