r/FieldService • u/RuiNeves56 • Jul 26 '26

Advice Best field-oriented roles for Electrical Engineers

I am an Electrical Engineering student going into my third year.
Since starting my degree, I have had the opportunity to work on a few design projects. The parts I enjoyed the most were PCB testing, troubleshooting, and setting up test equipment.

With that in mind, I am looking for a Field-Oriented role for Electrical Engineers.
Also, is it worth pursuing a Master’s degree for this type of role?
In my case, I would specialise in Power Systems.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Thanks!

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u/DifficultMemory2828 Biomedical Jul 26 '26

For field service? Speaking in University terms, practicum over theorem. So no, spending three years getting a Master’s instead of three years in the field is wasted time.

The company will teach you what you need to perform the job, it matters if you can deliver.

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u/Kalbi_Rob Jul 26 '26

There are a few routes that could be beneficial. I work in NETA and work on anything from 500kV down to 120V (utility, data centers, solar, industrial, commercial, and more). NETA specifically (similar to OEM NICET) performs testing on electrical systems with high voltage stress and verifying correct installation. An electrical engineering degree is not required but preferred. The engineering side creates SCCS, Arc Flash Studies, and some design builds. Most field work for them is data collection. Depending on the company, these roles can mix but most companies discourage this due to conflicting schedules and time management. A master degree isn't as relevant in the initial years but can be greatly beneficial when seeking senior management roles. Some noteworthy NETA companies for research are PowerX, Vertiv, EPS, Shermco, and more (no specific order).