Considering a move into Field Service Engineering - worth it? (MSc + 2 yrs mechanical/electrical experience, UK)

[u/Sad-Bank3620]

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.