In most organizations, a product test engineer is responsible for evaluating a specific product or process in accordance with the organization’s or another organization’s set of standards. The product test engineer is usually also in charge of developing test procedures that aid in the establishment of specific standards that ensure the efficiency and safety of the product’s creation and use. This person is usually part of a small group that investigates and decides on an acceptable production test platform and equipment, as well as the test team’s qualifications.
A qualified product test engineer will typically have several years of experience in their field as well as a degree in one of many engineering disciplines, such as a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE). This individual must also be detail-oriented, organized, have excellent data analysis skills, and be able to document processes clearly and accurately. Furthermore, good communication skills are required because the engineer must share critical information with a variety of professionals on a daily basis.
One of the keys to a product’s overall success in the marketplace is its quality. A product test engineer is an important part of the business infrastructure that strives for excellence paying attention to the smallest details. In the end, he or she is in charge of putting the manufacturing test strategy in place for new product development. This individual collaborates closely with multiple engineering teams to provide technical support for test processes during manufacturing, ensuring that all issues are addressed early in the design process.
Most of the time, a product test engineer will develop procedures in collaboration with the system, platform, application, or product design teams. These will reduce overall production costs limiting testing. The engineer will investigate failures and compile statistics on a product’s functionality. When a problem or failure is discovered, it is up to the engineer to figure out what needs to be done to fix it and communicate that information to the production team.
This person serves as the primary pivot point for establishing a definition of quality, regardless of the product or process. He or she is a crucial part of the process of creating something new.