How to hire an application test engineer

How to hire an application test engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step application test engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an application test engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new application test engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The application test 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

   An application test engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, application test 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 application test engineers.

   Type of Application Test Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Application Test Engineer		$29-48
   Engineer Lead Quality Assurance Lead	Engineer Lead Quality Assurance Leads are responsible for managing the designing and operations of hardware or software testing. Their duties include developing testing plans, implement risk mitigation strategies, communicate process improvements to cross-teams such as marketing and engineering, resolve the conflict between teams, and ensures product or software adheres to the organization and industry standards... Show more	$40-68
   Test Analyst	The duties of a test analyst depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a test analyst is responsible for testing computer software or hardware to ensure its quality before being released in the market... Show more	$26-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • C++
   • Python
   • Java
   • Test Cases
   • RF
   • Debugging
   • Jenkins
   • Technical Support
   • Test Scripts
   • Regression
   • Test Data
   • Test Programs
   • QA
   • Test Results

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage QA, and support for release of software updates and new systems.
   • Construct and manage a complete VMware environment for testing multiple Openstack instances of different configurations.
   • Authore QA release emails and documentation including release notes, test reports and defects reports.
   • Develop and perform functional, system and regression test scenarios from functional specifications and requirements documentation to ensure physical site security.
   • Analyze all the bugs in QC and JIRA report by the users during the UAT.
   • Transform the XML documents into various form using XSLT.

   More application test engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your application test engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An application test 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 an application test engineer in South Carolina may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level application test engineer usually earns less than a senior-level application test engineer. Additionally, an application test 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 application test engineer salary

   $78,355yearly

   $37.67 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level application test engineer salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average application test engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$105,090	$51
   2	Washington	$94,841	$46
   3	New York	$88,608	$43
   4	District of Columbia	$83,780	$40
   5	New Jersey	$78,206	$38
   6	Michigan	$77,869	$37
   7	Illinois	$77,221	$37
   8	Pennsylvania	$76,354	$37
   9	Colorado	$75,183	$36
   10	Florida	$75,061	$36
   11	Georgia	$73,521	$35
   12	Minnesota	$72,184	$35
   13	Texas	$72,118	$35
   14	Arizona	$71,990	$35
   15	Oklahoma	$69,720	$34
   16	Utah	$68,557	$33
   17	Indiana	$67,228	$32
   18	North Carolina	$66,365	$32
   19	Kansas	$65,259	$31
   20	Hawaii	$64,701	$31

   Average application test engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Salesforce	$114,139	$54.87	25
   2	Allied Telesis	$100,704	$48.42
   3	Micron Technology	$100,661	$48.39	6
   4	ICAP	$100,212	$48.18
   5	Qualys	$99,637	$47.90
   6	TÜV SÜD America	$98,514	$47.36	2
   7	Riskmetrics Group Holdings LLC	$92,415	$44.43
   8	Ford Motor	$92,230	$44.34	335
   9	Visa	$92,039	$44.25	19
   10	Keysight Technologies	$90,991	$43.75
   11	ClearOne	$86,756	$41.71
   12	Eclaro	$86,670	$41.67
   13	Randstad North America, Inc.	$86,513	$41.59	20
   14	Credit Suisse	$85,994	$41.34
   15	PDS Tech	$85,870	$41.28	6
   16	Ozmo	$85,414	$41.06
   17	Hirata Corporation of America	$84,849	$40.79
   18	Pactron	$84,120	$40.44
   19	Bosch USA	$82,879	$39.85	19
   20	Unisys	$82,374	$39.60	7

4. Writing an application test engineer job description

   A good application test engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an application test engineer job description:

   Application test engineer job description example

   We Believe in Better!
   We are a global information technology company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions that can help change the world. Enhancing people's lives through secure, reliable advanced technology is our vision.
   At Unisys, we believe in better! Here, you have the opportunity to learn new skills, apply your expertise, and solve complex problems with cutting edge technologies and solutions. You are part of a global diverse team that supports you, drives change, and delivers successful results consistently.
   
   Our associates are at the forefront of everything we do, driving our clients' successes while giving back to communities and making this world a safer and more secure place to live and work. Our success is a direct result of the work of our people who live and breathe our Core Beliefs. Simply put, we believe in better lives. Join us!
   
   Learn more about Unisys and our key solution offerings: Unisys, Stealth™, CloudForte , InteliServe™
   
   What success looks like in this role:
   
   As an Application Support Engineer you will provide technical support regarding the complex DCJ project implementations of Stealth Identity.
   Under moderate supervision, conducts a wide range of quality-control tests and analyzes results to ensure that software meets or exceeds specified standards and end-user requirements.Creates test cases/scripts and executes test cases/scripts.Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies and various tools ( defect management tools and application life cycle, tools needed in the project) Logs defects with clear detail and supporting attachments. Documents defects and generate Test Metrics. Tracks defects to resolution.Maintains test cases/scripts and data for assigned scenarios.Meets design and execution benchmarks.Participates in peer reviews, test planning, and reporting.Adheres to testing policy and guidelines and understands the relevant tools and technologies defined for the project.Proficient in one or more areas such as Manual, Automation or Performance testing.Supports the implementation of Testing Lifecycle Management best practices and automation.Primarily interfaces with the Test Lead for project specific information & guidance Able to mentor junior level testers.
   #LI-AM1
   
   You will be successful in this role if you have:
   3 years of experience in the relevant field. Windows administration skills.Experience with data analysis, analyzing, and writing SQL queries.Experience with Kubernetes. Experience with Midrange Messaging systems.Experience with Jira.Experience with ALM or similar systems.Experience with configuration management tools like Jenkins, Maven, Ant, and Git.Experience with configuration management work practices including major releases and production patches.Knowledge of ITIL processes
   Please click on the "Apply Now" button below to submit your application.
   Unisys is an equal opportunity employer and fosters an inclusive culture that embraces differences and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of society.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find application test engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any application test engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level application test engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your application test engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality application test engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit application test 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.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview application test engineer candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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 application test engineer

   Once you've selected the best application test engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new application test engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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