What does a test engineering manager do?
Test engineering managers take responsibility for the management of testing procedures and strategies evaluation, implementation, and recommendation. The engineering managers make sure that primary projects and duties associated with engineering are fulfilled within budget and on-time. They answer technical questions related to engineering. It is part of their job to train new employees. Also, they work with different departments within the organization.
Test engineering manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real test engineering manager resumes:
- Manage regulatory and agency (UL, CSA, FCC, IEC, FDA, CE , 510k, etc . )
- Manage development of applications to save the tests data into the SQL database.
- Manage chemical testing laboratory for analyzing field materials for engineers using ASTM requirements.
- Manage workflow and oversee strict cleanroom operations, assuring compliance with FDA specifications including labeling and packaging traceability.
- Configure storage arrays for compatibility testing with new HBAs and switches.
- Perform inter-divisional ISO audits, prepare ISO documents and maintain ISO records.
- Coordinate with customer and QA to maintain SPC on production and RMA requirements.
- Negotiate QA procedures, acceptance testing, and drawing updates to successful completion.
- Interface with engineering leadership to ensure compliance with the contract as well as DoD policies.
- Maintain and upgrade lab access routers, switches, server, and network IP address block.
- Administer testing and analysis to ASTM, QS, CGA, ASME, UL procedures and standards.
- Increase efficiency by developing tools for automate testing, traffic generation, system maintenance and OS upgrades.
- Perform design validation testing including agency approvals, Bluetooth, RF, EMI, EMC and ESD tests.
- Maintain CDMA field test reports, work with MetroPCS field RF engineers to test each handset entering lab1 phase.
- Steer team through building a platform and OS independent test framework, using Perl, Java, and XML.
Test engineering manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Test Engineering Managers are proficient in Test Engineering, Test Equipment, and Test Automation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Test Engineering Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Test Engineering, 10%
Established processes and provided value-added engineering services to customers by managing structural and functional test engineering in a contract manufacturing environment.
- Test Equipment, 6%
Maintained the Engineering Test Laboratory's test equipment inventory and test equipment calibration and user information documentation Library.
- Test Automation, 5%
Prepared in-house EMI/EMC test procedures and implemented test automation for quality and cost-efficiency improvement.
- RF, 5%
Developed LabVIEW software to automate DC and RF testing on custom test racks with test frequencies up to 110 GHz.
- Continuous Improvement, 4%
Collaborate and work effectively with Service Management, Systems Support, and Service Desk in establishing a formalized continuous improvement program.
- End-To-End Testing, 4%
Conducted various testing such as Functional, Back End testing, System test, Integration, Security and End-to-End testing.
Common skills that a test engineering manager uses to do their job include "test engineering," "test equipment," and "test automation." You can find details on the most important test engineering manager responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a test engineering manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "architectural and engineering managers evaluate information to solve problems." Test engineering managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "championed new dft rules that brought board level jtag support, analytical measurement and new test solutions to apple products. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform test engineering manager duties is communication skills. Test engineering managers responsibilities require that "architectural and engineering managers must effectively convey information and expectations related to projects." Test engineering managers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "test engineering manager for various 16nm ff, 28nm, 45nm, and 90nm cmos digital communication soc's. "
Math skills. test engineering manager responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "architectural and engineering managers use calculus and other mathematics to develop new products and processes." This resume example shows what test engineering managers do with math skills on a typical day: "created factory test procedures and evaluated factory test statistics to ensure complete test coverage in high yield, high volume manufacturing. "
Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a test engineering manager to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what test engineering managers relies on this skill, since "architectural and engineering managers keep track of many workers, schedules, and budgets simultaneously." How this skill relates to test engineering manager duties can be seen in an example from a test engineering manager resume snippet: "created test process flow diagrams and organizational charts in microsoft visio. "
The three companies that hire the most test engineering managers are:
- Deloitte69 test engineering managers jobs
- Pwc67 test engineering managers jobs
- Northrop Grumman29 test engineering managers jobs
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Compare different test engineering managers
Test engineering manager vs. Research and development director
A research and development director spearheads and oversees the research and development initiatives and projects in a company. It is their duty to set goals and guidelines, establish timelines and budgets, direct and manage different departments, liaise with internal and external parties, gather and analyze data to implement solutions against problem areas, and utilize expertise in developing strategies to optimize company operations. Moreover, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while promoting the company's policies and regulations, creating new ones as needed.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a test engineering manager are more likely to require skills like "test engineering," "test equipment," "test automation," and "continuous improvement." On the other hand, a job as a research and development director requires skills like "product development," "fda," "oversight," and "business development." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Research and development directors tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $167,250. In contrast, test engineering managers make the biggest average salary, $118,096, in the technology industry.On average, research and development directors reach similar levels of education than test engineering managers. Research and development directors are 3.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 11.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Test engineering manager vs. Research and development manager
A research and development manager is responsible for supervising project development procedures to support business operations and identify business opportunities that would pave the way for more revenue resources and profits. Research and development managers monitor the production plans from the conceptualization to the final outputs, inspecting inconsistencies and flaws in every phase and revising strategies as needed to achieve the required specifications and requirements. They delegate tasks to the staff, oversee progress, and conduct research and development programs to maximize productivity and team efforts.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, test engineering manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "test engineering," "test equipment," "test automation," and "continuous improvement." Meanwhile, a research and development manager has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "patients," "product development," and "c++." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, research and development managers earn a higher salary than test engineering managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, research and development managers earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $143,083. Whereas test engineering managers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $118,096.research and development managers earn similar levels of education than test engineering managers in general. They're 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 11.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for test engineering managers in the next 3-5 years?
Edoardo Sarda Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Robotics Engineering, Lake Superior State University
Test engineering manager vs. Vice president of engineering
A Vice President Of Engineering manages all aspects of the company's engineering product development activities. They are responsible for strategic planning, production designing, quality assurance, and problem resolution.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, test engineering managers are more likely to have skills like "test engineering," "test equipment," "test automation," and "continuous improvement." But a vice president of engineering is more likely to have skills like "architecture," "cloud," "infrastructure," and "python."
Vice presidents of engineering earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $141,200. Test engineering managers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $118,096.Most vice presidents of engineering achieve a similar degree level compared to test engineering managers. For example, they're 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Test engineering manager vs. Manager, systems engineering
A systems engineering manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of the company's technology systems and network infrastructure. System engineering managers inspect the output deliverables of computer systems, identifying process improvement techniques to improve optimal performance and maintain high-quality results. They handle the department's budget and allocate adequate resources to support project management operations and requirements. A systems engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, handling technical complexities, and configuring system management tools.
Types of test engineering manager
Updated January 8, 2025
