What does a field test engineer do?
Field test engineers evaluate operational performances and recommend improvements if needed. Field test engineers develop standard procedures for field testing and log test results accurately for future reference. Part of their responsibilities is to perform root cause analysis to determine the reason for product failures and develop corrective actions. They document all corrective actions accurately, maintain testing equipment and supplies in good working condition, and collaborate with support engineers in troubleshooting and resolving problems.
Field test engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real field test engineer resumes:
- Manage testing and educating of un-markete Samsung phones for user trial.
- Promote from original position as a staff engineer managing a variety of geotechnical engineering activities to a field engineer inspector position.
- Experience with wireless voice and data networks base in the following technologies: LTE, UMTS, CDMA, EVDO.
- Plot maps using MapInfo and edit different drive routes according to customer requirements.
- Create thematic maps, sites, drive routes, exit routes and cluster polygon in MapInfo.
- Test handset software and hardware in live networks in a mobile or stationary CDMA, LTE, VoLTE and GSM environment.
- Utilize XCAL to conduct stationary testing.
- Generate and analyze KPI reports using TEMS.
- Used debugging software and logging tools to troubleshoot.
- Experience with using RF drive test tools XCAL.
- Utilize the JDSU software system to signal data.
- Collect pages of data that are used for debugging.
- Verify radio measurements like RSRP, SINR and PCI.
- Validate the GSM, GPRS, and CDMA/ UMTS network compatibility.
- Test various CDMA PCS handsets and provide necessary service to them.
Field test engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Field Test Engineers are proficient in Field Testing, Test Results, and RF. They’re also known for soft skills such as Concentration, Initiative, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Field Test Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Field Testing, 9%
Developed and managed field testing projects based on customer prioritization achieving high level of resource utilization.
- Test Results, 7%
Provided detailed test results and documentation
- RF, 5%
Direct drive tests on newly deployed or acquired networks for location accuracy and analyze for further RF changes to RAN network.
- Data Collection, 4%
Calibrated testing equipment and performed in-house experiments and data collection on filter media samples.
- Test Procedures, 4%
Developed and ran test procedures, monitored tactical messages from UGS to the vehicle platform.
- Android, 4%
Supported re-configuration of different Android cellular products with updated flash codes.
Most field test engineers use their skills in "field testing," "test results," and "rf" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential field test engineer responsibilities here:
Concentration. One of the key soft skills for a field test engineer to have is concentration. You can see how this relates to what field test engineers do because "electrical and electronics engineers design and develop complex electrical systems and electronic components and products." Additionally, a field test engineer resume shows how field test engineers use concentration: "provided engineering support for department of energy construction activities with concentration on civil installations. "
Initiative. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling field test engineer duties is initiative. The role rewards competence in this skill because "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." According to a field test engineer resume, here's how field test engineers can utilize initiative in their job responsibilities: "created new hse ideas and initiatives for the team to promote a health, safety, and environmentally based culture. "
Speaking skills. field test engineers are also known for speaking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to field test engineer responsibilities, because "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." A field test engineer resume example shows how speaking skills is used in the workplace: "pinpointed weakness and offered solutions to project teams by regularly presented data analysis summaries to project teams and leaders. "
Writing skills. field test engineer responsibilities often require "writing skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents." This resume example shows what field test engineers do with writing skills on a typical day: "support troubleshooting of wireless networks (lte) writing scripts to test the throughput of the lte network. "
Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for field test engineer responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of field test engineers all the time, as "electrical and electronics engineers must work with others during the manufacturing process to ensure that their plans are implemented correctly." An excerpt from a real field test engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a field test engineer does: "re-imaged hard drives insure customer satisfaction through follow-up visits and effective interpersonal skills. "
Math skills. While "math skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to field test engineer responsibilities. Much of what a field test engineer does relies on this skill, seeing as "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of field test engineers: "monitored cell statistics like call drop, handover, call set-up success rates and coverage issues. "
The three companies that hire the most field test engineers are:
- Apple3 field test engineers jobs
- National Grid plc3 field test engineers jobs
- SGS3 field test engineers jobs
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Compare different field test engineers
Field test engineer vs. Electrical & instrumentation designer
An electrical instrumentation designer's main job is to design instruments that can be used in various areas such as laboratories, power plants, or research institutes. They work together with a team or individually to design instruments, create a prototype, and test its functions. They can even install these instruments in different establishments and locations. They are tasked with repair and training engineers. At other times, they are assigned to record expenses and other documentation.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, field test engineer responsibilities require skills like "field testing," "test results," "rf," and "data collection." Meanwhile a typical electrical & instrumentation designer has skills in areas such as "plc," "instrumentation design," "control systems," and "i/o." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Electrical & instrumentation designers tend to reach lower levels of education than field test engineers. In fact, electrical & instrumentation designers are 13.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Field test engineer vs. Instrumentation & control engineer
An instrumentation and control engineer is responsible for installing and designing technical components for engineering systems that would support production and manufacturing processes. Instrumentation and control engineers inspect control systems, modify features and infrastructure, configure controllers, and run multiple quality checks to ensure stability and optimal performance. They must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in developing system codes and analyzing programming languages to serve control functions and development. An instrumentation and control engineer also resolves system issues and write resolution reports for reference.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real field test engineer resumes. While field test engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "field testing," "test results," "rf," and "data collection," instrumentation & control engineers use skills like "plc," "hmi," "scada," and "process control."
Instrumentation & control engineers earn a higher average salary than field test engineers. But instrumentation & control engineers earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $98,177. Additionally, field test engineers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $91,276 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Instrumentation & control engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than field test engineers. In fact, they're 4.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Field test engineer vs. Senior electrical designer
A Senior Electrical Designer is in charge of creating electrical schematics, layouts, and other grid plans for their organization, as well as providing the best solution for improvements. They supervise the material, construction, labor costs, and project timescales.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, field test engineers are more likely to have skills like "field testing," "test results," "rf," and "data collection." But a senior electrical designer is more likely to have skills like "electrical design," "revit," "electrical equipment," and "electrical systems."
Senior electrical designers earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $90,234. Field test engineers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $91,276.senior electrical designers typically earn lower educational levels compared to field test engineers. Specifically, they're 10.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Field test engineer vs. Electrical engineer internship
The electrical engineer internship offers tasks to undergraduate engineering students related to electrical systems analysis and branch circuiting, site investigations, lighting calculations, and design drawings by complementing theoretical knowledge with practical duties on the job to gain experience and increase marketability. Through the internship, the undergraduate engineering students may develop professional aptitude, strengthen their character, and may increase their confidence in their work as it prepares them for what to expect in their field.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between field test engineers and electrical engineer interns, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a field test engineer might have more use for skills like "data collection," "android," "windows," and "test cases." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of electrical engineer interns require skills like "c++," "c #," "analog," and "revit. "
The hospitality industry tends to pay the highest salaries for electrical engineer interns, with average annual pay of $66,132. Comparatively, the highest field test engineer annual salary comes from the technology industry.In general, electrical engineer interns hold similar degree levels compared to field test engineers. Electrical engineer interns are 4.7% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of field test engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
