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What does a service engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
What does a service engineer do

A service engineer is responsible for assisting the customers' concerns regarding the products and services offered by the company through technical support solutions. Service engineers conduct preventive maintenance, upgrade systems to boost optimal performance, create product manuals, record the occurring issues, perform adjustments on the systems infrastructure, identify business opportunities to generate more revenues, and analyze current market trends to meet client demands. A service engineer must have excellent communication skills, including extensive knowledge of the technology industry and network systems.

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Service engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real service engineer resumes:

  • Lead FDA remediation upgrade of medical infusion pumps used in hospitals and clinics nationwide.
  • Expand responsibilities include testing applications on newly update managed desktop image.
  • Manage RF servers and performing network troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on network elements.
  • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
  • Develop Perl scripts to automate object model and functional mapping into the application metadata and database.
  • Perform installations of operating systems such as VMWARE, Linux and windows.
  • Mentore the junior team members in Java, J2EE and debugging skills and train effective team contributors.
  • Design and deploy the first end to end tire test to design engineer TCP IP network data acquisition and analysis system.
  • Install UNIX networks and UNISYS cluster networks.
  • Install and configure TCP/IP protocol on network.
  • Serve as primary FSE for new installations.
  • Implement a virtual server and SAN technology environment.
  • Develop and maintain the internal FSE training, travel schedule.
  • Advise on issues concerning federal and state taxation of partnerships and corporations.
  • Document system changes and standardization of server configurations issuing the ITIL process.

Service engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 7% of Service Engineers are proficient in Customer Service, Infrastructure, and Cloud. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Math skills, and Mechanical skills.

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

  • Customer Service, 7%

    Performed advanced wireless testing, including data capture and analysis, published procedures, customer service bulletins and training presentations.

  • Infrastructure, 7%

    Developed guidelines and executed testing for process changes, including efficiency improvements, company infrastructure updates, and disaster recovery procedures.

  • Cloud, 7%

    Provided technical support and installation of Computer Cloud services.

  • Technical Support, 5%

    Provided technical support, including maintaining and upgrading company s computers and networks, responding to sales and customers equipment-related requests.

  • Java, 4%

    Developed Java, Perl programs, and Unix Shell scripts to integrate the product into customer?s environments.

  • Database, 4%

    Tested and developed new telecommunication technology for use in Gateway 2000 products and documented all findings into a corporate engineer database.

Most service engineers use their skills in "customer service," "infrastructure," and "cloud" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential service engineer responsibilities here:

Listening skills. The most essential soft skill for a service engineer to carry out their responsibilities is listening skills. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." Additionally, a service engineer resume shows how their duties depend on listening skills: "tested requests and communicated with both the dba and customer support teams to ensure that everyone was in sync. "

Math skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling service engineer duties is math skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." According to a service engineer resume, here's how service engineers can utilize math skills in their job responsibilities: "performed basic math calculations, identified basic functional problems and took corrective action. "

Mechanical skills. This is an important skill for service engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how service engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a service engineer: "install propeller blades, install skf mated couplings, perform start-ups and commissioning of new mechanical equipment and electronic control systems. ".

Creativity. A big part of what service engineers do relies on "creativity." You can see how essential it is to service engineer responsibilities because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical service engineer tasks: "developed and implemented preventive maintenance program, integrated an inventory control system that reduced spare parts cost. "

Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a service engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what service engineers relies on this skill, since "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." How this skill relates to service engineer duties can be seen in an example from a service engineer resume snippet: "worked with outside contractors as well as clients to engineer solutions to meet their needs utilizing cad and other technical mediums. "

See the full list of service engineer skills

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Compare different service engineers

Service engineer vs. Consulting engineer

A consulting engineer is an individual who aids in the planning, designing, and construction of a project from the public and private clients. Consulting engineers are required to advise on the best component suitable according to the needs of their clients. They can manage the project by coordinating with designers, architects, and relevant persons who have commissioned the project. They may incorporate green sustainable energy solutions based on the demands of their clients. Consulting engineers must also conduct a feasibility study and prepare the estimated cost for the project.

If we compare the average service engineer annual salary with that of a consulting engineer, we find that consulting engineers typically earn a $10,595 higher salary than service engineers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both service engineer and consulting engineer positions are skilled in java, azure, and linux.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, service engineer responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "infrastructure," "cloud," and "technical support." Meanwhile a typical consulting engineer has skills in areas such as "working independently," "c #," "troubleshoot," and "api." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Consulting engineers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $99,126. In contrast, service engineers make the biggest average salary, $99,362, in the technology industry.consulting engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than service engineers. In fact, consulting engineers are 9.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.5% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Service engineer vs. Equipment engineer

The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.

On average, equipment engineers earn a $10,388 higher salary than service engineers a year.A few skills overlap for service engineers and equipment engineers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "technical support," "technical troubleshooting," and "project management. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that service engineer responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "infrastructure," "cloud," and "java." But an equipment engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "equipment performance," "semiconductor," "provides technical support," and "process engineering."

Equipment engineers earn a higher average salary than service engineers. But equipment engineers earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $108,645. Additionally, service engineers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $99,362 annually.equipment engineers earn similar levels of education than service engineers in general. They're 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for service engineers in the next 3-5 years?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.Andrea Welker Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Virtual/augmented reality will play an increasingly important role in visualizing designs and interacting with them.

Service engineer vs. 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. Furthermore, it is essential to implement all safety standards and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment for everyone.

On average scale, facility engineers bring in higher salaries than service engineers. In fact, they earn a $2,472 higher salary per year.By looking over several service engineers and facility engineers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "technical support," and "project management." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, service engineers are more likely to have skills like "infrastructure," "cloud," "java," and "database." But a facility engineer is more likely to have skills like "plumbing," "ladders," "autocad," and "boilers."

Facility engineers earn the best pay in the energy industry, where they command an average salary of $109,339. Service engineers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $99,362.When it comes to education, facility engineers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to service engineers. In fact, they're 0.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Service 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.

Information engineers typically earn higher pay than service engineers. On average, information engineers earn a $17,852 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, service engineers and information engineers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "technical support," and "java. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A service engineer uses "infrastructure," "cloud," "database," and "customer satisfaction." Information engineers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "troubleshoot," "san," "data analysis," and "mac. "The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for information engineers, with average annual pay of $107,435. Comparatively, the highest service engineer annual salary comes from the technology industry.In general, information engineers hold higher degree levels compared to service engineers. Information engineers are 6.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of service 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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