How to hire a senior test systems engineer

How to hire a senior test systems engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior test 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 senior test systems engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior test systems engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior test systems engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect senior test systems engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of senior test systems engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Senior Test Systems Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Test Systems Engineer		$40-65
   Engineer	Engineers 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
   Lead Engineer	A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly... Show more	$28-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Test Procedures
   • Java
   • Test Equipment
   • RF
   • DOD
   • C++
   • Test Data
   • Jenkins
   • Test Cases
   • Jira
   • Test Scripts
   • System Integration
   • Test Execution

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Construct and manage a complete VMware environment for testing multiple Openstack instances of different configurations.
   • Set up MySQL server and write Java code to enter test results and to access results for creating reports.
   • Test mesh network RF devices for embed Linux smart power meter devices and enter results into SQL test plan.
   • Develop the HMI object in Java.
   • Used VxWorks (Linux base) as operating system and Level7 software.7.
   • Adapt compiler make files for test solution migration from obsolete HPUX controllers to Linux.

   More senior test systems engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior test systems engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior test systems engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior test systems engineers' average salary in west virginia is 32% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior test systems engineers 38% less than senior-level senior test systems engineers.
   • Certifications. A senior test systems engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior test systems engineer's salary.

   Average senior test systems engineer salary

   $108,165yearly

   $52.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior test systems engineer salary

   $85,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average senior test systems engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$130,046	$63
   2	Washington	$122,418	$59
   3	New Jersey	$108,725	$52
   4	Arizona	$106,765	$51
   5	New Hampshire	$105,225	$51
   6	Minnesota	$104,390	$50
   7	Utah	$103,237	$50
   8	Massachusetts	$101,299	$49
   9	Illinois	$100,521	$48
   10	Texas	$100,340	$48
   11	Nebraska	$96,108	$46
   12	North Carolina	$95,868	$46
   13	Colorado	$95,792	$46
   14	Kansas	$93,232	$45
   15	Florida	$87,258	$42
   16	Alabama	$84,598	$41

   Average senior test systems engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	NVIDIA	$135,806	$65.29	320
   2	Netgear	$135,644	$65.21
   3	Rivian	$132,489	$63.70	42
   4	Zoox	$130,870	$62.92	122
   5	Intuitive Surgical	$130,801	$62.89	18
   6	Silver Peak	$130,128	$62.56
   7	Amazon	$130,074	$62.54	524
   8	Tellabs	$128,677	$61.86
   9	Cruise Automation	$121,666	$58.49
   10	Parsons	$120,542	$57.95	73
   11	VMware	$118,449	$56.95	1
   12	Tesla	$115,483	$55.52	191
   13	Serve Incorporated	$114,677	$55.13
   14	Amd	$112,445	$54.06	44
   15	AEye	$111,243	$53.48	1
   16	Katalyst Surgical	$111,137	$53.43
   17	Electric	$111,137	$53.43	12
   18	PDS Tech	$111,120	$53.42	5
   19	Anduril	$111,024	$53.38	163
   20	Outrider	$110,995	$53.36

4. Writing a senior test systems engineer job description

   A senior test 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 senior test systems engineer job description:

   Senior test systems engineer job description example

   Woodward supports our members' wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position.
   
   Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
   All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity 9.5% annual retirement benefit opportunity Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members 11 paid holidays, including floating holidays Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave Adoption Assistance Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life Member referral bonus Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Voluntary benefits, including: Home / Auto Insurance discounts Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave Are you ready to make your mark? If you're a Senior Test Engineer, we have an exciting opportunity for you. This position is based out of Loves Park, IL at our Loves Park/Systems Test Facility Campuses.
   
   What's In It For You
   
   At Woodward, our "employees" are called and treated as "members" and we've created a culture that appreciates and values the contributions of every member. It's an inclusive, positive, collaborative, and socially responsible environment where members work together for outstanding outcomes.
   
   What you will be doing Creating testing processes, procedures and requirements Leading projects for continuous improvement in testing procedures and requirements Performing environmental, vibe, pressure and space applications testing (DO-160) Designing, supporting, improving and testing moderate to high complex test systems and equipment
   
   Qualifications
   What We Are Looking For Bachelor's degree in a Technical/Science field is required 4 or more years of experience in a professional engineering role required This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of ITAR and EAR, or possess all required authorizations from the U. S. Department of State Department and the U.S. Department of Commerce. ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), Political Asylee, or Refugee.
   
   Woodward is an Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   EO/AA/M/F/Disabled/Protected Veterans

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior test 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 senior test systems engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior test 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 senior test systems engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality senior test systems engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior test systems engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a senior test systems engineer applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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 senior test systems engineer

   Once you've selected the best senior test 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new senior test systems engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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