How to hire a test project engineer

How to hire a test project engineer, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   Here's a comparison of test project engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Test Project Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Test Project Engineer	Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.	$31-52
   Operations Engineer	An operations engineer is a professional who is responsible for ensuring that the operations of a company are working properly in industries such as manufacturing or shipping. Operations engineers are required to handle repairs or upgrades to the company's machinery and coordinate with department heads to assist in fine-tuning their operations system... Show more	$30-63
   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... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Test Results
   • Test Equipment
   • RF
   • DOD
   • Data Acquisition Systems
   • PC
   • System Design
   • Data Analysis
   • Technical Support
   • CAD
   • Test Cases
   • NASA
   • Product Design
   • Test Facilities

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage custom product design & generate all require documentation for both customer and manufacturing groups using AutoCAD rel.
   • Design and inspect major renovation to municipal highway department building including construction oversight for HVAC, plumbing and electrical renovations.
   • Work directly with product managers and UI designers to understand business requirements to ensure product visions are properly interpret and implement.
   • Establish and execute QA procedures for projects that identify solution bugs and discrepancies, allowing for resolution before final delivery.

   More test project engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the test project engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A test project 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 project engineer in Wisconsin may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level test project engineer. Additionally, a test project engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average test project engineer salary

   $84,707yearly

   $40.72 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level test project engineer salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average test project engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$112,948	$54
   2	Washington	$93,053	$45
   3	Connecticut	$87,086	$42
   4	Virginia	$80,784	$39
   5	Alabama	$80,758	$39
   6	Ohio	$77,761	$37
   7	Michigan	$75,958	$37
   8	Florida	$74,982	$36
   9	Tennessee	$73,067	$35

   Average test project engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amazon	$117,839	$56.65	441
   2	Joby Aviation	$107,983	$51.91	60
   3	Siemens Enterprise Communications Inc	$98,303	$47.26
   4	Lockheed Martin	$90,744	$43.63	506
   5	Raytheon Technologies	$88,958	$42.77	157
   6	Corning Incorporated	$87,756	$42.19	42
   7	Navistar	$87,250	$41.95	2
   8	International Trucks	$86,323	$41.50
   9	Lucid Motors	$85,535	$41.12	54
   10	Northrop Grumman	$85,295	$41.01	438
   11	Jabil	$82,674	$39.75	51
   12	Viasat	$82,154	$39.50	6
   13	iQor Holdings Inc.	$81,617	$39.24
   14	Siemens	$81,565	$39.21	36
   15	Pitney Bowes	$81,563	$39.21
   16	KBR	$79,990	$38.46	48
   17	Luminar Technologies	$79,686	$38.31
   18	Framatome Technologies Inc	$79,373	$38.16	38
   19	RGA Environmental, A Terracon Company	$77,116	$37.08	40
   20	Altair	$75,320	$36.21	6

4. Writing a test project engineer job description

   A job description for a test project engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a test project engineer job description:

   Test project engineer job description example

   Leading the future in luxury electric and mobility
   At Lucid, we set out to introduce the most captivating, luxury electric vehicles that elevate the human experience and transcend the perceived limitations of space, performance, and intelligence. Vehicles that are intuitive, liberating, and designed for the future of mobility.
   
   We plan to lead in this new era of luxury electric by returning to the fundamentals of great design - where every decision we make is in service of the individual and environment. Because when you are no longer bound by convention, you are free to define your own experience.
   
   Come work alongside some of the most accomplished minds in the industry. Beyond providing competitive salaries, we're providing a community for innovators who want to make an immediate and significant impact. If you are driven to create a better, more sustainable future, then this is the right place for you.
   
   We are currently seeking a skilled Test and Validation Engineer for the interiors team. You will work with a team of talented engineers in support of the interior development efforts at Lucid. You will be managing multiple scheduling activities for simultaneous projects. You will work closely with the manager for interiors and testing/vehicle safety departments to lead the creation and evaluation of specifications for the body interiors team.
   
   **Testing experience is welcome, but is not required.
   RoleThe position would require the organizing and creation of the Lucid Motors performance and test specifications.Collaborate with suppliers to compare and benchmark competitive products performances.Maintain and update the specification and its approval process.Coordinate and organize the internal OEM level tests.Organizes and contributes to the review of the internal and external test reports for approval.Contribute to creating a documentation systems for specifications and project test results.
   QualificationsAt least 4 or 5 years of Automotive Interior validation and testing experience at OEM, Tier-1 or Test Lab.Extensive working knowledge of automotive design and process of interior systems or similar Experiences in creating specifications and test plans Experiences in tracking and reviewing tests. Experience managing and working with suppliers, deadlines, milestones, part logistics
   AdvantageousExperience with Atlasssian, Jira and/or ConfluenceGreat organizational skills and interpersonal skills Basic design release and project/program mgt skills are a plus Familiarity with FMVSS and other international regulatory requirements Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written Flexibility to work in a fast-paced startup environment with frequent prioritization adjustments
   EducationBachelor's degree Mechanical Engineering or in a related field
   At Lucid, we don't just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.
   
   Notice regarding COVID-19 protocols
   At Lucid, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, and friends above all else. In response to the novel Coronavirus all new Lucid employees, whose job will be based in the United States may or may not be required to provide original documentation confirming status as having received the prescribed inoculation (doses). Vaccination requirements are dependent upon location and position, please refer to the job description for more details.
   
   Individuals in positions requiring vaccinations may seek a medical and/or religious exemption from this requirement and may be granted such an accommodation after submitting a formal request to and the subsequent review and approval thereof by our dedicated Covid-19 Response team.
   
   To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our careers alias or other Lucid Motors employees. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right test project engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with test project engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit test project engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your test project engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit test project engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with test project 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.

   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.

   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 project engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect test project 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 project 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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