what is a test engineer?

Test engineers work creatively to design tests for products, materials, mechanical and electrical systems, procedures and software applications. The tests serve as part of a company's rigorous quality assurance program. Engineers design tests for all types of products to identify trouble spots and fix them. The job requires new approaches to test product limits and in-depth knowledge of the types of tests required for different issues. Typical improvements include increasing the speed of a device or software, making products safer for consumers and cutting costs in manufacturing processes.

different levels of experience

The qualifications for test engineer jobs vary considerably because test engineers often specialise in different areas. These include burn-in tests, tests involving PCB-level processes like AXI, JTAG and ICT, and system-level board function tests. Other types of testing include:

• Ongoing reliability tests

• Automated X-ray inspection tests

• Tests to find the centre of gravity in a product

• Optical inspection tests

• Continuity tests

• Tests of environmental stress susceptibility

• Insulation tests

• Vibration tests

• Regression tests

• Electromagnetic compatibility

• Highly accelerated product life tests

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1

average salary of a test engineer

The salary for entry-level test engineers in India is around ₹302,000 and can go up to ₹988,000 for more experienced test engineers, according to Payscale. However, your salary depends on many factors, such as willingness to work overtime, the level and quality of your education and your company's location. You can also earn more with industry certifications, as detailed below.

test engineer roles
test engineer roles
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types of test engineer

Two major types of testing engineers are quality assurance engineers and test engineers. QA engineers work on the production end by testing the quality of manufactured goods and software products. Test engineers look for ways to improve a product by designing tests of speed, durability, flexibility, ease of use and many other criteria. Some types of test engineers include:

  • Quality Analyst
  • Automation Engineer
  • Testing Analyst
  • Test Automation Developer
  • Test Architect
  • Test Manager
  • Senior Test Engineer
  • Director of Testing
  • Quality Assurance Specialist
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working as a test engineer

Test engineers design and implement tests that push product tolerances to discover a product's limits. That requires a commitment to using all your skills to test every aspect of mechanical products, electrical devices and software applications. Unlike many professionals, the work environment of test engineers can vary based on testing conditions.

The advantages of this well-paid career include a job satisfaction level you can't find in many other jobs. Test engineers have an extraordinary level of curiosity and enjoy testing limits. Whether working in IT or testing mechanical and electrical systems, you can scale your career with steady professional improvement. You may choose to become a lead tester or progress to another advanced position.

4

education and skills

Test engineers work with computer hardware and software on a daily basis, so extensive experience in using computers is a major requirement. Products might be mechanical, electrical or software-related, so some experience in each area boosts your ability to get hired.

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FAQs about working as a test engineer

FAQs about working as a test engineer:

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