Test engineer

New products and new ways of making products (processes) are being designed and developed every day. All of these products and processes first need to be carefully checked however, and it is the job of the test engineer to carry out these vital tests.

Work activities

As a test engineer you will be designing, implementing and maintaining the automated and manual test procedures for various different projects. From these test procedures you will need to carefully gather and analyse test data, in order to improve the process or product on which you are working. You will need to fully understand your business and/or users’ needs and also their technical requirements. Your day-to-day duties could include:

• Introducing automated and/or manual testing processes.
• Testing products in accordance with set standards.
• Analysing and acting upon gathered test data.
• Producing test documentation such as technical reports.
• Monitoring test activity.
• Translating technical user language into non-technical language.
• Making process improvement recommendations to management teams.
• Performing electrical safety tests, where needed.

Personal qualities and skills

As a test engineer, you need: 

• Experience within a relevant engineering or manufacturing environment.
• An awareness of the safety standards and legislation which exists within the industry you choose to work in.
• Database programming skills (SQL, Oracle, RDBMS).
• To be able to identify and solve potential problems.
• To be willing to keep up to date with advances in technology in this fast-changing area.
• Personal skills – you will need to be creative and able to solve problems.
• Good communications skills, including the ability to explain technical and complex ideas clearly, so that non-technical people can understand.

You might have responsibility for a team of engineers, so the ability to motivate and encourage others will be an advantage. You will need to be well-organised because may be asked to plan and carry-out several different tasks at the same time, and so you will need to prioritise.

You will need to work carefully with the staff who will be operating the machinery and processes, in order to fully understand the process.

Pay and opportunities

As a test engineer, you could earn in the range of £31,000 to £52,000, according to Glassdoor data based on 1,500 salaries.

You will most likely work a full-time week of 35-40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Occasional late finishes and weekend work may be required.

Employers include firms operating in all different areas of the manufacturing industry, including:

• Aerospace
• Credit card companies
• Electronics
• Pharmaceutical
• Renewable energy
• Retail
• Transport

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, trade industry publications, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training   

Many employers require you to have an HND, HNC or a degree before you become a test engineer. HNDs, HNCs and Degrees in relevant subjects are available at many universities. In order to get onto one of these courses, you will usually need at least two A-levels.

Depending on their qualifications, test engineers can progress by taking on more responsibility for the management of engineering projects and teams of engineers. Some engineers choose to become self-employed or take contract work on a freelance basis.

There are no apprenticeships in this specific field. However, you could begin a level 6 (degree) apprenticeship as a product design and development engineer.

Qualifications

To enter a relevant degree course in this career, the usual requirements are:

• Two to three A-levels
• GCSEs in your A level subjects at grades 9-4.
• A further two to three GCSEs at grades 9-4.
• English, maths and a science subject are usually required at GCSE at grades 9-4.

To get onto a degree apprenticeship in this career, you’ll usually need two A-levels and five GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (e.g. Access to Engineering) could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Many people enter this career after gaining relevant skills, and perhaps qualifications, in the engineering and/or manufacturing industry. Industry experience is very highly valued by employers.

Funding for postgraduate courses may be available through universities from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Related careers

• Manufacturing engineer
• Production engineer
• Safety engineer