March 31, 2025
Quality engineering involves creating trust. Individuals in this field ensure safe, reliable and well-made products for everyday use. People who love solving problems and finding better ways to do things may consider a role as a quality engineer (QE).
To become a QE, job applicants must understand the ins and outs of the role, what to expect and how to grow.
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A quality engineer helps ensure a company’s products, processes and systems meet industry-specific quality and reliability standards. They prioritize consistency to ensure a company meets market standards and earns trust.
QEs catch potential issues before they become costly problems. Consider them defect detectors. In their line of work, quality involves getting things right while preventing what could go wrong.
For instance, a defective product may lead to recalls or safety risks, potentially tarnishing a brand’s reputation. QEs help avoid these pitfalls by setting up reliability and quality processes. They play a valuable role, regardless of the industry.
Companies needing to test a new medical device, ensure safety in car parts or verify electronics’ durability rely on QEs. The following industries benefit from having a QE on staff:
QEs simply don’t just tick checkboxes — they create systems that drive innovation and build trust. For anyone passionate about problem-solving and making a real-world impact, quality engineering offers a career filled with opportunities to shape industries for the better.
What does a quality engineer do? A day-in-the-life perspective can give aspiring QEs a better idea of what to expect:
In summary, a quality engineer’s job description could typically involve the following:
Quality engineering covers a wide range of roles. At its core, each type aims for quality and innovation in its respective field. However, the roles focus on different aspects to ensure products and processes meet these high standards.
The different types of quality engineering jobs include the following.
These roles focus specifically on materials and components sourced from external suppliers. QEs ensure these resources meet the company’s quality standards. As such, supplier quality engineers work closely with suppliers to monitor and evaluate their processes.
These QEs may even conduct audits and resolve issues that could affect the final product. This type of engineer mainly manages the supply chain and ensures external partners align with internal quality expectations.
The job responsibilities of a quality assurance engineer span far and wide. They help manage the overall quality system, ensuring the company complies with strict industry standards and regulations. Some tasks may include developing quality plans and monitoring audits.
Quality assurance engineers also ensure teams follow established quality control practices. They primarily focus on maintaining quality systems and compliance throughout the production process.
These engineers test whether the software meets all performance and security standards. Software quality engineers typically help design automated tests and identify system bugs. They also collaborate with development teams to ensure the software functions as intended.
What makes them different? They focus solely on software. As such, this role may require knowledge of coding and software testing rather than physical products.
This role centers itself on the production floor. Manufacturing quality engineers check that product development and manufacturing processes follow industry-specific quality specifications.
Their responsibilities may include inspecting production processes and implementing improvements to reduce defects and increase efficiency. These QEs take a very hands-on approach to their work.
Those considering becoming a QE should understand the specific job requirements. Education and experience — and everything in between — work together to ensure individuals maintain the highest standards in any product or process.
Candidates can explore some necessary QE job requirements below.
Most QEs hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field. The following fields of study provide students with a solid understanding of engineering principles and processes:
A master’s degree in a related field or quality management can be beneficial for those aiming for high-level leadership roles.
While a degree may be foundational, aspiring QEs can strengthen their applications with certifications.
The American Society for Quality offers the Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification. Becoming a CQE will showcase a candidate’s expertise in quality systems, process control and auditing.
Another valuable certification offered by The Council for Six Sigma Certification includes the Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt. Students will focus on the DMAIC model to gain a thorough understanding of problem-solving skills. DMAIC stands for define, measure, analyze, improve and control.
Experience counts in a QE role. Entry-level positions may be available to individuals with relevant internships or co-op experiences in quality control or production settings. Many quality engineers start out as quality control technicians or production associates to gain experience before moving into engineering roles.
However, mid-level and senior roles typically require at least three to five years of experience in quality engineering, manufacturing or a related field.
Focus on the following technical skills:
QEs must possess several interpersonal skills, which include:
Quality engineering offers numerous career growth opportunities. As engineers gain experience, they take on more advanced roles with more responsibility and influence.
A natural progression involves becoming a Senior Quality Engineer or Lead Quality Engineer role. These quality engineer positions typically require individuals to oversee complex projects, mentor junior engineers and lead efforts to improve processes across teams. The roles offer QEs a chance to take on more strategic tasks while maintaining hands-on involvement in quality improvement.
For those aiming for leadership, roles like Quality Manager or Quality Assurance Manager can be the next step. Individuals in these QE positions may need to manage quality teams and ensure compliance with industry standards. They may also be required to drive company-wide quality initiatives.
At a higher level, positions like Director of Quality or Vice President of Quality allow professionals to shape an organization’s quality strategy. QEs in these higher-level roles will potentially influence product development and operations. They can influence customer satisfaction on a larger scale.
Some QEs choose to specialize in areas like Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing or ISO Standards. Their aim may be to become experts in those fields. QEs can also branch into related areas such as supply chain management or product management.
The Danaher ecosystem consists of more than 15 businesses in life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology. Every company and member of our team — we have more than 63,000 associates — commits to making a tangible difference in the world. We constantly introduce life-changing innovations to enhance human health. Every person on our team contributes to a better tomorrow.
At Danaher, recent grads and longtime professionals can join other industry-leading engineers taking on lifesaving activities, from cell and gene therapies to advanced vaccines. Quality engineers at Danaher have an opportunity to perform the following to ensure the quality of our products and operations:
Our quality engineers provide crucial support for our operations, helping us optimize performance and enhance our positive contributions. They make a healthier, more sustainable future possible.
Joining the Danaher Talent Community involves meaningful career growth and impacting the world. Through our culture of continuous improvement, our work brings transformative innovation to benefit the quality of life for people globally. We solve today’s critical challenges through unparalleled collaboration across our businesses in biotechnology, life sciences and diagnostics.
Ambitious high performers thrive at Danaher. We love hearing from individuals passionate about system, product and process improvements. We prioritize a positive candidate experience for every applicant. From the first introduction to the interview, our team offers a transparent and supportive process as part of our Candidate Promise.
Candidates can expect engaging conversations where they’ll learn more about the unique missions driving our businesses. We want our team members to excel, and we’ll work hard to ensure a mutually beneficial experience. Our dedication to continuous improvement drives real-life breakthroughs — and quality engineers directly contribute to that change.
Each team member’s unique strengths and viewpoints have value. Collaborate with a winning team, accelerate potential and build a high-impact career as a quality engineer. Together, we can improve human health.
QE salaries vary depending on the individual’s experience, industry, location and education. QEs can earn an average salary of $82,000, but salaries range from around $59,000 to more than $100,000.
At the start of their careers, entry-level QEs may earn a salary on the lower end of the national average. This amount takes into account those with a degree and some internship or co-op experience but not yet much hands-on work in the field.
With a few years of experience, QEs may earn closer to the national average. At this point, they’ve gained a solid understanding of quality systems, troubleshooting and process improvements.
Senior QEs with extensive experience and leadership skills may earn more than $100,000. Those with certifications like Six Sigma Black Belt or those in leadership roles may earn even higher salaries, particularly if they manage larger teams or complex projects.
Individuals looking to increase their salary potential can focus on gaining industry-recognized certifications — be it Six Sigma or ISO. Additionally, specializing in high-demand skills like data analysis or automation may help. Taking on more responsibility where possible can also be beneficial.
Aspiring QEs blend their technical knowledge with creative problem-solving skills. People passionate about quality engineering can expect an exciting and fulfilling career. This step-by-step guide provides a starting point.
First, candidates must earn a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering or similar. During their studies, students will gain the foundational knowledge needed in quality control. They may also learn about engineering systems, processes and technical problem-solving.
Gaining hands-on experience through internships or co-ops while in school can be incredibly beneficial. These experiences provide a real-world knowledge of how quality systems work in practice. For individuals who completed their school careers, starting with an entry-level role like a quality technician or manufacturing assistant can offer the chance to learn the ropes in a quality-driven environment.
QEs need to be comfortable with data analysis, SPC, and industry-specific tools for measuring and improving product quality. They should also become comfortable with RCA and QMS. These technical skills often develop over time, but pursuing extra courses helps speed up the learning process.
Although not always required, certifications can be valuable in the quality engineering field. Certifications like Six Sigma Green Belt or Six Sigma Black Belt help solidify a candidate’s expertise and make them stand out in a competitive job market.
After obtaining foundational skills and certifications, aspiring QEs can start to work in a quality engineering role. Starting in an entry-level position, such as a Junior Quality Engineer, will provide the hands-on experience needed to refine skills in process improvement and compliance with quality standards. QE experience builds a strong professional foundation.
Once comfortable in a general QE role, many professionals choose to specialize. Areas like supplier quality management, regulatory compliance or software quality offer opportunities to focus on particular aspects of quality engineering. Specializing may lead to higher-paying positions and opportunities for leadership roles.
This dynamic field demands continuous education. Existing QEs need to stay current — be it through certification programs or workshops. Constantly staying involved and educated in this field helps professionals stay competitive and sharp.
After gaining several years of experience, many QEs advance into higher leadership roles. These positions involve overseeing teams and managing quality processes across the organization. QEs start to exert influence by implementing strategies to improve product quality on a larger scale.
Before applying for a QE role, applicants must craft a resume that showcases their skills, achievements and experience. Remember the several do’s and don’ts of building a quality engineering resume.
Candidates should consider the following best practices when crafting a QE resume:
Job applicants should avoid or be mindful of the following:
Applicants can look at quality engineering resume examples for ideas or inspiration.
With a career in quality engineering, you have the chance to make a real impact — and Danaher may be the perfect place to do just that.
As a leader in life sciences and diagnostics, we bring innovative thinkers together to tackle some of the world’s biggest health challenges. In our workplace, ideas turn into breakthroughs, and every role contributes to saving lives.
If making a difference while growing your career excites you, explore the engineering opportunities at Danaher. This could be where your skills truly shine.