How to hire a thermodynamics engineer

How to hire a thermodynamics engineer, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the thermodynamics engineer you need to hire. Certain thermodynamics engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

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

   Type of Thermodynamics Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Thermodynamics Engineer	Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.	$23-47
   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:

   • Thermal Design
   • Centaur

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the fuel supply and aircraft electrical distribution system on board ship, including radar tank gauging and filtration systems.
   • Operate and troubleshoot vacuum deposition machinery used in the development of anodes vital to the design of novel lithium-sulfur battery technology.
   • Prepare soil data in geotechnical software and graphical figures to be used and review by professional engineering project managers.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, thermodynamics engineers' average salary in indiana is 44% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level thermodynamics engineers earn 52% less than senior-level thermodynamics engineers.
   • Certifications. A thermodynamics 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 thermodynamics engineer's salary.

   Average thermodynamics engineer salary

   $69,084yearly

   $33.21 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level thermodynamics engineer salary

   $48,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

4. Writing a thermodynamics engineer job description

   A thermodynamics 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 thermodynamics engineer job description:

   Thermodynamics engineer job description example

   COVID\-19 continues to significantly impact our employees, families and communities\. With employee health and safety as our top priority, and as a federal contractor, Lockheed Martin is taking action to address the increased risk and uncertainty COVID\-19 variants pose in the workplace and ensuring we meet our commitments to national security\.
   
   To uphold safety for all employees, we will continue to request vaccination status for all Lockheed Martin employees including new hires\. All current and newly hired employees are required to follow onsite safety measures based upon the COVID\-19 Community Level at the specific work location\.
   **Description:** Thermodynamics/ECS Engineer \- Level 5
   
   **Lockheed Martin Aeronautics\. Be More Than You Can** _Imagine_ **\.**
   
   Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is looking for a Thermodynamics/ECS Engineer to continue our >75 year tradition of developing advanced systems\. This position will support an ADP \(Advanced Development Programs\) effort as a senior thermodynamics engineer while supporting Propulsion Integration\. Specific experience with ECS and propulsion integration and thermodynamic analysis and testing is required\. Responsibilities include working with the technical activities of a propulsion and thermal team engaged in conducting transient thermal simulations, secondary inlet and exhaust system trade studies, component environmental definition, defining propulsion and thermal installation specifications, ground and flight testing, and analysis for component selection\. The candidate must be comfortable planning technical tasks, communicating effectively across subsystems and propulsion, including generating associated cost and schedule estimates\. Good communication skills and strong interpersonal and presentation skills are highly desirable\.
   
   The successful applicant will possess strong personal initiative, creative problem solving, and ability to work independently while supporting other team members\.
   
   Occasional domestic travel can be expected\. The applicant will need to pass a program access security background check\.
   
   \*\*\*Must be a US Citizen\. This position is located at a facility that requires special access\. Must have a final secret security clearance \(with 6 year update\)\.\*\*\*
   
   **What's In It For You**
   
   Our employees play an active role in strengthening the quality of life where we live and work by volunteering more than 850,000 hours annually\. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy:
   
   • Medical
   
   • Dental
   
   • 401k
   
   • Paid time off
   
   • Work/life balance
   
   • Career development
   
   • Mentorship opportunities
   
   • Rewards & recognition
   
   Learn more about Lockheed Martin's comprehensive benefits package here\.
   
   Palmdale, CA
   
   This position is in Palmdale, CA Discover Palmdale\.
   
   EngineeringAeronautics
   
   **Basic Qualifications:**
   
   Direct experience with Flight Sciences, including aerodynamics, propulsion, ECS, thermal analysis and testing\. Considered an expert and an authority in ECS/Thermodynamics discipline\.
   
   \-\- Experience with the design and development of thermal/fluid subsystems\.
   
   \-\- Experience with aircraft propulsion and thermal system design and integration
   
   \-\- Candidate will have active Secret clearance
   
   **Desired Skills:**
   
   \-\- Experience with propulsion and thermal systems, analysis, integration and/or experimental testing\.
   
   \-\- Experience in secondary inlet and exhaust systems design\.
   
   \-\- Experience in thermal/fluids and icing subsystems\.
   
   \-\- Experience collaborating across air vehicle discipline teams, with government customers, and with subsystem partner companies\.
   
   \-\- Demonstrated ability to understand program requirements and distill into innovative system architecture and actionable tasking\.
   
   \-\- Experience leading test planning and execution\.
   
   \-\- Excellent verbal and written communication skills\.
   
   **BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:**
   
   job\.Qualifications
   
   **Lockheed Martin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer\. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status\.**
   
   Join us at Lockheed Martin, where your mission is ours\. Our customers tackle the hardest missions\. Those that demand extraordinary amounts of courage, resilience and precision\. They're dangerous\. Critical\. Sometimes they even provide an opportunity to change the world and save lives\. Those are the missions we care about\.
   
   As a leading technology innovation company, Lockheed Martin's vast team works with partners around the world to bring proven performance to our customers' toughest challenges\. Lockheed Martin has employees based in many states throughout the U\.S\., and Internationally, with business locations in many nations and territories\.
   
   **EXPERIENCE LEVEL:**
   
   Experienced Professional

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right thermodynamics 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 thermodynamics engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit thermodynamics engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting thermodynamics engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 thermodynamics engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect thermodynamics 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new thermodynamics 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.)

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