what is a quality engineer?
As a quality engineer, your primary role is to maintain and improve the quality of manufactured products. You monitor, test and report the products’ quality. You monitor and test the systems to ensure they meet the technical standards. You can work in various industries, from software to manufacturing and textile. The role involves determining the quality standards against which a company tests its products. If there is an issue with the products, you document the problem and collaborate with other engineers to resolve the problem.
In most companies, you train workers on new processes and the latest equipment to improve products. That's why a quality engineer requires exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to explain industrial processes clearly. To identify problems in products, you require experience in engineering and industry knowledge. It is also crucial to be familiar with the industry quality standards and the tools and techniques used for quality analysis, like root cause and statistical analysis.
As a quality engineer, you analyse complaints sent through customer feedback systems. Your job is to check the issues mentioned by customers and recommend changes to the manufacturers. Documenting the reported errors and working with other engineers to fix them is important. You also change production processes to match the requirements of the industry.
Would working as a quality engineer suit your analytical thinking skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a quality engineer role.
see quality engineer jobsaverage quality engineer salary
According to ONS, a quality engineer earns a salary of £37,000 per year. As a beginner starting your career, you receive a compensation package of £32,210 yearly. With experience and qualifications, your salary increases to over £50,000 annually.
what factors increase the salary of a quality engineer?
As a quality engineer, your compensation package relies on your experience and qualifications. With entry-level experience, you earn a low salary, but your compensation package increases as you improve your skills and expertise. You also earn more with additional qualifications. For instance, if you have a master's degree, you earn more than quality engineers with minimal qualifications.
The industry you work in determines your earnings. When you work in engineering, the products you create determine the qualifications required. For instance, working in aerospace and vehicle assembly requires quality engineers with specialised skills. Some manufacturing industries also require additional skills due to the complexity of the tasks. Working for large companies has numerous perks due to the unlimited resources available. They also handle extensive projects like large-scale manufacturing.
The location also influences your earnings. Some regions have a higher compensation package for quality engineers due to the demand for the role. For instance, working in large cities attracts higher salaries.
types of quality engineers
Some of the types of quality engineers include:
- quality assurance engineers: you help companies develop products that meet customer expectations. By performing standard checks for smooth service delivery, you ensure the products don’t have defects or mistakes. Your role improves product credibility and customer confidence.
- new product development quality engineers: as a new product development engineer, you are part of the team that develops new and innovative products in a company. Your job is to review and design prototypes, perform tests and complete product designs.
- research and development quality engineers: as a research and development quality engineer, you help design new products by testing their viability. You coordinate tests and experiments and troubleshoot problems related to designs and materials. You provide quality support for developing new products and implementing design changes.
working as a quality engineer
Working as a quality engineer is an exciting career that allows you to add value to products developed by a company. Let’s explore some of the duties and responsibilities of quality engineers.
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quality engineer job description
Some of the duties and responsibilities of quality engineers include:
- analysing problems: as a quality engineer, you identify problems in products and processes. That means you need to be an expert in your company's products and manufacturing processes. For instance, if you work in an aerospace manufacturing unit, it is crucial to be aware of the problems that arise with the machinery to prevent issues during assembling.
- developing testing methods: as a quality engineer, your primary role is identifying and solving problems. You develop new testing methods to help you measure the quality of products. If the company already has testing methods, you study them and adjust the parameters to match the new requirements.
- relaying information to the engineering team: as a quality engineer, you identify changes in product quality or manufacturing processes. It is important to relay the information to the appropriate personnel for the changes to be adjusted. You also discuss with various stakeholders innovations that could improve product quality.
- solving problems in production processes: as a quality engineer, you are part of the problem-solving team. Your job is to identify issues in the manufacturing process and suggest solutions. You work with a cross-functional team to develop a long-term solution for the problems.
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work environment
As a quality engineer, you work in various industries, from manufacturing to automotive and aerospace engineering. You spend most of your time indoors or in a controlled factory environment. The factory is often climate controlled, and you wear protective equipment to prevent accidents. Sometimes, you work in the office to complete research work.
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who are your colleagues?
Quality engineers work with large teams to ensure manufacturing standards are adhered to and the improvement of production processes. Your colleagues include data scientists, business development managers and quality control technicians. You work with product designers and software developers in technology companies. You also work alongside project managers and research associate.
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work schedule
As a quality engineer, you work the typical office hours from 9 am to 5 pm. On a full-time schedule, you work up to 40 hours a week. In some manufacturing facilities, you work weekends and during public holidays to keep up with the production schedule. Part-time positions are also available for the role, and some quality engineers work on a contractual basis.
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job outlook
Quality engineers have various career growth opportunities due to the flexibility of the role. You can work in different industries and advance your career to managerial roles. When you have a few years of experience as a quality engineer, you supervise teams before moving to higher managerial roles. Since most quality engineers have an engineering degree, managerial job opportunities include senior technical specialist, project manager, and senior project manager.
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advantages of finding a quality engineer job through randstad
Finding your quality engineer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a quality engineer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
Here are the steps to becoming a quality engineer in the UK:
- bachelor’s degree: you require an undergraduate degree to become a quality engineer. Pursue an undergraduate degree in process or quality engineering to join the profession. You can also complete a degree course in your relevant industry, like mechanical or chemical engineering. A bachelor’s degree takes over four years and includes work placement or internships to equip you with relevant skills. If you desire managerial roles, pursue a master’s degree to improve your job prospects.
- experience: your work experience determines your salary and competency in the role. You can gain experience through internships and entry-level positions in the company.
quality engineer skills and competencies
You require the following skills to work as a quality engineer:
- process knowledge: as a quality engineer, you require extensive knowledge of quality engineering principles. For instance, it is important to understand the manufacturing processes and methods of testing and measuring to suggest appropriate ways of improving quality. A quality engineer also needs process knowledge to understand the implementation of quality systems for organisations.
- technical skills: as a quality engineer, you improve products and production processes to ensure high-quality services to clients. That means you identify sources of defects in products and solve the problems to avoid producing low-quality products. Your technical skills help you understand product specifications and the process control measures to apply.
- analytical mindset: as a quality engineer, your work requires vigilance to focus on the fine details. Pay attention to all aspects of the products to find defects. Your ability to identify defects and find effective solutions improves the quality of your products. You also require an analytical mind to distinguish between important and unimportant findings and make quick decisions.
- communication skills: as a quality engineer, you require excellent communication skills to convey your findings to the relevant teams. Your communication skills are also useful for collaborating with various professionals to improve and speed up processes.
FAQs about working as a quality engineer
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a quality engineer.
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how much does a quality engineer earn?
As a quality engineer, you earn a salary of £37,500 per year. Entry-level roles have a starting salary of £32,500 annually due to the minimum experience required. With experience and additional qualifications, your earnings can increase to over £50,783 yearly. The salary also depends on the industry you work in and the size of your company.
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how do I become a quality engineer?
To become a quality engineer, pursue an undergraduate degree or a higher national diploma. Some employers require an industry-specific qualification like chemical, mechanical or process engineering. While a master's degree is not mandatory, it gives you a competitive advantage in the job market. You also require work experience.
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is a quality engineer a good career?
Working as a quality engineer is a great career with promising job prospects in various industries. You can work in diverse industries, including manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies. Aside from the high demand for employment, quality engineers typically have a high salary range, and the compensation package improves with experience.
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is quality engineering a stressful job?
Unlike office jobs that can be repetitive and exhausting leading to professional burnout, working as a quality engineer is not stressful. Quality engineers rarely work overtime, and the deadlines are hardly ever-pressing. Working as a quality engineer is exciting if you enjoy working in your preferred industry.
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what does a quality engineer do?
As a quality engineer, you test processes and monitor quality standards. You devise tests that measure the quality of products and provide recommendations on areas of improvement. For instance, you fix any issues that arise during the quality testing and ensure the company meets the quality requirements of the industry.
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how do I apply for a quality engineer vacancy?
Applying for a quality engineer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
