What is a QA Engineer?

A QA Engineer at AKKODIS safeguards quality across complex, high‑stakes engineering programs—ranging from Safety and Automation Systems (SAS/ICSS) in Oil & Gas to HVDC/HVAC platforms in Offshore Wind, and mission‑critical defense systems that must meet stringent MIL‑STD‑810 environmental requirements. You ensure that what is designed is not only built correctly, but also proven to operate safely, reliably, and in full compliance with applicable standards.

Your work directly impacts uptime, safety, and regulatory acceptance of large capital projects. You author and execute test strategies, FAT/SAT regimes, environmental and interface tests, and you lead the integration of subsystems across multiple vendors and contractual interfaces. Expect to influence everything from Cause & Effect (C&E) logic and System Control Diagrams (SCDs) to network architectures (including IEC 61850) and HMI/PDCS behaviors, ensuring verifiable traceability from requirement to result.

This role is critical and rewarding because the systems you validate often sit at the core of national infrastructure and energy transition programs. You will collaborate closely with multidiscipline engineering teams, suppliers, and clients, and you’ll see your decisions ripple across FEED, study, and EPC phases—culminating in safe, on‑time handovers that stand up to audits and real‑world conditions.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Your preparation should emphasize safety‑critical thinking, systems integration, and evidence‑driven testing. Review the standards ecosystem you’ll work with (e.g., NORSOK, ATEX, PTIL, IEC/IEC 61850, DNVGL, ISO, MIL‑STD‑810), refresh on FAT/SAT methodologies, and prepare concrete stories where you led verification, vendor follow‑up, and defect triage to closure.

• Role-related Knowledge (Technical/Domain Skills) – Interviewers look for depth in SAS/ICSS, control systems, automation networks, and standards‑based compliance. Demonstrate fluency with documents like C&E, SCD, I/O budgets, philosophies, and how you derive test procedures from them. Be specific about tools, protocols (Modbus, OPC UA, Profibus), and how you handle vendor interfaces.

• Problem-Solving Ability (How you approach challenges) – You will be assessed on how you de‑risk integration: root‑cause analysis, risk‑based testing, and prioritizing defects under schedule pressure. Outline your structured approach (e.g., FMEA‑informed testing, reproducibility strategies, acceptance criteria refinement).

• Leadership (How you influence and mobilize others) – Expect to explain how you aligned multidiscipline teams, vendors, and clients to resolve issues and hit milestones. Show how you run test readiness reviews, defect boards, and escalate effectively while maintaining delivery momentum.

• Culture Fit (How you work with teams and navigate ambiguity) – AKKODIS values collaboration, proactivity, and documentation rigor. Demonstrate how you thrive in multicultural environments, contribute to continuous improvement, and maintain composure in dynamic FEED/study contexts with moving targets.

This view provides salary insights tailored to QA/Automation roles comparable to AKKODIS assignments across Norway’s energy and defense sectors. Use it to calibrate expectations by seniority, location (e.g., Asker, Stavanger, Bergen, Kongsberg), and domain (Oil & Gas, Offshore Wind, Defense); compensation often reflects project criticality and certification requirements.

Interview Process Overview

AKKODIS runs a structured yet pragmatic process designed to validate your technical judgment in safety‑critical contexts and your ability to deliver across study, FEED, and EPC phases. You’ll experience a balance of domain deep dives, scenario‑based problem solving, and discussions about how you coordinate across vendors, disciplines, and clients to drive quality outcomes.

Expect a rigorous, time‑efficient cadence. Conversations progress from your fundamentals in standards and test strategy to hands‑on examples—such as how you built C&E‑driven test matrices, handled FAT/SAT non‑conformances, or validated IEC 61850‑based protection interfaces. The philosophy is simple: demonstrate how you think, how you decide, and how you document.

You will also see a client‑facing emphasis, reflecting AKKODIS’ role as an engineering partner. Your ability to communicate clearly, defend decisions with data, and translate requirements into verifiable tests will be central. Security, safety, and compliance are recurring themes throughout.

This visual timeline shows the typical sequence of interview stages, from initial alignment to technical assessments and client interactions. Use it to anticipate pacing and prepare concise, standards‑anchored examples for each stage. Build a small “evidence pack” (1–2 pages) mapping your experiences to the timeline to keep your messaging sharp.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Safety-Critical Systems & Standards Compliance

Quality in our domains is inseparable from compliance and safety integrity. Interviewers assess your ability to interpret standards and convert them into testable acceptance criteria and auditable evidence. They want to hear how you navigate constraints while maintaining engineering integrity and delivery speed.

Be ready to go over:

• NORSOK, ATEX, PTIL, DNVGL, ISO: How requirements flow into design verifications, inspections, and test documentation.
• IEC/IEC 61850: Protection/automation interface validation, network segmentation, and failover testing.
• MIL-STD-810: Environmental qualification strategies (vibration, temperature, humidity, shock) and test tailoring.
• Advanced concepts (less common): SIL allocation and verification, cybersecurity hardening in SAS/ICSS, SIF proof testing strategies.

Example questions or scenarios:

• “Walk us through how you derived acceptance criteria from ATEX and validated compliance during FAT/SAT.”
• “How did you apply IEC 61850 testing—including GOOSE messaging verification and redundancy failover?”
• “Describe a MIL‑STD‑810 environmental test campaign you planned and the non‑conformances you managed.”

Systems Integration, SAS/ICSS & Network Architecture

You will be evaluated on how you integrate across packages and interfaces. The focus is on translating C&E logic, SCDs, I/O budgets, and philosophies into robust, testable systems that function end‑to‑end.

Be ready to go over:

• SAS/ICSS fundamentals: From platform control and Fire & Gas to ESD/SIS interactions and HMI/PDCS behavior.
• Interface management: Vendor follow‑up, data registers, tag governance, and change control.
• Protocols & tooling: OPC UA/DA, Modbus, Profibus/Profinet, network diagnostics, simulation/HIL.
• Advanced concepts (less common): Time‑synchronization (PTP/NTP), determinism, loss‑of‑comm resilience testing.

Example questions or scenarios:

• “Given a C&E and SCD set, how would you structure integration tests across three vendors’ packages?”
• “How do you validate PDCS interactions and alarms to prevent nuisance trips without degrading safety?”
• “Describe resolving an interface mismatch under schedule pressure—what did you test, and how did you document the fix?”

Test Strategy, Verification & Validation (FAT/SAT/HIL/SIL)

Expect to detail how you plan, execute, and evidence testing across lab, vendor, and site contexts. Interviewers look for rigor, traceability, and smart prioritization when time is tight.

Be ready to go over:

• Test planning: Defining scope, entry/exit criteria, resource planning, and readiness reviews.
• FAT/SAT execution: Witness strategies, defect capture, triage, re‑test, and sign‑off controls.
• Data & evidence: Structured logs, screenshots, plots, and parameter baselines for auditability.
• Advanced concepts (less common): HIL/SIL, formal methods for safety logic, reliability demonstration tests.

Example questions or scenarios:

• “Show how you built a risk‑based test plan that covered the most critical failure modes first.”
• “How do you manage defects during FAT to protect the SAT schedule?”
• “Describe a time you used HIL to de‑risk site commissioning.”

Documentation, Traceability & Reviews

Quality is proven in the documentation. Interviewers expect end‑to‑end traceability: requirement → design artifact → test case → result → evidence → approval.

Be ready to go over:

• Document set mastery: C&E, SCD, philosophies, I/O lists, HMI specs, and their interrelations.
• Traceability matrices: Linking tests to requirements and changes across study/FEED/EPC.
• Review cadence: Technical reviews, discipline checks, vendor documentation approval.
• Advanced concepts (less common): Digital twins for traceability, automated evidence harvesting.

Example questions or scenarios:

• “Walk us through a traceability matrix you owned and how it simplified audits.”
• “How do you keep SCDs, I/O budgets, and HMI configurations synchronized through late‑stage changes?”
• “What does ‘sufficient evidence’ look like for a regulator or notified body?”

Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Communication

Your influence drives alignment and momentum. Interviewers assess how you facilitate multidiscipline buy‑in, manage vendor expectations, and communicate clearly under pressure.

Be ready to go over:

• Meeting mechanics: Test readiness reviews, daily defect boards, decision logs.
• Escalation: How you raise risks early with options and data.
• Client engagement: Clarifying requirements, negotiating acceptance, and reporting.
• Advanced concepts (less common): Interface governance across multiple contractual boundaries.

Example questions or scenarios:

• “Tell us about a contentious defect—how did you align vendor, client, and engineering to close it?”
• “How do you communicate test progress and risks to non‑specialists without losing precision?”
• “Describe a time you recovered schedule without compromising safety or compliance.”

Use this word cloud to quickly see recurring themes in interviews for this role—expect emphasis on SAS/ICSS, FAT/SAT, standards (NORSOK/ATEX/PTIL/IEC), C&E/SCD, IEC 61850, vendor follow‑up, and documentation/traceability. Prioritize preparation where terms are most prominent and connect them to concrete stories from your experience.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will own the verification and validation lifecycle for complex automation and control systems. Day‑to‑day, you will translate requirements and standards into testable acceptance criteria, plan and execute FAT/SAT, and coordinate vendor and interface activities to secure quality and schedule.

You will collaborate closely with automation, electrical, process, safety, and IT/OT teams, as well as suppliers and clients, to align on philosophies, document updates, and test coverage. Expect to lead technical reviews, track non‑conformances, and deliver auditable test evidence.

• Plan and author test strategies, plans, and detailed procedures (C&E‑driven, SCD‑aligned).
• Execute and witness FAT/SAT, HIL/SIL where applicable; capture, triage, and close defects.
• Review and govern vendor documentation, data registers, and interface controls.
• Validate networks and protocols (e.g., IEC 61850, OPC UA, Modbus) including redundancy and failover.
• Produce evidence packages for client/regulatory acceptance and support audits.
• Contribute to studies/FEED by shaping philosophies, I/O budgets, and early testability.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

Strong candidates bring a blend of technical depth, documentation rigor, and cross‑functional leadership. Experience spans greenfield and brownfield projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, Offshore Wind, or defense programs.

• Must‑have technical skills:

  • SAS/ICSS and control systems engineering fundamentals
  • Test strategy & execution (FAT/SAT, integration, environmental per MIL‑STD‑810)
  • Standards proficiency: NORSOK, ATEX, PTIL, IEC (incl. IEC 61850), DNVGL, ISO
  • Artifacts: C&E, SCD, philosophies, I/O budgets, HMI specs, data registers
  • Interfaces & networks: OPC UA/DA, Modbus, Profibus/Profinet; redundancy and time sync
  • Documentation & traceability; vendor follow‑up and review workflows

• Experience level:

  • Typically 5–12+ years in automation/QA for safety‑critical systems (role‑dependent)
  • Background in study/FEED/EPC; vendor coordination across multiple packages

• Soft skills:

  • Clear communication (English; Norwegian often advantageous)
  • Structured, accurate, deadline‑reliable working style
  • Collaborative, multicultural mindset; proactive risk management

• Required/commonly expected certifications:

  • FSE (high/low voltage, with first aid)
  • EX/ATEX course
  • For offshore roles: valid offshore certificate and health certificate
  • For defense roles: ability to obtain Norwegian/NATO security clearance

• Nice‑to‑have advantages:

  • IEC 61850 depth, Kongsberg SAS familiarity, PDCS experience
  • FEED/study‑phase leadership; HVDC/HVAC Offshore Wind exposure
  • HIL/SIL test automation; Python scripting or digital test tooling

Common Interview Questions

Expect a mix of technical depth, scenario problem‑solving, and documentation‑centric questions. Prepare brief, evidence‑backed stories using a Situation‑Action‑Result format, citing standards and artifacts.

Technical / Domain (SAS, ICSS, Standards)

• How do you derive test cases from a C&E matrix and SCDs for Fire & Gas and ESD?
• Explain how you validate ATEX compliance through documentation and testing.
• Walk through your approach to verifying an IEC 61850 GOOSE messaging scheme with redundancy.
• How do PTIL and NORSOK influence your verification strategy on NCS projects?
• Describe ensuring PDCS, HMI, and alarm management meet client philosophies.

Test Strategy, FAT/SAT, and Environmental

• How do you structure FAT to protect SAT schedule and vendor availability?
• Give an example of risk‑based testing that caught a late integration defect.
• How have you tailored MIL‑STD‑810 tests to product constraints?
• What are your entry/exit criteria for SAT in a brownfield modification?
• Show how you build an evidence package for client acceptance.

System Design / Architecture (Interfaces & Networks)

• Describe validating interfaces across multiple vendor packages under tight deadlines.
• How do you test time synchronization and failover behavior in protection systems?
• Discuss de‑risking control network segmentation and cybersecurity concerns during testing.
• What common pitfalls have you seen in I/O budgeting and tag governance?
• How do you test for loss‑of‑communications resilience in SAS/ICSS?

Behavioral / Leadership

• Tell us about a defect dispute between vendor and client—how did you resolve it?
• How do you keep multidisciplinary teams aligned during rapid late‑stage changes?
• Describe a time you escalated a risk early and protected delivery.
• How do you mentor juniors in writing solid test procedures?
• What’s your approach to transparent reporting when tests slip?

Documentation & Compliance

• Show how you maintain end‑to‑end traceability from requirement to evidence.
• How do you ensure vendor documentation stays synchronized with the live system?
• What constitutes sufficient evidence for an audit finding closure?
• Describe your discipline check workflow for automation documents.
• How do you structure a test readiness review?

Use this interactive practice module to rehearse answers to technical and behavioral questions drawn from real interviews. Dataford allows you to simulate responses, get structure prompts, and track which areas need deeper preparation before your next conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the QA Engineer interview at AKKODIS, and how long should I prepare?
Expect a moderate‑to‑high level of rigor focused on standards, integration, and test evidence. Most candidates benefit from 2–3 weeks of targeted prep reviewing standards, curating examples, and refreshing FAT/SAT best practices.

Q: What makes successful candidates stand out?
Clarity and evidence. The strongest candidates tie every claim to a document, test, or metric, show mastery of standards, and demonstrate how they lead multidiscipline alignment under time pressure.

Q: What is the culture like?
Professional, collaborative, and delivery‑oriented. You’ll work with multicultural teams, engage directly with clients and vendors, and are expected to be structured, proactive, and quality‑driven.

Q: What timeline should I expect from first interview to offer?
Timelines vary by project phase and client involvement, but typical processes run 2–4 weeks. Security checks, if applicable, can extend timelines—plan accordingly.

Q: Is remote work possible, and where are roles based?
Many roles are hybrid with on‑site requirements for FAT/SAT, workshops, and surveys. Key locations include Asker, Stavanger, Bergen, Haugesund, and Kongsberg; some travel is commonplace.

Q: Do I need security clearance?
For defense‑related assignments, you must be able to obtain Norwegian/NATO clearance. Discuss your eligibility early to ensure scheduling aligns with project needs.

Other General Tips

• Anchor answers in standards: Cite the exact clause or requirement and how you translated it into test cases—this shows rigor and audit readiness.
• Quantify quality: Mention defect densities, closure rates, re‑test cycles, and schedule impacts you mitigated with risk‑based testing.
• Bring artifacts: Redacted C&E‑based test procedures, a SAT sign‑off checklist, or a traceability matrix make your process tangible.
• Emphasize interface management: Describe how you governed tags, data registers, and vendor documentation to prevent late surprises.
• Show FEED/study versatility: Explain how early philosophies and I/O budgets improve downstream testability and reduce change churn.
• Be certificate‑ready: FSE/EX and offshore medicals can be gating items—have validity dates at hand.

Summary & Next Steps

The QA Engineer role at AKKODIS places you at the nexus of safety, reliability, and delivery across energy and defense programs. You will convert complex requirements and standards into testable, auditable outcomes, coordinating diverse stakeholders to deliver systems that perform in the world’s most demanding environments.

Focus your preparation on four pillars: standards fluency, systems integration (SAS/ICSS, IEC 61850, interfaces), evidence‑driven FAT/SAT, and leadership in cross‑functional settings. Build a compact portfolio of examples that prove your method: plans, procedures, defect handling, and final evidence.

Approach your interviews with confidence and clarity. Your expertise can materially raise project safety and reliability—make that impact visible through structured, standards‑anchored stories. For more practice and insights, explore the interactive resources on Dataford. You’re ready to demonstrate not just what you know, but how you deliver quality when it matters most.