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The differences between manufacturing test engineers and senior product engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a manufacturing test engineer, becoming a senior product engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior product engineer has an average salary of $101,685, which is higher than the $98,285 average annual salary of a manufacturing test engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing test engineer include test equipment, labview and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a senior product engineer are java, product engineering, and continuous improvement.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,285 | $101,685 |
| Hourly rate | $47.25 | $48.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 64,188 | 145,781 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A manufacturing test engineer specializes in designing and developing test structures to ensure the quality of products according to the company's policies and standards. Their responsibilities include coordinating with the design team to determine test parameters, producing test documentation, troubleshooting, and performing quality assurance procedures. A manufacturing test engineer must also assess the existing test procedures to identify its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions as needed. Furthermore, they may assist the quality assurance teams in conducting tests, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
A senior product engineer specializes in optimizing product designs and manufacturing procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They are typically in charge of performing market research and analysis, utilizing the results as a basis in designing new products and upgrading existing designs. Moreover, they coordinate with product development teams to cultivate ideas, develop prototypes and test structures, and oversee the material selection that will make the products possible. As a senior product engineer, it is essential to monitor the entire progress and lead the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Manufacturing test engineers and senior product engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,285 | $101,685 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $134,000 | Between $78,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Cloudflare |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing test engineer and a senior product engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing test engineers' and senior product engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.5% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |