What does a test design engineer do?
A Test Design Engineer's job is to critically check all materials, processes, electrical, and mechanical systems to ensure that customers get high-quality products. As a Test Design Engineer, your job is to run tests to check the quality of products throughout the production cycle. This is done by checking the various components and features of these products to identify and fix technical issues easily. Your duties will also include checking the raw materials used for production, creating test environments and analyzing the results, and trying to ascertain the root cause of the malfunctions.
Test design engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real test design engineer resumes:
- Manage the development of the next generation products base on existing refrigerants and CO2 system including prototyping and initial manufacturing run.
- Assist other hardware engineers in the initial design and debugging phase of new products this include RF and digital designs.
- Design PCB layouts for communication backplanes.
- Update database and write queries via SQL.
- Perform debugging hardware and software as needed.
- Design, construct, and execute scalability tests for UNIX and web-base applications.
- Utilize a query tool which collects data needs and subsequently converts the selections into SQL.
- Plan and execute DFT methodologies, flows, and procedures, from design phase through ATPG testing.
- Revise QA test plans base on external reviews, negotiate a mutually agreeable final draft with UK partners.
- Review all test cases/procedures and scenarios written by the QA team to validate functional requirements are being meet.
- Perform functional tests on RF modules to verify and validate test stand hardware and software for buy off to production.
- Debug test suite on chips that are missing key DFT pieces and cohesive test plan to enable subsequent on-time product release.
- Assist development with characterization and debugging tools.
- Design custom analog and digital circuits require to interface test system components.
- Develop unix base statistical software that analyze tester data for manufacturing defect analysis.
Test design engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Test Design Engineers are proficient in Test Equipment, RF, and Python. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Listening skills, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Test Design Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Test Equipment, 7%
Developed test equipment and software for automated board testing in a high throughput production environment producing computer systems.
- RF, 7%
Assisted other hardware engineers in the initial design and debugging phase of new products this included RF and digital designs.
- Python, 7%
Assisted Silver Butte product group by converting Python security algorithm code to embedded C code for integration into operating binary.
- Test Design, 5%
Implemented and verified test design by using appropriate verification tools.
- Analog, 5%
Provided system support/circuit design regarding change over from analog based, instrumentation control system to National Instruments LABVIEW environment.
- Design Verification, 3%
Defined and conducted Design Verification and Failure Analysis testing accordance with company design specifications, industry standards and certification body standards.
"test equipment," "rf," and "python" are among the most common skills that test design engineers use at work. You can find even more test design engineer responsibilities below, including:
Creativity. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a test design engineer to have is creativity. Their role and responsibilities require that "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Test design engineers often use creativity in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "implemented autocad mechanical 2008 and autocad inventor 10 to assist in designing products. "
Listening skills. Many test design engineer duties rely on listening skills. "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists," so a test design engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways test design engineer responsibilities rely on listening skills: "communicated directly with customers providing technical support for existing designs and technical issues regarding new test strategies and design concepts. "
Mechanical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of test design engineers is mechanical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday test design engineer duties, as "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "designed hydraulic/mechanical test fixtures and hydraulic circuits for endurance and durability testing of gear boxes and other components. "
Problem-solving skills. A big part of what test design engineers do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to test design engineer responsibilities because "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical test design engineer tasks: "resolved all hardware problems and issues to certify the test equipment system. "
Math skills. Another common skill required for test design engineer responsibilities is "math skills." This skill comes up in the duties of test design engineers all the time, as "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." An excerpt from a real test design engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a test design engineer does: "used moldflow and fea software analysis to optimize design geometry. "
The three companies that hire the most test design engineers are:
- Regal Beloit6 test design engineers jobs
- Apple5 test design engineers jobs
- John Deere5 test design engineers jobs
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Compare different test design engineers
Test design engineer vs. 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. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, test design engineer responsibilities require skills like "test design," "analog," "design verification," and "data acquisition." Meanwhile a typical engineer has skills in areas such as "cloud," "aws," "troubleshoot," and "javascript." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $97,672. On the other hand, test design engineers are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $97,180.On average, engineers reach similar levels of education than test design engineers. Engineers are 0.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Test design engineer vs. Principal engineer
A principal engineer is responsible for monitoring the overall design phase of the construction process, including coordinating with the client for progress and updates, as well as performing adjustments as needed based on clients' specifications and requirements. Principal engineers also inspect the materials and resources used to ensure that the project stays within the budget goals and set timeframe. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in preparing reports and training new staff.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real test design engineer resumes. While test design engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "test design," "analog," "design verification," and "data acquisition," principal engineers use skills like "architecture," "software development," "azure," and "project management."
Principal engineers may earn a higher salary than test design engineers, but principal engineers earn the most pay in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $125,415. On the other hand, test design engineers receive higher pay in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $97,180.principal engineers earn higher levels of education than test design engineers in general. They're 9.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Test design engineer vs. Staff engineer
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from test design engineer resumes include skills like "c #," "test design," "analog," and "design verification," whereas a staff engineer is more likely to list skills in "architecture," "software development," "project management," and "ongoing development. "
Staff engineers make a very good living in the telecommunication industry with an average annual salary of $119,079. On the other hand, test design engineers are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $97,180.When it comes to education, staff engineers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to test design engineers. In fact, they're 3.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Test design engineer vs. Development engineer
A Development Engineer is responsible for the development and validation of products, systems, and components. They are also responsible for quality control of work and continuous improvement of engineer activities.
Types of test design engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
