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What does a field support engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

Field support engineers are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for providing on-site functions for the network systems of clients. These engineers must assist their clients in solving complex technical issues to reduce the occurrence of network connectivity issues. They must perform routine maintenance checkups to ensure that the network systems of their clients are operating consistently and efficiently. Field support engineers are also required to offer guidance and training to the client personnel to educate them about the operation of the product as well as maintenance procedures.

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Field support engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real field support engineer resumes:

  • Lead technical operations for an innovative workforce virtualization movement, including initial design and improvement of technical systems and processes.
  • Install and troubleshot routers, switches, PC's, servers, phones, and cable infrastructure.
  • Load UNIX or Linux on the servers and set up the network connections for remote access.
  • Trouble shooting, maintenance and installation of PC and other peripherals for clients.
  • Perform both network connectivity (TCP/IP, IPX/SPX) and rack mount hardware troubleshooting.
  • Experience with cabling systems, hubs and routers with setup, support and troubleshooting abilities.
  • Verify LAN/WAN connectivity through data circuits T1 s, T3 s Gigabits and infrastructure devices.
  • Maintain UNIX and database environments in order to successfully mirror the environment of an active customer.
  • Implement storage area network solutions encompassing servers, routers, bridges, tape libraries, and disk arrays.
  • Support multiple, heterogeneous environments with diverse OS, application and web server, API and database combinations.
  • Experience configuring, testing, and installing new PCs and upgrading, diagnosing, and repairing install PC systems.
  • Engage in direct customer contact to resolve intermittent voice quality on all dedicate customer's circuits across voice and data switches.
  • Customize server platforms running Microsoft and Linux base foundations.
  • Function as member of corporate Internet firewall security team.
  • Provide high-level application support, including integrate UNIX and DOS/Windows base platforms.

Field support engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Field Support Engineers are proficient in Technical Support, Troubleshoot, and Customer Satisfaction. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.

We break down the percentage of Field Support Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Technical Support, 9%

    Provided technical support services to sales representatives including product demonstrations, technical and functional information presentations, and network design assistance.

  • Troubleshoot, 8%

    Analyze and troubleshoot network equipment and peripherals for local business clients based on priority and assignment proximity.

  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%

    Developed a Troubleshooting Guide which reduced debug time by 12% across three organizations which increased product reliability and customer satisfaction.

  • Provide Customer Support, 5%

    Provide customer support over phone, at the unit's location or at the unit's deployed location.

  • Customer Support, 4%

    Provided customer support in system design, planning, and technical troubleshooting.

  • FSE, 4%

    Trained TMC Field Service Engineers (FSE) on Mission Command Common Services.

"technical support," "troubleshoot," and "customer satisfaction" are among the most common skills that field support engineers use at work. You can find even more field support engineer responsibilities below, including:

Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a field support engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what field support engineers relies on this skill, since "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." How this skill relates to field support engineer duties can be seen in an example from a field support engineer resume snippet: "handled urgent customer support issues, including high-severity problem-solving to be resolved in less than four hours. "

Analytical skills. Lastly, "analytical skills" is an important element of what a field support engineer does. Field support engineer responsibilities require this skill because "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." This resume example highlights how field support engineer duties rely on this skill: "install configure nas drives on each site for data backup. "

All field support engineer skills

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Compare different field support engineers

Field support engineer vs. Support analyst

The role of support analysts is to resolve problems with hardware, computer programs, and peripherals. They may focus on a particular aspect of the information technology (IT) department or give technical support to end-users. They mainly detect issues with IT equipment and software and devise solutions to resolve these issues. Also, they are responsible for answering queries from users, preparing service records, and handling escalations. Support analysts also support the company's IT operations and best practices by creating and distributing relevant IT documents.

If we compare the average field support engineer annual salary with that of a support analyst, we find that support analysts typically earn a $20,510 lower salary than field support engineers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between field support engineers and support analysts are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like technical support, troubleshoot, and customer satisfaction.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, field support engineer responsibilities require skills like "fse," "switches," "preventative maintenance," and "hardware problems." Meanwhile a typical support analyst has skills in areas such as "application support," "patients," "issue resolution," and "excellent interpersonal." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Support analysts earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $93,871. On the other hand, field support engineers are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $96,531.On average, support analysts reach similar levels of education than field support engineers. Support analysts are 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Field support engineer vs. Systems support

A systems support agent is responsible for resolving system applications and network issues, performing technical configuration, and upgrading systems infrastructure. A systems support representative conducts regular maintenance and diagnostic tests on the computer applications to ensure its optimal performance and efficiency to support business operations and avoid delays in deliverables. They also assist the technology team in designing backup systems and improve existing networks according to business requirements and specifications. They write resolution reports for reference to prevent the reoccurrence of system malfunction and inconsistencies.

A career as a systems support brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a field support engineer. In fact, systems supports salary is $32,468 lower than the salary of field support engineers per year.A few skills overlap for field support engineers and systems supports. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "technical support," "troubleshoot," and "customer satisfaction. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, field support engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "provide customer support," "fse," "preventative maintenance," and "hardware problems." Meanwhile, a systems support has duties that require skills in areas such as "end user support," "system support," "pc support," and "computer equipment." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Systems supports earn a lower average salary than field support engineers. But systems supports earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $72,760. Additionally, field support engineers earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $96,531 annually.systems supports earn similar levels of education than field support engineers in general. They're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Field support engineer vs. Systems engineer

Systems engineers are responsible for creating and overseeing systems related to the overall operations of the organization. They are in charge of assessing the organization's needs in terms of systems and creating plans to address these needs. These systems are usually related to the production or manufacturing of company products. Systems engineers create end-to-end processes that ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They make sure that the processes they put in place adhere to safety and security policies and guidelines. They also do routine checks and continuously find ways to further improve production and other systems.

On average, systems engineers earn lower salaries than field support engineers, with a $13,665 difference per year.By looking over several field support engineers and systems engineers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "technical support," "troubleshoot," and "provide customer support." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

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 support engineer resumes include skills like "customer satisfaction," "customer support," "fse," and "preventative maintenance," whereas a systems engineer is more likely to list skills in "python," "c++," "c #," and "dod. "

Systems engineers earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $96,218. Comparatively, field support engineers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $96,531.Most systems engineers achieve a higher degree level compared to field support engineers. For example, they're 5.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Field support engineer vs. Solutions engineer

A solutions engineer is an individual who assists customers in identifying their computer software needs and generates customized business software solutions for them. Solutions engineers collaborate with other department engineers to create practical demonstrations of proposed solutions and showcase them to the other members of the team. They are required to test the installed software and fix programming bugs that create errors with the system. Solutions engineers also maintain customer relations by providing post-installation follow-ups.

Solutions engineers typically earn lower pay than field support engineers. On average, solutions engineers earn a $1,017 lower salary per year.According to resumes from field support engineers and solutions engineers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "technical support," "troubleshoot," and "customer satisfaction. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A field support engineer uses "provide customer support," "fse," "preventative maintenance," and "hardware problems." Solutions engineers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "cloud," "pre sales," "java," and "architecture. "solutions engineers enjoy the best pay in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $118,808. For comparison, field support engineers earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.The average resume of solutions engineers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to field support engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 4.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.

Types of field support engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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