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What does a field system engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A field system engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and applications to optimize company operations. Among their responsibilities include identifying and understanding the company's needs, conceptualizing plans, developing prototypes and test structures, troubleshooting and resolving problems, coordinating with fellow engineers, and producing progress reports as needed. They are also responsible for establishing guidelines, safety policies, and standards. Moreover, a field system engineer typically manages a junior team, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.

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Field system engineer responsibilities

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

  • Create service requests in CRM application to reflect report issues and manage customer expectations throughout escalation and/or resolution.
  • Build, configure, troubleshoot networks with Cisco routers and switches.
  • Configure & repair a variety of Cisco switches, routers, hubs and ATM Cisco devices.
  • Experience with CISCO commands and setting up hyper terminals into routers and switches to enable configuration, troubleshooting, and integration.
  • Evolve as one of the team's strongest UNIX and storage resource.
  • Build and configure linux machines.
  • Build and configure virtual machines using vmware.
  • Experience is associated with both UNIX and PC platforms.
  • Create new product demonstrations and test labs for pre-installation environments using VMWare.
  • Perform administrative duties on Linux base web and mail appliances in data center.
  • Install and upgrade OS, productivity software, and backups of important records.
  • Provide support for Citrix environment.
  • Stabilize Java environments, centralize configuration management.
  • Coordinate issues relate to TCP/IP and appletalk-base networking protocol.
  • Provide field maintenance and communications support under several OS platforms using remote access.

Field system engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 26% of Field System Engineers are proficient in PLC, Troubleshoot, and Customer Sites. They’re also known for soft skills such as Multitasking skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.

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

  • PLC, 26%

    Isolate problems in the PLC code used for the LPS hardware interface Ground Support equipment.

  • Troubleshoot, 10%

    Test and troubleshoot any issues involving DNS, Active Directory, Web servers, routers, switches, etc.

  • Customer Sites, 7%

    Frequent travel to customer sites to meet with customer engineers to discuss issues and needs for their embedded systems.

  • Control Systems, 7%

    Developed alteration procedures for Trident II Submarine Fire Control Systems.

  • System Upgrades, 6%

    Participate in NSA security accreditation process during numerous system upgrades to ensure system security and IA compliance.

  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%

    Collect information about problems within the database to develop customer satisfaction Through diagnostic procedures.

Most field system engineers use their skills in "plc," "troubleshoot," and "customer sites" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential field system engineer responsibilities here:

Multitasking skills. The most essential soft skill for a field system engineer to carry out their responsibilities is multitasking skills. This skill is important for the role because "administrators may have to work on many problems and tasks at the same time." Additionally, a field system engineer resume shows how their duties depend on multitasking skills: "used time management and multitasking skills to research and resolve customer issues in a timely manner. "

Analytical skills. Another essential skill to perform field system engineer duties is analytical skills. Field system engineers responsibilities require that "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Field system engineers also use analytical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "integrate and train ms iis web based architecture, for data archiving and web based image retrieval. "

Communication skills. This is an important skill for field system engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how field system engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a field system engineer: "supported a variety of presentation and communication technologies (cctv, skype, voip, etc. ".

Problem-solving skills. A big part of what field system engineers do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to field system engineer responsibilities because "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical field system engineer tasks: "solved pc operating system, network, email, application software and lan connectivity problems. "

See the full list of field system engineer skills

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Compare different field system engineers

Field system engineer vs. Network support technician

A network support technician specializes in optimizing a company's information technology (IT) networks for a smooth and efficient workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around addressing issues and concerns, troubleshooting, installing systems, executing upgrades, conducting diagnostic tests, and performing corrective measures as needed. They must also coordinate with staff in developing new IT systems, evaluate existing networks for areas needing improvement, and develop protocols while adhering to the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, as a network support technician, it is essential to maintain regular network maintenance checks to ensure the security and safety of company data.

The annual salary of network support technicians is $42,660 lower than the average salary of field system engineers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between field system engineers and network support technicians are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like troubleshoot, network topology, and technical support.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, field system engineer responsibilities require skills like "plc," "installation commissioning," "customer sites," and "control systems." Meanwhile a typical network support technician has skills in areas such as "network support," "provides technical support," "desk support," and "network printers." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Network support technicians tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $48,633. In contrast, field system engineers make the biggest average salary, $102,257, in the telecommunication industry.On average, network support technicians reach similar levels of education than field system engineers. Network support technicians are 2.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Field system engineer vs. Information engineer

An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence. They also design new network systems according to business needs and client specifications, running multiple diagnostic tests to ensure effectiveness before the release of final deliverables. An information engineer should have excellent technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.

On average, information engineers earn a $13,721 higher salary than field system engineers a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Field system engineers and information engineers both require similar skills like "troubleshoot," "network topology," and "technical support" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real field system engineer resumes. While field system engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "plc," "installation commissioning," "customer sites," and "control systems," information engineers use skills like "java," "azure," "data analysis," and "c++."

Information engineers earn a higher average salary than field system engineers. But information engineers earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $107,435. Additionally, field system engineers earn the highest salaries in the telecommunication with average pay of $102,257 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Information engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than field system engineers. In fact, they're 8.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Field system engineer vs. Engineer

Engineers 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. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.

On average scale, engineers bring in higher salaries than field system engineers. In fact, they earn a $795 higher salary per year.By looking over several field system engineers and engineers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "plc," "installation commissioning," and "troubleshoot." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a field system engineer is likely to be skilled in "customer sites," "system upgrades," "customer satisfaction," and "ac dc," while a typical engineer is skilled in "python," "cloud," "c++," and "c #."

Engineers earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $97,672. Comparatively, field system engineers have the highest earning potential in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $102,257.Most engineers achieve a higher degree level compared to field system engineers. For example, they're 6.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Field system engineer vs. Senior engineer

A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.

Senior engineers typically earn higher pay than field system engineers. On average, senior engineers earn a $17,461 higher salary per year.According to resumes from field system engineers and senior engineers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "plc," "installation commissioning," and "troubleshoot. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A field system engineer uses "customer sites," "system upgrades," "customer satisfaction," and "customer service." Senior engineers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "java," "python," "architecture," and "c #. "In general, senior engineers earn the most working in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $125,167. The highest-paying industry for a field system engineer is the telecommunication industry.The average resume of senior engineers showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to field system engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 13.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 2.9%.

Types of field system 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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