Field Automation Engineer – PLC & Machine Commissioning

Tom Trese Networking LLC; Menomonee Falls, Northern (WI, KY); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Tom Trese Networking LLC in the Menomonee Falls, WI area seeks a Field Automation Engineer to drive on-site equipment installations, FAT/SAT validation, and global field service deployments. This role blends shop testing with international site work, requiring hands-on PLC/HMI work and strict adherence to safety standards.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years in field commissioning, strong schematic literacy, and willingness to travel up to 70 days per year.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on field service, commissioning, or maintenance of electro-mechanical industrial machinery.
• Able to troubleshoot and read multi-page electrical/mechanical/pneumatic schematics.
• Willing and able to travel 40–70 days annually, including international deployments.
• Strong customer-facing communication and professional presentation.
• Resident within daily commuting distance of Menomonee Falls, WI; possess a field service toolset.
• Authorized to work in the United States (US Citizen or Green Card).

Responsibilities

• Lead on-site machinery installations, system integrations, and final SAT at client facilities worldwide.
• Perform electro-mechanical diagnostics to isolate faults and implement lasting solutions.
• Manage PLC/HMI deployments, verify parameters, and work safely in high-voltage panels and drives.
• Schedule and conduct internal FAT procedures before shipment.
• Submit Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) based on field insights for design improvements.
• Oversee technical setup and electrical hookups for industry trade shows.

Skills

Field depth

Schematics & controls

Global travel readiness

Communication

Local commute & tooling

US work authorization

Tools

Field service toolkit

Job description

Field Automation Engineer – PLC & Machine Commissioning

Up to $80,000 Base Salary + Per Diem Menomonee Falls, WI Area First Shift & Global Travel

• COMPENSATION: Starting base salary up to $80,000 (scaling with field depth) + travel per diem + full benefits package.
• WORK SCHEDULE: First Shift base hours for shop assembly and testing, paired with scheduled domestic and international field service deployments (40–70 travel days annually).
• WORK ENVIRONMENT: State-of-the-art manufacturing facility and assembly lab in the Menomonee Falls area combined with modern field environments globally; high-visibility seat reporting directly to the CEO with zero corporate bureaucracy.
• EXPERIENCE & TECH STACK: 2+ years of hands-on industrial machinery service/commissioning, high-voltage (480V) control panels, PLC/HMI software downloads, print/schematic fluency, low-voltage sensors, and multi-axis motors.
• COMPANY STABILITY & CULTURE: Established, highly stable global manufacturer of high-performance automated systems with a reputation for precision craftsmanship, heavy reinvestment, flat organizational structure, and strong team culture.
• REQUIREMENTS / COMPLIANCE: US Citizen or Green Card holder; valid passport (or immediate capability to acquire one); must reside within daily commuting distance of Menomonee Falls, WI; candidate-provided mechanical/electrical field service toolset.

If you are a versatile technical specialist looking to escape the monotony of a fixed plant maintenance loop or a repetitive production floor, this high-visibility global engineering support seat offers your ideal career destination. Operating out of a state-of-the-art facility in the Menomonee Falls area, this role blends precision shop testing with hands-on international deployments.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will bypass slow-moving corporate matrixes and take true ownership of the full equipment lifecycle. Rather than focusing solely on reactive break/fix field repairs, you will lead internal Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) on the production floor, execute final Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) live at client facilities worldwide, and collaborate directly with design engineers to submit Engineering Change Requests (ECRs). You will enjoy massive operational autonomy, direct respect for your floor expertise, and constant technical variety across cutting-edge automated systems.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Spearhead Global Field Commissioning: Lead on-site machinery installations, system integrations, and final Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) at client facilities worldwide while delivering professional technical guidance to site operators.
• Execute Electro-Mechanical Diagnostics: Apply advanced diagnostic principles to isolate component faults, troubleshoot complex automated machinery, and implement lasting technical solutions using multi-page schematics.
• Manage Controls & Logic Deployment: Perform PLC and HMI software downloads, verify logic parameters, and safely work inside high-voltage control panels, multi-axis industrial drives, and low-voltage sensor networks.
• Direct Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT): Schedule and spearhead internal FAT procedures prior to shipment, auditing completed machinery exiting production to guarantee zero-defect quality standards.
• Drive Engineering Design Improvements: Formulate and submit Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) to design engineering based on real-world field insights, directly optimizing future machinery design.
• Lead Technical Trade Show Staging: Oversee the technical setup, mechanical alignment, and electrical hookup of custom automated equipment for industry trade shows.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• 2+ Years of Dedicated Field Depth: Verifiable track record commissioning, servicing, or maintaining complex electro-mechanical industrial machinery or capital equipment.
• Schematics & Controls Aptitude: Fully comfortable troubleshooting automated systems, wiring industrial controls, and interpreting multi-page electrical, mechanical, and pneumatic schematics with minimal oversight.
• Global Mobility & Passport Readiness: Full, unconditional willingness and capability to travel 40 to 70 days per year, maintaining a valid passport for seamless international field deployments.
• Communication & Professionalism: Customer-facing communication with an organized mindset essential for operator training, field service logging, and client collaboration.
• Local Commute & Tooling: Must reside within a daily commute of the Menomonee Falls, WI area and possess a comprehensive mechanical and electrical field service toolset.
• Work Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States (US Citizen or Green Card holder) without sponsorship requirements.

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• PLC / HMI Programming Environments: Exposure to troubleshooting or modifying logic in Rockwell Automation (Studio 5000/Logix) or Siemens TIA Portal setups.
• Rigging & Precision Alignment: Hands-on experience with precision laser alignment, rigging, and heavy machinery leveling.
• Client Training Background: Prior experience delivering structured operator and maintenance team training during equipment handovers.