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How to hire a field installation engineer

Field installation engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring field installation engineers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a field installation engineer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new field installation engineer to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a field installation engineer, step by step

To hire a field installation engineer, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a field installation engineer, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step field installation engineer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a field installation engineer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new field installation engineer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your field installation engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a field installation engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect field installation engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of field installation engineers.

    Type of Field Installation EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Field Installation EngineerMechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.$23-43
    EngineerEngineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more$31-62
    Tool EngineerA tooling engineer is responsible for creating and adjusting tools or parts for cars, heavy equipment, and other products that need customized or personalized components. Your duties and responsibilities will include creating design blueprints, using computer-aided (CAD) software to develop two- and three-dimensional prints, and validating and evaluating products... Show more$36-64
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Technical Support
    • Installation Projects
    • Equipment Installation
    • Installation Supervision
    • Fiber Optic
    • Windows
    • GPS
    • POS
    • PBX
    • Network Equipment
    • VoIP
    • Customer Sites
    • Database
    • TCP/IP
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Promote from original position as a staff engineer managing a variety of geotechnical engineering activities to a field engineer inspector position.
    • Install DUL, OVP, SAU and GPS antenna.
    • Add, moves, and changes services on PBX and key systems.
    • Install VoIP telephones in numerous retail stores on a national scale.
    • Install the RRU, LMU and GPS antennas and connect them in the cabinet.
    • Perform on site warranty service for Compaq/Hewlett Packard servers, and NEC POS systems.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your field installation engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A field installation engineer salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, field installation engineers' average salary in arkansas is 50% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level field installation engineers earn 47% less than senior-level field installation engineers.
    • Certifications. A field installation engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a field installation engineer's salary.

    Average field installation engineer salary

    $66,232yearly

    $31.84 hourly rate

    Entry-level field installation engineer salary
    $48,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 27, 2026
  4. Writing a field installation engineer job description

    A job description for a field installation engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a field installation engineer job description:

    Field installation engineer job description example

    PAR invented the first standalone point of sale terminal over 40 years ago, yet we operate much like a start-up at the forefront of restaurant technology. Today, our solutions span Customer loyalty, engagement, restaurant management, payment services, drive-thru, and full POS integrations. These solutions are used to serve tens of millions of guests every day in over 120 countries.

    Our mission is to build the number one restaurant technology company in the world and we're off to great start.

    We believe that our ambition is only limited by our ability to attract and retain great people; people who are up for the challenge to change the game with us! If it sounds like you belong here, we should meet!

    Field Engineer\Installation Technician

    PAR is looking for a Field Engineer\Installation Technician to join our growing team! Under the direction of the Manager of Field Operations, the Field Engineer will perform system-level demand maintenance and installation services on a wide variety of and restaurant technology equipment. Field Installation Engineers will be responsible for full system installations in a range of restaurant environments. They will also be asked to monitor new system installations and to train the customer on the operation and upkeep of the systems. Must also be able to install complete systems in new or existing sites.

    The Field Engineer\Installation Technician is passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and knows that fixing the issues is only part of the great service experience. These team members go above and beyond every day to ensure their customers believe that PAR is the best decision they make as business owners and restaurant operators. Our Field Engineer\Installation Technician are the face of our company to our customers, you will also have an opportunity to perform service requests at customer locations. Customer issues can include troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues; replacing hardware devices; performing preventative maintenance for the site; and general product support.

    JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

    • Facilitate successful implementations of software applications and functionality.
    • Provide quality installation, support, responsiveness, and customer care.
    • Respond to customer calls in accordance with an established Service Level Agreement (SLA).
    • Escalate customer problems and maintain good customer relations to achieve a high level or customer satisfaction.
    • Follow service delivery processes and procedures for timely completion of work performed and submission or required paperwork.
    • Document all activities in a manner compliant with the company's quality procedures.
    • Provides and obtains detailed solutions of a complex nature; contacts are at all levels within and outside PAR, which requires tactful and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
    • Assist to resolve hardware and software-related issues at client sites.
    • Unpack and install hardware and configure software specific to client needs, if needed.
    • Handle and account for assigned material and capital assets.
    • With direction work closely with sales and system engineering to support sales efforts and new product introduction.
    • Contribute to the productive results of the work group by supporting and participating in continual process improvement efforts.
    • Review all pertinent documentation prior to assigned installations to be fully prepared and knowledgeable.
    • Understanding of AC power and the effects of a properly grounded AC circuity.
    • Self-motivated individuals that have the discipline to work on their own with minimal follow up.
    • Must exercise expert judgment in resolving technical, operational, or procedural problems under limited supervision.

    KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

    • Two to three years of technical school (AA or AAS degree) or four years related experience.
    • High level of customer relations skills.
    • Thorough knowledge of system level hardware, local area networks, and software operation.
    • Knowledge of Windows Operating systems, basic networking troubleshooting required.
    • Strong troubleshooting skills.
    • Ability to train store management and employees on PAR products.
    • Experience to do minor construction type work such has drilling holes and mounting brackets.
    • Experience with running and terminating network cabling.
    • Prior experience with point of sale equipment is preferred.

    Additional Requirements

    • Clean driver's license required.
    • Significant travel required. Flexibility to work after hours and weekends as required.
    • Ability to climb ladders, demonstrate good dexterity, capable of lifting 85 pounds.
    • Ability to differentiate colors as part of troubleshooting and adherence to cabling standards.

    PAR is proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. We also provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant, please click here.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right field installation engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with field installation engineers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit field installation engineers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your field installation engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit field installation engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting field installation engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new field installation engineer

    Once you've selected the best field installation engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a field installation engineer?

There are different types of costs for hiring field installation engineers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new field installation engineer employee.

Field installation engineers earn a median yearly salary is $66,232 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find field installation engineers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $23 and $43.

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