What Is a Field Service Engineer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Field service engineers, also known as engineering technicians, travel to client service sites to demonstrate, install, or repair products and systems. Field service engineers install and repair a variety of equipment and networks, including scientific instruments and computerized security systems. Each call is different; the skill set you need for these positions varies depending on the industry in which you work.

Field service engineers are also called engineering technicians. Though some positions require a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, many field service engineer jobs only require an associate degree or vocational school certificate in field service engineering. These educational programs provide the basics of engineering, mechanical and electrical repair, and circuitry. Most field engineers focus their training in one area of expertise, such as the medical field. You work closely with clients to determine what issues they are having, so cultivate your customer service skills. Field engineers work on the road and keep a mobile office, so good time management and excellent organization skills are essential.

Field service engineer opportunities vary, depending on the industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electrical engineering technician jobs are expected to grow by only 2% between 2016 and 2026, a slower rate of growth than the average for all careers over this same decade, whereas civil engineering technicians can expect 9% job growth in the same time frame. Be sure to research the area of expertise you wish to enter and consider job growth potential when deciding to pursue a career in field service engineering.

Job Summary

We are searching for a Field Service Engineer to travel to our clients and provide onsite services. In this role, your primary responsibilities are to install hardware and help customers learn how to use it. You will also conduct repairs, preventative maintenance, and calibration services on existing units. Our ideal applicant has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and several years of experience providing maintenance or installation services. You should also have experience working with programmable logic controllers (PLC) and high-voltage circuitry.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Travel to the customer with all of the necessary equipment
• Answer any questions the customer has about the product
• Install and calibrate the unit
• Review your schematics to ensure you have set up the unit properly
• Respond to calls for repair and perform regular maintenance

Requirements and Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED certificate
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (preferred)
• Experience with PLC and high-voltage circuitry
• Strong customer service skills

Job Summary

We are searching for a Field Service Engineer to travel to our clients and provide onsite services. In this role, your primary responsibilities are to install hardware and help customers learn how to use it. You will also conduct repairs, preventative maintenance, and calibration services on existing units. Our ideal applicant has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and several years of experience providing maintenance or installation services. You should also have experience working with programmable logic controllers (PLC) and high-voltage circuitry.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Travel to the customer with all of the necessary equipment
• Answer any questions the customer has about the product
• Install and calibrate the unit
• Review your schematics to ensure you have set up the unit properly
• Respond to calls for repair and perform regular maintenance

Requirements and Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED certificate
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (preferred)
• Experience with PLC and high-voltage circuitry
• Strong customer service skills