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Applications Engineers recruitingManufacturing Applications Engineer Recruiter
We recruit applications engineers who bridge technical products, manufacturing processes, customers and sales teams. Manufacturing is the only thing we recruit for.
What we screen applications engineers for.
Common skills, systems and technologies we use when sourcing and evaluating applications engineers. The list is a starting point, not a requirement that one person have everything.
- Technical Presentations
- Demos
- Customer Training
- Pre-Sales Support
- Post-Sales Support
- Site Visits
- Requirements Gathering
- Mechanical Design
- Electrical Design
- Controls
- CAD
- SolidWorks
- AutoCAD
- PLC
- Robotics
- Motion Control
- Machining
- Automation
- Plastics
- Industrial Equipment
- Process Improvement
- Tooling
- Fixtures
- Cycle Time
- Quoting
- RFQs
- Cost Estimating
- Proposal Development
- Sales Support
- Product Selection
- Solution Design
Hiring applications engineers, start to offer.
- 01 · Understand
Define the real job
We learn the role, environment, compensation, must-haves and the reasons a strong person would make a move. For applications engineers, that means the customer-facing, engineering and manufacturing behind the title.
- 02 · Search
Build the market
We search databases, networks and direct-source talent instead of relying only on active applicants, and we search by the work: Technical Presentations, Demos, Customer Training, not just a job title.
- 03 · Screen
Have the conversation
We evaluate experience, motivation, fit, location and the practical reasons the move does, or does not, make sense.
- 04 · Close
Stay involved
Interview coordination, feedback, offer communication and follow-through until both sides know where things stand.
Every candidate we present comes with an accurate, uninflated pay number, how we screened them, and what stands between them and a yes. Our hiring guide walks through it.
What applications engineers earn, by state.
The closest federal wage groups, nationally and in every state where we have open searches. Mechanical Engineers first.
| Where | People in the job | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 296,810 | $84,000 | $104,000 | $133,000 |
| North Carolina | 9,560 | $82,000 | $101,000 | $125,000 |
| Wisconsin | 7,470 | $78,000 | $96,000 | $107,000 |
| Texas | 22,080 | $91,000 | $112,000 | $145,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,550 | $79,000 | $98,000 | $125,000 |
| Minnesota | 5,890 | $82,000 | $99,000 | $129,000 |
| California | 30,530 | $102,000 | $131,000 | $167,000 |
| Washington | 8,240 | $95,000 | $110,000 | $140,000 |
| Illinois | 11,790 | $84,000 | $103,000 | $131,000 |
| Ohio | 14,390 | $79,000 | $99,000 | $116,000 |
| Georgia | Not published | $80,000 | $101,000 | $128,000 |
| Arizona | Not published | $82,000 | $100,000 | $129,000 |
| Oregon | Not published | $91,000 | $103,000 | $130,000 |
| Michigan | 34,630 | $88,000 | $105,000 | $132,000 |
| Montana | 500 | $79,000 | $94,000 | $120,000 |
Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141), a year. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Yearly figures are the hourly figures times 2,080 hours, as BLS reports them.
The full mechanical engineer salary guide →
Electrical Engineers
| Where | People in the job | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 198,750 | $93,000 | $121,000 | $153,000 |
| North Carolina | 7,090 | $79,000 | $110,000 | $148,000 |
| Wisconsin | 3,550 | $82,000 | $100,000 | $123,000 |
| Texas | 20,870 | $95,000 | $129,000 | $165,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 6,970 | $91,000 | $111,000 | $136,000 |
| Minnesota | 3,150 | $94,000 | $110,000 | $138,000 |
| California | 24,230 | $106,000 | $144,000 | $186,000 |
| Washington | 7,610 | $104,000 | $133,000 | $166,000 |
| Illinois | 5,460 | $87,000 | $108,000 | $132,000 |
| Ohio | 6,360 | $82,000 | $101,000 | $127,000 |
| Arizona | Not published | $82,000 | $101,000 | $134,000 |
| Oregon | Not published | $100,000 | $125,000 | $141,000 |
| Michigan | 10,840 | $87,000 | $106,000 | $132,000 |
| Montana | 790 | $76,000 | $87,000 | $113,000 |
Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071), a year. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Yearly figures are the hourly figures times 2,080 hours, as BLS reports them.
Pick the agreement that fits the opening.
| Agreement | Fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency | 25%, 30% or 33% | Success-based search with no upfront fee. The rate follows the guarantee: 60, 120 or 180 days. |
| Priority | By agreement | A higher-commitment search for urgent, difficult or high-impact openings. |
| Retained | 20%, 25% or 28% | A committed, exclusive search, 50% paid up front, five points under contingency. |
| Retained + Volume | 15% or 20% | More than five active openings, exclusive, with a 90 or 180-day guarantee. |
| RPO | By agreement | Large hiring projects, expansions, recurring hiring or many placements. |
From our published pricing and search agreements. Every public option pays through secure Stripe Instant Pay.
Hiring applications engineers with Compass
How much does it cost to hire applications engineers through Compass?
We publish our fees. Contingency searches are 25% with a 60-day guarantee, 30% with 120 days, or 33% with 180 days, with no upfront search fee. Retained searches are 20 to 28% with half up front. See pricing.
What do applications engineers earn?
The closest federal wage group, mechanical engineers, earned a median of $104,000 a year nationally in May 2025, with the middle half between $84,000 and $133,000. Of the states where we have open searches, California pays the most ($131,000) and Montana the least ($94,000). See every state.
Where do you recruit applications engineers?
Across the United States, from our base in Missoula, Montana.
How do you find applications engineers who are not applying to jobs?
We search databases, networks and direct-source talent instead of relying only on active applicants, and we recruit around the actual equipment, processes and responsibilities behind the title, so strong candidates are not missed because another plant calls the job something different.
What skills do you screen applications engineers for?
It depends on the job, but we organize every search for applications engineers around customer-facing, engineering, manufacturing and commercial: Technical Presentations, Demos, Customer Training; Mechanical Design, Electrical Design, Controls; Machining, Automation, Plastics; Quoting, RFQs, Cost Estimating. A starting point, not a requirement that one person have everything.
Need Applications Engineers?
Tell us what you need. We will tell you how we would attack it.