Associate Field Engineer - Controls

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, Inc.

Addison (TX)

On-site

USD 52,000 - 76,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k)/Profit Sharing

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

Travel Support

ESOP

Job summary

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering is seeking an entry-level Field Engineer or Technician in Addison, TX to support field-based commissioning activities across data center, semiconductor, life science, and other industrial facilities. This role offers hands-on wiring, verification, testing, and startup support with 100% travel to project sites.

New graduates or candidates with up to 2 years of field experience will gain exposure to PLC/SCADA/Instrumentation, control systems, and customer coordination.

Qualifications

Education requirement: BS in Electrical, Computer, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering preferred; AA substituted.
New Graduate or 0-2 years field experience.
Understanding of field instrumentation, low voltage controls, and control systems applicability.

Responsibilities

Provide electrical and controls engineering support on site.
Verify installation, wiring QA/QC for panels and field devices.
Perform Point-to-Point Testing of field devices.
Conduct Functional Performance Testing of control systems.
Assist with system-level testing and commissioning activities.

Skills

Field instrumentation exposure

Control systems understanding

PLC/SCADA knowledge

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering

AA in Engineering Technology or equivalent field technician experience may be substituted

Tools

PLC programming

SCADA programming

HMI

Job description

Company Overview

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

Location & Travel

Our Addison, TX (Dallas) 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

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. 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.

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

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.

Work/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

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.

Career Path Opportunities

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.

Benefits

Wunderlich‑Malec is proud to offer a comprehensive employee‑owner benefit package. Full‑time employees may be eligible for the following benefits: