How to hire an electronics test engineer

How to hire an electronics test engineer, step by step

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

What does an electronics test engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the electronics test engineer you need to hire. Certain electronics test engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 an electronics 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 an electronics test engineer that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of electronics test engineers.

   Type of Electronics Test Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Electronics 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).	$28-51
   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
   Test Technician	A test technician is responsible for running multiple diagnostic tests on various tools and equipment to boost optimization and ensure its efficient performance on operations. Test technicians inspect system components and manage calibration, following clients' specifications or the business' needs... Show more	$14-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • RF
   • LabVIEW
   • C++
   • Test Procedures
   • Test Systems
   • Troubleshoot
   • Power Electronics
   • Test Reports
   • PCB
   • Test Data
   • Failure Analysis
   • Linux
   • Test Results
   • Electronic Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the automation of vacuum-tube amplifier manufacturing processes using LabVIEW.
   • Apply technical knowledge in electromagnetic theory and microwave technology to plan and manage projects concern with ground-base radar systems.
   • Perform testing and troubleshooting of hybrid, analog and digital print circuit boards (PCB's).
   • Travele to field locations to install and troubleshoot grind, airborne and shipboard high speed RF data communications terminals.
   • Uncover chip manufacturer design issues to exclude those manufacturers in future PCB production runs.
   • Design manufacturing test equipment for several RF test stations for mobile radar systems (TRC-170).

   More electronics test engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $80,610yearly

   $38.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level electronics test engineer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average electronics test engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$108,283	$52
   2	Washington	$105,923	$51
   3	Maryland	$92,740	$45
   4	Massachusetts	$87,542	$42
   5	Arizona	$83,507	$40
   6	Texas	$82,561	$40
   7	Michigan	$81,521	$39
   8	Utah	$79,530	$38
   9	Pennsylvania	$79,291	$38
   10	Florida	$78,801	$38
   11	Connecticut	$75,528	$36
   12	Colorado	$74,761	$36
   13	New York	$71,795	$35
   14	Georgia	$71,369	$34
   15	Alabama	$70,850	$34
   16	Indiana	$68,670	$33
   17	Arkansas	$67,038	$32
   18	Wisconsin	$62,120	$30

   Average electronics test engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Synaptics	$114,865	$55.22	2
   2	Zoox	$114,368	$54.98	18
   3	Joby Aviation	$106,284	$51.10	52
   4	Gentherm	$91,779	$44.12	1
   5	Rolls-Royce	$85,848	$41.27	11
   6	Jeron Nurse Call Systems	$85,481	$41.10
   7	Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense	$84,643	$40.69	1
   8	Anduril	$83,739	$40.26	87
   9	Ensign-Bickford Industries	$83,523	$40.16	4
   10	Creation Technologies	$83,273	$40.04	1
   11	Gridco	$83,269	$40.03
   12	Echodyne	$83,269	$40.03	5
   13	Faith Technologies, Inc.	$83,132	$39.97	8
   14	Cree	$82,908	$39.86	6
   15	Vets Plus	$82,580	$39.70
   16	Caliper Family of Companies	$81,889	$39.37
   17	Universal Electronics	$81,598	$39.23
   18	Randstad North America, Inc.	$81,480	$39.17	6
   19	Latitude 36	$79,751	$38.34
   20	Sanmina	$79,157	$38.06	22

4. Writing an electronics test engineer job description

   An electronics test engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an electronics test engineer job description:

   Electronics test engineer job description example

   EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.
   
   Hughes Network Systems, located in Gaithersburg, MD, is currently seeking a dedicated Electronic Test Engineer to join our team and directly support Manufacturing Operations. Responsibilities include but not limited to:
   
   Understanding of RF skills and test development using LabVIEW SoftwareSupport the development and implementation of factory manufacturing testing for complex Satellite communications products, including test software development, fixture design and project leadership Testing a single complex features or set of less complex features, based on test requirement documents
   Basic Requirements:
   Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering 5 years or more of relevant experience3+ years of test software development using NI LabVIEW
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   Understanding of PXI/IEEE based test systems, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, path loss calibrations, VSA's and Ethernet communication protocols Proficient in MS Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPointGood communication skills, both verbal and written
   
   Will be eligible for discretionary bonus, with funding based on company performance
   
   #LI-AR1
   
   EchoStar is committed to offering a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Our programs are designed to provide you with the ability to customize your benefits to best meet the needs of you and your family. Our philosophy for these programs is to support and encourage healthy living and wellness. Our benefits package covers it all-from healthcare savings plans to education assistance and more!
   Financial: 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match; employee stock purchase plan; profit-sharing; company-paid life insurance, AD&D and disability Work-Life Balance: Paid Time Off (PTO), company-paid holidays, health and wellness events, exercise and sports facilities (locations may vary) Employee Incentives: Tuition reimbursement, employee referral program, year round employee events and community programs, discounts on Dish Network and HughesNetHealth: Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Health Savings Account (HSA) with opportunities to earn employer contributions; Health Care, Dependent Care and Transportation Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
   
   EchoStar and its Affiliated Companies are committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. U.S. Persons or those able to obtain and maintain U.S. government security clearances may be required for certain positions. EEO is the law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right electronics test engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with electronics test engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit electronics test engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting electronics 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 to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 electronics test engineer

   Once you've selected the best electronics 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new electronics 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 electronics test engineer?