How to hire a weapons engineer

How to hire a weapons engineer, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   Type of Weapons Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Weapons 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.	$31-72
   Principal Engineer	A principal engineer is responsible for monitoring the overall design phase of the construction process, including coordinating with the client for progress and updates, as well as performing adjustments as needed based on clients' specifications and requirements. Principal engineers also inspect the materials and resources used to ensure that the project stays within the budget goals and set timeframe... Show more	$45-85
   Team Lead Engineer	A team leads engineer is in charge of spearheading and overseeing the efforts of an engineering team, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although the duties may depend on one's industry of employment, it typically includes designing and developing systems according to project requirements, setting objectives and construction guidelines, delegating tasks, managing budgets and schedules, and monitoring the workflow, performing corrective measures as needed... Show more	$40-75

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Engineering Support
   • Electrical Systems
   • Ammunition

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
   • Establish specifications for cryogenic valves, vacuum jacket hoses / couplings and other machine interfaces require for LN2 retrofit.
   • Identify cost, capability, risk, and supplier issues during EMD for ensuring successful introduction into manufacturing.
   • Conduct geotechnical and environmental subsurface investigations.
   • Develop design specifications, implement RTL, generate simulation models, test benches, design software and documentation.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your weapons engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A weapons engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, weapons engineers' average salary in hawaii is 44% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level weapons engineers 57% less than senior-level weapons engineers.
   • Certifications. A weapons engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a weapons engineer's salary.

   Average weapons engineer salary

   $99,077yearly

   $47.63 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level weapons engineer salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a weapons engineer job description

   A job description for a weapons engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a weapons engineer job description:

   Weapons engineer job description example

   Applied Research Associates, Inc. is seeking a candidate to join our Engineering team in Niceville, Florida and on the Eglin Air Force Base. This position supports the Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Munitions Effectiveness (JTCG/ME) working groups by validating data and methodology for the Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual (JMEM) Weaponeering System (JWS) software and by analyzing calculated results. JMEM products are used to authenticate weapons effectiveness data for use in operations, training, systems acquisitions, weapons procurement, and combat modeling and simulation.
   
   In this position, you will coordinate with multiple working groups in a Joint environment to plan and prepare for methodology and data improvements in weaponeering software. You will be responsible for planning and conducting independent research, evaluating the integration of lethality models, coordinating with team members in various focus areas to navigate possible obstacles, and finding suitable solutions. To accomplish these tasks, you will use various tools, such as Microsoft Visual Studio, TestComplete, SQLite Maestro, various weaponeering tools, and in-house analytical tools. You will also work closely with developers and testers to support verification and validation of new models. You will be continuously challenged to learn and grow expertise in new areas.
   
   The successful candidate will have a strong technical background in science, engineering, and mathematics. The following experience is desired, but not required: experience related to JMEM, air-to-surface or surface-to-surface weapons, weaponeering, weapon systems effectiveness methodologies, weapon/target effectiveness, stochastic modeling, delivery accuracy and trajectory, weapon blast effects, and vulnerability analysis.
   Required Experience & Skills:
   
   * Requires a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Math, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or a related field, and zero to two years of related work experience.
   * Ability to obtain a DoD security clearance; the selected applicant will undergo a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements at the time of employment.
   * Understand the importance of requirements analysis.
   * Excellent verbal and communication skills.
   * Ability to work well independently and with a team.
   
   Above all, we value passion, a desire to learn, and teamwork. We confidentially believe that if you possess the right attitude, work ethic, and skillset, then you can succeed in the role.
   
   Company Details
   
   ARA is an employee-owned company with an attractive benefits package that includes a 401-K, Employee Stock Ownership, Flexible Spending Plan, and various insurance options. Our specialty is finding innovative solutions to complex technical problems. We are seeking talented and motivated individuals who can help us meet our objective of providing quality services to our customers. Applicants selected will be subjected to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit weapons engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 weapons engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the weapons engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   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 weapons engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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