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What is a senior quality engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Jianyu Liang
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A senior quality engineer ensures that products meet quality standards. They oversee the production process, identify defects, and implement corrective measures. They develop quality control procedures, review specifications, and conduct tests to ensure compliance. Senior quality engineers also manage teams, train staff, and collaborate with others to implement quality improvements. They use statistical analysis to identify trends and suggest process improvements. A senior quality engineer must have communication skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities.

What general advice would you give to a senior quality 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 Quality EngineerUS Average
Salary
7.6

Avg. Salary $101,339

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 12.87%

Black or African American 4.62%

Hispanic or Latino 11.35%

Unknown 3.93%

White 67.05%

Gender

female 19.47%

male 80.53%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a senior quality engineer?

Pros

  • High level of responsibility and autonomy

  • Competitive salary and benefits

  • Opportunity to implement innovative solutions

  • High demand for experienced quality engineers in the job market

  • Satisfaction from ensuring customer satisfaction and safety

Cons

  • High level of stress and pressure to maintain quality standards

  • Long hours and tight deadlines during critical project phases

  • Dealing with non-compliance issues can be frustrating and time-consuming

  • Need to balance technical skills with communication, influencing, and problem-solving abilities

  • Can be mentally exhausting to maintain focus on quality for extended periods

Senior quality engineer career paths

Key steps to become a senior quality engineer

  1. Explore senior quality engineer education requirements

    Most common senior quality engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.5 %

    Master's

    15.0 %

    Associate

    12.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior quality engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Continuous Improvement5.82%
    ISO5.42%
    Corrective Action4.93%
    Product Quality4.65%
    Sigma4.13%
  3. Complete relevant senior quality engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior quality 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 quality engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior quality engineer resumes.
  4. Research senior quality engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Propose design changes on other commodities to achieve gap & flush requirements.
    • Provide corporate-wide training and manage contract facilities QMS.
    • Develop an equipment specification and manage the project introducing an automate vision inspection system into manufacturing as part of a CAPA.
    • Participate in new product development activities including component design reviews, FMEA and control plan development.
  5. Get senior quality engineer experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior quality engineer. The most common roles before becoming a senior quality engineer include quality engineer, quality manager team lead and quality assurance manager.
  6. Prepare your senior quality engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior quality 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 quality 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 quality engineer resume templates

    Build a professional senior quality 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 quality engineer resume.
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    Senior Quality Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for senior quality engineer jobs

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

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

How did you land your first senior quality engineer job

Zippi

Are you a senior quality engineer?

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Average senior quality engineer salary

The average senior quality engineer salary in the United States is $101,339 per year or $49 per hour. Senior quality engineer salaries range between $78,000 and $130,000 per year.

Average senior quality engineer salary
$101,339 Yearly
$48.72 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do senior quality engineers rate their job?

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Senior quality engineer reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2021
Pros

Defined Quality test procedure validated test components and planned integration tests for leading parts manufacture for industry. • Prepares and maintained important company quality control documentations such as quality manuals quality procedure, quality standards and quality assurance • Prepared the final inspection report before the dispatched for the machining process • Resolved machining department complaints, took preventive measure to prevent future complaints and clearly, documented all feedback, Mechanical Engineer for Third Party Inspection jobs in Baroda • Typically deals with several problems of the same time

Cons

Yes


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

I dont like people whi dont share of knowledge.


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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

Cons

Stakeholders missing deadlines


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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