How to hire a test engine mechanic

How to hire a test engine mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step test engine mechanic hiring guide:

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

What does a test engine mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your test engine mechanic job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a test engine mechanic for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A test engine mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, test engine mechanics 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 test engine mechanics.

   Type of Test Engine Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Test Engine Mechanic	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.	$27-50
   Mechanical Engineering Internship	One of the primary responsibilities in a mechanical engineering internship is to follow directives from engineers and managers while gaining practical experience. There are instances when an intern must take part in crafting various materials under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, produce reports and paperwork, operate tools and devices, and provide assistance should anyone need... Show more	$15-25
   Mechanical Design Engineer	A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals... Show more	$28-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Acquisition
   • CAD
   • Data Analysis
   • Test Results
   • Test Procedures
   • LabVIEW
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Test Equipment
   • Solidworks
   • Test Fixtures
   • Data Collection
   • Mechanical Design
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Sigma

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Programme and used LabVIEW to automate testing and perform data recording.
   • Stream-Line company design and prototyping activities and manage transitions between internal and subcontract manufacturing with clear, reference, design filing.
   • Evaluate the performance of the systems in the production environment then troubleshoot and correct any issues that are discover.
   • Develop a maintenance tool in Java that creates a report of outdate software on systems throughout the production environment.
   • Install instrumentation to gather data including: thermocouples, accelerometers, and pressure transducers.
   • Assist users in testing by working with Unix base environment.

   More test engine mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your test engine mechanic job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A test engine mechanic 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 test engine mechanic in Mississippi may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level test engine mechanic usually earns less than a senior-level test engine mechanic. Additionally, a test engine mechanic 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 test engine mechanic salary

   $78,505yearly

   $37.74 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level test engine mechanic salary

   $58,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average test engine mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$104,137	$50
   2	New Jersey	$101,577	$49
   3	Washington	$100,576	$48
   4	New York	$91,313	$44
   5	Michigan	$90,661	$44
   6	Minnesota	$90,581	$44
   7	Texas	$89,242	$43
   8	Alabama	$89,231	$43
   9	Arizona	$87,278	$42
   10	Connecticut	$86,247	$41
   11	Colorado	$85,349	$41
   12	North Carolina	$77,128	$37
   13	Iowa	$76,600	$37
   14	Pennsylvania	$75,646	$36
   15	Tennessee	$74,830	$36
   16	Georgia	$73,550	$35
   17	Utah	$73,006	$35
   18	Florida	$70,683	$34
   19	Wisconsin	$69,967	$34
   20	Kansas	$66,138	$32

   Average test engine mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$126,385	$60.76	372
   2	Zoox	$124,122	$59.67	86
   3	Entegris	$97,823	$47.03	6
   4	General Electric	$94,316	$45.34	130
   5	Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory	$91,063	$43.78	11
   6	Oak Ridge National Laboratory	$90,602	$43.56	1
   7	Kratos Defense & Security Solutions	$89,525	$43.04	9
   8	Tesla	$89,270	$42.92	17
   9	Arista Networks	$89,184	$42.88	9
   10	Array Networks	$87,612	$42.12	2
   11	Alcon	$87,293	$41.97	18
   12	Spirit AeroSystems	$86,974	$41.81
   13	Northrop Grumman	$85,553	$41.13	194
   14	Elbit Systems of America	$84,324	$40.54	1
   15	SpaceX	$84,146	$40.45	176
   16	CyberCoders	$83,747	$40.26	2
   17	Laserfiche	$83,729	$40.25
   18	Valley Transportation	$82,520	$39.67	1
   19	Lockheed Martin	$82,238	$39.54	439
   20	Blue Origin	$82,021	$39.43	131

4. Writing a test engine mechanic job description

   A test engine mechanic 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 test engine mechanic job description:

   Test engine mechanic job description example

   We are an aerospace R&D company building experimental and certified airships. We are developing and manufacturing advanced technologies to dramatically increase the capabilities and lower the cost of 21st-century airships.
   
   LTA's airships will have the ability to complement and even accelerate humanitarian disaster response and relief efforts, especially in remote areas that cannot be easily accessed by plane and boat due to limited or destroyed infrastructure. We ultimately aim to create a family of aircraft with zero emissions that would substantially reduce the global carbon footprint of aviation when used for shipping goods and moving people.
   
   Responsibilities The Test Engineer roles shall support engineers and scientists to test and improve processes, materials, components, and systems. The test engineer should be comfortable presenting findings in a written and verbal manner. They should have flexibility to new situations, attention to detail, an unbiased approach to tests, and quick thinking in dynamic environments.Own entire test lifecycle including, but not limited to, test plans, readiness-reviews, and reports for functional, environmental, material, and reliability testing of airships Design, fabricate, and operate test equipment as required to execute test campaigns Drive end-to-end mechanical design of stand-alone functional test systems Provide original and detailed technical solutions to a wide range of difficult problems Develop test scripts, data acquisition and measurement systems, test fixtures, and data depository to support prototype and production testing Work closely with other departments to develop roadmaps for validation and verification Engage with design engineers at early stages of development to perform exploratory testing and trade studies Analyze test results, work with design teams to identify test failure root cause, implement and verify corrective actions and solution effectiveness Leverage commercial solutions and devices as required to minimize test development timeframe Lead technicians and engineers to successfully complete cross-functional test campaigns Engage in mentoring and training of other personnel Support all other test engineering division/department tasks as required
   
   QualificationsB.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Physics, Systems Engineering, or related technical field3+ years' experience in mechanical test or design engineering role Knowledge of mechanical, aerospace, and electrical test theory, practices, equipment Understanding of the principles, concepts, and methods of systems engineering Experience leading teams of technicians and engineers to complete complex technical projects Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills Ability to work collaboratively in a fast paced, dynamic work environment Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion and innovation Experience with modeling software such as Solidworks, NX, Creo, etc.Experience with analytical tools such as Python, JMP, R, Excel, etc.Experience with organizational tools such as Wrike, Asana, JIRA, Confluence, DOORS, Cameo, etc.
   
   Bonus QualificationsExperience with National Instruments and LabVIEWExperience with universal testing machines Experience with aerospace standards (ASTM, FAA, NASA, DOD, etc.) Familiarity with ASME Y14.5 GD&T and comfort in drafting engineering drawings Familiarity with data management applications (SolidWorks PDM preferred)
   
   What We Offer!An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields Growth potential Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan Parental leave Flexible time off Paid holidays 401(k) matching Commuter benefits Lunch and snacks provided Wellness StipendEducation Stipend
   
   Compliance RequirementsBackground check clearance Drug test clearance wherever applicable Fully vaccinated against COVID
   
   LTA Research & Exploration welcomes all candidates to apply including those with limited experience. We understand that candidates with a growth mindset and passion for working on the next chapter in aviation advancement can outweigh experience alone. We celebrate diverse origins and journeys and understand their importance in developing new technology. Rooted in our humanitarian mission, we want to serve the entire globe and have a team that represents those we wish to serve.
   Lighter Than Air is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find test engine mechanics for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your test engine mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit test engine mechanic 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 test engine mechanics, 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 test engine mechanic

   Once you've found the test engine mechanic 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new test engine mechanic. 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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