qtec Group | Verification Engineer – Challenges in Day-to-Day Work

Challenges of a verification engineer in their daily work

Tester?!? Same same but different…

Tester? We’ve all heard that job title before. But what does it actually mean, and what is this profession all about?

The term "tester" encompasses several job titles, which are described in more detail below regarding their responsibilities, areas of application, objectives, and industries:

Job Title	Responsibilities/Tasks	Area(s) of Application	Objectives	Industries
Test or Experimental Engineer (m/f)	New product development Analysis of existing products Defining product requirements (e.g., functionalities, safety standards, etc.) Planning, conducting, and evaluating tests¹	Research & Development	Development and refinement of products and systems in cooperation with research, production teams, and quality management¹	Automotive industry Biotechnology Electrical engineering Aerospace Medical engineering Pharmaceutics Manufacturing technology, etc.
Verification Engineer (m/f)	Planning, developing, and implementing tests, as well as executing them Identifying and resolving defects during testing phases Evaluating test results Ensuring that products meet specified requirements and function without defects²	Quality Assurance	Development and Quality Assurance of Software and Hardware Products²
Validation Engineer (m/f)	Planning, conducting, and evaluating tests and procedures Ensuring compliance with required product, system, or process requirements/specifications Creating and revising quality documents³	Engineering, Production, Quality Assurance	Development and Quality Assurance of Software and Hardware Products²
Test Engineer (m/f)	Documentation of product requirements (e.g., functionalities, safety standards, etc.) Quality control of raw materials, materials, components, and finished products for defects and malfunctions Development of test environments and test cases, analysis of results, and documentation Monitoring of all production stages to ensure compliance with all safety procedures⁴	Customer Service, Production	Quality testing of existing products and systems throughout the entire product lifecycle⁴

Table 1: Detailed tester job categories

Furthermore, a distinction is also made between various hybrid roles within these professional groups, such as test engineer or experimental/testing engineer⁵, test and verification engineer⁶, qualification and validation engineer⁷, and validation and verification engineer⁸.

Depending on the industry and corporate culture, the role of a tester may be titled differently, and responsibilities may be distributed or prioritized differently.

As can be seen in Table 1, all these professional groups – working in various fields with different responsibilities – are involved in testing or verification in some capacity.

Depending on the industry, different engineering degrees and specialized expertise are required. A good foundation for getting started is, for example, a bachelor’s or master’s degree (e.g., in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, medical engineering, physics, or process engineering) or a comparable background (e.g., completed technical training in electronics, mechatronics, or a technician’s program). In an international environment, a good command of English is required, as English is typically the working language and the language of technical literature.

In summary, the personal and professional skills of a tester include:

Analytical thinking and a structured approach to work
Good English skills
Knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines for the respective industry
Comprehensive knowledge of the natural sciences
Ability to work in a team
Strong interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with internal and external stakeholders (teams, suppliers, customers)
Organizational skills and creativity in planning and conducting tests
Discipline, patience, and the ability to concentrate
Accuracy and strong troubleshooting skills

Overall, the role of a tester is a balanced mix of communication, teamwork, and working independently.

What’s in this blog post?

Verification, validation, and testing
The responsibilities of a verification engineer
Challenges in day-to-day work
Learning from mistakes and improving for the future
Summary

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Verification, Validation, and Testing

Ensuring that products, processes, and systems [test objects] meet the specified requirements and function flawlessly in the end …

This is achieved through verification, which is closely related to validation and testing. Verification focuses on ensuring that test objects correctly meet their required specifications and requirements. Validation, on the other hand, ensures that test objects meet the needs and expectations of the user. Both methods involve testing procedures (verification = static testing, validation = dynamic testing).

Once verification is complete, validation [V&V] can begin. The following example illustrates a V&V process:
During verification, a jack is tested to determine whether it can lift a weight of 2,000 kg for at least two hours. If verification is successful, the validation phase will verify whether the jack, with a lifting capacity of 2000 kg, can actually lift a vehicle and whether the user can operate the jack intuitively⁹.

Verification and validation are definitely not the same thing, but they are closely related and linked to testing activities. Both verification and validation are central to quality assurance, although their focuses differ. Verification ensures the correctness of the test objects, while validation ensures their usefulness and user satisfaction.

In summary, early detection of problems results in fewer corrections:

Preliminary testing identifies approximately 50 to 60% of potential errors at an early stage.
Validation uncovers 20 to 30% of errors that are often missed during verification.
When both methods are applied optimally, total errors can be reduced by up to 40% and customer satisfaction increased by 85%.

This leads to a higher level of quality assurance for products, systems, and processes, particularly during market launch or release¹⁰.

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Responsibilities of a Verification Engineer

The tasks of a verification engineer are varied, diverse, and certainly not always the same. The work is technical and demanding. The breakdown of tasks before, during, and after a verification is as follows:

Planning
Execution
Evaluation
Follow-up

In addition to the actual “testing,” the process begins with the preparation and planning of test plans. Generally, verification and validation activities are project-specific. Test plans and the actual test cases for the test objects to be verified are created on a project-by-project basis using so-called test management tools (e.g., DOORS [Dynamic Object-Oriented Requirements System] ¹¹, ETM [Engineering Test Management Tool] from IBM¹², or Polarion from Siemens¹³). Depending on the job description, test plans can be created by the test manager¹⁴ as well as by the tester. The test manager is primarily responsible for coordinating the test plans and the requirements linked within them.

The verification engineer is involved in the development of new products, processes, and systems [test objects], as well as in the further development of existing ones. Test plans are developed by defining the requirements to be tested or by addressing defects. Coordination takes place with internal or external functional areas (e.g., product development, production, quality management, suppliers, testing laboratories, etc.) in compliance with regulatory and quality-related requirements.
During the planning phase, the verification engineer reviews the requirements to be specified and derives appropriate test cases and verification methods from them.

A distinction can be made between manual and automated tests, as well as document, design, or visual inspections. The number of requirements within a test plan can vary depending on the project (ranging from one to an infinite number of requirements). Depending on the circumstances, one or more requirements may be assigned to a single test case. Similarly, multiple verification methods can be used within a single test. The project team determines how many requirements are to be verified in a test case and by which method. Factors to be considered here include the test objects to be used (hardware and/or software), test equipment and fixtures (e.g., calibrated sensors, validated test tool files, etc.). For the test objects in question, static sample sizes must be developed and justified in the test plan (sample size rationale).
Furthermore, the requirements are also reviewed for their wording and clarity. In some cases, the requirements are not immediately clear or are interpreted differently by team or project members. This requires collaboration among the involved members (test manager, tester, requirements engineer, systems engineer, risk manager).
Once all requirements have been assigned to test cases, the tester defines the test steps to be performed within the test cases. Test formulation is based on the tester’s experience, on the one hand, and on consultation with other parties, such as system engineers involved in the development of the test object, on the other. Ideally, a prototype is already available at this stage, allowing the tester to familiarize themselves with it and formulate the test steps more precisely. Additional resources for test description include previous products and tests, as well as the knowledge within the project team.

In addition, there are tests that are outsourced to external testing laboratories (e.g., biocompatibility, electrical safety, packaging tests). The reason for this is that not every company has the direct capabilities or facilities to test certain requirements. In such cases, external laboratories must be contacted, and appointments as well as the round-trip transport of the test items must be scheduled, reserved, and organized.
Once all requirements to be specified have been clearly defined, the test cases have been drafted, and they have been reviewed using a dual-review process (e.g., by a test manager and a tester), approval is granted along with a report on verification readiness, and the verification or “testing” can begin.

The tests will be executed within a time frame that was established in advance as part of the project. Delays are possible and should be factored into a time buffer during project planning.

Manual and/or automated tests are performed on test objects approved for verification in accordance with the requirements, standards, and internal and external guidelines to be tested, as well as for bug fixes. Tests are typically categorized into system tests, system integration tests, functional tests, and performance tests. When inspecting documents, such as test reports, user manuals, and installation instructions, it is also important to ensure that the documents to be reviewed are, ideally, approved before verification begins. Only when the results of the document review provide objective evidence that the requirements have been met can it be used as a verification measure.

For existing products, the verification engineer identifies weaknesses in order to optimize the product as much as possible and thus maintain its competitiveness against rival products. The purpose of conducting these tests is to perform a comprehensive, systematic evaluation of quality (correctness, completeness, clarity, and consistency) to determine whether the test objects under examination are suitable for their intended use (functionality, practicality, quality, and safety).

Ideally, a verification loop runs without errors (zero-defect strategy¹⁵). However, during the verification phase, unexpected errors and discrepancies are typically found in relation to both the test objects and the test cases. These must be identified and documented in detail in the form of so-called defect tickets. If possible, the identified deviations should be resolved by the next verification loop. Often, a so-called pre-verification is also scheduled and conducted prior to the actual test execution. Of course, this is only done if it has been factored into the schedule. Test objects are partially or fully tested prior to the first verification loop. If unexpected deviations and errors are found during this process, they can be analyzed, evaluated, and resolved in advance of the actual verification. Among other benefits, this saves time during the actual verification process.

Once the first test cycle is complete, the test results are evaluated. A cross-functional team of experts assesses and discusses the results, test cases, and the next steps. Typically, the results are classified as passed, failed, or accepted. If unexpected deviations or errors occur in the test results, the verification engineer assesses them, determines their causes, and develops measures to resolve them. Consequently, they can offer the expert team potential solutions for optimization in advance, which should be taken into account and implemented. In the case of failed tests, a second verification loop is generally performed after the errors and deviations from the first loop have been corrected (so-called post-processing). As many verification loops as necessary are performed until the last errors and deviations are found. This is crucial to ensure that test objects meet the specified requirements and function properly. The evaluation of test results is an important part of a verification engineer’s responsibilities and requires the utmost attention to detail.

Once the expert team has completed its analysis of the test results, a follow-up process takes place in the form of an additional verification loop, as described earlier. This follow-up process addresses failed results, changes, and potential optimizations of reusable test cases through the development of test environments and scenarios that were identified during the previous testing and must be taken into account. In subsequent loops, selective checks are performed to verify whether test objects meet the specified requirements and whether previously identified errors, deviations, and defects have been resolved. Furthermore, changes such as new software versions should not have any unintended consequences (mandatory tests). All new errors, deviations, and defects that may arise should be identified in advance and resolved within the current verification loop.

Only if all test results have been passed or accepted and a second-party review has been conducted (evaluation and documentation of the test results) is the final verification complete. The goal here is to ensure that test objects meet the specified requirements and function properly – that is, flawlessly and without errors – as end products for both customers and users. This ensures that a new product is truly suitable for the purpose for which it was developed or optimized.

Challenges in everyday work

In their day-to-day work, verification engineers face a wide range of challenges that make their field of work both more complex and more exciting. One of the biggest challenges is carrying out the verification process. As the saying goes, “Theory is not the same as practice.” While verification is planned on paper, putting those verification measures into practice often looks quite different.

What is going wrong in practice, and where is definitely room for improvement in future verifications?

Preparation and planning involve identifying the test objects, test equipment, and test tools to be used, collaborating with external testing laboratories, and developing test cases and scenarios based on the specified requirements. Static sampling justifications must be defined for the test objects.
Test cases are designed based on the experience of individual team or project members, as well as with the help of available resources such as prototypes, previous versions of the test object, or, ideally, directly using the test object itself. As a rule, these resources are not yet fully available at the time of planning. Collaboration with external testing laboratories can also present its own challenges, such as communication problems, discrepancies, and schedule delays. During the coordination of test plans and the associated requirements, continuous changes to requirements occur before verification begins. Requirements are modified in terms of content (unclear definitions), deleted, or new requirements are added to the test plans.
The verification methods and weightings of individual requirements can also be modified. In practice, the static sampling justification often does not cover the number of test objects planned in the test or verification plan. The team must find solutions and justifications for this. This requires frequent interaction among the parties involved (test manager, testers, requirements engineer, systems engineer, and risk manager). It is essential to maintain a clear overview of the planning, and this overview must remain up to date. At the end of the planning phase, numerous potential changes, repeat processes (e.g., repeated dual-review of test cases), and unexpected delays in approvals may occur.

The actual verification process begins once approval is given to start verification. The testing phase can then begin.
During the testing phase, delays may occur due to factors such as unexpected changes to the test object or documentation, missing test reports from external laboratories, or unforeseen deviations, errors, or defects in the test object.

As part of the evaluation process, a cross-functional team of experts reviews and discusses the test results, test cases, and the next steps.
This process can often lead to disagreements and communication issues. Deviations and potential solutions for resolving them are interpreted differently by individual team members. Therefore, it is important to remain cooperative, patient, and calm in order to work together as a team to find the best solution.

The follow-up phase involves another verification loop, which incorporates failed test results, changes, and optimizations from the previous loop. In this new test loop, a selective review is conducted to verify whether the test objects meet the specified requirements and whether the previously identified deviations, errors, and defects have been resolved. The final verification is completed by evaluating and documenting the test results.
Here, too, discrepancies and communication difficulties may arise again due to differing interpretations and opinions. Further delays can also lead to time pressure during the verification process. In general, delays should not become the norm, and clear deadlines must be met.

During a verification process, a verification engineer must keep an eye on the big picture. They should be able to spot even the smallest and most subtle details. If problems arise, they should communicate immediately and take swift corrective action.

In summary, they must face the following challenges in their daily work:

Communication challenges involving cross-functional internal and external interfaces (communication with individual team/project members, departments, suppliers, and external testing laboratories)
Internal and external supplier issues related to material procurement, as well as the procurement of test equipment, test tools, and test objects
Coordination issues regarding test activities between projects, teams, and external testing laboratories due to missing approvals, documents, etc.
Numerous schedule changes (project delays, project cancellations, prioritization of other projects and tasks, absences of team/project members and other parties due to vacation and/or illness)
Project implementation under time pressure and with limited resources (rapid pace of technological developments, need for quick solutions to resolve issues)
System failures, internet and power outages (failure of the test management tool, inability to operate test objects)

Learn from mistakes and improve in the future

We learn throughout our entire lives. Whether it’s in school, for exams during vocational training or college, or through our personal and professional experiences. For most people, the word “learning” is associated only with negative experiences, such as stress, exams, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, and fear of making mistakes. Over the course of our lives, we come to realize that “learning,” when viewed in its entirety, is a major life task to which we should dedicate ourselves anew every single day. Those who do not learn and question things do not continue to develop and remain stuck in their own point of view. If we did not learn from the past and from our own mistakes as well as from the mistakes of others, we would keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

The same applies to the day-to-day work of a verification engineer. As described earlier, the tasks of a verification engineer are diverse and varied, meaning they face a wide range of challenges every day and tackle them head-on. When implementing verification measures across different projects and with various interfaces, as well as with team and project members, errors, issues, and inconsistencies cannot be ruled out. Therefore, these should be identified, examined, resolved, and used as learning opportunities as early as possible. With experience and time, the ability to find solutions to problems typically improves.

The key is not just to focus on others’ mistakes, but also to reflect on what you yourself did wrong and how you can do better in the future. For example, was it due to my own communication – did I overlook something and fail to communicate it in a timely manner? In a project, just as in a team, looking out for one another and learning from one another are very important. After all, you’re not just working on a single project or verification. Over the course of your professional life, you’ll collaborate on many projects with different people. Every new project, with both new and old participants, brings its own set of ups and downs. This makes it even more important to learn from past mistakes and improve in the future. Highs bring positive achievements, results, and joy, while lows can bring fears, challenges, difficulties, and new problems. These put us to the test and can even drive us to despair. This makes it so important to get back on our feet quickly after setbacks. But we should also view low points positively, as they allow us to grow and offer new opportunities. Among other things, striving for perfectionism and questioning things and situations early on is by no means a weakness, but rather the right approach. Turning weaknesses into strengths in a targeted way. We shouldn’t let mistakes put us under pressure and should accept that they can happen. Mistakes should promote personal development as well as learning.

Mistakes are opportunities to learn, from which the following strategies for success can be derived:

Accept that mistakes will happen and don’t let them discourage you.
Analyze and reflect on mistakes to understand what didn’t go as planned.
Every mistake holds a lesson that can help you make better decisions in the future.
Set achievable and realistic goals for the future.
Create a positive culture of learning from mistakes for yourself and for others.

Ensure quality from the very beginning

With our specialized verification and validation engineers, we support medical device manufacturers from development through to market launch – reliably, in compliance with standards, and with flexible solutions.

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Summary

The verification engineer is a specialized engineer who is responsible for supervising the entire testing phase of products, processes, and systems [test objects]. Their responsibility is to ensure the correctness and reliability of the test objects under their supervision. This includes planning, execution, evaluation, and follow-up of tests and documentation. These serve to confirm that the defined requirements and specifications are met. Precision and safety are of the utmost importance. In all his work steps, the verification engineer ensures compliance with applicable standards, guidelines, internal processes, and regulations. This range of tasks and responsibilities makes the profession of verification engineer very demanding, but at the same time enormously varied and exciting. He is the final authority for every test object before it is finally sent to production and to the customer.

It is often up to him to ensure that everything runs smoothly and flawlessly during the verification phase. However, if something does go wrong, that’s not a big deal, because that, too, is part of his job. A verification engineer faces daily challenges such as communication, procurement, and supplier issues; coordination problems; project and schedule delays; missed deadlines; time pressure; resource constraints; system failures; and other technical glitches. This makes it even more important for him to be well-prepared to solve a wide range of problems. Now it is up to them to eliminate deviations, errors, defects, problems, and inconsistencies. These should be identified and investigated as early as possible. After appropriate corrective measures have been implemented, lessons should be learned from the mistakes.

What matters most is not only learning from others’ mistakes, but also from one’s own. Looking out for one another and learning from one another are crucial and vital for effective teamwork. Every new project brings its own set of highs and lows. This makes it so important to learn from past mistakes within the project and team, to avoid repeating them in the future, and to never bury one’s head in the sand.

It is not only the highs that are positive and beneficial, but also the lows that accompany them. They offer new opportunities and possibilities and allow us to grow to meet new challenges. Mistakes should promote not only learning but also personal development. We should also work to turn weaknesses into strengths. The transformation of weaknesses into strengths can sometimes be achieved through self-reflection, acceptance, and targeted development. We should never let ourselves be pressured and must accept that mistakes happen and that each of us has our weaknesses.

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