Become A Quality Engineer

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Working As A Quality Engineer

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Getting Information
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Interacting With Computers
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Deal with People
$63,752
Average Salary

What Does A Quality Engineer Do

A Quality Engineer provides statistical information for quality improvement. They monitor and audit the quality of all manufactured goods in a variety of industries, including the automobile, textile, and electronics industries.

How To Become A Quality Engineer

Industrial engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value experience, so cooperative education engineering programs at universities are also valuable.

Education

Industrial engineers need a bachelor’s degree, typically in industrial engineering. However, many industrial engineers have degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering technology, or general engineering. Students interested in studying industrial engineering should take high school courses in mathematics, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; computer science; and sciences such as chemistry and physics.

Bachelor’s degree programs include lectures in classrooms and practice in laboratories. Courses include statistics, production systems planning, and manufacturing systems design, among others. Many colleges and universities offer cooperative education programs in which students gain practical experience while completing their education.

A few colleges and universities offer 5-year degree programs in industrial engineering that lead to a bachelor’s and master’s degree upon completion, and several more offer similar programs in mechanical engineering. A graduate degree allows an engineer to work as a professor at a college or university or to engage in research and development. Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative education plans combine classroom study with practical work, permitting students to gain experience and to finance part of their education.

Programs in industrial engineering are accredited by ABET.

Important Qualities

Creativity. Industrial engineers use creativity and ingenuity to design new production processes in many kinds of settings in order to reduce the use of material resources, time, or labor while accomplishing the same goal.

Critical-thinking skills. Industrial engineers create new systems to solve problems related to waste and inefficiency. Solving these problems requires logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to the problems.

Listening skills. These engineers often operate in teams, but they also must solicit feedback from customers, vendors, and production staff. They must listen to customers and clients in order to fully grasp ideas and problems the first time.

Math skills. Industrial engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Problem-solving skills. In designing facilities for manufacturing and processes for providing services, these engineers deal with several issues at once, from workers’ safety to quality assurance.

Speaking skills. Industrial engineers sometimes have to explain their instructions to production staff or technicians before they can make written instructions available. Being able to explain concepts clearly and quickly is crucial to preventing costly mistakes and loss of time.

Writing skills. Industrial engineers must prepare documentation for other engineers or scientists, or for future reference. The documentation must be coherent and explain their thinking clearly so that the others can understand the information.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level positions as an industrial engineer. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one’s career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires

A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years
A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam

The initial FE exam can be taken after one earns a bachelor’s degree. Engineers who pass this exam are commonly called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering.

Several states require engineers to take continuing education in order to keep their licenses. Most states recognize licenses from other states, as long as the other state’s licensing requirements meet or exceed their own licensing requirements.

Advancement

Beginning industrial engineers usually work under the supervision of experienced engineers. In large companies, new engineers also may receive formal training in classes or seminars. As beginning engineers gain knowledge and experience, they move on to more difficult projects with greater independence to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions.

Eventually, industrial engineers may advance to become technical specialists, such as quality engineers or facility planners. In that role, they supervise a team of engineers and technicians. Obtaining a master’s degree facilitates such specialization and thus advancement.

Many industrial engineers move into management positions because the work they do is closely related to the work of managers. For more information, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.

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Quality Engineer Demographic

Gender

Male
74.8%
Female
22.3%
Unknown
2.9%

Ethnicity

White
72.4%
Asian
13.3%
Hispanic or Latino
10.9%
Unknown
2.7%
Black or African American
0.8%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
49.9%
German
6.8%
Chinese
6.5%
Mandarin
6.0%
French
5.4%
Japanese
4.2%
Arabic
3.6%
Portuguese
3.2%
Korean
2.1%
Hindi
1.8%
Carrier
1.8%
Italian
1.8%
Cantonese
1.8%
Russian
0.9%
Thai
0.9%
Vietnamese
0.8%
Urdu
0.8%
Gujarati
0.6%
Indonesian
0.6%
Turkish
0.6%

Quality Engineer

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Quality Engineer Typical Career Paths

Average Length of Employment

Quality Technician Lead 5.0 years
Manager, Quality Engineer 4.6 years
Quality/Reliability Engineer 4.4 years
Manufacturing Quality Manager 4.3 years
Senior Quality Engineer 4.2 years
Quality Manager 4.0 years
Senior Supplier Quality Engineer 4.0 years
Quality Engineer/Process Engineer 3.9 years
Manufacturing Quality Engineer 3.9 years
Quality Control Manager 3.8 years
Product Quality Manager 3.7 years
Quality Technician Engineer 3.7 years
Quality Technician 3.6 years
Director Of Quality & Engineering 3.6 years
Supplier Quality Engineer 3.4 years
Quality Coordinator 3.4 years
Quality Control Coordinator 3.3 years
Product Quality Engineer 3.3 years
Quality Systems Engineer 3.3 years
Lead Quality Engineer 3.3 years
Quality Lead 3.1 years
Principal Quality Engineer 3.1 years
Quality Engineer 3.0 years
Quality Assurance Specialist 2.9 years
Advanced Quality Engineer 2.9 years
Quality Control Engineer 2.8 years
Quality Assistant 2.1 years

Top Careers Before Quality Engineer

Top Careers After Quality Engineer

Quality Engineer Education

Schools

University of Phoenix
13.7%
Purdue University
7.9%
Rochester Institute of Technology
7.6%
Wayne State University
7.0%
Northeastern University
5.4%
University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
5.0%
Pennsylvania State University
4.8%
Michigan State University
4.5%
Iowa State University
4.4%
San Jose State University
4.1%
University of Toledo
4.1%
University of Alabama
3.8%
Clemson University
3.7%
Georgia Institute of Technology -
3.6%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
3.6%
Indiana Wesleyan University
3.4%
Auburn University
3.4%
Wichita State University
3.4%
Texas A&M University
3.4%
Eastern Michigan University
3.3%

Majors

Business 19.8%
Mechanical Engineering 16.5%
Industrial Engineering 9.9%
Electrical Engineering 9.1%
Industrial Technology 5.8%
Management 4.2%
Engineering And Industrial Management 4.0%
Chemical Engineering 4.0%
Engineering 3.5%
Manufacturing Engineering 2.8%
Mechanical Engineering Technology 2.7%
Chemistry 2.6%
Computer Science 2.5%
Biomedical Engineering 2.4%
Biology 2.1%
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians 1.9%
Project Management 1.8%
Electrical Engineering Technology 1.7%
Finance 1.4%
Operations Management 1.3%

Degrees

Bachelors
48.2%
Masters
28.0%
Other
12.6%
Associate
6.3%
Certificate
2.9%
Doctorate
1.4%
Diploma
0.5%
License
0.1%

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Real Quality Engineer Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Staff Mobile Quality Engineer, Samsclub.Com	Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.	San Bruno, CA	Nov 07, 2016	$196,000
Quality Engineer V	Nvidia Corporation	Santa Clara, CA	Oct 21, 2016	$182,780
Quality Engineer	Bigcommerce, Inc.	San Francisco, CA	Jan 26, 2016	$170,000
Staff Quality Engineer	Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.	Sunnyvale, CA	Jan 12, 2016	$169,290
Staff Engineer-Quality Engineering	Nicira, Inc.	Palo Alto, CA	Feb 11, 2015	$167,000
Staff Engineer-Quality Engineer	Nicira, Inc.	Palo Alto, CA	Dec 19, 2016	$167,000
Quality Engineer, Senior	Ticketfly LLC	San Francisco, CA	Nov 30, 2015	$162,000
Quality Engineer, Senior	Ticketfly, LLC	San Francisco, CA	Oct 08, 2016	$160,000 - $185,000
Staff Quality Engineer	Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.	San Bruno, CA	Jun 09, 2016	$160,000
Java Quality Engineer	Populus Group LLC	San Francisco, CA	Mar 10, 2016	$159,530
Java Quality Engineer	Populus Group LLC	San Francisco, CA	Jan 10, 2016	$159,530
Quality Engineering Lmts	Salesforce.Com, Inc.	San Francisco, CA	Aug 11, 2015	$156,402
Staff Engineer-Quality Engineering	Vmware, Inc.	Palo Alto, CA	Dec 14, 2016	$156,004
Staff Quality Engineer	Appdynamics, Inc.	San Francisco, CA	Feb 05, 2016	$155,000
Quality Engineer	Entegris, Inc.	Billerica, MA	Aug 15, 2015	$89,984
Quality Engineer	The Mathworks, Inc.	Natick, MA	Sep 19, 2015	$89,974
Corporate Quality Engineer	Shure Incorporated	Niles, IL	Dec 27, 2016	$89,606 - $127,474
Quality Engineer-Quality Assurance	Staar Surgical Company	Monrovia, CA	Jun 06, 2016	$89,500 - $95,000
Quality Engineer-Quality Assurance	Staar Surgical Company	Monrovia, CA	Feb 09, 2016	$89,500 - $95,000
Quality Engineer II	Honeywell International, Inc.	Murfreesboro, TN	Jun 10, 2016	$89,315
Quality Engineer	The Mathworks, Inc.	Natick, MA	Sep 14, 2015	$89,300
Quality Engineer, Value Stream	Wabco Compressor Manufacturing Company	North Charleston, SC	Dec 09, 2016	$89,268
Infrastructue Quality Engineer	Palantir Technologies Inc.	Palo Alto, CA	Jan 08, 2016	$77,421
Quality Engineer	Verotech Solutions, LLC	Palm Beach Gardens, FL	Jul 23, 2016	$77,219
Quality Engineer	Tech Mahindra (Americas), Inc.	Portland, OR	May 16, 2015	$77,210
Quality Engineer	Industrial Tectonics Bearings	East Rancho Dominguez, CA	Jul 24, 2015	$77,126
Quality Engineer	Intel Corporation	Folsom, CA	Jul 09, 2015	$77,085 - $142,900
Quality Engineer	Fitbit, Inc.	San Francisco, CA	Jun 04, 2016	$77,064 - $120,000
Quality Engineer	Us It Solutions Inc.	San Francisco, CA	Apr 05, 2016	$77,064

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Top Skills for A Quality Engineer

Top Quality Engineer Skills

Supplier Quality
Corrective Action
Quality Procedures

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Identified and resolved supplier quality problems.
Participate in containment, recovery, issue escalation process, and corrective actions involving atypical quality events.
Maintained ISO 9000 documentation for quality procedures during CATV inspection and electrical/mechanical performance evaluations.
Received commendation for root cause analysis which resulted in identification, isolation and resolution of problem which had prevented system shipments.
Conducted Process Capability Studies on packaging and filling equipment which lead to over 6-figures in yearly savings.