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What does a test/quality engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Frank McCown Ph.D.

A Quality or Test Engineer is part of a mechanic team and is tasked with ensuring that the manufactured product is of high quality. He/She performs a series of tests, including making notes, creating quality tests, and setting a standard that these test results should meet. As a Quality Engineer, you will be working on improving the design of a company's quality standards and testing the processes against those criteria. If there is an issue or problem with anything, it's the work of an engineer to document the problem and work with other engineers to rectify the problem.

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Test/quality engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real test/quality engineer resumes:

  • Involve in identifying and executing regression test scenarios.
  • Perform basic level programming in VB.NET and XML.
  • Report bugs through JIRA and prepare bug status reports.
  • Set up functional test stations for Cisco routers and switches NPI.
  • Set up the test environment in Linux, windows, HPUX and AIX servers.
  • Report defects in JIRA and assign them to the development team and track them to closure.
  • Design and implementation of Java scripts to test the new functions implement in the different software layers.
  • Authore an instructional manual, now used as a primary tool for training brand new QA engineers.
  • Involve in setting up continuous integration system using Jenkins and working knowledge with cloud base code repository system like Github.
  • Work as a test engineer in the QA department, testing circuits and components and debugging faults at different switch locations.
  • Work closely with the business, project manager, scrum master on the team and discuss various road blocks, blockers.
  • Perform on UNIX server like copying, removing, viewing the data and transferring the files to the local file system.
  • Develop background-check application in Java and JavaScript.
  • Develop regression scripts utilizing WinRunner.
  • Run weekly Verizon open issue report on ALM and provide it to team for review.

Test/quality engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Test/Quality Engineers are proficient in Java, QA, and Jira.

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

  • Java, 9%

    Developed background-check application in Java and JavaScript.

  • QA, 8%

    Worked as a test engineer in the QA department, testing circuits and components and debugging faults at different switch locations.

  • Jira, 6%

    Reported defects in JIRA and assigned them to the development team and tracked them to closure.

  • C++, 5%

    Project included writing scripts in Perl and C++, C for automating test plans.

  • Qa Testing, 5%

    Supervised a five-member software QA testing team and implemented quality-assurance processes to ensure compliance with QA standards, specifications and requirements.

  • Regression, 4%

    Involved in identifying and executing regression test scenarios.

Common skills that a test/quality engineer uses to do their job include "java," "qa," and "jira." You can find details on the most important test/quality engineer responsibilities below.

All test/quality engineer skills

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Compare different test/quality engineers

Test/quality engineer vs. Software tester

The responsibility of software testers involves the quality assurance of software development and deployment. Software testers conduct manual and automated tests to make sure that the software is developed for its purpose. They remove the issues and bugs within a product before deployment to users. Their responsibilities include software and systems analysis, risk mitigation, and software-related issue prevention. They should have skills in automation, programming, social networking, logical thinking, and mobile and web technology.

We looked at the average test/quality engineer salary and compared it with the wages of a software tester. Generally speaking, software testers are paid $587 lower than test/quality engineers per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between test/quality engineers and software testers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like java, qa, and jira.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a test/quality engineer are more likely to require skills like "plc," "test procedures," "eclipse," and "backend." On the other hand, a job as a software tester requires skills like "scrum," "web application," "c #," and "selenium." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Software testers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $85,662. Comparatively, test/quality engineers tend to make the most money in the retail industry with an average salary of $88,534.software testers tend to reach similar levels of education than test/quality engineers. In fact, software testers are 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Test/quality engineer vs. Quality assurance consultant

A quality assurance consultant specializes in recommending and optimizing quality-control procedures ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They typically conduct research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current quality control operations, implement solutions on problem areas, review policies and regulations, and coordinate with other staff to gather necessary data, analyzing them to find new opportunities for improvement. Furthermore, as a quality assurance consultant, it is essential to recommend solutions in adherence to the company's policies and regulations, including its mission and vision.

On average, quality assurance consultants earn a $7,319 higher salary than test/quality engineers a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Test/quality engineers and quality assurance consultants both require similar skills like "java," "qa," and "jira" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real test/quality engineer resumes. While test/quality engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "c++," "plc," "ui," and "eclipse," quality assurance consultants use skills like "selenium webdriver," "status reports," "scrum," and "home health."

Quality assurance consultants earn a higher average salary than test/quality engineers. But quality assurance consultants earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $98,723. Additionally, test/quality engineers earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $88,534 annually.quality assurance consultants earn higher levels of education than test/quality engineers in general. They're 6.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for test/quality engineers in the next 3-5 years?

Frank McCown Ph.D.Frank McCown Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Harding University

Software continues to move to mobile devices and the web and away from desktop applications. The pandemic has encouraged growth in applications that make in-person transactions go away, and that trend will likely continue. Obviously AI-enabled or assisted applications will continue to grow.

Test/quality engineer vs. Engineer lead quality assurance lead

Engineer Lead Quality Assurance Leads are responsible for managing the designing and operations of hardware or software testing. Their duties include developing testing plans, implement risk mitigation strategies, communicate process improvements to cross-teams such as marketing and engineering, resolve the conflict between teams, and ensures product or software adheres to the organization and industry standards. They are also involved in reviewing technical design and specification, setting performance targets, and writing progress reports for management updates.

On average scale, engineers lead quality assurance lead bring in higher salaries than test/quality engineers. In fact, they earn a $30,840 higher salary per year.By looking over several test/quality engineers and engineers lead quality assurance lead resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "java," "jira," and "c++." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, test/quality engineers are more likely to have skills like "qa," "plc," "test procedures," and "eclipse." But a engineer lead quality assurance lead is more likely to have skills like "api," "scrum," "selenium webdriver," and "c #."

Engineers lead quality assurance lead make a very good living in the hospitality industry with an average annual salary of $114,398. On the other hand, test/quality engineers are paid the highest salary in the retail industry, with average annual pay of $88,534.engineers lead quality assurance lead typically earn similar educational levels compared to test/quality engineers. Specifically, they're 1.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Test/quality engineer vs. Test analyst

The duties of a test analyst depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a test analyst is responsible for testing computer software or hardware to ensure its quality before being released in the market. They participate in the development process to monitor the product specifications, review and analyze documentation, and create test systems, implementing them promptly and efficiently. As a test analyst, it is essential to produce progress reports, prepare presentations, and even give recommendations.

Test analysts typically earn lower pay than test/quality engineers. On average, test analysts earn a $8,170 lower salary per year.According to resumes from test/quality engineers and test analysts, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "java," "qa," and "jira. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "c++," "plc," "eclipse," and "development life" are skills that commonly show up on test/quality engineer resumes. On the other hand, test analysts use skills like test plan, status reports, selenium webdriver, and strong problem-solving on their resumes.test analysts enjoy the best pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $74,197. For comparison, test/quality engineers earn the highest salary in the retail industry.test analysts reach similar levels of education compared to test/quality engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of test/quality 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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