Traditionally the electronics test
function in most companies and organisations runs hand-in-glove
with the design function, which means the career opportunities can
be every bit as wide and challenging as in the design role. This is
good news for engineers choosing test as their area of
specialisation.
In certain respects career
development for test engineers is very similar to that for design
engineers in its scope and the range of different skills
employed.
One of the characteristics of the
test market is the availability of both contract and permanent
roles.
"The test market is a good
employment market because it allows engineers to more easily choose
between the contract work and permanent position routes," says
Simon Welch, head of department for manufacturing at recruitment
consultant ARM.
According to Welch, the main
opportunities lie in digital and analogue test activities, but
engineers should also be aware of the needs of specific vertical
markets. "Specialist vertical markets such as system, RF and
approvals testing are particularly attractive to engineers. While
there are also opportunities in more niche areas such as testing of
high voltage/power systems," says Welch.
The key attributes for a good test
engineer are similar to those of a design engineer, namely an
analytical approach to work, an attention to detail and a
confidence in their judgement when it comes to making crucial
decisions.
To these attributes you can also add
that of an inquisitive nature. In many cases this can be the most
valuable characteristic of a test engineer, especially when faced
with the task of assessing how well a complex system such as a
video processing board works.
Typically engineers choosing a
career in the test departments of design and manufacturing
companies will be qualified to at least ONC level and more
typically to HNC and degree levels.
The entry-level for some test
technicians is functional test in an ATE environment which can be
the first step on the ladder for an ONC or HNC-qualified engineer.
In the ATE test role, engineers will quickly develop basic
analytical and communications skills which are vital to further
career development.
Test engineers working with
bench-test equipment in the development environment will be
expected to apply their skills to fault-finding at both the board
and systems level in which they may also take on rework/repair and
retest activities. Experience in this role will enable engineers to
move on to more systems diagnostic roles.
Degree–level test engineers
can aspire to become department heads and senior test engineers. At
this level the test engineer will be expected to provide feedback
to the development team so that they can allow for the test
function in their initial system or board designs.
Design for test and design for
manufacture are important elements of product design in most
electronics companies and the test engineer will inevitably play
their part in making this happen.
While most test opportunities will
involve digital and analogue component test there are certain
specialist areas of test which can provide significant
opportunities for career and salary development for those engineers
looking for the challenge.
Developing a specialisation in RF
test techniques and standards can be a desirable and highly
marketable skill for the engineer. The strength of the wireless
comms, defence and aerospace sector in the UK has opened up the
opportunities for RF expertise in test methods as well as in
design.
The career of the test engineer
should no longer be seen as necessarily less rewarding than the
design role as long as the necessary qualifications are obtained
and the most sought after experience is gained.
The rewards for experienced test
engineers in these sectors can be attractive. For example, a
contract RF test engineer with five years plus experience could
find themselves in the £20 to £25 an hour pay scale.
Equating to around £45,000 per annum, this can be comparable
with some design engineering roles.
Other sectors where the rewards can
be equally attractive include higher level systems test in defence
and aerospace sectors. There is also significant demand in the
market for engineers with experience of compliance testing.
There tend to be more permanent
positions and fewer contract opportunities in compliance test
activities, such as testing products for EMC standards compliance.
But there can be rewards and opportunities for an engineer with the
right level of experience of the standards process.
One route sometimes taken is into
consultancy where an individual will be paid for providing advice
on wireless and EMC compliance testing and design for EMC
issues.
Another attraction of the test
engineering market is the level of flexibility which allows
engineers to perhaps move more freely between permanent and
contract positions, as and when the opportunities come along. One
of the reasons for this is the absence of a wide skill and salary
differential between contract and permanent roles.
Test engineers are no longer seen as
in some way inferior to designers in the development team.
Typically they will be engineers who have made a specific choice
early in their careers to move in to the test department. They
recognise that, in some of the more enlightened companies, a test
engineer with the right skill set can be equally as valuable as a
design engineer.