Associate Field Engineer

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, Inc.

Richmond (VA)

On-site

USD 70,000 - 80,000

Full time

12 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Travel opportunities

Stock ownership (ESOP)

Job summary

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, Inc. in Richmond, VA is seeking an entry-level Field Engineer or Technician for travel-ready commissioning work across data centers, semiconductor and life sciences facilities.

You will gain hands-on experience with installation verification, control system testing, and start-up activities while collaborating with customers and subcontractors. Ideal candidates are recent graduates or have 0-2 years of field experience, with a foundation in field instrumentation,

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in engineering preferred; AA in Engineering Technology may substitute.
New graduate or 0-2 years field experience.
Understanding of field instrumentation and low voltage controls.
Understanding of PLC and SCADA programming and their applications.

Responsibilities

Installation & Wiring QA/QC Verification for control panels and field devices.
Point-to-Point Testing to verify wiring and data signals.
Functional Performance Testing to confirm control system operation.
System-Level Testing Support to verify integrated operation across systems.

Skills

Field instrumentation

Low voltage controls

PLC programming

SCADA programming

Education

BS Electrical Engineering

AA in Engineering Technology

Tools

Electrical test equipment

Job description

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry history
ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

Our Richmond, VA Wunderlich Malec Engineering team is seeking a travel-ready, entry-level Field Engineer or Technician who is eager to build hands-on technical experience and grow quickly. Field-based commissioning work provides direct exposure to systems, customers, schedules, and real-time decision-making, accelerating the development of technical expertise and project execution skills. Compared with a traditional office-based engineering role, this position provides direct ownership of installation verification, control system testing, commissioning support, and start-up activities. This role supports projects across industries including Data Center, Semiconductor, Life Science, Food & Beverage, and other industrial facilities. Responsibilities include electrical and controls engineering support, electrical and instrumentation verification, coordination with clients and electrical subcontractors, PLC/SCADA/HMI support, commissioning execution, and start-up assistance.

Please Note: This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization, including H-1B sponsorship. The Company does not participate in the STEM OPT training program for this position.

Major Responsibilities

Installation & Wiring QA/QC Verification (Level 2 Commissioning). Verify that control panels, field devices, instruments, and related control system equipment have been installed and wired in accordance with manufacturer requirements, approved shop drawings, project documentation, and applicable quality standards and specifications
Point-to-Point Testing (Level 3 Commissioning). Confirm that field devices associated with the control system are installed, wired, addressed, and configured in accordance with approved system drawings and documentation. This includes verification of data to and from field devices, including signals received through network integration
Functional Performance Testing (FPT) (Level 4 Commissioning). Verify that the control system and field devices operate as defined by the project design documentation. This includes testing control sequences, alarm and alert configuration, alarm activation, trend displays, trend configuration, system graphics, and control system response during failure scenarios
System-Level Testing Support (Level 5 Commissioning). Support system-level testing to confirm that the control system and field devices operate together as an integrated system. This includes verifying control sequences across related systems, using the facility’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to view equipment status and navigate system screens, activating alarms, monitoring trends, and supporting failure-mode testing

Minimum Requirements

Education

BS Electrical, Computer, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering preferred. An AA in Engineering Technology or equivalent field technician experience may be substituted.

Experience

New Graduate or 0-2 years of field experience

Understanding of or exposure to field instrumentation, hardware panels and low voltage controls design
Understanding of control systems, components, PLC programming, SCADA programming and their applications

Physical Demands of Position

Requirements Above all else, attention to all applicable safety specifications and standards is a requirement. Strong attention to detail and a consistent focus on quality control are required, especially during repetitive commissioning activities. The role may include writing, computer work, field work in construction trailers or industrial environments, color perception, hearing, verbal and written communication, teamwork, manual dexterity, driving, lifting, climbing, mounting and dismounting equipment, pushing, and pulling. Regular interaction and coordination with customers, subcontractors, vendors, and internal project teams is expected. Daily use of a computer, standard office applications, and a mobile phone is required.

Working/Residence Plan

Up to 100% travel to project sites may be required, excluding approved vacation or paid time off.

Work is typically performed Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work required based on project needs.

Assignments may last multiple months at various U.S.-based project sites. Weekend travel may be available up to two times per month, subject to project schedule requirements and approval. Project housing, airfare, meals, and incidentals are covered by the company in accordance with company policy.

This position includes full company benefits, structured training, mentorship, and three weeks of paid time off.

Field/Client Site Environment (Primary)

Ability to stand, move, and work on job sites for up to 8-12 hour shifts
Ability to climb stairs/ladders, work at heights, and occasionally lift up to 40 lbs
Frequent bending, reaching, and working in and around industrial equipment
Exposure to construction, industrial, and processing environments, including noise, temperature changes, and moving machinery
Ability to safely wear required PPE (safety glasses, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, and electrical safety gear as applicable)
Comfortable performing electrical/instrumentation checkout and troubleshooting (e.g., voltage testing, control panel wiring)

Office/Trailer Work (Occasional)

Periods of sitting/standing at a computer, including in on-site construction trailers
Standard office/PC and cell phone use for documentation, communication, and project support

Ability to work safely and effectively in both indoor and outdoor environments, including exposure to extreme temperatures, weather conditions, humidity, dust, and other environmental conditions typical of construction, industrial, and processing facilities.

Reasonable accommodation can be provided for individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Career Growth & Advancement

This role is designed for ambitious, goal-oriented self-starters who want to accelerate their technical and leadership development through hands-on field experience. Field Engineers and Technicians who demonstrate strong technical capability, sound judgment, ownership, and leadership on-site can advance faster than peers following a traditional office-based engineering path. High performers may move into lead field roles ahead of the typical timeline.

Training & Mentorship

You’ll build capability through hands-on training across progressively challenging commissioning assignments, Level 2 through Level 5, with mentorship from senior field engineers on every project.

Merit-Based Advancement

Advancement is based on demonstrated proficiency, ownership, technical judgment, and field performance - not time in role alone. Commissioning Levels 2 through 5 represent scopes of commissioning activity, not job titles. As capability grows across these scopes, high performers can earn responsibility for larger and more complex commissioning activities.

Own It in the Field

As you demonstrate competency, you’re given real ownership on-site. This includes:

Leading point-to-point testing campaigns for entire system areas independently.
Owning functional performance testing for major systems end-to-end.
Serving as the primary technical point of contact with subcontractors and customers during system-level testing.
Directing and overseeing commissioning activities for a major project area — taking full accountability for safety, quality, schedule, and sign-off.

Where Can This Take You

Field engineers and technicians who build a strong track record are positioned for rapid advancement, including paths such as:

Associate Field Engineer Staff Field Engineer Senior Field Engineer
QA/QC Manager
Controls Project Engineer
Commissioning Lead
Project Manager
Mentor or Technical Evaluator for future field hires
Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job. They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance.

Salary Range

The expected Salary range is $70,000 - $80,000 annually depending on qualifications plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program.

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