Field Service Engineer

Actalent; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Field Service Engineer to provide on-site technical support for high-end manufacturing systems in metalworking. The role requires 100% travel to customer sites, primarily across the Northern East Coast, with some travel to other locations.

The engineer diagnoses and repairs complex equipment, supports software and control systems, and delivers exceptional customer service while collaborating with internal teams.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of field troubleshooting PLCs and equipment.
• Experience with Beckhoff, AB, or Siemens PLCs.
• Strong CNC systems knowledge and fault diagnosis.
• Willingness to travel 100% to customer sites.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose issues and perform repairs on manufacturing systems.
• Provide on-site and occasional remote support.
• Build strong relationships with customers and vendors.
• Collaborate with Technical Support, Installation, Software, Sales and Training teams for service delivery.
• Travel to customer sites locally and out-of-state as needed.
• Provide pre-sales technical support to sales and customers.

Skills

PLC troubleshooting

Beckhoff PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

CNC systems knowledge

VFDs

Field service travel

Electrical/electronic experience

Job description

Job Title: Field Service Engineer

The Field Service Engineer provides on-site technical support for high-end manufacturing systems used in metalworking, ensuring customers achieve maximum productivity and reliability.

Job Description

The Field Service Engineer provides on-site technical support for high-end manufacturing systems used in metalworking, ensuring customers achieve maximum productivity and reliability. This role is based in the Philadelphia, PA area and requires 100% travel to customer sites, primarily across the Northern East Coast with additional travel as needed. The engineer diagnoses and repairs complex equipment, supports software and control systems, and delivers exceptional customer service while collaborating closely with internal technical, installation, software, sales, and training teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary customer support contact at client sites, diagnosing issues and executing repairs and troubleshooting on manufacturing systems and related equipment.
• Provide on-site and in-house customer service and support, and occasionally assist customers remotely when appropriate.
• Maintain a high level of customer service by building and sustaining strong relationships with internal and external customers and vendors to foster a teamwork-driven environment.
• Collaborate closely with Technical Support, Installation, Software, Sales, and Training departments to ensure seamless service delivery and effective problem resolution.
• Travel to customer sites locally and out-of-state as required to install, commission, troubleshoot, and support equipment and control systems.
• Provide pre-sales technical support to the sales team and customers by explaining technical capabilities, system functionality, and integration considerations.
• Troubleshoot PLCs and related control systems, including diagnosing hardware and software issues and implementing effective corrective actions.
• Work with variable frequency drives (VFDs) and frequency drive systems as part of equipment troubleshooting and repair activities.
• Apply strong CNC knowledge to identify, analyze, and resolve issues related to CNC machinery and control systems.
• Participate in sales, service, company, and customer meetings to share technical insights, discuss ongoing issues, and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
• Maintain up-to-date technical, interpersonal, and communication skills through continuous learning and professional development.
• Document service activities, findings, and recommendations clearly and accurately to support ongoing customer support and internal knowledge sharing.

Essential Skills

• At least 4 years of experience working in the field troubleshooting PLCs and equipment.
• Hands-on experience with PLCs such as Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley, or Siemens.
• Strong knowledge of CNC systems and their operation, configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Technical experience and practical knowledge in electronics, mechanical systems, pneumatics, and/or hydraulics.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot PLCs and control systems in a field service environment.
• Experience working with variable frequency drives (VFDs) and frequency drive systems.
• Mechanical aptitude with the ability to understand, diagnose, and repair complex machinery.
• Ability and willingness to travel 100% of the time to customer sites.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively with customers, vendors, and internal teams.
• Ability to build and maintain positive customer relationships while delivering high-quality service.
• Capability to work independently in the field, manage time effectively, and prioritize multiple service assignments.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting high-end manufacturing systems and automation equipment in metalworking or related industries.
• Experience providing pre-sales technical support to sales teams and customers.
• Comfort working across multidisciplinary technical areas including electronics, mechanical, pneumatics, and hydraulics.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous professional development in technical and soft skills.
• Experience participating in cross-functional meetings involving sales, service, and customer stakeholders.

Work Environment

This role is a 100% travel position focused on servicing and supporting customers at their facilities. The engineer will primarily travel between the Northern East Coast areas, with additional travel to other locations as needed. The position is ideally suited for someone based in or near Philadelphia to reduce travel time and costs, and the engineer will typically return home on weekends. Work is performed at customer manufacturing sites, involving hands-on interaction with CNC machinery, PLC-based control systems, electronics, mechanical components, pneumatics, hydraulics, and variable frequency drives. The environment is highly collaborative, with regular interaction with internal technical support, installation, software, sales, and training teams, and participation in company, service, and customer meetings. The role requires flexibility, frequent travel, and comfort working in industrial settings while maintaining a professional appearance and demeanor appropriate for customer-facing field service work.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Kansas City, KS.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $40.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully remote position. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 1, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.