How to hire a test system manager

How to hire a test system manager, step by step

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

Post a test system manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the test system manager you need to hire. Certain test system manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect test system manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of test system manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Test System Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Test System Manager		$40-69
   Quality Assurance Analyst	Quality Administrators are responsible for managing the quality processes of an organization. Their duties include creating data collection processes, conducting data cleansing, tracks quality milestones, and develop training programs for internal teams... Show more	$27-44
   Quality Assurance Lead	A quality assurance lead, also known as QA Lead, is responsible for conducting necessary quality tests and analyses for software program and development. As a quality assurance lead, they must take the lead in ensuring quality during development by proactively performing critical evaluations, troubleshooting, and providing precise documentation... Show more	$34-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • System Test
   • System Integration
   • Test Cases
   • Test Procedures
   • QA
   • Test Scripts
   • Test Results
   • SQL
   • Test Equipment
   • Test Execution
   • DOD
   • Control Systems
   • UAT
   • R

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Construct and manage a complete VMware environment for testing multiple Openstack instances of different configurations.
   • Key contributor in getting CMMI level 3 and ISO 9001 certification for 4D.
   • Spearhead QA process changes in transitioning from hard copy to soft copy test case development/execution process.
   • Develop business processes for quality assurance software lifecycle, customer software problem resolution and software bug tracking.
   • Perform accessibility testing for Hewlett-Packard's HTML pages.
   • Develop, document, and implement improved software validation processes and documentation system in accordance with the FDA guidelines.

   More test system manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your test system manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A test system manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, test system managers' average salary in alabama is 36% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level test system managers earn 41% less than senior-level test system managers.
   • Certifications. A test system manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a test system manager's salary.

   Average test system manager salary

   $111,460yearly

   $53.59 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level test system manager salary

   $85,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average test system manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$151,409	$73
   2	Washington	$127,392	$61
   3	Virginia	$109,004	$52
   4	Texas	$107,455	$52
   5	Arizona	$103,268	$50
   6	Utah	$101,522	$49
   7	Ohio	$100,528	$48
   8	Colorado	$95,518	$46

   Average test system manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Zoox	$133,821	$64.34	35
   2	Motion Recruitment	$127,113	$61.11	8
   3	Corning Incorporated	$124,708	$59.96	2
   4	DIVERSANT	$123,909	$59.57
   5	OmniVision Technologies	$122,179	$58.74
   6	AvL Technologies	$117,282	$56.39
   7	Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota	$116,888	$56.20
   8	Cambridge Technology	$111,001	$53.37
   9	Johnson & Johnson	$109,990	$52.88	12
   10	Thales	$109,328	$52.56
   11	Boeing	$106,576	$51.24	175
   12	smartShift	$106,437	$51.17
   13	Midmark	$105,064	$50.51	1
   14	Northrop Grumman	$104,442	$50.21	189
   15	Sound Transit	$102,920	$49.48
   16	Splunk	$102,691	$49.37
   17	Lockheed Martin	$99,243	$47.71	260
   18	L3Harris	$93,501	$44.95	98

4. Writing a test system manager job description

   A test system manager 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a test system manager job description:

   Test system manager job description example

   Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino),California,United States
   
   Hardware
   
   + Track record managing high performance teams.
   
   + Experience developing sensor system test plans for development, verification and validation.
   
   + Good understanding of optical and/or RF sensors physics and signal processing.
   
   + Strong communication, documentation and presentation skills.
   
   + Strategic and analytical thinking
   
   **Description**
   
   Manage and provide technical and strategic guidance to a team of talented sensor test engineers, who perform a wide range of tasks including: Conduct testing of optical and RF sensing systems to meet an array of use cases. Define, document and execute test procedures for characterization, design verification, functional validation and manufacturing Develop experiments for sensor performance characterization in the intended operating environment Automate test cases Process, analyze and review test data Work with cross-functional teams to resolve technical and schedule conflicts Debug system level issues and support system integration
   
   **Education & Experience**
   
   M.S. / Ph.D. Mechanical, Electrical or Physics degree with 5 / 10+ years of relevant industry experience
   
   **Additional Requirements**
   
   **Apple Footer**
   
   Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. United States Department of Labor. Learn more (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple is required to comply with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate issued by the New York City Department of Health. We will verify the vaccination status of all New York City team members who are working at an Apple Store, office, or partner store in New York City. New York City Department of Health Learn more (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you're applying for a position in San Francisco, review the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance guidelines (opens in a new window) applicable in your area.
   
   Apple participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace. Reasonable Accommodation and Drug Free Workplace policy Learn more (Opens in a new window) .

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find test system managers 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 system managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level test system managers 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 system manager job on Zippia to find and recruit test system manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit test system managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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.

   If your interviews with test system manager applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • 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 system manager

   Once you've selected the best test system manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a test system manager?