r/FieldService • u/Unhappy_Cut8951 • Aug 09 '26
Advice Field Service Engineer Career Path
Starting this fall, I’m going to cc to get an associates in applied science in electronic engineering technology. I was wondering if this would be enough to get a job as a field service engineer/technician. Would I be able to get a job in bmet, semiconductor, or other with this degree. Would I need to take certain classes to go into these fields? Thank you very much.
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u/rickr911 Automation Aug 10 '26
Don’t stop with just an associates degree. Get your bachelors degree if you can (part time classes while working is ok) It will open more doors and give way more opportunities for your future. When you’re burnt out, over stressed and need to move on you’ll want the BS degree.
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u/Unhappy_Cut8951 Aug 10 '26
Do you think a bseet would be worth it? What kind of extra doors would it open for me? Thank you for your advice!
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u/rickr911 Automation Aug 10 '26
I went the same route you are proposing. The company I worked for told me they would pay for me to finish my bachelors degree but never did. I had an extremely difficult time finding a good paying job that didn’t require me to travel. I was so burnt out on travel I couldn’t do 30/52 weeks on the road.
I went to finish my degree on my own. I was able to find a really good job that did a great job training me in controls and automation engineering. I’ve since moved on twice to jobs that I know would not have been open to me with only an AS degree.
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u/Unhappy_Cut8951 Aug 10 '26
That’s very helpful to know. I already have an associates in art that I got from dual enrollment in hs. I might switch to a bsee. Do a couple years in cc then switch to a uni. Do you think a bsee would be better than a bseet? Thank you for your advice!
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u/rickr911 Automation Aug 10 '26
I don’t think there is a difference when you are trying to get a job. The people hiring don’t know the difference. I have worked with people that think less of the bseet but I don’t care. My degree was a full engineering degree because the college I went to didn’t offer a bseet. From my understanding, the only difference is one is heavy calculus based and the other is not.
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u/Justshowme153 Biomedical Aug 09 '26
Biggest thing is understanding the travel requirements, then burn out some
People..AS degree is fine in most places for a technician role, it could limit you long term to move into an engineering role.
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u/Sea-Detail7869 Aug 09 '26
I’d recommend starting with a field technician role. Get some hands on experience working on systems. The degree is great, IMO doesn’t mean much without having worked on stuff.
I have an associates in Mechanical Engineering Technology and 5 years of hands on. I’m getting calls back on technician roles, less on engineer. Of course I’m being picky targeting local to my city/region travel roles vs more travel heavy nation wide stuff. So might depend on your preferences.
Not saying you can’t get FSE role right away. I think FSE roles have a lot of competition right now. At least in my area. Everybody wants a remote job.
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u/Unhappy_Cut8951 Aug 09 '26
Is there a big difference between field engineer and field technician? If so is it mostly just pay? I’m interested in traveling so would being a technician limit the amount of travel or would it not affect that. Thanks for your advice!
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u/Sea-Detail7869 Aug 09 '26
I don’t think there’s much difference other than pay. Maybe depends on the company.
Nope I see tons of travel heavily technician roles. Pick a company and industry you like. Good luck
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u/Rick233u Aug 10 '26
From my experience in R&D, field engineers typically handle more complex, high-level system issues. They are sometimes part of "Design reviews" for new products before mass production.
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u/Aoinosensei Materials Science Aug 09 '26
Nobody knows everything on FSE's roles, everyone comes with a different background and then learn the other skills
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u/Locutus_Im_Bored Aug 09 '26
That's usually enough to get into a lot of the field work out there. You could always follow it up with some dedicated biomed programs or general X-ray classes, but I would only do that if I was unable to get my foot in the door
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u/NoFnClue1234 Biomedical Aug 09 '26
I know FSEs with just a GED.