What does a functional test engineer do?
Functional test engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real functional test engineer resumes:
- Lead LabVIEW program development for high temperature camber measurement and steam generation analysis tools.
- Create POM of the peers and identify and report the bugs to QA (manual) team.
- Complete router infrastructure and software upgrades while performing testing and regression testing.
- Test result analysis for automate regression test case execution and defect reporting.
- Develop automated temperature-cycle calibrations for analog and digital transducers.
- Develop automated temperature-cycle calibrations for analog and digital transducers.
Functional test engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Functional Test Engineers are proficient in Test Cases, Test Equipment, and Test Results.
We break down the percentage of Functional Test Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Test Cases, 9%
Documented specific test cases and scenarios for automation purposes.
- Test Equipment, 6%
Designed test equipment to support system test, audit test and final system audit of completed systems prior to shipment.
- Test Results, 6%
Analyzed test results and recommended corrective action.
- Front End, 5%
Managed creation of test suites and tools for front end efforts.
- Test Data, 5%
Prepared UAT test scripts and test data and coordinated with business users in executing the test scripts throughout the UAT cycle.
- QA, 4%
Lead testing effort with Development teams, Business Analysts, Customers and offshore QA Testers.
Common skills that a functional test engineer uses to do their job include "test cases," "test equipment," and "test results." You can find details on the most important functional test engineer responsibilities below.
The three companies that hire the most functional test engineers are:
- Magna International4 functional test engineers jobs
- Nexteer Automotive3 functional test engineers jobs
- Apple2 functional test engineers jobs
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Functional test engineer vs. Quality assurance lead
A quality assurance lead, also known as QA Lead, is responsible for conducting necessary quality tests and analyses for software program and development. As a quality assurance lead, they must take the lead in ensuring quality during development by proactively performing critical evaluations, troubleshooting, and providing precise documentation. It is also essential to identify issues and resolve them as soon as possible. Furthermore, a quality assurance lead must maintain an active line of communication and coordination as most of the work will be in a team setting.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a functional test engineer are more likely to require skills like "test equipment," "front end," "cycle management," and "test software." On the other hand, a job as a quality assurance lead requires skills like "test plan," "status reports," "selenium webdriver," and "jira." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Quality assurance leads earn the highest salaries when working in the retail industry, with an average yearly salary of $105,673. On the other hand, functional test engineers are paid more in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $90,573.On average, quality assurance leads reach similar levels of education than functional test engineers. Quality assurance leads are 4.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Functional test engineer vs. 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. They are also involved in reviewing technical design and specification, setting performance targets, and writing progress reports for management updates.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real functional test engineer resumes. While functional test engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "test cases," "test equipment," "front end," and "qa," engineers lead quality assurance lead use skills like "jira," "scrum," "selenium webdriver," and "jenkins."
Engineers lead quality assurance lead earn a higher average salary than functional test engineers. But engineers lead quality assurance lead earn the highest pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $114,398. Additionally, functional test engineers earn the highest salaries in the telecommunication with average pay of $90,573 annually.engineers lead quality assurance lead earn similar levels of education than functional test engineers in general. They're 1.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Functional test engineer vs. Test specialist
A test specialist is responsible for evaluating and running diagnostic tests for system networks and applications to ensure stability and efficiency according to the quality standards. Test specialists analyze the system's features and write findings reports for improvement and technical resolutions. They also help system engineers in developing infrastructures and designing servers to support business operations and maximize productivity. A test specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in identifying malfunctions and inconsistencies before the actual launch of deliverables.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a functional test engineer is likely to be skilled in "front end," "hp alm," "cycle management," and "test software," while a typical test specialist is skilled in "test procedures," "troubleshoot," "selenium," and "client facing."
Test specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to functional test engineers. Specifically, they're 3.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Functional test engineer vs. Quality assurance analyst
Quality Administrators are responsible for managing the quality processes of an organization. Their duties include creating data collection processes, conducting data cleansing, tracks quality milestones, and develop training programs for internal teams. They undertake daily audits, work with the quality coordinator to determine root cause, and assist with feedback and complaints. Quality administrators also write daily reports for purchase orders that are overdue, open service jobs, quotations needing to follow up, unconfirmed hires, and processed sales orders.
Types of functional test engineer
Updated January 8, 2025











