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How to hire a quality systems engineer

Quality systems engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring quality systems engineers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a quality systems engineer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per quality systems engineer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 83,202 quality systems engineers in the US, and there are currently 149,279 job openings in this field.
  • Redwood City, CA, has the highest demand for quality systems engineers, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a quality systems engineer, step by step

To hire a quality systems engineer, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a quality systems engineer:

Here's a step-by-step quality systems engineer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a quality systems engineer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new quality systems engineer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a quality systems engineer do?

In manufacturing facilities, a quality systems engineer is in charge of conducting regular quality inspections to ensure that products and procedures adhere to company standards and government regulations. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing data, performing extensive research, developing and implementing quality assurance tests, reviewing documentation and specifications, identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, and creating solutions against problem areas. Moreover, a quality systems engineer typically leads teams to reach goals while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a quality systems engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your quality systems engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a quality systems engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A quality systems engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, quality systems engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of quality systems engineers.

    Type of Quality Systems EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Quality Systems EngineerIndustrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.$32-54
    Quality LeadA quality assurance (QA) lead is responsible for organizing and managing the testing of products prior to its release. Your duties will include defining testing standards and strategies, establishing formal QA processes, and overseeing all aspects of QA, such as using best practices and establishing metrics... Show more$30-61
    EngineerEngineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more$31-62
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Continuous Improvement
    • Medical Devices
    • CAPA
    • Corrective Action
    • FDA
    • Quality Management System
    • Sigma
    • Product Quality
    • Quality Issues
    • QA
    • Supplier Quality
    • Process Improvement
    • Risk Management
    • FMEA
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage CAPA systems integration of recent acquisitions.
    • Lead and drive product/process design responsibilities in a highly-regulate medical environment, including statistical validation per FDA requirements.
    • Participate in FDA and annual ISO investigations, and follow-up activities including implementation and evaluation of effectiveness.
    • Develop quality control plans and FMEA for all processes.
    • Prepare facilities for AS9100 registration audits through QMS pre-audits.
    • Update FMEA files according to failure mode occurrence and severity.
    More quality systems engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the quality systems engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A quality systems engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a quality systems engineer in South Carolina may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level quality systems engineer. Additionally, a quality systems engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average quality systems engineer salary

    $88,543yearly

    $42.57 hourly rate

    Entry-level quality systems engineer salary
    $68,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 20, 2026

    Average quality systems engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$120,497$58
    2Washington$100,148$48
    3Massachusetts$98,893$48
    4Maryland$97,987$47
    5New York$95,633$46
    6New Jersey$90,150$43
    7Texas$88,941$43
    8Oklahoma$87,351$42
    9Connecticut$87,295$42
    10Michigan$84,772$41
    11Minnesota$84,282$41
    12Utah$83,841$40
    13Colorado$83,201$40
    14New Hampshire$79,954$38
    15Missouri$79,908$38
    16Illinois$79,110$38
    17Virginia$78,163$38
    18North Carolina$77,444$37
    19Tennessee$76,407$37
    20Wisconsin$75,104$36

    Average quality systems engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Apple$123,624$59.43401
    2Cloudflare$118,384$56.9230
    3Zoox$115,774$55.6664
    4Cisco$109,332$52.56107
    5Applied Materials$104,608$50.2958
    6Intuitive Surgical$103,980$49.9920
    7Nokia$103,021$49.5326
    8Entegris$102,675$49.3611
    9Varian Medical Systems$102,409$49.24
    10Renesas Electronics$101,806$48.954
    11SolidFire$98,772$47.49
    12MathWorks$98,676$47.44
    13Enphase Energy$98,472$47.3410
    14FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies$98,119$47.1725
    15Corning Incorporated$97,528$46.8958
    16General Motors$96,945$46.61286
    17Skyworks Solutions$96,203$46.253
    18Cordis$95,358$45.857
    19PPG$95,302$45.8215
    20Fresenius USA Inc$94,967$45.66
  4. Writing a quality systems engineer job description

    A quality systems engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a quality systems engineer job description:

    Quality systems engineer job description example

    Rocket Lab is a vertically integrated provider of small launch services, satellites, and spacecraft components. Our mission is to open access to space to improve life on Earth. Our team is over 1,300 people strong and we're adding to it every week. Collaboration is at our core โ€“ every idea is heard, and everyone makes a difference. Teams are nimble, decisions are made quickly, and we are action oriented.

    We are currently seeking a Quality Engineer II, Space Systems to join our highly dynamic team based out of Long Beach, CA. You will be responsible for managing and resolving quality issues and meeting strict delivery targets during development, production line commissioning, and continuous production. The Quality Engineer II will work collaboratively with internal stakeholders resolving and determining solutions to address root cause issues.

    New Manufacturing Line โ€“ Space Systems

    Candidate will provide guidance and support on quality requirements to Rocket Lab Space Systems division through design, prototype, and development of a product line production plan for Photon satellite systems, subsystems, and components.

    What you'll get to do:

    • Develop and implement new Quality Control Processes and Standards.
    • Lead, facilitate, and participate in root cause investigations.
    • Ensure adherence to QMS policy and procedures within their work center.
    • Efficiently communicate status of evaluation and disposition to leadership.
    • Lead and coordinate management of non-conforming hardware, including ticket dispositions, analysis, and improvement projects.
    • Lead cost saving initiatives, especially related to product yield.
    • Contribute to design reviews to reduce quality defects and time lost due to non-conformances.

    You'll bring these qualifications:

    • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical or Material Sciences Engineering.
    • 4+ years of experience in a quality, manufacturing, or design engineering.
    • GD&T knowledge
    • Extensive knowledge or certification on IPC J โ€“ STD, IPC A-610
    • Spacecraft experience
    • Knowledge of quality tools such as; Lean principles, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Metrology, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Control Plans, AS9100
    • Experience with managing projects and milestones

    These qualifications would be nice to have:

    • Experience successfully designing, developing, and introducing new product(s) to production.
    • High level of hands-on quality and testing experience
    • Proven track record of year-on-year product and process improvement activities
    • Conducted both process and design failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA)
    • Track record of leveraging new technologies to develop real shop floor solutions
    • Experience supporting production of complex electro-mechanical, mechanical, or composites systems in high volume work centers and/or during production ramp-up

    Important information:

    FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

    To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen as defined by ITAR (22 CFR ยง120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S Department of State.

    Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right quality systems engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with quality systems engineers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit quality systems engineers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your quality systems engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit quality systems engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with quality systems engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new quality systems engineer

    Once you've selected the best quality systems engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new quality systems engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a quality systems engineer?

Before you start to hire quality systems engineers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire quality systems engineers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for quality systems engineers is $88,543 in the US. However, the cost of quality systems engineer hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a quality systems engineer for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $32 and $54 an hour.

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