Test Engineer
Career information and advice on being a Test Engineer

The basic job function of the Test Engineer is that of providing direction for the preparation and successful completion of development test programs, and to ensure compliance with  contractual test requirements through development and support of processes, plans and procedures.   In short, to ensure that new products and design or production changes to existing products meet design objectives.

Test engineers operate in a range of different environments, from testing plant and machinery to the testing of new electronic devices or software applications

Test Engineers are usually employed by the company that has been commissioned to complete the job. They could, however, also be employed by a client if the company is big enough to handle the task itself.

Other opportunities for Test Engineers are specialised fields within Test Engineering, usually on very large or highly specialised jobs,  for example Software Applications Testing, Quality Test Engineers, Technical Test Engineers, Communications Test Engineers, and Production Test Engineers.

Closely related careers include Design Engineers and Project  Managers. 

Working under a Project  Manager, a Test Engineer could work closely with Other Engineers and Planners, Buyers, Lawyers, clients, other team members and local regulatory authorities.  The exact role of the Test Engineer in the team will depend on the technical area of the job to be carried out.

Your Functions May include

• Generating test plans, procedures, and work instructions from customer requirements
• Setting up and configuring  test setups, fixtures, and instrumentation as required by the test plans and or test standards;
• Implementing and deploying  test fixtures, testing apparatus and machines and verifying their appropriateness
• Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of data results through thorough documentation processes
• Conducting and/or supervising testing by Test Technicians and other Test Engineers
• Operating a variety of computer automated and manual test equipment
• Writing test reports
• Contacting and scheduling tasks with sub-contracting facilities
• Sourcing, obtaining quotations, and selecting required lab supplies and materials to conduct tests
• Designing test fixtures as required per customer requirements, test plan, and test standards
• Validating test methods