How to hire a senior field service engineer

How to hire a senior field service engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior field service 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 senior field service engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior field service engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior field service engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a senior field service engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a senior field service engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a senior field service engineer that fits the bill.

   This list presents senior field service engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Field Service Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Field Service Engineer	Mechanical 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.	$31-55
   Staff Engineer	Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations... Show more	$33-80
   Facility Engineer	A facilities engineer specializes in managing and maintaining equipment and machinery in manufacturing plants or similar settings. Duties will revolve around conducting research and analysis through extensive data and blueprints, evaluating systems using various reports, handling issues, providing corrective measures, and performing regular inspections and maintenance... Show more	$30-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Control Systems
   • Test Equipment
   • Technical Support
   • Customer Sites
   • ISO
   • Corrective Action
   • Parts Inventory
   • Windows
   • Technical Issues
   • PLC
   • PC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Identify, develop and implement action items to manage & improve software releases and develop guidelines in JavaScript coding.
   • Work on various POS systems.
   • Repair and maintain the UNISYS UNIX system.
   • Configure and maintain small to large scale SAN environments.
   • Operate UNIX base DEX 500 and DMS 250 telecommunications switches.
   • Experience using Linux and Cisco CLI for payload operation and configuration.

   More senior field service engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the senior field service engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A senior field service engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a senior field service engineer in Indiana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level senior field service engineer. Additionally, a senior field service engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average senior field service engineer salary

   $87,414yearly

   $42.03 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior field service engineer salary

   $66,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average senior field service engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$125,681	$60
   2	Arizona	$99,914	$48
   3	Oregon	$95,431	$46
   4	New Mexico	$94,396	$45
   5	Washington	$92,207	$44
   6	Maryland	$91,697	$44
   7	Texas	$88,894	$43
   8	Massachusetts	$86,015	$41
   9	New York	$85,488	$41
   10	Illinois	$83,213	$40
   11	Colorado	$82,881	$40
   12	Georgia	$81,157	$39
   13	South Carolina	$80,516	$39
   14	North Carolina	$80,201	$39
   15	Alabama	$79,443	$38
   16	Florida	$78,701	$38
   17	Minnesota	$78,190	$38
   18	New Jersey	$76,497	$37
   19	Pennsylvania	$75,360	$36
   20	Ohio	$72,844	$35

   Average senior field service engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Canon	$103,591	$49.80	99
   2	Lam Research	$100,698	$48.41	14
   3	Bio-Rad Laboratories	$98,048	$47.14	2
   4	Keysight Technologies	$96,941	$46.61
   5	Mattson Technology	$96,115	$46.21
   6	Lucid Motors	$94,175	$45.28	19
   7	SCIEX	$93,980	$45.18
   8	DRS	$93,100	$44.76	6
   9	Abbott	$92,707	$44.57	52
   10	Entisys360	$92,296	$44.37
   11	Analogic	$92,227	$44.34	11
   12	Kforce	$91,647	$44.06	15
   13	RemX	$91,424	$43.95	1
   14	Illumina	$90,980	$43.74	10
   15	Fluidigm	$90,538	$43.53
   16	SS8 Networks	$90,480	$43.50
   17	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$89,452	$43.01	121
   18	Leica Microsystems	$89,164	$42.87
   19	Tetra Pak	$88,928	$42.75	1
   20	ASML Holding	$88,911	$42.75	3

4. Writing a senior field service engineer job description

   A job description for a senior field service 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 senior field service engineer job description:

   Senior field service engineer job description example

   At Nautilus, we have a big and important mission: improve the health of millions by unleashing the potential of the proteome to accelerate drug development and enable a new world of precision and personalized medicine. We are developing a single-molecule protein analysis platform of unprecedented sensitivity, scale, and ease of use that we believe will democratize access to the proteome - one of the most dynamic and valuable sources of biological insight. To accomplish this, we are pursuing deep, hard science with an entrepreneurial mindset and creating a world-class team of builders, innovators, and dreamers across a wide range of disciplines.
   
   We are hiring for a Sr. Field Service Engineer to join our growing team. As a Field Service Engineer, you will perform installations, troubleshooting, instrument repairs, and preventative maintenance on our Proteomic Analysis System, both on internal and external, customer-installed instruments. You will work closely with our Systems Integration, Engineering, and Software functions to develop deep knowledge of the system and experimental workflow.
   
   This position will report to the Field Service Engineer Senior Manager and is located in San Carlos, CA.
   
   ResponsibilitiesMaintain, install, and repair Nautilus products at both internal and external customer sites Work independently to resolve all assigned customer and technical issues Perform validation services (IQ/OQ) of hardware and software Identify, analyze, and diagnose product complaints at customer's location Act as customer advocate to ensure usability and training Complete necessary administrative duties such as logging and reporting of service activities, expense reporting, inventory, etc.
   
   Requirements5+ years of relevant experience working in the service & support of complex instrumentation is required Associate's degree (A.S./A.A.S.) or Bachelor's degree (B.S./B.A.) in Life Sciences, Physics, Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent experience (e.g. Military Certificates in electronics) is required with domain knowledge in one or more of the following areas: optics (lasers), fluidics, and/or motion control is highly desired Prior experience servicing complex life science instruments is required Prior experience as a field service engineer and deep familiarity with the processes/ techniques involved Demonstrated experience in troubleshooting and following problem-solving procedures Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills Proficient knowledge of electrical and electromechanical technology and all required safety protocols Ability to multi-task and prioritize is required The ability and willingness to lift up to 50 lbs Possess the ability to walk, stand, carry materials, stoop, kneel, and bend at the waist Up to 70% travel required A valid driver's license and passport Knowledge of hand tools and proper usage, including a digital multimeter
   
   Nautilus Team Culture We are curious go-getters: this is a team of life-long learners who aren't afraid to tackle the big challenges while continuously pushing ourselves forward We are detail oriented: we do great science by working smart and with diligence, and by learning from our mistakes We are easy to work with: we want our workplace to be one where everyone can share their perspective and be treated with respect and kindness
   #LI-Onsite

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right senior field service engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior field service engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit senior field service engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit senior field service engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 senior field service engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior field service engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior field service engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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 senior field service engineer?