A test development engineer is a member of an engineering department or team who assists with testing. An employee in this position is responsible for performing quality assurance tests on software, hardware, applications, and devices. In most cases, a hardware or software engineer will design the program, a production department will build it, and a test engineer will assess its effectiveness and functionality. To test equipment effectively, this engineer will need expertise and experience in his industry’s equipment design and production models.
Engineers involved in quality assurance may be in charge of determining the best diagnostic methods and leading any actions necessary to put these plans into action. This will necessitate understanding of how to apply diagnoses to specific pieces of equipment, programs, and systems. A test development engineer will also have a thorough understanding of government and industry requirements for effective quality assurance of equipment and devices, as well as the ability to put those requirements into practice at his company. The test engineer may be in charge of submitting documentation to outside agencies in order to ensure that his company follows policies, procedures, and laws.
A test development engineer employs a wide range of abilities in his work. Industry-specific knowledge and responsibilities may be required depending on the organization for which an individual works. As members of a project management team, test development engineers must collaborate with other employees, departments, and outside organizations. To effectively test equipment, this engineer may require knowledge and experience in hardware and software design.
Troubleshooting and repair are a big part of this job. A test development engineer must also determine the best ways to correct errors once a test is completed and bugs or glitches in the system or program are discovered. This will take a significant amount of time to program and run diagnostic reports on equipment and programs. A test engineer may spend even more time resolving these issues.
A test development engineer may play a key role in establishing company policies and procedures regarding testing, troubleshooting, and repair. Documenting proper quality assurance procedures for a company or department may be one of the test engineer’s responsibilities. He might make procedural changes, and he might need to work with management teams to get them approved. The test development engineer may also supervise and train other employees, as well as be a member of on-site teams that install and test hardware and software at customer sites.