Getting help with building/testing space access engineering

Does anyone have any pointers for getting access to people that can
build things? I'm looking for someone to help me test some engineering
problems - probably a college student would be best. (Someone with
access to cool college equipment is even better). I would pay for
materials and time, and they'd probably get to fly out to Chicago
occassionally. I've started many companies, and I find that the most
successful ones are the ones that I funded myself - with a slow build
up.

The downside is signing NDAs, filing form 1099s, etc. (Probably the
1099s could be avoided as long as you make under some amount).
Initially, I am looking for an Electrical Engineer (or eqivalent). I
would also be interested in people that want to build rocket engines.
Does anyone have any good ideas on how to find someone? Anybody want
to do anything like that?

If this is the wrong approach, what do you believe is the right
approach?

-David