Product Quality Engineer

Reports To: Director of Technology

Work Location: This is an in-office role (Eden Prairie, MN), with the option to work remotely on Fridays.

Position Summary

The Product Quality Engineer plays a key role in ensuring the quality, accuracy, and reliability of physics-based machining simulation software used in complex engineering and manufacturing applications. This position combines hands-on software testing, engineering analysis, defect investigation, and test automation to influence product quality throughout the software development lifecycle.

Working closely with Product Owners, software developers, and DevOps engineers, this role contributes to feature scoping, verification strategy, test automation, and test-platform development. The Product Quality Engineer helps establish and promote consistent testing standards, tools, and practices across the development team while remaining actively involved in hands-on verification work. The successful candidate will independently manage most assignments, influence team quality practices, and provide technical guidance in established areas of expertise.

Requirements

Major Job Accountabilities

• Work as part of a cross-functional software development team to create, maintain, and execute test scenarios for new features, enhancements, defect corrections, and regression testing
• Verify physics-based machining simulation software through structured testing and engineering analysis
• Establish, document, and champion consistent testing standards, procedures, and best practices across the product quality and software development teams, drawing from industry practices and lessons learned
• Translate product requirements into testable criteria and identify the inputs, environments, and acceptance criteria required for effective verification
• Define and recommend technical approaches for verifying software features and defect corrections
• Develop test coverage with an understanding of customer workflows, edge cases, failure conditions, use cases, and realistic parameter ranges
• Analyze simulation outputs to determine whether software behavior is accurate, consistent, and aligned with product requirements
• Work with Product Owners and engineering stakeholders to evaluate bug reports for completeness, reproducibility, technical impact, and customer relevance
• Reproduce reported issues and document clear steps, test conditions, expected behavior, actual behavior, and supporting evidence
• Verify defect corrections and determine the appropriate level of regression testing
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive, error-prone, or high-value testing activities
• Develop and maintain automated tests, scripts, test batteries, and supporting utilities with a focus on continuous improvement
• Collaborate with DevOps engineers and software developers on test infrastructure, test environments, automated workflows, and test-platform design
• Maintain test documentation, reusable test data, scripts, and other verification assets
• Participate in product development activities, including feature scoping, requirements review, technical planning, and release validation
• Identify recurring quality risks and recommend improvements to testing, development, and release processes
• Clearly communicate test results, technical findings, product risks, and recommendations to technical and nontechnical stakeholders

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical field
• 3+ years experience in software testing, software quality, engineering verification, or a related discipline
• Experience creating or executing structured test plans and documenting results
• Programming or scripting experience using a language such as Python, C++, Java, JavaScript, C#, or an equivalent language
• Experience with an automated UI testing framework such as Squish, Qt Test, Selenium, or an equivalent tool
• Experience investigating technical issues and documenting clear reproduction steps
• Ability to independently manage assigned work with limited direct supervision

Preferred

• Experience testing engineering, scientific, numerical, or physics-based simulation software
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM software and engineering workflows
• Knowledge of CNC machining, manufacturing processes, or cutting tools
• Experience developing automated tests or test frameworks
• Experience with source control, issue-tracking systems, automated test pipelines, or software release processes
• Familiarity with Agile or Scrum software development practices
• Experience with quality methods such as root-cause analysis, the 5 Whys, or design of experiments

Benefits

The salary range is $85,000-$105,000.

Third Wave Systems offers a comprehensive employee benefits program for full-time employees.

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• HSA
• 401 (k) + Employer Match
• Paid time off
• Holiday pay