Field Service & Commissioning Technician – Water & Wastewater

National Rural Water Association; Salem (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

INFRASTRUCTURE DYNAMICS is seeking a field-based professional to support water and wastewater projects across the lower 48 states. You will install, startup, troubleshoot, and service equipment, working directly with contractors and operators.

You will identify field conditions, communicate with engineering, and help improve field procedures. The role requires practical problem-solving, strong communication, and the ability to travel regularly with overnight stays.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience in industrial equipment, construction, water/wastewater, mechanical or electrical service, commissioning, or related field.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• Comfort using hand tools, power tools, and diagnostic equipment.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, installation details, and equipment manuals.
• Willingness to travel regularly and stay overnight when required.

Responsibilities

• Travel to water and wastewater project sites.
• Support installation, startup, testing, and commissioning.
• Work with contractors, operators, owners, vendors, and project personnel.
• Verify installations against drawings and manufacturer requirements.
• Perform inspections and startup checks.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, instrumentation, and operational issues.
• Assist with equipment testing, assembly, or fabrication when not traveling.
• Help improve installation instructions, startup checklists, and service procedures.

Skills

Field troubleshooting

Manual tool use

Reading drawings

Customer service

Travel readiness

Tools

Diagnostic equipment

Hand tools

Power tools

VFDs/PLCs

Job description

The Opportunity

This is not a desk job – and that is the point. You will be one of the people who makes engineered systems work in the real world. As one of INFRASTRUCTURE DYNAMICS’ primary field representatives, you will travel to project sites across the lower 48 states, work directly with contractors, operators, and customers, and support installation, startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, service, and warranty activities.

This role carries real responsibility. You may be the first person to spot a field condition that could become a larger problem, determine what can be resolved on site, and clearly flag what needs engineering support. Your observations and experience will feed directly back into engineering and product improvement. If you like working with your hands, solving problems under real‑world conditions, taking ownership from arrival through resolution, and learning across pumps, controls, instrumentation, treatment systems, and fabricated infrastructure, this is an opportunity to grow with a company that wants field experience to help shape what we build next.

Key Responsibilities

• Travel to water and wastewater project sites.
• Support equipment installation, startup, testing, and commissioning.
• Work directly with contractors, operators, owners, vendors, and project personnel.
• Verify installations against approved drawings and manufacturer requirements.
• Perform equipment inspections and startup checks.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, instrumentation, and operational issues.
• Perform minor equipment repairs and adjustments.
• Assist with pumps, motors, piping, valves, floats, level instrumentation, transducers, control panels, VFDs, sensors, and related equipment.
• Identify field conditions that differ from approved drawings or project requirements.
• Determine when an issue can be resolved in the field and when engineering involvement is necessary.
• Communicate field conditions clearly to engineering and project‑management personnel.
• Document site conditions using photographs, field reports, inspection forms, and punch lists.
• Track outstanding field issues through resolution.
• Support warranty and service activities.
• Provide customer and operator training.
• Coordinate with subcontractors and equipment vendors.
• Assist with equipment testing, assembly, or fabrication when not traveling.
• Help improve installation instructions, startup checklists, service procedures, and field documentation.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience in industrial equipment, construction, water/wastewater, mechanical service, electrical service, controls, maintenance, commissioning, or a similar technical field.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• Comfort using hand tools, power tools, and diagnostic equipment.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, installation details, and equipment manuals.
• Ability to work independently at construction and customer sites.
• Strong communication and customer‑service skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with contractors, operators, engineers, owners, and vendors.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly and stay overnight when required by project schedules.
• Valid driver’s license.

Particularly Valuable Experience

• Wastewater treatment plants or water treatment facilities.
• Pump stations / lift stations, pumps, and motors.
• VFDs, PLCs, control panels, and electrical troubleshooting.
• Process instrumentation, level controls, and transducers.
• PVC, HDPE, or polypropylene piping.
• Mechanical equipment installation and industrial maintenance.
• Equipment startup and commissioning.
• Municipal utilities and construction‑site experience.

The Person We Are Looking For

The best candidate for this role likes solving problems. You are comfortable asking questions, opening a drawing, inspecting equipment, talking with the contractor, contacting an equipment manufacturer, and working through the problem until you understand what is happening.

You should know the difference between: “I can fix this” and “Engineering needs to review this.” When engineering does need to become involved, you should be able to provide photographs, measurements, observations, and a clear explanation of the problem.

Travel

Regular travel is an important part of this position. Travel will initially be concentrated around INFRASTRUCTURE DYNAMICS’ project footprint in Virginia and the surrounding region but may include project sites elsewhere in the United States. Candidates should be comfortable with driving, air travel, overnight stays, construction environments, and changing project schedules.

Physical Requirements

• Walking and standing for extended periods.
• Climbing stairs and ladders.
• Bending, kneeling, and working around mechanical equipment.
• Using hand and power tools.
• Lifting and handling tools and equipment.
• Working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE).

Reasonable accommodations may be provided for qualified individuals.

Why INFRASTRUCTURE DYNAMICS?

Our systems combine mechanical equipment, pumps, piping, controls, instrumentation, treatment processes, and fabricated infrastructure. You will have an opportunity to build a broad technical skill set while working directly with the engineers and professionals who designed the equipment you are supporting. You will also play an important role in improving future systems by bringing field experience directly back into engineering and product development.

INFRASTRUCTURE DYNAMICS is an equal opportunity employer.