How to hire a test & development engineer

How to hire a test & development engineer, step by step

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

What does a test & development engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your test & development engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a test & development engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A test & development engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, test & development 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of test & development engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Test & Development Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Test & Development Engineer		$29-50
   Quality Assurance	The primary role of quality assurance specialists is to inspect the quality system's implementation and perform quality assurance audits. They are responsible for monitoring and recording results from procedures and processes within manufacturing industries... Show more	$13-44
   Quality Analyst	Pumpers are individuals who take responsibility for setting the pumping system controls for product maximization. Their job requires them to set density, concentration, rate, and pressure... Show more	$26-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Test Equipment
   • Test Development
   • RF
   • Java
   • Test Automation
   • Test Data
   • LabVIEW
   • Test Solutions
   • Data Analysis
   • Selenium
   • C
   • C++
   • Jenkins

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead successful completion of sterility assurance tests for particulate (ISO 8536-4, USP788), and microbial ingress.
   • Develop TestStand and LabVIEW code to completely automate calibration and functional test station.
   • Lead LabVIEW program development for high temperature camber measurement and steam generation analysis tools.
   • Utilize SolidWorks software to design and analyze 3-D models of test fixtures.
   • Develop SQL queries and perform Backend testing.
   • Develop python scripts to generate text wafermap from stdf.

   More test & development engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the test & development engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A test & development engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a test & development engineer in Florida may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level test & development engineer. Additionally, a test & development engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average test & development engineer salary

   $80,977yearly

   $38.93 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level test & development engineer salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average test & development engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$123,802	$60
   2	Washington	$102,841	$49
   3	Oregon	$90,017	$43
   4	Idaho	$84,437	$41
   5	Arizona	$81,981	$39
   6	Texas	$78,998	$38
   7	Massachusetts	$77,509	$37
   8	Maryland	$75,460	$36
   9	Colorado	$75,049	$36
   10	Illinois	$73,420	$35
   11	Minnesota	$73,210	$35
   12	Michigan	$71,580	$34
   13	Pennsylvania	$71,329	$34
   14	Georgia	$71,067	$34
   15	North Carolina	$71,019	$34
   16	Florida	$68,240	$33

   Average test & development engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$168,735	$81.12	23
   2	TikTok	$154,370	$74.22	4
   3	Google	$153,929	$74.00	38
   4	Apple	$146,687	$70.52	175
   5	Microsoft	$139,591	$67.11	24
   6	Citi	$136,578	$65.66	11
   7	Palo Alto Networks	$132,344	$63.63	21
   8	Amazon	$130,882	$62.92	400
   9	Nutanix	$125,807	$60.48	2
   10	GoDaddy	$125,717	$60.44
   11	Cisco	$123,046	$59.16	89
   12	Cirrus Logic	$115,297	$55.43	10
   13	Broadcom	$109,666	$52.72	74
   14	Charles Schwab	$108,635	$52.23	16
   15	Finisar	$106,520	$51.21
   16	2k	$106,290	$51.10
   17	ServiceNow	$104,606	$50.29	6
   18	Infineon Technologies	$103,354	$49.69	4
   19	SAS Institute	$103,052	$49.54	15
   20	Western Digital	$102,674	$49.36	5

4. Writing a test & development engineer job description

   A test & development 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 test & development engineer job description:

   Test & development engineer job description example

   Responsibilities:
   Develop and deploy the test systems at manufacturing site in Blonie, Poland
   Work with PXI system built on TestStand, LabView, and LabWindows CVI, BorgWarner standards Use TestStand and Switch Executive to build an automated functional test Create test mechanization Write SOW (Statement of Work) to purchase fixtures, load box, and testers Collaborate with systems and electrical design engineers to define test requirements, product test software, and test loads Debug test software and hardware systems Implement specified test limits, Six Sigma approach preferable Conduct peer reviews of test plan Install test setup in manufacturing plant on time Complete test requirements documentation Work with team to review and add tests for functional safety Understand and take ownership in MSA and capability studies,Assist Manufacturing Engineering Group in troubleshooting test equipment Hardware/SoftwareDrive product design definition and changes to assure testability with high quality levels Support troubleshoot test equipment issues to improve Operational Effectiveness and FTQSupport continuous improvement activities for cost reduction and quality improvement Work closely with suppliers and product teams on tooling design and modifications Evaluate test processes and measurements using statistical data and other methodologies
   
   Work with Test Development Team worldwide
   Work under the Global Manufacturing Engineering StructureDevelop test standards and participate in validation phases Support High-performance global manufacturing test development teams in other BW locations Report to the Global Test ManagerWilling to travel for an extended period of time when required
   
   TECHNICAL SKILLS:
   BS or MS degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or equivalent Understand National Instruments LabView, NI LabWindows CVI, NI TestStand I/II, PXI Test Systems, Keysight 3070;'sUnderstand components specifications, datasheets, schematics, design requirements Understand analog and digital electronic circuits (power switching, closed loop voltage/current feedback, MOSFET drivers, PWM circuits) Understand communication protocols: CAN, LIN, SPI, UART, RS232, Flex RayPerform theoretical calculations and analytical analysis Knowledge of microcontroller architecture and memory organization (generic, NXP and Infineon MCUs are recommended) Programming in C/C++, C#, batch/PowerShell scripts Knowledge of high voltage / high power electronics Proficiency in operating laboratory equipment: multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, electrical loads, etc.Experience debugging functional test equipment required Experience using statistics tool to set test limits Minimum 3 years' experience Familiar with the use of TestStand to create functional test plan Experience with Switch Executive is a plus Good problem-solving skills Open to travel Excellent Multi-Tasking SkillsRead, Write, and Speak English Fluently
   
   We offer:
   Participation in trainings in Kokomo Technical Center - USA Competitive salary adequate to skills and experience Private Medicover medical care for the employee and his family Co-financing for the sport card MultisportCo-financing for holidays, Christmas gifts for employees' children Possibility to finance further education (Master's, postgraduate) Possibility to join to the PZU insurance
   #LI-JR1
   #LI-Onsite
   
   Internal Use Only: Salary
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   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find test & development engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any test & development engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level test & development engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your test & development engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality test & development engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with test & development engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview test & development engineer candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • 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 test & development engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect test & development engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new test & development engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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How much does it cost to hire a test & development engineer?