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What does a test & development engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

A test and development engineer is primarily in charge of developing and conducting quality assurance procedures, ensuring that manufactured products adhere to the company's quality standards and regulations. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify a company's quality control and assurance needs, examining raw materials and other components, gathering and analyzing data from test procedures, and recommending the best practices and solutions in problem areas. Furthermore, as a test and development engineer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating every step of the way.

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Test & development engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real test & development engineer resumes:

  • 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.
  • Create custom Linux distributions and pre-load environments for large scale clients.
  • Used SoapUI to test the request and response of the application.
  • Release multiple test revisions with new test coverage for different IP blocks.
  • Generate part files, assemblies, sub-assemblies, and 2D drawings using SolidWorks.
  • Used Perl language to edit files and write scripts to make ICT development easier.
  • Provide technical support to cross functional team including testing and evaluating customer returns and QA rejects.
  • Integrate RF solution into mix signal test system to provide a test solution with maximum flexibility utility.
  • Design and develop build tools and processes for all products deliver on HP-UX, Linux, and NT.
  • Define, develop, and execute automation test scripts using Java that leverage black and white box testing across functional.

Test & development engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Test & Development Engineers are proficient in Python, Test Equipment, and Test Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Initiative, Speaking skills, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of Test & Development Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Python, 10%

    Automated the process of error logging, collection of logs and tagging of issues using Python scripts to a MySQL database.

  • Test Equipment, 6%

    Facilitated test equipment meetings implementing continuous improvement programs to restructure test department by organizing equipment maintenance and documentation procedures.

  • Test Development, 6%

    Supervised development of the Sub-Contracted test development.

  • RF, 6%

    Performed RF field data collection in support of access terminal characterization.

  • Java, 4%

    Developed java validations to ensure required UI components and end to end flows.

  • Test Automation, 4%

    Developed compliance test automation in modular Ruby code.

"python," "test equipment," and "test development" are among the most common skills that test & development engineers use at work. You can find even more test & development engineer responsibilities below, including:

Initiative. One of the key soft skills for a test & development engineer to have is initiative. You can see how this relates to what test & development engineers do because "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." Additionally, a test & development engineer resume shows how test & development engineers use initiative: "demonstrated ownership and initiative of test programs at wafer and package level. "

Speaking skills. Another essential skill to perform test & development engineer duties is speaking skills. Test & development engineers responsibilities require that "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." Test & development engineers also use speaking skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "presented test results in a clear and concise manner to each customer to enhance their understanding. '"

Writing skills. test & development engineers are also known for writing skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to test & development engineer responsibilities, because "electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents." A test & development engineer resume example shows how writing skills is used in the workplace: "design of production test bench and writing an autotest program for cable tv products. "

Math skills. test & development engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." This resume example shows what test & development engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "evaluate game math model for correctness and jurisdictional requirements. "

All test & development engineer skills

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Compare different test & development engineers

Test & development engineer vs. 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. They are also responsible for some other tasks, including keeping up-to-date manufacturing and auditing documentation, training less experienced QA team members, and creating standard operating procedures. To be a quality assurance specialist, you must have a high school diploma, organizational skills, and strong attention to detail.

If we compare the average test & development engineer annual salary with that of a quality assurance, we find that quality assurances typically earn a $29,664 lower salary than test & development engineers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between test & development engineers and quality assurances are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like c #, rf, and java.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a test & development engineer are more likely to require skills like "python," "test equipment," "test development," and "test automation." On the other hand, a job as a quality assurance requires skills like "food handling," "data entry," "quality standards," and "gmp." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Quality assurances tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $68,731. In contrast, test & development engineers make the biggest average salary, $90,094, in the manufacturing industry.On average, quality assurances reach lower levels of education than test & development engineers. Quality assurances are 7.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Test & development engineer vs. 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. They do the operation and maintenance of the auxiliary equipment pumping oil. It is their duty to set the wells so they will function based on the production schedules and switch the oil flow between tanks. They even install the pumping systems.

Quality analyst positions earn lower pay than test & development engineer roles. They earn a $9,020 lower salary than test & development engineers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both test & development engineers and quality analysts have skills such as "java," "test data," and "data analysis. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, test & development engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "python," "c #," "test equipment," and "test development." Meanwhile, a quality analyst has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "patients," "corrective action," and "process improvement." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Quality analysts may earn a lower salary than test & development engineers, but quality analysts earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $77,710. On the other hand, test & development engineers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $90,094.In general, quality analysts achieve similar levels of education than test & development engineers. They're 3.0% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Test & development engineer vs. Senior quality assurance analyst

Senior quality assurance analysts are responsible for developing and implementing quality assurance standards within an organization. They collect and analyze data to reinforce proposed projects, systems requirements, and business cases. These will include writing scripts and test plans to monitor errors and fixes in product and software development, operational systems, and information systems. Besides, they are also responsible for several tasks, including preparing reports and recommendations, communicating with suppliers and vendors in assessing applications, and conducting internal audits.

An average senior quality assurance analyst eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of test & development engineers. The difference in salaries amounts to senior quality assurance analysts earning a $12,586 higher average salary than test & development engineers.By looking over several test & development engineers and senior quality assurance analysts resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "c #," "java," and "test data." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a test & development engineer is likely to be skilled in "python," "test equipment," "test development," and "rf," while a typical senior quality assurance analyst is skilled in "manual test cases," "selenium web," "status reports," and "pl/sql."

Senior quality assurance analysts earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $99,710. Test & development engineers earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $90,094.When it comes to education, senior quality assurance analysts tend to earn higher degree levels compared to test & development engineers. In fact, they're 5.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Test & development engineer vs. Quality assurance specialist

A quality assurance specialist is an individual who is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and proposing measures to correct and improve a company's product. Quality assurance specialists need to outline quality assurance policies and procedures, making sure that quality standards are assured. It is important that a quality assurance specialist should have strong attention to detail and is excellent in data collection. This work may require a minimum of bachelor's degree and certification to get certified.

Quality assurance specialists typically earn lower pay than test & development engineers. On average, quality assurance specialists earn a $17,534 lower salary per year.According to resumes from test & development engineers and quality assurance specialists, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "test data," "data analysis," and "api testing. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "python," "c #," "test equipment," and "test development" are skills that commonly show up on test & development engineer resumes. On the other hand, quality assurance specialists use skills like gmp, patients, fda, and capa on their resumes.In general, quality assurance specialists earn the most working in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $76,157. The highest-paying industry for a test & development engineer is the manufacturing industry.The average resume of quality assurance specialists showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to test & development engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 6.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.

Types of test & development engineer

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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