Test engineer

To check if a new flight control system or autopilot is working as it should, test engineers are there to scrutinise and analyse new technical systems... could you do 4 test flights a day for 18 months?

  • Starting salary (per month)-
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What tasks are test engineers charged with?

As a test engineer, you work at the interface between the R&D department, quality assurance and the customer. Your area of responsibility includes the planning, carrying out and evaluation of specific tests as well as the development and ongoing improvement of the test environment.

You develop meaningful test criteria for products based on your technical expertise, the relevant legal requirements and official product standards. Based on this, you plan tests and test procedures that allow you to check in a measurable and repeatable way whether a product meets the required specifications, and you carry out these tests. You then analyse the results of your tests, document the tests and results and create reports.

Your activities take place in close cooperation with the R&D and quality assurance departments, so that your results can be integrated directly into further steps of product development.

Fun fact

Ever heard of an anthropomorphic test device? These human-sized test dummies are weighted and articulated in such a way as to reproduce the exact behaviour of the human body, which we use in car trials (crash testing). Highly sophisticated dummies, they’re full of sensors to record the speed and force of various impacts on different parts of the body. Technology really is wonderful! FYI: until the late 20th century, actual human corpses were used instead. Good to know.

Skills

Hard skills

  • Cosmetics ingredients
  • Laboratory techniques
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Editorial standards
  • Statistics
  • Good manufacturing practices

Soft skills

  • Learning strategies
  • Planning
  • Social perception

What skills do test engineers need?

As a test engineer, you need extensive knowledge of both the technological basis of your company's development activities and the relevant laws and regulations involved. In addition, you should have explicit knowledge of measuring and testing procedures.

The most important soft skills for test engineers include a mixture of creativity and innovative thinking, analytical thinking and a systematic, solution-oriented approach to developing suitable and appropriate test procedures. In addition, you need good communication skills in order to explain your results accurately and comprehensibly to all those involved.

Other soft skills that would benefit you as a test engineer include:

  • Leadership skills
  • Independent working style
  • Conscientiousness
  • Tenacity

Test engineer – qualifications and training

There is no single, regulated training path or qualification that will enable you to become a test engineer. Due to the high requirements, however, a degree in engineering relevant to the industry is a prerequisite; as a test engineer in the automotive sector, for example, a degree in automotive engineering, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. An important factor, however, is expertise, so entry into the field from another career path is quite conceivable with the appropriate knowledge and experience, for example: technicians. 

Test engineer – salary 

As in many professions, the salary of a test engineer depends on various factors such as location or industry. The average salary for automotive test engineers differs from that of test engineers in software development. However, the general salary prospects are very good in all sectors; even as an entry-level employee, you can expect annual salaries between £35,000 and £45,000.

Are you looking to start an exciting career with varied challenges and responsibilities right from the start? Find the right test engineer job for you now on JobTeaser.

Salary information from reed.co.uk, uk.talent.com

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