Quality Assurance Engineer

Job Details

Sector(s)

Component Manufacturing and Research & Development; Project Development; Construction; Operations & Maintenance

Median Pay

$99,040 per year

$47.62 per hour

Job Type

Entry- to Mid-Level

Typical Entry-Level Education and Work Experience
Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; little to no experience required

Position Title

Quality Assurance Engineer

Alternate Titles

Test engineer

Job Description

Quality assurance engineers run tests on hydropower electrical, mechanical, or software components to make sure the components work as designed, meet safety regulations, and satisfy client expectations.

Education and Training Description

Quality assurance engineers typically have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science relevant to the products they test. Relevant fields of study and manufacturing include mechanical, industrial, or systems engineering, as well as computer science or software development. Employers also value experience, so experience through internships or cooperative-education engineering programs during a university program is a plus. Some employers look for applicants with prior experience as an engineer in relevant manufacturing or software development processes.

Job Profile

Quality assurance engineers provide quality control for mechanical and electrical hydropower component manufacturing companies. They make sure the hydropower components a company produces and sells function as they are designed to function. Quality assurance engineers may work with quality assurance teams, manufacturers, developers, and project managers to better understand end-user needs, management needs, and manufacturing processes. Quality assurance engineers use this information to develop or adjust their quality testing and systems appropriately. They also develop test procedures and implement systems that ensure the products and processes fulfill quality standards, meet safety regulations, and satisfy client expectations.

They often work with component design engineers and technicians to determine what functions of the hydropower component need to be tested. After determining the functions that need to be tested, a quality assurance engineer will design a process that can assess the functionality of a component. These designs could be written plans and blueprints for physical testing, computer programs to analyze product performance, or a combination of both. These tests assess the mechanical, electrical, or software performance of hydropower components such as turbines, circuit boards, or remotely controlled operation software. Quality assurance engineers work to make tests streamlined and repeatable so components can undergo efficient testing and be sent to customers without a long delay.

Outside of manufacturing processes, quality assurance engineers may help with hydropower equipment installation to ensure all parts are installed and function correctly. As in the manufacturing field, quality assurance engineers in construction additionally develop installation processes, procedures, and tests for hydropower equipment.

Quality assurance engineers also train different types of technicians to carry out the testing procedures and processes they have designed. They often work closely with technicians to improve and streamline testing processes as well as collect, analyze, and report the data to product development engineers.

Quality assurance engineers typically:

  • Work closely with manufacturers, design teams, and customers to develop standards for design and production as well as meet national and international industry standards
  • Develop, implement, test, analyze, revise, and improve hydropower component manufacturing processes
  • Perform process and product audits both internal to their organization or company as well as in their supply chain
  • Provide training to establish an understanding of product requirements and provide workers and suppliers the tools necessary to meet schedules, specifications, and organizational goals
  • Work closely with suppliers to ensure hydropower parts and components are produced according to product specifications
  • Document and report defects or problems with the components
  • Develop and implement a plan to improve performance when a problem or nonconformance is reported and then monitor, record, evaluate, and report on improvements
  • Use their knowledge of construction and component requirements to allow project engineers and developers to determine whether a proposed site is acceptable or if they recommend alternate locations
  • Estimate how different aspects of site storage or inspection schedules will affect the project deployment timeline and cost
  • Ensure the prerequisites and specifications for installation of each component are met during hydropower site construction and find alternate solutions that align with the existing timeline and budget when issues arise
  • Work with hydropower technicians as needed during the operations and maintenance phase of hydropower to identify the cause of malfunctions, component failures, or other issues that prohibit hydropower technologies from functioning properly.

Job Skills

Quality assurance engineers typically need:

  • Attention to detail. Quality assurance engineers must have attention to detail to ensure that products are being manufactured, installed, and operated to the required specifications.
  • Analysis/critical-thinking/problem-solving skills. Quality assurance engineers review established processes in order to find manufacturing and cost-optimization opportunities. When problems arise, they conduct root-cause investigations and develop and implement corrective or preventative action plans.
  • Communication skills. Quality assurance engineers must be able to communicate current and new processes clearly. They are also required to document many aspects of their job, including inspections, root-cause analyses, and process improvements, in a clear and understandable manner.
  • Ethics. Quality assurance engineers must be able to operate under pressure and still ensure that standards are met while managing potentially detrimental effects on timeline and budget.
  • Interpersonal skills. This skill is critical for quality assurance engineers. They work in teams across organizations and should be able to provide leadership and be collaborative and work with many different types of people at varying levels of seniority.
  • Math skills. Quality assurance engineers use the principles of statistics, calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

More Information

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