What does a Field Engineer do?
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Field engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real field engineer resumes:
- Promote from original position as a staff engineer managing a variety of geotechnical engineering activities to a field engineer inspector position.
- Assign IP addresses to the correct users.
- Install VMware servers and configure to customer needs.
- Recommend improvements to HSE tools, processes, and policies.
- Operate, troubleshoot and maintain million-dollar MX-20HD camera surveillance systems.
- Install boards and drives, as well as windows operating system.
- Assist in communicating HSE program requirements to functional group leaders and teams.
- Provide training and customer support to AFSOC on this complex radar system.
- Develop tests and debugging tools to analyze the functionality of hardware systems.
- Conduct offsite training for specialize VMware systems for end users and site administrators.
- Participate in programming a series of tools to build and operate MWD tool.
- Install, repair, and programme ATM machines and point of sale scanners.
- Install, maintain, and repair network/server equipment for Microsoft, UNIX, Linux systems.
- Utilize AutoCAD to check fabrication drawings to assure the product is cut and mark correctly.
- Configure encryption for Motorola MC9090 and MC75 PDAs to obtain a secure connection to wireless AP.
Field engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Field Engineers are proficient in Customer Service, Customer Satisfaction, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Concentration, Initiative, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Field Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 9%
Recognized for outstanding contributions; retained a 100% Customer Service Satisfaction rating, which facilitated ongoing business and customer retention.
- Customer Satisfaction, 8%
Provided quality service to customer base to include remedial and preventative maintenance, perform corrective actions and ensure total customer satisfaction.
- Project Management, 6%
Provided project management, field installation, troubleshooting, repair, upgrade and modifications to automated production equipment in manufacturing facilities.
- Azure, 6%
Immersed myself in independent technical training on Azure, SQL 2014, and Windows Clustering.
- Technical Support, 5%
Provided technical support through root-cause analysis, providing answers to customers and refining processes, resulting in flawless execution.
- Test Equipment, 4%
Experience working with computerized and manual test station maintenance, operation, calibration and repair utilizing common and specialized test equipment.
"customer service," "customer satisfaction," and "project management" are among the most common skills that field engineers use at work. You can find even more field engineer responsibilities below, including:
Concentration. One of the key soft skills for a field engineer to have is concentration. You can see how this relates to what field engineers do because "electrical and electronics engineers design and develop complex electrical systems and electronic components and products." Additionally, a field engineer resume shows how field engineers use concentration: "field engineering support of construction activities with a concentration on electrical and electrical support installations. "
Initiative. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling field engineer duties is initiative. The role rewards competence in this skill because "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." According to a field engineer resume, here's how field engineers can utilize initiative in their job responsibilities: "solved complex technical problems while exercising initiative and professional judgement as the field engineer for the core switch. "
Speaking skills. field engineers are also known for speaking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to field engineer responsibilities, because "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." A field engineer resume example shows how speaking skills is used in the workplace: "maintained and addressed all issues on the front-end registers, self-check out lanes, back-end pos controllers and fuel stations. "
Writing skills. field engineer responsibilities often require "writing skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents." This resume example shows what field engineers do with writing skills on a typical day: "provided technical assistance to other engineers by writing funding proposals and completing engineering designs. "
Math skills. Another crucial skill for a field engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "math skills." A big part of what field engineers relies on this skill, since "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." How this skill relates to field engineer duties can be seen in an example from a field engineer resume snippet: "selected appropriate equipment to increase production of oil wells achieved by mathematical calculations and field testing. "
Interpersonal skills. Another skill commonly found on field engineer job descriptions is "interpersonal skills." It can come up quite often in field engineer duties, since "electrical and electronics engineers must work with others during the manufacturing process to ensure that their plans are implemented correctly." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day field engineer responsibilities: "re-imaged hard drives insure customer satisfaction through follow-up visits and effective interpersonal skills. "
The three companies that hire the most field engineers are:
- Kiewit141 field engineers jobs
- ExterNetworks
100 field engineers jobs
- DISH Network81 field engineers jobs
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Compare different field engineers
Field engineer vs. Engineering associate
An engineering associate is an individual whose job duties include analysis of project plans, development of product designs, and maintenance of equipment. The engineering fields where an engineering associate can find a job include civil, mechanical, and environmental. The requirements to qualify for the position include obtaining a bachelor's degree in engineering, familiarity with a specific industry, prior work experience related to the field, and possessing strong technical skills.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, field engineer responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "customer satisfaction," "osha," and "oil gas." Meanwhile a typical engineering associate has skills in areas such as "python," "java," "c++," and "c #." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Engineering associates tend to make the most money working in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $88,950. In contrast, field engineers make the biggest average salary, $83,650, in the energy industry.On average, engineering associates reach similar levels of education than field engineers. Engineering associates are 2.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Field engineer vs. Mechanical engineering internship
One of the primary responsibilities in a mechanical engineering internship is to follow directives from engineers and managers while gaining practical experience. There are instances when an intern must take part in crafting various materials under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, produce reports and paperwork, operate tools and devices, and provide assistance should anyone need. Furthermore, it is essential to report to managers and supervisors if any issues arise.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real field engineer resumes. While field engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer service," "customer satisfaction," "azure," and "technical support," mechanical engineering interns use skills like "solidworks," "powerpoint," "mechanical design," and "mechanical systems."
On average, mechanical engineering interns earn a lower salary than field engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, mechanical engineering interns earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $44,983. Whereas field engineers have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $83,650.In general, mechanical engineering interns achieve similar levels of education than field engineers. They're 1.9% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Field engineer vs. Electrical engineer internship
The electrical engineer internship offers tasks to undergraduate engineering students related to electrical systems analysis and branch circuiting, site investigations, lighting calculations, and design drawings by complementing theoretical knowledge with practical duties on the job to gain experience and increase marketability. Through the internship, the undergraduate engineering students may develop professional aptitude, strengthen their character, and may increase their confidence in their work as it prepares them for what to expect in their field.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from field engineer resumes include skills like "customer service," "customer satisfaction," "project management," and "azure," whereas an electrical engineer internship is more likely to list skills in "c++," "c #," "analog," and "revit. "
Electrical engineer interns earn the best pay in the hospitality industry, where they command an average salary of $66,132. Field engineers earn the highest pay from the energy industry, with an average salary of $83,650.electrical engineer interns typically earn similar educational levels compared to field engineers. Specifically, they're 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Field engineer vs. Technical services engineer
A technical services engineer is responsible for assisting customers on their systems and network issues, providing them the best technical solutions, and guiding them on step-by-step procedures for troubleshooting. Technical services engineers must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially on identifying customers' system failures by asking them a few questions. They also escalate high-level complaints to internal teams, ensuring that they present the client's issues for reference. A technical services engineer also handles systems configuration and recommending process improvement techniques to optimize network infrastructure.
Types of field engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
