The work of a test development engineer is vital to the quality assurance component of a technology-oriented company. Whether the job is in the manufacturing, Internet or software industry, complex technology requires rigorous tests to be performed in order to ensure that it does not fail in the real world. If you are looking to become a test development engineer, you need the desire to invent, develop and perform these tests. To become a test development engineer, you will need at least a bachelor's degree, some expertise with the tools of the trade and characteristics such as reliability and consistent success.
The first step if you want to become a test development engineer is to compare your own credentials with those required in various industry job listings. Use a search engine on the Internet to find existing job openings as well as résumés of actual test development engineers. The complete list of requirements will vary, but a bachelor's degree often is first on the list. Common degrees requested include those in computer science, physics, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. If you have not obtained one of these degrees, you need to find a school that can put you on the right track to obtain one of them.
Along with a bachelor's degree, the job requirements tend to focus on specific expertise with a wide variety of relevant tools for the job. Tools take the form of programs, programming languages and protocols. It can't hurt to have certification where it is available in any of these, but at the very least, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you know what you are doing with the required tools in order to become a test development engineer. Some companies in the field might be willing to pay for tuition to keep you current on certifications after you have been hired, but the pool of talented applicants is large, so direct experience is likely to advance your standing as a job candidate further than simple willingness to learn on the job will advance it.
Another reason why job experience is important to the field is that quality assurance is fundamentally focused on reliability and successful completion of tasks. A résumé that portrays you as a steady, results-oriented employee will be a valuable asset, because if you become a test development engineer, you will be required not only to design and implement tools to promote reliability, but to showcase your own reliability through your everyday work performance. If this sounds like you, it's time to take a closer look at who is hiring and figure out which companies you would feel good about working for.
