Mechanical Designer: What is the cost of hiring?

What is a mechanical design engineer?

A mechanical design engineer is responsible for creating and developing mechanical systems, components or products using technical drawings, 3D models and engineering calculations. They combine creativity and technical expertise to ensure that designs are innovative, efficient and function safely and reliably within manufacturing and operational constraints.

Why hire a mechanical design engineer?

Hiring a mechanical design engineer brings specialized expertise in developing innovative, efficient and reliable mechanical products or systems, helping drive a company’s competitiveness and operational excellence. Businesses should consider this role when launching new products, improving existing processes or experiencing frequent equipment failures or design bottlenecks.

Contributions of a great mechanical design engineer:

• develops innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges, enhancing product performance and efficiency
• improves reliability and safety of mechanical systems through meticulous design and thorough testing
• optimizes manufacturing processes by creating cost-effective, scalable and sustainable designs

Defining your hiring needs for a mechanical design engineer

Assess your project’s technical complexity, required expertise and timeline to define the scope for a mechanical design engineer. Establish a budget based on market rates and decide if the role should be full-time, part-time or freelance, depending on workload and long-term plans. Select a precise job title, such as mechanical design engineer vs. mechanical engineer, to avoid confusion, and reference related roles to clarify differences, if necessary. This approach ensures targeted recruitment and alignment with your organizational needs.

What are the types of mechanical design engineers?

When writing your mechanical design engineer job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on mechanical design engineer jobs, according to Indeed data:

• mechanical engineer
• mechanical designer
• solidworks
• engineer
• junior mechanical engineer
• drafter
• engineering

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Where to find a mechanical design engineer?

To find the right mechanical design engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Professional associations: Consult Engineers Canada, provincial or territorial regulatory bodies (e.g., PEO in Ontario, APEGBC in British Columbia) and trade groups like the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering.
• Networking events: Canada’s National Engineering Month or local innovation expos offer direct access to qualified candidates.
• Technical institutes: Collaborate with universities and technical institutes for entry-level hires or promoting internally within your current engineering team.
• Adjacent fields: Fields such as industrial or manufacturing engineering may yield strong candidates, especially for niche or senior positions.
• Post your job online: Try posting your mechanical design engineer job on Indeed to find and attract quality mechanical design engineer candidates.

Skills to look for in a mechanical design engineer

A successful mechanical design engineer candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA) for creating technical drawings and 3D models
• strong understanding of engineering principles, including mechanics, materials science and thermodynamics
• analytical and problem-solving skills for developing innovative, reliable and efficient solutions to complex engineering challenges
• project management and organizational abilities, including timeline estimation, resource planning and cross-functional collaboration
• communication skills for effective reporting, technical documentation and teamwork across multidisciplinary groups
• knowledge of manufacturing processes and standards to ensure designs are practical, cost-effective and compliant with safety regulations

Writing a mechanical design engineer job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular job-seeker search terms and hiring insights for a mechanical design engineer, you’re ready to write a job description.

A mechanical design engineer job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing mechanical design engineer job descriptions.

Interviewing mechanical design engineer candidates

Strong candidates for mechanical design engineer positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• technical expertise in mechanical engineering fundamentals and design principles
• proficiency in CAD software and interpretation of technical drawings
• problem-solving approaches for troubleshooting and innovation
• project management, teamwork and cross-functional communication
• knowledge of manufacturing processes, industry standards and safety regulations

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of mechanical design engineer interview questions for examples (with sample answers).