A quality engineer is more than writing reports on production efficiency.
It is a position that controls much of any company’s production process.
The beauty of this job is that you have control over the entire process from start to finish which can give a lot of satisfaction to your job.
And while it does have its stresses, the average workload does not overtax most engineers.
Quality Engineer Information
| Official Job Title | Quality Engineer |
| Average Salary | $75,755 |
| Stress Level | Average |
| Work/ Life | Average |
| Job Satisfaction | Below Average |
| Career Advancement | Average |
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Quality Engineer Job Description
What Is A Quality Engineer?
The role of a Quality Engineer starts with the name.
In this role, you focus on the quality of a product, service, or project within a business.
When an issue arises, you will be at the front lines of solving the problem.
In this role, you will be working toward better products and services for your company to provide for the customers.
If you do your job well, these products will be the best in the business, and you will be responsible for helping your company grow.
What Does A Quality Engineer Do On A Daily Basis?
At any given time, a Quality Engineer will be focusing on production.
Sometimes you will be on the floor reviewing production processes.
Other parts of your day might focus on the end of the product line inspecting the products.
Quality Engineering is a job that can be at a desk or walking around your company facilities.
You will be working with other engineers and production staff.
You will also be communicating your findings and working with other parts of your company. It offers a wide range of work.
Responsibilities, Duties & Roles Of A Quality Engineer:
Your responsibilities as a Quality Engineer will be to work on a team to find defects in a product and then discover ways to overcome those defects.
In some cases, you will find ways to improve product quality and efficiency.
Lastly, you will be collecting, analyzing, and creating reports on data.
You find it in all areas of your company’s production process.
Your work aids your company’s leadership in making wise decisions about a product and the process in which those products are created.
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Quality Engineer Salary
Average Salary
The national average salary for Quality Engineers in the United States is $75,755.
The average salary may change by location, job responsibilities, and years of experience.
Starting Salary
The starting salary for most Quality Engineers is about $56,402.
Senior Salary
A senior quality engineer tops out at around $91,192 or more.
Once you reach this level, you are looking to work your way into management.
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How To Become A Quality Engineer
The Entry Level: Certification, Training & Degree
To become a Quality Engineer, you will need formal education.
However, this can be an Associate’s degree, vocational certificate, or Bachelor’s degree.
Depending on the specific position or the company, it will make a difference in getting into an entry-level position.
Other Skill Sets, Requirements & Qualifications
After some experience, one can apply and become a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) through the American Society of Quality.
Once this certification is achieved you can keep it up to date every three years.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Quality Engineer?
With minimum experience and education, you can become a quality engineer in just a couple of years.
It can take six to eight years with a full education and the experience needed for certification.
Is It Hard To Become A Quality Engineer?
Aside from education requirements, it is rather average in difficulty to become a quality engineer.
If you can complete the needed education, it is like any other job in terms of creating networking connections to get a good job.
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Quality Engineer Career Paths
The Quality Engineer Roadmap
There are basically four steps along the career path of the Quality Engineer.
There is an entry-level position, the general level for quality engineers, a senior-level engineer, and what is typically called the Quality Engineer IV.
Projections For Growth In Quality Engineer Jobs
According to several career firms, the trends for growth over the next decade should be higher than the average job.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth of 25% through 2021.
In Summary: Is Quality Engineer A Good Career?
Overall, it is an excellent career to be able to pursue.
It may be more difficult to move from other careers due to needing additional education to move toward this particular career.
However, it is possible, and many are moving to follow career trends.
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Working Conditions
Can A Quality Engineer Work Remotely From Home?
Remote positions range from many business sectors, such as online businesses, to regular production companies all over the United States.
The likelihood of finding a work-from-home position as a Quality Engineer is reasonable.
How Many Hours Does A Quality Engineer Work?
The typical hours for a Quality Engineer is a normal 40-hour week.
Though, they don’t have to work your regular 9 am to 5 pm schedule.
Many companies allow for varied work arrangements and hours.
This flexibility is another positive aspect of this great position.
Can A Quality Engineer Work Part-Time?
There are over 100 part-time Quality Engineer jobs available on different job posting websites as of the date of writing this article.
This confirms the ability to work part-time as well as the ability to work remotely with a varying work schedule.
What Are The Average Vacation Days Of A Quality Engineer?
Vacation time with most Quality Engineers seems very dependent on the company that is hiring, and the amount of time someone has worked with said company.
While there is not a lot of general data available, most of the job openings discuss two weeks as a starting amount of time off, with additional time awarded with tenure.
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Alternative Careers & Similar Jobs to a Quality Engineer
- Computer Engineer
- Safety Engineer
- Sound Engineer
- Product Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- DevOps Engineer
- AI Engineer
- Sales Engineer
- Petroleum Engineer
- Engineering Technician
- Maintenance Engineer
- Nuclear Engineer
Quality Engineer Resume Tips
Here are some important tips for reviewing when it comes to your resume and applying for Quality Engineer jobs:
- Focus on your education and previous work experience. Make sure it is clear and succinct.
- Keep a section in your resume focusing on your specific skills for this position.
- Focus on your particular skills for the Quality Engineer position you are applying for.
- Make sure to create your resume for each particular job description and posting for each specific company to show that you have an eye for detail.
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Quality Engineer Interview Questions
Here are three specific questions that come up with nearly every Quality Engineer interview.
Not only do they come up, but here is why they work for the interview.
Q1: Have you ever stopped a line for a quality issue, and how did you go about it? Can you provide an example?
Why it works: This is what is known as a STAR Question.
It forces you to provide a situation, identify what task is at hand, what actions you need to take, and explain your results.
This particular question helps identify how you would interact with different parts of the business.
Q2: What’s the difference between an abstract class and an interface? Can a class inherit both from an abstract class and an interface at the same time?
Why it works: This “verses” type of questioning works well to help interviewers understand how well people know the Quality Engineering role, the skills needed for it, and the type of work that is done on a regular basis.
Q3: Why do you want to work for this company? What makes you the best candidate?
Why it works: While this could be an easy question to answer, its importance is significant.
It helps the interviewer understand your drive for the company.
While you may be applying for any job, you need to make the interviewer know you want that specific job.
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Jobs Related To Quality Engineer
- QA Engineer
- QC Engineer
- Test Engineer
- Performance Engineer
- Quality Control Engineer
- Prototype Quality Engineer
- Quality Assurance Engineer
For HR Manager: Tips For Hiring A Quality Engineer
Key Characteristics To Look For In A Quality Engineer
A Quality Engineer should be well-versed in the skills needed to complete the job.
Not only that, but they should be able to discuss those skills with any type of person.
Since they will be working with a variety of people.
They should have a high level of communication skills as well.
Whether it is verbal or written, these skills will lend to how well they work with management and production personnel.
If they are unable to communicate well, this could lead to future problems when conflict arises.
Minimum Level Of Education & Experience
The minimum level of education for a Quality Engineer should be at least a bachelor’s degree.
While some do not have this level of education, it is needed to help them become certified, and this will help increase your company’s ability to create and produce quality products.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, especially if the candidate is someone with a significant history in quality engineering or a similar and related education.
With similar experience and learning, these candidates are likely just as qualified.
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