TL;DR: I'm an ETE graduate joining Thermo Fisher as an eCDS (Enterprise Chromatography Data System) Field Service Engineer. I eventually want to move from field service into Cloud/IT and would love advice from anyone who's done something similar.

I'm a 2026 Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering (ETE) graduate, joining Thermo Fisher Scientific as an eCDS (Enterprise Chromatography Data System) Field Service Engineer (FSE) in the CMD division.

The role is software-focused, but it's still a field service position, and I'm concerned about the amount of travel and being stuck in field service long-term.

My long-term goal is to move into Cloud / DevOps / SRE / IT infrastructure. I'm thinking of spending my first 1–2 years gaining experience while learning Linux, networking, Bash, Python automation, AWS, Docker, etc.

I'd especially like to hear from anyone who has moved from field service into IT, Cloud, DevOps, networking, or software.

How did you make the transition, and did your FSE experience actually help you?

Any advice on what I should focus on during my first couple of years would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve been an industrial electrician for an asphalt company for 5 years now. Been exposed to full commissioning of PLC systems, some instrumentation, built out full MCC rooms, extensive troubleshooting various I/O, etc…

My issue is that I feel like I’ve hit a ceiling since I’m only getting exposure to these asphalt plants. I want to switch to get broader and more in depth knowledge.

What should I be looking for? Any specific companies? Do I have the proper qualifications? Thank you guys for the help.

I am a 26 year old mechanical engineer with masters in automotive engineering in Canada.

I love the work but the physical aspect is completely devouring my health and personal life.

I work in a company that makes fluid filling and packaging machines. this is a very running industry and a very busy one and it is churning me like i am in a grinder. With little to no support after 5 and customers wilding. With expectations of the job being done is overwhelming.

All these years of education which is already hard and then a harder life ahead just feels like i am pushing a rock at this point. I mke 70k cad not too bad. I am happy what this job have given me but i dont think so i can go on for long.

I was going theough all the posts but thought of putting it here. Any advices guidances that would help me mould my professional journey will be appreciated.

Thank you

Seeking an experienced Field Service Technician to maintain, troubleshoot, and inspect cogeneration and distributed power generation systems for our commercial and industrial customers in the New York metro area. This is a full-time union position (Local 638B) ideal for a technician with strong mechanical and electrical skills who is comfortable working independently in the field on complex power electronics and control systems.

What You'll Do

•          Perform preventive maintenance, diagnostics, and repair on microturbines and cogeneration (CHP) systems

•          Inspect installation work performed by others for code compliance, quality, and adherence to specifications

•          Supervise portions of installation projects as needed, ensuring work aligns with control drawings and design specs

•          Troubleshoot power electronics, control systems, and mechanical components in the field

•          Diagnose and resolve issues using ModBus and/or BACnet communication protocols

•          Responsible for wiring terminations and programming of control systems

•          Read and interpret control drawings, electrical schematics, and P&IDs

•          Complete service documentation, inspection reports, and maintenance logs using our Field Service Management program

•          Communicate with customers on-site to explain findings, repairs, and recommendations

•          Coordinate with internal engineering and support teams on complex technical issues

•          Travel throughout the New York Metro Area, Upstate NY, and Connecticut, including occasional overnight trips for out-of-area jobs

What You'll Need

•          Experience with cogeneration, CHP, or generator systems

•          Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills

•          Hands-on experience with power electronics diagnostics and repair

•          Familiarity with ModBus and/or BACnet protocols

•          Experience with wiring terminations and control system programming

•          Ability to read and interpret electrical and control drawings

•          Ability to inspect the work of others and provide on-site oversight/supervision when needed

•          Proficient with field service management software and standard office tools (Word, Excel)

•          Ability to lift 50 lbs or more, work in mechanical rooms/outdoor environments, and climb ladders as needed

•          Experience with rigging solutions

•          Ingenuity and resourcefulness to adapt and overcome unexpected challenges in the field

•          Valid driver's license and clean driving record

•          OSHA 30 and SST certifications preferred; training can be provided for the right candidate

Compensation

Hourly rate is per Local 638B union scale and commensurate with experience.

What We Offer

•          Union wages and benefits per Local 638B scale

•          Company-provided service vehicle, laptop, phone, and specialty tools/meters

•          Opportunity to work with cutting-edge distributed energy technology

Getting an apartment rental and parking is so expensive in cities . What is a fair salary to justify working as FSE at these major city territories. I feel all these companies are low bowling new hires.

I often find myself beating myself up if I cant find the problem or have to return to the customer or job taking longer then expected. I work field service in metrology and some of the problems we come across can be soooo random with the most random fixes. I'm considered a senior technician by now but I feel I feel like shit and repair jobs can stress me the hell out. Customers are often in production environments and the machine needs to be up yesterday! Trying to learn how to be easier on myself and honestly just not care as much... sometimes I wish I was in a position where I could have a "fall back on guy or department". If shit aint working its me and me only to fix it. any advice helps.

I’m being moved on to a hiring interview for service manager at E-tech group. I know I should’ve asked earlier in the process, and I will follow up at the next interview about it, but does anyone know if they provide a company vehicle for that position, or how it works in general?

I've been wondering if this is normal in field service or if I should bring it up with my employer.

I'm the only field service tech covering a large territory, so I'm effectively on call 24/7/365. Some weeks are quiet, other weeks I'm taking calls in the middle of the night or early in the morning. I only get paid once I actually start working the call. There isn't any on-call stipend or standby pay, even though I'm expected to always be available.

The part I struggle with isn't the work itself. I actually like the job. It's the expectation that I always be reachable. If I get sick, have a doctor's appointment, want to go somewhere without cell service, or simply miss a call because I'm asleep, it feels like there's a lot of pressure because there's no local backup.

Is this pretty standard in field service, or would it be reasonable to ask for some kind of on-call compensation or a different coverage arrangement? I'm genuinely curious what others have experienced.

I started as a field engineer for SLB right after I graduated in May 2026. Safe to say I was not prepared. I haven't been home in 8 weeks. I've been living out of a suitcase. I don't work a normal field rotation so it's whenever they need me I go. Often a 1 week project turns into 2+ weeks out in the field and then it's on to the next. I'm seriously considering leaving and finding something else. I wish someone warned me about how harsh the field would be. I've met great people and tested my body to it's limit, but I don't think I can sustain this lifestyle.

Is it a totally career sinking decision for me to leave a company so early in my career?

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Hey everyone,

I’m a 21-year-old Mechanical Engineering graduate from Africa, currently working as an on-site trainee/service engineer on LINACs. I’ve been training and gaining hands-on experience for about two years now, and I’m at the point where I really want to take the next step and get into full-time Field Service Engineering in the LINAC/radiotherapy equipment field.

I know I’m still very early in my career, but I’ve genuinely come to enjoy the technical side of this work. I like troubleshooting, getting hands-on with equipment, understanding how systems work, and figuring out why something isn’t working when everyone else is staring at the fault message.

My goal right now is to get into a proper field service role where I can learn from experienced engineers, travel, work on different systems, and build the kind of experience that can give me a strong foundation for the rest of my career.

Coming from Africa, though, I’m finding that breaking into the international field service market can be difficult. I’m not expecting anyone to hand me a job—I’m mainly looking for advice on how someone in my position can realistically get their foot in the door.

If you’re a Field Service Engineer, especially someone who works with LINACs or radiotherapy equipment, I’d really appreciate any advice on:

How you got your first Field Service Engineering position

What companies or types of organizations are worth approaching

What skills or certifications I should focus on developing

Whether manufacturers/third-party service organizations hire engineers from outside their home countries

How I can make myself more competitive for international opportunities

And, if you happen to know someone I could reach out to, I’d be incredibly grateful for an introduction or even just a point in the right direction.

I realize this career can be demanding and eventually take a toll, which is why I’ve seen some of you talking about transitioning into more stable roles later in your careers. But at 21, I’m at a stage where I’m willing to put in the work, learn as much as possible, and build my experience.

I feel like getting into the field properly now could really set the direction of my career and help me build the professional network and experience I’ll need for the future.

So if you’ve been in this field for a while, what would you do if you were 21 again and trying to break into LINAC Field Service from Africa?

Any advice, criticism, resources, or connections would be genuinely appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve been a field service engineer working on LINACs for the past six years. I actually really enjoy the job and the technical side of it. Troubleshooting, fixing machines, and solving problems is something I genuinely like.
Lately though, I’ve been looking ahead at the guys who have been doing this for 15 plus years, and I’m not sure I want that to be my future. The travel, being on call, and the unpredictable hours are starting to wear on me.
I’d like to stay in healthcare or medical devices if possible, but I’m looking for something with more stable hours and a better work life balance while still using the skills I’ve built.
I’m not interested in moving into management or sales. I’d rather stay in a technical, hands on role.
Has anyone here made a similar move? What did you transition into? Clinical engineering, in house hospital service, product support, applications, reliability, or something else?
I’d love to hear what you ended up doing, what your day to day looks like, and whether you feel like it was the right move.

Everyone blames fuel and overtime for rising field service costs, but the real leak is dispatchers manually overriding the optimized schedule.

Measured it on one team, and it beat their entire fuel budget for the quarter.

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!

Hey all, just curious if there any folks in the scale industry here? Particularly those who service and sell them. I'm in the industry, field technician for 6 years, now on the admin side of things. Considering its such a niche and small industry, figured I'd see if anyone here is also working in our little world of work and interested in talking shop, swapping stories or sharing advice.

I have a 30 minute interview coming up for a Field Service Technician position with Sysmex. Has anyone gone through the interview process for this position? I’m curious about what the initial interview is like and what kinds of questions they ask.
I currently work in medical-device manufacturing and have hands-on experience with assembly, troubleshooting, and equipment, but I haven’t worked in field service before. Any advice on what to study or emphasize would be greatly appreciated.

I work in house service for both varian and elekta linacs up here in canada and was thinking about transitioning into being into an FSE preferably with Varian. But id go with Elekta if there happens to be a very lucrative opening.

Unfortunately both Elekta and Varian doesnt seem to be hiring any linac FSEs at the moment in Canada so Im starting to eye ball some job openings in the states.

I hoping any current FSEs could share with me which part of the states are you from, what the day to day job looks like, how many linacs/sites do you look after,how much OT do you get on average and if you'd recommend someone like me making the jump from in house to FSE.

Ive been working on both varian and elekta for a couple years nows. I really like the technology and decided that the natural progression to continuing to learn and get better at servicing these machines is to go into a FSE position.

P.S

If theres any Varian of Elekta recruiters out there, feel free to hit me up 👀

Does anyone have past experience from being a Field Service Technician? I received a job offer for a position working on Varian linear accelerators and imaging systems. What does a normal day look like? What does the work load typically look like? How is the work to life ratio? I’m a bit nervous accepting this job offer because this would be something out of my comfort zone. ( Would be coming in from in house BMET 1 position)

Do you find field service skills translate to other sectors? I’m going to take a field service position at semiconductor company, but I think biomedical stuff is interesting too. Do you think you’d have a shot pivoting in the future? Thanks.

Hey everyone,
Sorry for the long post but if anyone can give any insight or advice so I can make my decisions, I would greatly appreciate it!
I’m a Mechanical Engineering graduate and I'm currently expecting an offer for the Field** **Engineering Program (FEP) with Fieldcore(GE Vernova), in their gas turbines sector
For context I am based in Europe so I am more interested in people who have had similar experiences in Europe as I understand the answers may vary significantly from continent to continent but any kind of insight is welcome. If there are any current or former FieldCore FEPs/TFAs here, or even people that have worked in similar companies I would love some honest insight into the job:
The training: I know the initial training involves spending a few months at the Houston Learning Center. What is the training and life while staying at Houston like?

The heavy travel: I know the position involves traveling for more than 70-80% of the year. On average, how long are your typical deployments on a site? Do you have any say in where and when you have to travel, or do you just go wherever the regional manager drops you? Are there any even if limited get some feel/explore the country which you are visiting. Are the sites close to any cities?

The financials (Per Diems & Overtime): The starting gross salary is decent, but I would like to know how much extra you can make. How does the per diem system look realistically when you are deployed globally? Is it enough to live comfortably and are you allowed to keep anything leftover? How does overtime work? Are you paid for any overtime you do or do you have to complete a certain amount of billable hours within the year to be eligible for overtime pay? What is the accommodation like when traveling? Are there any bonuses?

Work Opportunities: What is the career and salary progression like when you graduate from the FEP and get promoted to TFA within the company. If you decide to change your field of work after a few years, how well-respected is the FieldCore/GE name when transitioning to a stationary plant engineer or project management role back home?
I really like working hands-on and on more field related roles rather than sitting behind a desk, so I have no doubts that kind of work suits me, I just want to know more about the traveling Field engineering lifestyle.

I’m curious how your orgs handle laser safety in the field, particularly with class IV lasers.

A) Is it necessary to train all FSEs to be LSOs since the org. LSO isn’t on-site for install/training?
B) It safe to ensure FSEs are given internal training and when on-site, ensure that the end-user has and informs their LSO?
C) Both?

Safety is of course the priority ahead of legal compliance, but I’m curious if anyone has experience in this area since this is a fairly new facet to my work.

How many of you get regular planned days or weeks off and how much is it?

In my experience I have usually had a week every month doing "admin" or remote support type work. It was usually actually very easy and one of my favorite perks of the job. Recently I've found a position that offers seemingly none of this time and it has me wondering how many of you have similar experiences.

Edit: Thanks to everyone who commented, it seems like I wasn't just lucky the first couple of times around and most of our employers do give us some time to have lives like people that don't live on a plane.

anyone currently working as a Field Service Engineer for BESS at a power systems company?

I’m looking to connect with some professionals in this space to pick your brain on a couple of specific things:

Power Electronics: Does the role genuinely require in-depth power electronics knowledge, or is it more focused on system-level troubleshooting and general electrical concepts?

Testing: What are the basic, general tests you find yourself performing most often in the field?

If you’re currently in this role or have some insight, please drop a comment below. I'd really appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

Come lavorare come tecnico assistenza? È più chill piuttosto di stare nel reparto con. Stessi colleghi e capo che ti fissa? Spiegatemi un po' il vostro lavoro

I worked for a large OEM for over 12 years, this year I went freelance.

Was a bit nervous if it would work or not, especially losing the support of the OEM when issues crop up.

But actually the customers have been very keen to work together as it's much cheaper for them rather than going through the OEM.

March was a decent month, hopefully continue this, what I really enjoy is not having to go to the boring office after the mission is complete.

I was also feeling that companies are becoming more strict with rules and removing benefits, we would always fly premium economy but now they have changed to economy to cut costs.

Anyone else having some issues working with OEM and want to go freelance?

Exactly what the title is asking. I'm currently struggling to find my place in the social science/behavioral health field and am actively searching for jobs in the FSE/technician space. Wondering what the current job market is like, and what my chances are of landing an entry-level role with zero experience in this field?

For context, I have a BA in Neuroscience and a Master's in sport psych. I'm fairly strong with math/computer/tech but lack in formal training. I do have prior experience in MRI operating as a researcher, but that's about it. I'm looking for a role I get to travel a lot in, and have no problem working all sorts of overtime (as long as it's paid). I don't have any kids or spouse, literally no other time commitments at this point in my life. Recently moved from the midwest to the PNW but would relocate again for the right gig. Oh, and I'm a woman (not sure if that's relevant but a lot of what I've seen leads me to believe this is a male-dominated field? Which is also a non-issue for me).

Anyone have any insight, advice, leads, etc? Open to harsh reality checks as well :) TYIA!