How to hire an associate test engineer

How to hire an associate test engineer, step by step

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

What does an associate test engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   The following list breaks down different types of associate test engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Associate Test Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Test Engineer		$28-43
   Quality Analyst	Pumpers are individuals who take responsibility for setting the pumping system controls for product maximization. Their job requires them to set density, concentration, rate, and pressure... Show more	$26-44
   Quality Assurance	The primary role of quality assurance specialists is to inspect the quality system's implementation and perform quality assurance audits. They are responsible for monitoring and recording results from procedures and processes within manufacturing industries... Show more	$13-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Test Results
   • C++
   • Test Cases
   • Technical Reports
   • RF
   • Technical Problems
   • Test Data
   • Test Specifications
   • Troubleshoot
   • Test Procedures
   • Data Analysis
   • Windows
   • Test Reports
   • Failure Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage, maintain, troubleshoot and repair PCs, associate devices (printers, scanners, etc . )
   • Manage projects including for entire aircraft electrical distribution with respect to EMC requirements and testing.
   • Conduct analysis and present initial findings on the RF problems and needs at each venue.
   • Defect finding and tracking utilizing TeamTrack, regression testing and debugging to component level for development.
   • Perform drive tests to verify RF and CAI (protocol) compliance and performance testing on customer networks.
   • Redesign parts and troubleshoot problems during systems integration.

   More associate test engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate test engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An associate test engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, associate test engineers' average salary in florida is 34% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate test engineers earn 35% less than senior-level associate test engineers.
   • Certifications. An associate test engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an associate test engineer's salary.

   Average associate test engineer salary

   $73,445yearly

   $35.31 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate test engineer salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average associate test engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$96,991	$47
   2	Washington	$79,918	$38
   3	Massachusetts	$76,004	$37
   4	Connecticut	$75,053	$36
   5	Virginia	$74,361	$36
   6	New York	$73,413	$35
   7	North Carolina	$72,735	$35
   8	Colorado	$72,218	$35
   9	Minnesota	$71,347	$34
   10	Illinois	$69,862	$34
   11	Nevada	$68,825	$33
   12	Arkansas	$68,651	$33
   13	Michigan	$68,165	$33
   14	Missouri	$65,493	$31
   15	Arizona	$64,971	$31
   16	Texas	$64,912	$31
   17	Ohio	$61,685	$30
   18	Oklahoma	$61,650	$30
   19	Florida	$59,481	$29

   Average associate test engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$113,695	$54.66	129
   2	Brocade Services Corporation	$102,423	$49.24
   3	Renesas Electronics	$98,476	$47.34	4
   4	KLA	$94,287	$45.33	5
   5	SAS Institute	$87,337	$41.99	1
   6	Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.	$86,984	$41.82
   7	Dolby Laboratories	$86,917	$41.79
   8	Tesla	$85,530	$41.12	20
   9	Allison Transmission	$84,301	$40.53	6
   10	Medidata	$82,918	$39.86
   11	DTCC	$81,429	$39.15	18
   12	Aircell	$80,245	$38.58
   13	Randstad North America, Inc.	$76,650	$36.85	5
   14	Cargotec Holding Inc	$76,612	$36.83
   15	PsiQuantum	$76,263	$36.66	7
   16	Exova Inc	$76,119	$36.60	12
   17	Swift Denim Services Inc	$76,069	$36.57	1
   18	CETECOM	$75,977	$36.53
   19	Element Materials Technology	$75,933	$36.51	16
   20	Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories	$75,920	$36.50	26

4. Writing an associate test engineer job description

   A good associate 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 associate test engineer job description:

   Associate test engineer job description example

   
   
   Moog produces spaceflight hardware and software solutions, integrating vehicle design, component design and engineering services for aerospace, scientific, commercial and military customers on four continents. From proposal phase to ground testing, launch and on-orbit operations, we support each mission as scientific, technical and operational facilitators. On the product side, our radiation-hardened avionics and electronics include GPS/GNSS receivers, science payloads, motor controllers, high-quality flight-critical components, and single board computers powered by the next-generation BRE440 "system-on-a-chip" - the world's highest-performance radiation-hardened microprocessor.
   
   With global product demand and mission criteria moving toward integrated commercial partnerships, lower costs and higher performance hardware and software requirements, Broad Reach is positioned for growth in the new era of aerospace development. Our team of seasoned architects and engineers is dedicated to partnership with our customers for continued growth and success.
   
   We are searching for an Associate Avionics Test Engineer , who will contribute to the conceptual design, analysis, development, and test of complex avionics used on military, commercial and NASA satellites. The products of Moog generally are unique for each customer. Therefore, most new applications require a special, tailored design, even though adaptation of existing designs always should be considered where appropriate. The Avionics Engineer will operate as part of a design/development team, which includes other department engineers. You may be called upon to coordinate the work of designers, technicians, procurement specialists and others who assist in specific assignments.
   
   In the early stages of a new program, the project team will consult with the customer, establish the product's functional specification, conceive of potential hardware solutions to the problem, often through extensive trade studies, and then create a successful technical proposal. This phase is critical in that it establishes the basis for future design, and for contract negotiations. Under the technical direction of the team's lead engineer, the Avionics Engineer will then contribute to the evolution of the conceptual design, technical project planning, detail design, and development testing.
   
   Skills to bring with you:
   
   Required: Bachelors of Science in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering degree.
   
   To fulfill the demands of design and development of new products the individual must show self-starting instincts, an aptitude for creative synthesis, and the ability to utilize and quickly learn advanced design and/or analysis techniques. A basic knowledge of closed loop control systems, electrical hardware design, and good communication skills are also desirable. Emphasis will be given to course studies related to digital, analog and power circuit design along with Hardware Design Languages and Programmable Logic.
   
   This position requires access to United States Export Controlled information.
   
   EOE/AA Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Disability/Veteran

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find associate test engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate test engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit associate test engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting associate test engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 associate 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 associate test engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the associate test 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new associate test 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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How much does it cost to hire an associate test engineer?