How To Write a Test Engineer Resume
Create a strong test engineer resume by choosing the right format, capturing interest with a well-written summary, and detailing accomplishments, skills like hardware testing and quality control, and education that align with the employer’s needs. As a test engineer, your resume is likely to be filled with technical information, but remember to write concisely so non-engineers can follow.
This guide provides additional information about writing your resume. It also dives into specifics about which skills and verbs to include, how to list your education, and how to align your resume with a job listing.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Summarize your test engineer qualifications in a dynamic profile
Use the first section of your resume to connect with the employer and provide some details about your specializations and most pertinent skills. Keep it short but include as much tailored information as you can.
For example, you could indicate you have seven years of experience and specialize in supporting manufacturing continuous improvement processes or the development of electronics products. Customize this section specifically for each job you apply for to increase your chances of capturing the hiring manager’s attention.
Profile Example #1
A test engineer with three years of professional experience, specializing in electronics, regression testing, quality assurance, and process improvement. Adept at collaborating with high-performance teams to drive testing automation and enhance operational effectiveness.
Profile Example #2
A test engineer with five years of professional experience, specializing in lean manufacturing, quality assurance testing, and continuous improvement. Has a proven track record of identifying opportunities to reduce manufacturing costs and of developing scalable testing processes.
2. Showcase your test engineer experience
Back up your work experience with bullet points that demonstrate the positive impact you had on previous employers or processes. Consider the needs of the organization you’re interested in working for and how you can use your past accomplishments to demonstrate the value you can bring to their team. Incorporate numbers and hard data to establish a sense of scope for the hiring manager.
For instance, if the employer is looking for someone to support testing throughput, include something like, “Maximized testing efficiency by implementing streamlined processes, resulting in a 30% increase in throughput.” Include an action verb, pertinent skill, and metric in each bullet point.
Professional Experience Example #1
Test Engineer, Centerfold Electronics, New York, NY
October 2020 – Present
- Collaborate with engineering teams to design and implement scalable manufacturing processes for a suite of optical electronic products, generating $10M in revenue
- Perform regression testing and quality assurance reviews to ensure adherence to product safety standards and performance requirements
- Analyze engineering requirements to develop test plans for high-volume production cycles and ensure compliance with lean manufacturing best practices
Professional Experience Example #2
Test Engineer, Accelerate Manufacturing Corp., Detroit, MI
September 2019 – Present
- Perform safe, accurate, and efficient testing of major composite structures and implement process improvements to crane operations to reduce work hours by 25 per week
- Coordinate with the engineering manager to develop and implement new training manuals and testing procedures to reduce noncompliance issues by 30%
- Reduce overhead costs by $200K per year by automating manual testing processes
3. Outline your education and test engineer-related certifications
When hiring candidates in technical fields such as engineering, employers often use education as a fast screening tool. Many employers won’t look further if they don’t see a relevant degree on a resume, for example, so ensure yours is easy to find.
Including certifications can give you a competitive advantage, especially if you have hard-to-get or rare credentials. If this is the case, or you have a certification the employer mentions by name in the job posting, point it out in your cover letter and professional summary.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.)
- Syracuse University, New York, NY | 2019
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), Society of Manufacturing Engineers | 2022
4. Outline your most useful test engineer skills and proficiencies
List specific skills — especially those the employer has included in their job listing. This helps ensure your resume makes it past applicant tracking systems (ATS) and into the hands of hiring managers. Relevant skills also provide additional context about your work history and help connect your knowledge to practical applications that would be valuable to the employer.
For example, maybe you’ve handled regression testing or hardware testing for past employers. If those are preferred skills listed in the employer’s job description, make sure to include them in the skills list on your resume.
Some common skills relevant to test engineer positions include:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Acceptance testing | Continuous improvement |
| Cross-functional collaboration | Electronics |
| Engineering management | Hardware testing |
| Leadership | Lean manufacturing |
| Process improvement | Product manufacturing |
| Project management | Quality assurance |
| Quality control | Regression testing |
| Software testing | Test automation |
| Test documentation | Test engineering |
| Verification testing | |
How To Pick the Test Engineer Resume Template
Starting with a customizable template reduces the amount of design and formatting work you need to do and ensures the result looks polished and professional. Look for templates that have a technical aesthetic, with straightforward designs absent of unnecessary flourishes.
A template that makes use of consistent fonts and spacing provides a clean look. Choose options that include space for listing important skills, detailing your experience, and highlighting relevant education.
Test Engineer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Sarah Johnson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 W Adams Ave, Detroit, MI 12345
Profile
A test engineer with five years of professional experience, specializing in lean manufacturing, quality assurance testing, and continuous improvement. Has a proven track record of identifying opportunities to reduce manufacturing costs and of developing scalable testing processes.
Professional Experience
Test Engineer, Accelerate Manufacturing Corp., Detroit, MI
September 2019 – Present
- Perform safe, accurate, and efficient testing of major composite structures and implement process improvements to crane operations to reduce work hours by 25 per week
- Coordinate with the engineering manager to develop and implement new training manuals and testing procedures to reduce noncompliance issues by 30%
- Reduce overhead costs by $200K per year by automating manual testing processes
Test Engineer, Devlin Technologies, Detroit, MI
May 2017 – September 2019
- Oversaw the development of test plans and procedures, including verification testing, acceptance testing, and quality control reviews
- Developed and implemented new testing and maintenance schedules for manufacturing equipment to reduce production downtime by 5%
Education
Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, September 2013 – May 2017
Key Skills
- Product manufacturing
- Verification testing
- Continuous improvement
- Quality assurance
- Quality control
Frequently Asked Questions: Test Engineer Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for test engineer resumes?-
The right action verbs help you make an impact on readers by demonstrating a proactive approach to challenges and creating a sense of positive energy in the way you approach your work. For example, “implemented updated testing protocols to support enhanced compliance” is more engaging than simply listing “testing protocol updates” as a duty for a past job.
Use action verbs to start sentences and bullet points in your resume to support readability and draw in your audience. Some common action verbs for test engineer resumes include:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Debugged |
| Designed | Developed |
| Evaluated | Executed |
| Implemented | Improved |
| Innovated | Integrated |
| Monitored | Optimized |
| Performed | Reduced |
| Reviewed | Simulated |
| Troubleshot | Validated |
How do you align your resume with a test engineer job description?-
Many engineering job markets are growing at fast rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job opportunities for mechanical engineers to grow by 10% through 2032. However, hiring managers will likely vet test engineer applicants carefully due to the skill and specific experience required to be successful in each position. To maximize your chances of landing the interview, tailor your resume to the job description.
For example, if an organization is seeking a test engineer with a strong background in quality assurance, emphasize your experience performing product verification testing or reducing compliance issues. If a company is looking for a candidate with exceptional leadership capabilities, demonstrate your ability to collaborate cross-functionally during various phases of testing.
What is the best test engineer resume format?-
In science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, employers often look for resumes that indicate candidates are familiar with current best practices, methodologies, and technology. Test engineers can demonstrate this by using a reverse chronological resume format, which puts their most recent experience first. This format also helps employers understand how you’ve developed skills over time. Create a narrative that demonstrates your growth as a test engineer and shows off the increasing value you’ve brought to employers as you acquire new skills and knowledge.
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Attaching a custom cover letter to every resume provides an opportunity to introduce yourself more personably, say why you’re interested in the position, and tailor the communication of your qualifications for the employer or position. This letter should complement your resume and point to some of your most relevant skills or experience. Check out our engineering resume cover letter examples to get some ideas about how to format and write yours.
