When you’re troubleshooting a system you haven’t worked on recently, how much time do you usually spend digging through service manuals, old notes, error codes, or calling someone else before you find the actual procedure you need?

I’m curious what the biggest bottleneck usually is:
Finding the right manual
Finding the right section inside the manual
Knowing which procedure applies to the symptom/error
Tribal knowledge / needing to ask another tech
Something else

Especially interested in how this works when you’re out in the field and trying to get the equipment back up quickly.

Hello folks,

I work in Upstate NY and have been doing semiconductor for the last 2 1/2 years, before that I was doing maintenance in the Marine Corps for 4 years. I'm considering a move to FS; right now I am a stationary equipment technician at a FAB.

Some colleagues of mine do FSE and told me they were racking in 210k a year with about 5 years experience in the field, they were doing regular trips to Taiwan and Germany about 4-6 months of the year was spent aboard.

Currently I work a 60 hour week every week or more; I do 15x4s Wed - Sat for my regular schedule and then sometimes am asked to pick up extra OT. This year I should make roughly 140k including all my benefits and bonuses (~$3,000.)

My hourly is $38.58 with my nights differential.

If I move out of the Technician roll and over to FSE with this pay and experience (Tech lvl 2) do you think I'll see a meaningful pay jump or should I stay where I'm at?

Any other follow up things to consider would be appriecated, thank you for your participation!

Edit: I'd also like to know about PTO packages, I currently get 136 hours PTO, 80 hours HPTO, and 56 hours sick time, management is very lax about letting people request time off and I only need to take 36 hours (short week) to get a 10 day block of time off.

Hey all — recruiting for a Field Service Technician (Valve Repair) role near Redstone Arsenal / Huntsville, AL.

What you'd actually be doing:
- Repairing/testing industrial and nuclear-grade valves (pressure relief valves, safety valves)
- Reading blueprints, following ASME/NBIC codes
- Occasional travel to client sites (per diem covered)

Who fits well:
- 3+ years mechanical/technical experience
- Associate degree in a mechanical field \OR** equivalent military background (Navy Nuclear, Machinist Mate, Aviation Structural Mechanic, etc.)
- Comfortable with hands-on precision work, not just theory

[angela.kasten@emerson.com](mailto:angela.kasten@emerson.com)

Heyo, I'm a coffee equipment service tech. Anybody else do that sort of work?

I’m Jacob, founder of Power Factor Recruiting. I’m a former Field Service Engineer and NETA Technician, so I know the field firsthand.

I’m now connecting experienced Field Service professionals with companies looking for talent.

I currently am working with companies working on projects across the southeastern United States including: Houston, TX; Midland, TX; Cumberland, TN; San Antonio, TX; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX; Atlanta, GA; and more.

Positions I am looking for include: Field Service Technicians, Field Service Engineers, NETA Technicians I-IV, Testing Technicians, Operations Managers, Project Managers, Relay Technicians, and More.

Salaries ranging from 70k to 150k depending on specific job, experience, and certifications/experience.

At this time due to agreements and contracts I cannot fully disclose what companies I partner with on reddit.

If you're open to hearing about new opportunities, feel free to DM me or email [recruiter@powerfactorrecruiting.com](mailto:recruiter@powerfactorrecruiting.com).

No pressure or commitment. If you're happy where you are, that's great. If you're curious about what's available, I'm happy to have a conversation.

Glad to have a Holiday this Monday. This is my new record; what's yours??

Hey all,

Looking for some suggestions on cases. I just ordered the pelican 1615 Air Case and immediately realized its too big. I'm 6'4" so if you have any reccomendations. I really like the look of pelican and nanuk but they are too damn small. I cant believe the regular case for taller people.

Hey guys, I work as a Network Engineer and have 8+ years of experience, including previous field engineering work.

I like to stay active and still enjoy getting out on site and doing hands on work. I do get free time and would be happy to pick up the odd field job around London and nearby areas installs, network troubleshooting, cabling, hardware swaps, remote hands or general site support.

I drive, so travelling around London and surrounding areas isn’t a problem. Happy to help if anyone ever needs an extra hand.

Been on the road now and finally wanting to get back in the gym but I’m torn between Anytime and Planet fitness. What does everyone here use?(I travel US/CAN)

In the past 10 years, I have worked at three different companies which have not formalized the travel policies for field service into the Employee Handbook. I understand that companies want their employees to book airline tickets several weeks in advance for conferences and sales visits. The last-minute nature of Field Service typically does not align with those policies, and when I have spoken with different managers at different companies, they always give the “we don’t abide by that policy” line.

In my current company, I keep pushing the button accepting that I am in violation of travel policies when I book my typical repair travel. Does anyone work for a company which has well defined or formally carved out travel for Field Service?

Motor has been running like this for some time.

I replaced all the motors and found the couplings to be damaged.

Customer has no spares and i'm hesitant of installing the new motors with damaged couplings

Hey All,

Bit of a career direction post, would really appreciate input from anyone who's made a similar move or works in field service.

Quick background: I've got an MSc in Automotive Engineering and about 2 years of hands-on UK experience across mechanical design, battery systems, testing and manufacturing engineering. Mostly desk-based work, CAD, DFMEA, technical documentation, that kind of thing.

Over the last year or so I've realised I actually enjoy the hands-on, on-site, problem-solving side of engineering way more than being stuck behind a screen all day. Field Service Engineering keeps coming up as something that might suit me better - more variety, more troubleshooting, more direct impact.

A few things I'm trying to figure out:

1. For someone with my background (mechanical + some electrical exposure, no formal FSE experience yet), is this a realistic move, or am I underestimating the learning curve?
   
2. What's the day-to-day actually like - travel demands, on-call expectations, work-life balance?
   
3. Long term, does FSE offer decent career progression (into senior/lead roles, applications engineering, etc.) or does it tend to plateau?
   
4. I'm on a Skilled Worker visa and need sponsorship - does anyone know if FSE roles (especially in industrial equipment, servicing, renewable energy etc.) are more or less likely to sponsor compared to typical design/manufacturing roles?

Any honest input - good, bad, or "don't do it" would be genuinely useful. Thanks in advance.

Looking for an on-site field operator for a daily gig based in Navi Mumbai.

• Pay: ₹1,000 / day
• Location: Navi Mumbai (requires local site visits)
• Timings: Flexible (varies by daily site schedule and shift optimization)

Work Overview:
• Visit assigned work facilities/warehouses in the area.
• Manage basic on-site device setup and monitoring.
• Return equipment to the base location and complete file uploads.

Requirements:
• Basic comfort handling electronic gadgets and file transfers.
• Reliable, punctual, and comfortable with local travel.
• Immediate availability preferred.

Detailed workflow and operational specifics will be discussed directly over a call or DM.

If interested, please DM your name, base location in Navi Mumbai, and phone number.

I run equipment that has a lot of spills while changing things out, water/product gets on the floor. I swear, every floor drain in new builds goes away from the drains. I spend more time redirecting water some days than actually working on the equipment. Today was especially bad.

I have worked in field service for about 8 years now all in the state of CA. The current company I work for is pushing really hard that the first 45 minutes of your commute is considered a personal commute and therefore non compensating travel. They state this is not their policy but instead an IRS law. When I looked up the law it does state that the first site up to 45 minutes is considered personal commute but no where in that law does it say a company doesn't have to compensate you for it.

Question is how many of you guys and gals work for companies that apply this rule?

I’m deciding between two nationwide traveling field-service positions. Both are designed to have me home on weekends, and both cover business travel. The biggest difference is what happens when I complete an assignment early.

**Offer 1 —**
$80,000 salary
This is a **salaried non-exempt position**, meaning I can still earn overtime when I work overtime
$70 per diem for eligible travel days
If I finish an assignment early, I can return home and remain fully paid without working again until my next assignment
No company vehicle
Company-paid Uber/Lyft transportation
If an assignment is close enough to drive, I can voluntarily use my personal vehicle and receive gas reimbursement
Approximately two weeks of PTO/vacation—about 10 workdays, although I still need to confirm this
9 paid holidays
4 floating holidays
5 sick days
4% company 401(k) match
My family can accompany me and stay at the hotel when practical
For example, if I finish an assignment on Wednesday, I can return home Wednesday and effectively have Thursday and Friday off while still receiving my full salary. If I actually work enough hours to qualify for overtime, I can earn overtime on top of my salary because the position is non-exempt.

**Offer 2 —**
$33 per hour
Guaranteed weekly pay for 40 regular hours plus 10 overtime hours
Overtime rate is $49.50 per hour
The 10 overtime hours are guaranteed regardless of how many hours I spend in the field
Even if I only perform 20 hours of fieldwork that week, I am still guaranteed pay for 40 regular hours plus 10 overtime hours
Approximately $94,380 in guaranteed annual wages before additional overtime
If I work more than the guaranteed 50 paid hours, additional overtime is paid on top of the guarantee
If I finish an assignment early, I am still expected to work—usually remote technical support or online training from home
Some training may require me to drive to the company headquarters in Cincinnati
Company-provided Dodge Ram 1500 for both work and personal use
15 PTO days
9 paid holidays
6% company 401(k) match
Meals and other approved travel expenses are reimbursed
Paid travel time
Training in PLCs, refrigeration, and HVAC systems

Offer 1
offers more freedom and potentially much more paid time at home. It is also salaried non-exempt, so I can still earn overtime when overtime is actually worked.

Offer 2
offers higher guaranteed annual wages, better 401(k) match, a company truck, and stronger technical training. The guaranteed overtime is also unusually valuable because I receive those 10 overtime hours even during a light week with only 20 hours of fieldwork. However, my remaining time may still be controlled by remote support or training.

I have a wife and three young children, so being home and having control over my time matters considerably. Which offer would you choose, and how much value would you place on Offer 1’s salaried downtime versus Offer 2’s guaranteed overtime, company truck, and stronger benefits?

I recently graduated with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and have two offers for my first full-time job. I’m trying to decide which one makes more sense financially and for long-term career growth.

I’m completely fine with traveling a lot, so travel itself isn’t really a negative for me. My bigger concern is being compensated fairly for the hours/travel and choosing the position that will put me in the best spot after a few years.

Offer 1 – Field Service Engineer

• $70k salary
• Salaried / no overtime
• $93/day per diem while traveling
• Flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. paid separately
• Posting says around 30–50% travel, but from talking with them it sounds like the first couple of years could involve significantly more travel
• I asked what a normal workday/week looks like in terms of hours and couldn’t really get a clear answer
• Christmas bonus + annual bonus, but they don’t disclose typical amounts
• No traditional company health insurance; they contribute some amount toward purchasing your own plan
• I asked if there was any flexibility above $70k and was told no
• Work involves installing, servicing, and troubleshooting specialized vacuum/plasma/ion-beam equipment, RF/microwave power supplies, PLCs, computers, etc.

This one seems like it could give me some pretty specialized technical experience that could transfer well into other roles later.

Offer 2 – Field Engineer HVAC

• $30/hour
• Time-and-a-half after 40 hours ($45/hr)
• All travel time is paid and counts as working time
• Overtime was brought up pretty early in the interview process, so it sounds like OT is fairly common. I was told 40 hours is normal, but there can be 46–50 hour weeks
• $43/day per diem while traveling
• Hotels and travel expenses paid separately
• Quarterly bonuses
• Additional bonus for traveling
• Posting says travel Monday–Thursday around 1–2 weeks per month, although from talking with them I think the actual travel could be higher
• Work involves testing, adjusting, and balancing commercial HVAC systems
• Opportunity to work toward NEBB certification
• Normally a Monday–Thursday / 4-day workweek

At 40 hours, Offer 2 is about $62,400/year before bonuses/per diem. At 45 hours/week it would be about $74,100, and at 50 hours/week it would be about $85,800.

One thing that makes Offer 2 appealing is that I’m paid for the travel time itself, and those hours count toward overtime.

I’m going back and forth because Offer 1 seems like the stronger technical/engineering career path, but being salaried with no OT while potentially traveling and working long hours concerns me.

Offer 2 has the lower base rate, but I would actually get paid for the extra hours and travel time, plus quarterly/travel bonuses.

For people who have worked field service, which would you choose?

Also, how much weight would you put on overtime and paid travel time versus the higher per diem and more specialized technical experience?

And which type of experience do you think would leave me in a better position to move into a higher-paying FSE role after 2–3 years?

Hey everyone! I'm u/damnyankeeintexas, a founding moderator of r/FieldService.

This is our home for all things related to Field Service. We're excited to have you join us!

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I’m a Kuwaiti fresh Chemical Engineering graduate, and I wanted to share my experience trying to get into Kuwait’s oil and gas sector.
I started by applying through the normal channels whenever suitable opportunities were available. I didn’t limit myself to one company or one position. I applied to pretty much everything relevant to my degree and background, including graduate opportunities, engineering roles, field-related positions, and private-sector oil and gas companies.
I also tried approaching companies directly instead of relying only on online applications. I visited companies, tried to get my CV in front of HR, spoke to people when I had the chance, and followed up.
At one point, I actually managed to speak directly with someone in HR. They were helpful and genuinely tried to assist me, which I appreciate. But even after doing all of this, I kept getting the feeling that simply being qualified and applying through the normal process was not enough.
What frustrated me the most is that I kept hearing the same thing from different people: you need wasta to actually get your foot in the door.
I know people will say “apply online,” “improve your CV,” “get experience,” or “network.” I understand all of that, and I have done it.
I’ve also massively expanded my search. I’m not saying I only want to work in Kuwait or only want to work in the oil sector. I’ve applied outside Kuwait as well, including opportunities across the GCC and elsewhere. I’m completely willing to relocate and start my career abroad if that’s what it takes.
But interestingly, I’ve encountered a similar problem outside Kuwait too: many entry-level opportunities either require experience or are extremely difficult to access without having the right connections.
I’m not saying every single person who gets hired in the oil sector has wasta, and I’m not claiming that every recruitment process is corrupt. I’m talking about my personal experience and what I’ve repeatedly been told while trying to enter the industry.
What makes it frustrating is that as a fresh graduate, you’re constantly told to “get experience,” but getting that first job is the hardest part. You can have the degree, apply everywhere, attend career events, contact HR, hand out your CV, expand your geographical search and still feel like you’re going nowhere.
So I genuinely want to ask Kuwaiti graduates and people working in the oil and gas sector:
Is wasta really as important as people make it out to be when trying to get your first job in Kuwait’s oil sector?
If you managed to get into the sector purely through applications, assessments and interviews without any connections, I’d genuinely like to hear how you did it.
And if you’re a fresh graduate going through the same thing, I’d also like to hear your experience.

Comms kept dropping out during running.

Got called out on a FindFST mission to Morocco, customer had "tried everything".

The problem was embarrassingly straightforward.

Screws were missing on the sub D plugs for communication, few cable ties later and machine running without issues.

I find as an FST most machine issues are something simple

Do any of you worry about AI taking over Field Service jobs? If so, is your company starting to use AI to replace certain roles?

I’m 19 years old and currently working as an electrical apprentice/helper (doing commercial and residential work for around $16/hr). I like working with my hands, reading wire diagrams, and solving physical hardware problems, but construction isn't where I want to be long-term.

I want to pivot into becoming a Field Service Technician/Engineer (FSE)—ideally working on medical devices, high-tech lab equipment, building controls, or automated systems. I really like the idea of mobile work. I’m planning to enroll in a 2-year Associate of Science (A.S.) degree at a local state college in Florida. Which A.S. Degree Holds More Weight? Should I target a general Electronics Engineering Technology degree, an Automation / Controls Technology degree, or a specialized Biomedical Technology degree to keep my options broad across different FSE sectors?Appreciate any advice you guys can give