How to hire a system test engineer

How to hire a system test engineer, step by step

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

What does a system test engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The system test 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

   A system test engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, system test 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 presents system test engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of System Test Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   System Test Engineer		$36-63
   Functional Tester	A functional tester's main responsibility is to validate the behavior of an application and analyzed the requirements of the clients. They are skilled in Java and database design for software development... Show more	$29-45
   Quality Assurance Tester	A quality assurance tester, also known as QA tester, has different responsibilities depending on the line of work or industry involved. In a computer development setting, they are in charge of working and coordinating with technical engineers... Show more	$26-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Test Procedures
   • C++
   • RF
   • Test Equipment
   • Test Cases
   • Java
   • Test Results
   • Test Data
   • Data Analysis
   • Linux
   • Test Reports
   • Test Execution
   • System Integration

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Used various workflow tools to manage AMD, OEM, ODM project dependencies and execution dashboard timelines.
   • Construct and manage a complete VMware environment for testing multiple Openstack instances of different configurations.
   • Assist in the installation and configuration of external feeds (on both Linux and Unix) from various exchanges.
   • Test on web base applications using Java, python, PHP and HTML server-side languages and run automation on it.
   • Develop Java beans for configuration management.
   • Test UI in its entirety.

   More system test engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, system test engineers' average salary in kansas is 39% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level system test engineers 42% less than senior-level system test engineers.
   • Certifications. A system test 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 system test engineer's salary.

   Average system test engineer salary

   $100,751yearly

   $48.44 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level system test engineer salary

   $76,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average system test engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$121,809	$59
   2	New Hampshire	$108,462	$52
   3	Utah	$98,286	$47
   4	New Jersey	$96,389	$46
   5	Washington	$95,936	$46
   6	Massachusetts	$92,723	$45
   7	Texas	$86,581	$42
   8	Pennsylvania	$85,004	$41
   9	Colorado	$84,433	$41
   10	Nebraska	$82,462	$40
   11	Michigan	$81,160	$39
   12	Georgia	$79,910	$38
   13	Florida	$79,155	$38
   14	Indiana	$74,716	$36
   15	Illinois	$73,833	$36
   16	Alabama	$72,798	$35

   Average system test engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$156,886	$75.43	2,559
   2	Google	$144,240	$69.35	307
   3	Apple	$144,105	$69.28	496
   4	Waymo	$142,708	$68.61	30
   5	NVIDIA	$139,419	$67.03	58
   6	Zoox	$133,977	$64.41	65
   7	Argo AI	$132,539	$63.72
   8	Rivian	$129,612	$62.31	14
   9	Cruise Automation	$129,283	$62.16
   10	Amazon	$128,736	$61.89	594
   11	Intuitive Surgical	$128,727	$61.89	11
   12	Dolby Laboratories	$127,711	$61.40
   13	Arista Networks	$124,784	$59.99	22
   14	Silver Peak	$124,694	$59.95
   15	Karma Automotive	$123,473	$59.36
   16	VMware	$122,517	$58.90
   17	SpiderCloud Wireless	$121,218	$58.28
   18	Kohl's	$117,587	$56.53
   19	Splunk	$116,097	$55.82
   20	Joby Aviation	$115,781	$55.66	47

4. Writing a system test engineer job description

   A good system test engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a system test engineer job description:

   System test engineer job description example

   Leidos is actively hiring for a TMPS System Test Engineer to join our team at the Washington Navy Yard.
   
   JOB SUMMARYThe System Test Engineer will work in support of a Product Assurance contract with the US Navy Cruise Missile Project. The work will be performed on a component of the Theater Mission Planning Center (TMPC) segment of the Tomahawk Weapon System (TWS) located at the Washington Navy Yard. This position is for a Tomahawk Planning System (TPS) System Test Engineer to eventually transition into a test engineer at the TMPC-level.
   Primary Responsibilities
   Will be the lead on doing requirements analysis; software design analysis, reviewing all specifications and updating or correcting as needed, user documentation inspection; develop test planning and the test execution (functional, integration, regression and more), evaluating the test results and submitting the reporting after completing the analysis, operational test scenario development, milestone review participation, and developing and executing site acceptance testing at multiple end-user locations as necessary.Domestic and some international travel may be required - possibly as high as 25% per year. Activities also include reviews and evaluation of products and processes and participation in various Engineering review boards.Works independently to achieve day-to-day objectives.Develops solutions to technical problems that may require collaboration with internal experts. Regularly communicates with internal project team members, management, and external organizations and customers as necessary.Ensures project schedules and performance requirements are met.Works with customer and the team to developer specific objectives and creates process to integrate those objectives.
   
   Basic Qualifications
   Operational experience with Tomahawk Planning System (TPS) mission planning is highly desired.Working knowledge of software engineering, software programming, databases including SQL, system interface testing, and test automation is a plus.Bachelor's degree in related field at minimum 4 years of related experience. Additional years of experience can be considered in lieu of degree.Active Top Secret clearance
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   Proficiency in computer applications languages technologies and/or capabilities required for this position.Good technical writing and communication skills.Experience with verification and validation test activities including development of test cases and procedures, execution of test procedures, documentation of test issues, and test reporting.
   
   Pay Range:
   Pay Range $65,000.00 - $100,000.00 - $135,000.00
   
   The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right system test engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find system test engineer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit system test engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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.

   If your interviews with system test engineer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you 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 system test engineer

   Once you've found the system test engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new system test 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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