How to hire a drive test engineer

How to hire a drive test engineer, step by step

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

What does a drive test engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your drive test engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a drive test engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a drive test engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a drive test engineer that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of drive test engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Drive Test Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Drive Test Engineer	Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).	$27-49
   Controls Designer	Controls designers both design and draft systems of hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical controls for equipment and machines. The designers make diagrams of the logic system for timing and sequence control... Show more	$33-58
   Engineering Trainee	An engineering trainee is responsible for shadowing engineers in their duties and performing administrative tasks as needed. Engineering trainees assist the engineers in inspecting construction sites and conducting field research... Show more	$20-39

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Collection
   • GPS
   • Pre
   • LTE
   • E911
   • Data Throughput
   • Post Processing
   • System Performance Indicators
   • KPI
   • Site Verification
   • Troubleshoot
   • Xcal
   • UMTS
   • CDMA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Process improvement efforts and/or other opportunities to automate these processes with computer applications with C++ and/or Java where applicable.
   • Verify phase2 information for rollover UMTS to GSM in a particular site.
   • Experience in analyzing logs, troubleshooting issues from field for GSM, LTE.
   • Make E911 surveys on different sectors using range finder, GPS and cell phone.
   • Plot maps and routes using GPS software.
   • Collect radio measurements like RSRP and PCI.

   More drive test engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, drive test engineers' average salary in florida is 51% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level drive test engineers earn 45% less than senior-level drive test engineers.
   • Certifications. A drive 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 a drive test engineer's salary.

   Average drive test engineer salary

   $76,872yearly

   $36.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level drive test engineer salary

   $57,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average drive test engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$115,733	$56
   2	Michigan	$92,812	$45
   3	Nevada	$87,706	$42
   4	Colorado	$83,552	$40
   5	Massachusetts	$77,305	$37
   6	North Carolina	$72,047	$35
   7	Pennsylvania	$70,746	$34
   8	Georgia	$66,841	$32

   Average drive test engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$130,420	$62.70	172
   2	Texas Instruments	$96,755	$46.52	8
   3	Micron Technology	$96,206	$46.25	19
   4	Qualcomm	$95,228	$45.78	55
   5	Tesla	$90,410	$43.47	6
   6	Ford Motor	$89,960	$43.25	40
   7	Lucid Motors	$88,831	$42.71	7
   8	Nexius	$83,317	$40.06
   9	Aptiv	$81,684	$39.27
   10	Avion Systems	$81,624	$39.24

4. Writing a drive test engineer job description

   A job description for a drive test engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a drive test engineer job description:

   Drive test engineer job description example

   Leading the future in luxury electric and mobility
   At Lucid, we set out to introduce the most captivating, luxury electric vehicles that elevate the human experience and transcend the perceived limitations of space, performance, and intelligence. Vehicles that are intuitive, liberating, and designed for the future of mobility.
   
   We plan to lead in this new era of luxury electric by returning to the fundamentals of great design - where every decision we make is in service of the individual and environment. Because when you are no longer bound by convention, you are free to define your own experience.
   
   Come work alongside some of the most accomplished minds in the industry. Beyond providing competitive salaries, we're providing a community for innovators who want to make an immediate and significant impact. If you are driven to create a better, more sustainable future, then this is the right place for you.
   
   We are looking for a Drive Unit Test and Validation Engineer to join our world-class team. Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches his or her work with vigor and determination.
   The Role:Lead design quality initiatives directing and creating component and system DFMEAs that help drive the definition of DVP&Rs and testing specifications.Develop and operate test console (Labview based) for Motor Dynamometer and other powertrain test setups.Manage (HALT) Highly Accelerated Life Testing and environmental testing of EV Drive Units.Manage the definition and data analysis from performance and durability testing.Develop and implement standard practices for maintaining equipment calibration and specifying new equipment.Utilize numerical data analysis tools to interpret test results. Document results and provide reports.Work with data acquisition systems and control systems to continually improve in-test data recording.Coordinate with design engineers to highlight problems and suggest areas for improvement.Develop test plans, procedures, and conduct tests to evaluate if hardware meets acceptance test criteria. Analyze and review data to ensure that hardware is operating as expected.Develop novel ways to streamline processes and increase the reliability of testing operations.
   Qualifications:Experience creating and putting into practice statistical models for predicting product life from limited test sample data.Experience with Software: LabView, and Matlab/Simulink.Basic experience with automotive communication protocols (CAN, LIN).Hands-on experience with shop tools and machine building.Experience with taking products through development cycle to full volume production including writing and executing DVP & Rs (Design Verification Plan and Reports).Track record of getting amazing products to market on time with fantastic innovation.4 years minimum design and/or test experience.Design expertise for manufacturing (DFM) and failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) Great communication skills for relaying data (verbal and written) between other employees and customers.
   Preferred:Experience interpreting CMM results Expertise in using Catia V6Experience with electric vehicle drivetrains Experience with automotive regulatory, environmental, reliability, and safety requirements is a plus. SAE, IEC, ISO, Chinese standards.Experience with electric vehicles and/or automotive products a plus.
   Education:Bachelor Degree required in Electrical, Automotive, Computer or Electro-Mechanical Engineering or Physics.
   At Lucid, we don't just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.
   
   Notice regarding COVID-19 protocols
   At Lucid, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, and friends above all else. In response to the novel Coronavirus all new Lucid employees, whose job will be based in the United States may or may not be required to provide original documentation confirming status as having received the prescribed inoculation (doses). Vaccination requirements are dependent upon location and position, please refer to the job description for more details.
   
   Individuals in positions requiring vaccinations may seek a medical and/or religious exemption from this requirement and may be granted such an accommodation after submitting a formal request to and the subsequent review and approval thereof by our dedicated Covid-19 Response team.
   
   To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our careers alias or other Lucid Motors employees. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right drive test engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your drive test engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit drive test engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit drive 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 drive test engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect drive test engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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How much does it cost to hire a drive test engineer?