How to hire a tool engineer

How to hire a tool engineer, step by step

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

What does a tool engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your tool engineer 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 tool engineer 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 tool engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, tool 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 tool engineers.

   Type of Tool Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Tool Engineer	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.	$36-64
   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
   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:

   • Python
   • Java
   • CAD
   • Linux
   • Jenkins
   • Ruby
   • Unix
   • Solidworks
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • Jigs
   • GD
   • CNC
   • Windows

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage mold vendors in the refurbishment of existing tooling and new mold construction.
   • Lead cross-functional teams that develop several emerging technology laser and CCD barcode scanner products.
   • Lead several independent, cross-functional projects and improve manufacturing quality, reduce cost, ensure environment are supported and FDA compliant.
   • Create Perl scripts and SQL store procedures for nightly batch job streams, data loads and corporate reporting.
   • Perform product design functions using AutoCad.
   • Create custom SQL's in db2 and oracle for the reports.

   More tool engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your tool engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A tool 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 tool engineer in North Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level tool engineer usually earns less than a senior-level tool engineer. Additionally, a tool 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 tool engineer salary

   $101,135yearly

   $48.62 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tool engineer salary

   $75,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average tool engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$151,270	$73
   2	Oregon	$120,279	$58
   3	Washington	$119,580	$57
   4	New York	$104,228	$50
   5	Utah	$102,916	$49
   6	Arizona	$101,248	$49
   7	Texas	$98,611	$47
   8	Maryland	$97,447	$47
   9	District of Columbia	$95,540	$46
   10	Massachusetts	$93,714	$45
   11	Louisiana	$93,507	$45
   12	Florida	$92,045	$44
   13	Virginia	$90,817	$44
   14	Georgia	$88,400	$43
   15	Illinois	$87,532	$42
   16	Michigan	$86,990	$42
   17	Missouri	$84,676	$41
   18	Arkansas	$80,265	$39
   19	Kansas	$79,289	$38
   20	Indiana	$78,038	$38

   Average tool engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$154,680	$74.37	386
   2	ByteDance	$147,851	$71.08	59
   3	Apple	$140,538	$67.57	610
   4	Waymo	$137,137	$65.93	61
   5	Coursera	$135,742	$65.26
   6	Cloudflare	$135,106	$64.95	5
   7	Pure Storage	$132,109	$63.51	10
   8	Zoox	$131,341	$63.14	71
   9	MongoDB	$130,133	$62.56	28
   10	eBay	$129,899	$62.45	10
   11	Amazon	$128,573	$61.81	515
   12	NVIDIA	$127,328	$61.22	150
   13	Adobe	$124,329	$59.77	102
   14	Unity Technologies	$120,788	$58.07	76
   15	Salesforce	$120,574	$57.97	37
   16	Cisco	$119,020	$57.22	213
   17	Morgan Stanley	$118,505	$56.97	9
   18	Udacity	$117,629	$56.55
   19	Roblox	$117,181	$56.34	48
   20	Citrix	$115,059	$55.32

4. Writing a tool engineer job description

   A tool 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 tool engineer job description:

   Tool engineer job description example

   SEH America is located in Vancouver, Washington. It is one of 13 Shin-Etsu Handotai Group (SEH) facilities located around the world. SEH is the world-leader in the manufacturing of silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry. At SEH America, our philosophy and success rest upon our commitment to excellence, quality of service and product to our customers, and a safe working environment for our employees.
   SEH AMERICA EMPLOYEE BENEFITS We are committed to employee health and wellness and believe it is plays a factor in our success. The SEH America benefit plan is considered one of the most generous plans in the region based on coverage and employee cost. SEH America is pleased to offer the following benefits, services, and perks: • Medical (2 plan options)- Massage therapy, acupuncture, & naturopathy included in plan
   • Dental (2 options) & Vision
   • 401(k) Plan- Company match plus additional employer contribution
   • Education Assistance- Paid directly to school
   • Paid Basic Life Insurance- Option to purchase supplemental & dependent life insurance
   • Short Term Medical Leave & Long Term Disability
   • Subsidized Childcare
   • Paid Time Off Benefits - Vacation (starts at 15 days for exempt employees), Vacation Savings Account, Sick (with rollover & payout), 9 Paid Holidays, & other company leave programs
   • On-Site Café
   • Community Garden
   • On-Site Fitness Center (no cost & open 24/7)
   • EV Charging Spots
   • Multiple Award Programs & Employee Appreciation Events
   • Diverse Employee Population
   • Numerous Growth Opportunities & Career Paths Facilities Tool Installation Engineer Job Duties: • Oversee and manage silicon wafer processing equipment installation and relocation projects. • Work closely with production personnel and other to understand the purpose and boundaries related to tool installation and relocation requests. • Develop project scopes, budgets and funding requests for tool installations and modifications. • Oversee installation safety aspects and manage tool turn over process. • Manage several small to medium size projects simultaneously (including contractor selection and oversight). • Collaborate with Facilities Engineers to ensure adequate process utilities are available for Production tools (power, compressed air, chemicals, water, etc). • Provide drawing redlines for all changes made to facilities systems as a result of tool installation and relocation projects. Minimum Qualifications: • BS Mechanical Engineering or related field. • 2+ years in Semiconductor Equipment Engineering (Clean and Non-Clean Room environment) supporting process tool maintenance and installation. • Knowledge of Semiconductor Process Systems. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. • Ability to work effectively with multi-disciplined team. • Infrequent travel may be required. Must be able to get a passport and travel to Japan (with possible stop in Canada). • MS office proficiency Desired Skills / Knowledge / Experience: • Familiarity with AutoCAD and/or Solid Works a plus. • Project management experience • Excellent organizational skills SEH America is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to military and veteran status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious creed, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. SEH-A participates in E-Verify. More information can be found on our website.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right tool 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 tool engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit tool 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 tool 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.

   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 tool engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect tool 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new tool engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire a tool engineer?