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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Electrical Field Engineer

💰 $75,000 - $125,000

EngineeringField ServiceElectrical Engineering

🎯 Role Definition

As an Electrical Field Engineer, you are the face of our company at customer sites, responsible for ensuring the successful deployment and operation of our advanced electrical power and control systems. You will travel to various locations to perform hands-on technical work, from initial installation and commissioning to emergency troubleshooting and preventative maintenance. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated problem-solver with deep technical knowledge, a passion for customer service, and a steadfast commitment to safety and quality. You will be instrumental in upholding our reputation for excellence and driving customer loyalty through expert service delivery.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Electrical Engineer
  • Field Service Technician
  • Electrical Controls Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Electrical Field Engineer
  • Field Engineering Manager
  • Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Application Engineer
  • Controls Engineer
  • Technical Sales Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform on-site installation, commissioning, and start-up of complex electrical power systems, including switchgear, transformers, UPS systems, VFDs, and motor control centers (MCCs).
  • Conduct comprehensive troubleshooting and root cause analysis of electrical, mechanical, and control system failures to restore functionality and minimize customer downtime.
  • Execute preventative and corrective maintenance programs on a wide range of electrical distribution and automation equipment at customer facilities.
  • Provide expert-level technical support and consultation to customers, both in-person and remotely, ensuring issues are resolved with professionalism and efficiency.
  • Interpret complex electrical schematics, one-line diagrams, control narratives, and technical manuals to execute service and installation tasks with precision.
  • Manage on-site project activities, including coordinating with subcontractors, overseeing installation teams, and ensuring projects are completed on schedule and within budget.
  • Develop and submit detailed, accurate, and timely field service reports, commissioning documentation, and trip reports for internal and customer records.
  • Train customer operators and maintenance personnel on the proper operation, safety procedures, and routine maintenance of installed systems and equipment.
  • Uphold and enforce strict compliance with all company, customer, and industry safety standards, including NEC, NETA, and NFPA 70E protocols.
  • Perform Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) to validate that equipment performance meets or exceeds design specifications.
  • Calibrate, test, and commission protective relays, metering devices, and other critical system components using specialized test equipment.
  • Modify and update PLC and HMI software on-site to address operational issues or implement customer-requested enhancements.
  • Act as the primary technical liaison between the customer and internal departments such as project management, engineering, and sales.
  • Identify and recommend opportunities for system upgrades, enhancements, and additional services to improve reliability and performance for the customer.
  • Manage and maintain an inventory of service tools, test equipment, and spare parts, ensuring they are calibrated and in good working order.
  • Respond to emergency service calls, often outside of normal business hours, to provide critical support for system outages.
  • Evaluate site conditions and provide technical input to the sales and engineering teams during the project proposal and design phases.
  • Document and report on-site observations and provide constructive feedback to the product development and quality teams for continuous improvement.
  • Perform power quality analysis and generate reports with recommendations to help customers resolve issues like harmonics, voltage sags, and transients.
  • Lead on-site safety briefings (tailgate meetings) before commencing work to ensure all personnel are aware of the hazards and safety protocols.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to field service performance.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by providing insights from field operations.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate customer data needs into engineering requirements for future products.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the broader engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Power Systems Expertise: In-depth knowledge of medium and low voltage power distribution equipment, including switchgear, transformers, circuit breakers, and protective relays.
  • PLC & HMI Proficiency: Hands-on experience troubleshooting, and ideally modifying, PLC and HMI programs (e.g., Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider Electric).
  • VFD & Motor Controls: Strong understanding of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and motor control centers (MCCs) for setup, commissioning, and fault diagnosis.
  • Electrical Testing: Proficiency with a wide range of electrical test equipment, such as multimeters, insulation resistance testers (meggers), relay test sets, and power quality analyzers.
  • Schematic Interpretation: The ability to expertly read, interpret, and redline electrical schematics, one-line diagrams, and control panel layouts.
  • Industrial Networking: Familiarity with industrial communication protocols like EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, and PROFIBUS for system integration and troubleshooting.
  • Safety Standards: Deep knowledge of electrical safety standards, particularly NFPA 70E, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures.
  • SCADA Systems: Experience working with and troubleshooting Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.
  • Technical Documentation: Skill in writing clear, concise, and accurate technical reports and documentation for a variety of audiences.
  • Software Familiarity: Working knowledge of software like AutoCAD or EPLAN for reviewing electrical drawings.

Soft Skills

  • Problem-Solving: Exceptional analytical and critical-thinking skills to diagnose complex issues under pressure and in unfamiliar environments.
  • Customer Focus: A professional, patient, and service-oriented demeanor with a talent for building rapport and trust with clients.
  • Independence & Autonomy: The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, manage time effectively, and make sound decisions in the field.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to clearly explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Adaptability: Flexibility to handle extensive travel, changing schedules, emergency call-outs, and diverse working conditions.
  • Composure: The ability to remain calm, focused, and professional during high-stakes situations and system emergencies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant technical field or equivalent combination of education and extensive field experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or Electrical Engineering Technology (BSEET).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering Technology
  • Mechatronics Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7 years of direct, hands-on experience as a Field Engineer, Field Service Technician, or Controls Engineer working with industrial electrical systems.

Preferred:

  • Experience in specific industries such as data centers, renewable energy (solar, wind), manufacturing, water/wastewater, or power generation and utilities is highly desirable.
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