How To Become A Senior Manufacturing Test Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a senior manufacturing test engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Jianyu Liang

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a senior manufacturing test engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $55.2 an hour? That's $114,810 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 30,600 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a senior manufacturing test engineer?

Jianyu Liang

Director of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, WPI, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

At the start of your career, actively engaging in the manufacturing professional communities to develop an in-depth understanding of the current high-demand areas and the trends in the industry will help you position yourself in high-demand areas. This proactive approach allows you to make informed decisions on obtaining relevant certifications or advanced education, tailoring your skill set to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Proactively engaging in projects and practices to grow your experience. Building a strong professional network and finding mentors in the industry can provide guidance, expose you to new opportunities, and offer insights on navigating your career path effectively. Embracing continuous learning and staying abreast of technological advancements in manufacturing, such as automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing technologies, will ensure you remain a valuable asset to employers. Demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to adapt to new methods and technologies can set you apart in a competitive job market.

ScoreSenior Manufacturing Test EngineerUS Average

Salary

8.0

Avg. Salary $114,810

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 15.23%

Black or African American 4.26%

Hispanic or Latino 10.44%

Unknown 3.88%

White 66.02%

Gender

female 7.58%

male 92.42%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a senior manufacturing test engineer

Explore senior manufacturing test engineer education requirements

Most common senior manufacturing test engineer degrees

Bachelor's

69.2 %

Associate

17.7 %

Master's

13.1 %

Start to develop specific senior manufacturing test engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Test Equipment	8.14%
C++	6.17%
LabVIEW	6.08%
Test Fixtures	5.63%
Test Solutions	4.36%

Complete relevant senior manufacturing test engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior manufacturing test engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior manufacturing test engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior manufacturing test engineer resumes.

Research senior manufacturing test engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage implementation of improve paste compounding (including extrusion) process.
Task involves hands-on debug, complex PCB troubleshoot, bench testing, test program development, product characterization and problem solving.
Create a robust system with minimal RF interference which improve the yield by reducing false failures.
Analyze environmental RF interference to improve test results.

Get senior manufacturing test engineer experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior manufacturing test engineer. The most common roles before becoming a senior manufacturing test engineer include senior test engineer, test engineer team lead and manufacturing engineer.

Prepare your senior manufacturing test engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior manufacturing test engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior manufacturing test engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable senior manufacturing test engineer resume templates

Build a professional senior manufacturing test engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior manufacturing test engineer resume.

Apply for senior manufacturing test engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a senior manufacturing test engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average senior manufacturing test engineer salary

The average senior manufacturing test engineer salary in the United States is $114,810 per year or $55 per hour. Senior manufacturing test engineer salaries range between $92,000 and $142,000 per year.

Average senior manufacturing test engineer salary

$114,810 Yearly

$55.20 hourly

How do senior manufacturing test engineers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Senior manufacturing test engineer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Improve 5's & increase productivity, manpower reduction...n+/- concept..

Cons

Can be managed accordingly situation.

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Pros

The diversity of tasks, interaction with all stakeholders, continuous learning process, communication. Allows great progression in many technical skills

What is a senior manufacturing test engineer and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a senior manufacturing test engineer?

Senior manufacturing test engineer career paths

Key steps to become a senior manufacturing test engineer

Explore senior manufacturing test engineer education requirements

Most common senior manufacturing test engineer degrees

Start to develop specific senior manufacturing test engineer skills

Complete relevant senior manufacturing test engineer training and internships

Research senior manufacturing test engineer duties and responsibilities

Get senior manufacturing test engineer experience

Prepare your senior manufacturing test engineer resume

Choose from 10+ customizable senior manufacturing test engineer resume templates

Apply for senior manufacturing test engineer jobs

How did you land your first senior manufacturing test engineer job

Average senior manufacturing test engineer salary

How do senior manufacturing test engineers rate their job?

Senior manufacturing test engineer reviews