What does a principal test engineer do?
Principal Test Engineers test automation tools and frameworks like Selenium, Appium, and Ranorex. They make sure that the software their companies offer is safe and reliable for consumer use. Being a principal test engineer requires testing to influence better software design, promoting good engineering practice, security, testability, scalability, drafting bug prevention strategies, and reliability. They are responsible for defining test goals, preparing and executing system-level functional tests, providing new project forecasts based on the provided information, and improving the current test solutions by reducing the test time, repeat tests, and yield analysis.
Principal test engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real principal test engineer resumes:
- Lead text fixture design with emphasis on RF test signal conditioning and high-speed digital signaling.
- Lead a group of 9 engineers responsible for technology development for handling electronic packages (computer CPU) during HVM.
- Create FPGA and microprocessor designs.
- Implement system customization through XML scripts.
- Support the isolation and debugging of design relate field problems.
- Design board level circuits to interface Power-PC microcontroller with FPGA.
- Test web applications, network and database projects on windows operating systems.
- Inject thousands of BGP routes from an OSWAP script Linux, rout tool.
- Develop a network test using TestStand and Labview for a wireless cellular router.
- Experience with smoke, functional, regression, exploratory, and integration testing.
- Design and implement an assembly level RF test fixture for use at a Chinese contract manufacturing site.
- Participate in high-level and low-level design and test review, ensuring effective design for test (DFT).
- Perform of complex product change (ECO and release process), BOM structure, and configuration management.
- Use GPS simulator and some other internal tools for GPS test and implement automation GPS test script on TestStand.
- Perform component specification, schematic entry, PLD development, layout direction and support, prototype debugging, and firmware support.
Principal test engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Principal Test Engineers are proficient in Python, C++, and Java. They’re also known for soft skills such as Initiative, Interpersonal skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Principal Test Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Python, 11%
Used MongoDB in Python (PyMongo) to develop a script to collect Firewall Status and store them in a database.
- C++, 8%
Involved in the review of the test code (C++) to be used on automated test stations.
- Java, 7%
Contracted to Western Digital for the development of Java applications to perform drive characterization and Ongoing Reliability Testing.
- DOD, 6%
Developed customer documentation to DoD standards DOD-STD-2167A and MIL-STD-498.
- Test Procedures, 6%
Developed and implemented manufacturing test procedures and processes for in-house and third party contract manufacturing vendors.
- Test Data, 5%
Designed and developed integrated wafer test database in MSACCESS to facilitate trend analysis for manufacturing feedback and wafer foundry improvements.
Common skills that a principal test engineer uses to do their job include "python," "c++," and "java." You can find details on the most important principal test engineer responsibilities below.
Initiative. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a principal test engineer to have is initiative. Their role and responsibilities require that "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." Principal test engineers often use initiative in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "led the initiative to scrap or recycle idle test equipment reducing the monthly depreciation by $237 k."
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling principal test engineer duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "electrical and electronics engineers must work with others during the manufacturing process to ensure that their plans are implemented correctly." According to a principal test engineer resume, here's how principal test engineers can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "recognized for excellent interpersonal and communication skills as recipient of multiple presidents club awards. "
Speaking skills. This is an important skill for principal test engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how principal test engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a principal test engineer: "consolidated, organized and presented test results to senior management and customer. ".
Writing skills. principal 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 principal test engineers do with writing skills on a typical day: "assisted production by designing and deploying production test equipment and by writing production acceptance test. "
Math skills. Another common skill required for principal test engineer responsibilities is "math skills." This skill comes up in the duties of principal test engineers all the time, as "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." An excerpt from a real principal test engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a principal test engineer does: "identified system architecture modifications and algorithm verification techniques to provide a quantitative measure of image enhancement. "
The three companies that hire the most principal test engineers are:
- Northrop Grumman78 principal test engineers jobs
- Raytheon Technologies12 principal test engineers jobs
- Spectrum12 principal test engineers jobs
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Compare different principal test engineers
Principal 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 principal test engineer are more likely to require skills like "python," "c++," "dod," and "test equipment." 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 really shine in the retail industry with an average salary of $105,673. Comparatively, principal test engineers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $118,245.quality assurance leads tend to reach similar levels of education than principal test engineers. In fact, quality assurance leads are 4.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Principal test engineer vs. Quality assurance
The primary role of quality assurance specialists is to inspect the quality system's implementation and perform quality assurance audits. They are responsible for monitoring and recording results from procedures and processes within manufacturing industries. They are also responsible for some other tasks, including keeping up-to-date manufacturing and auditing documentation, training less experienced QA team members, and creating standard operating procedures. To be a quality assurance specialist, you must have a high school diploma, organizational skills, and strong attention to detail.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that principal test engineer responsibilities requires skills like "python," "c++," "dod," and "test equipment." But a quality assurance might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "food handling," "selenium," "data entry," and "jira."
Quality assurances earn a lower average salary than principal test engineers. But quality assurances earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $68,731. Additionally, principal test engineers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $118,245 annually.In general, quality assurances achieve lower levels of education than principal test engineers. They're 6.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Principal test engineer vs. Quality analyst
Pumpers are individuals who take responsibility for setting the pumping system controls for product maximization. Their job requires them to set density, concentration, rate, and pressure. They do the operation and maintenance of the auxiliary equipment pumping oil. It is their duty to set the wells so they will function based on the production schedules and switch the oil flow between tanks. They even install the pumping systems.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from principal test engineer resumes include skills like "python," "c++," "dod," and "test equipment," whereas a quality analyst is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "patients," "data analysis," and "corrective action. "
Quality analysts earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $77,710. Principal test engineers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $118,245.When it comes to education, quality analysts tend to earn similar degree levels compared to principal test engineers. In fact, they're 1.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Principal 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 principal test engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
