Field Service Engineer-EV

Blue Bird Corporation; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Bird Corporation is seeking an EV Field Service Engineering Supervisor to lead the EV Field Service Team, oversee telemetry and software activities, and closely collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to ensure reliable, high-performing electric buses. You will own fleet health and drive proactive service strategies across production, dealer inventories, and customer operations.

The role emphasizes leadership, advanced EV tech expertise, and a commitment to continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline preferred.
• Five (5) or more years of OEM engineering-level technical service support or field service engineering experience with EV systems.
• Class B CDL with School Bus and Air Brake Endorsements, or ability to obtain within six months.

Responsibilities

• Supervise EV Field Service Engineers and telemetry specialists.
• Lead proactive field support to identify issues before they affect customers.
• Oversee fleet-wide monitoring using telemetry and data to improve product reliability.
• Establish territory ownership and accountability for EV units within regions.
• Coordinate software programming, calibration, and deployment with Engineering and Product Development.
• Drive continuous improvement in diagnostic methodologies and field troubleshooting processes.

Skills

Battery EV systems

Vehicle software architecture

CAN communication protocols

Telemetry & fleet data

Engineering problem solving

Electrical schematics interpretation

Analytics & data interpretation

Customer relationship

Leadership & mentoring

Multitasking in cross-functional teams

Travel readiness

After-hours flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Job description

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird's complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Field Service Operations Manager, the EV Field Service Engineering Supervisor is responsible for leading and coordinating the activities of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Field Service Team, including EV Field Service Engineers, a Software/Programming Field Service Engineer, and a Telemetry Specialist. This role provides leadership for advanced technical support involving high-voltage propulsion systems, vehicle software, connected technologies, charging infrastructure, and advanced vehicle diagnostics.

The EV Field Service Supervisor is responsible for the operational health and reliability of the Blue Bird electric vehicle fleet by leading proactive monitoring, technical support, and product improvement initiatives. This position oversees a specialized team focused on territory ownership, telemetry analysis, software support, and customer engagement throughout the vehicle lifecycle—from production through dealer inventory and customer operation.

This role serves as the primary technical liaison between customers, dealers, Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Development, Quality, and Service Operations to rapidly identify, investigate, and resolve complex product concerns while driving continuous improvement in product reliability and customer satisfaction.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise, mentor, and develop a specialized team of EV Field Service Engineers, a Software/Programming Field Service Engineer, and a Telemetry Specialist providing advanced technical support for electric vehicle products.
• Lead a proactive field support organization focused on identifying, investigating, and mitigating issues before they impact customers.
• Oversee fleet-wide monitoring of electric vehicles utilizing telemetry, connected vehicle technologies, warranty information, and field performance data to improve product reliability and customer satisfaction.
• Establish territory ownership among EV Field Service Engineers, assigning responsibility for the operational health, customer relationships, and technical performance of all EV units within their assigned region.
• Coordinate monitoring and support of electric vehicles throughout the production, dealer inventory, delivery, and customer operational lifecycle.
• Lead the investigation of escalated technical issues involving battery systems, high-voltage propulsion systems, charging systems, thermal management, vehicle controls, software, and connected vehicle technologies.
• Serve as the primary technical escalation point for complex EV issues and coordinate cross-functional resolution efforts.
• Coordinate software programming, calibration, and deployment activities in partnership with Engineering and Product Development.
• Oversee telemetry data collection, analysis, and reporting to identify emerging trends, systemic issues, and opportunities for proactive corrective action.
• Review escalated field cases and fleet data to determine whether concerns represent isolated incidents or systemic product issues requiring engineering level investigation.
• Direct field data acquisition efforts including CAN network captures, telemetry analysis, software logs, event data, and diagnostic information necessary to support Root Cause Analysis.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Product Development, Warranty, and Supplier teams to develop, validate, and implement corrective actions for field issues.
• Lead recurring fleet health reviews utilizing telemetry, service history, warranty trends, and engineering analysis to prioritize product improvements.
• Support validation of engineering countermeasures through field testing, pilot deployments, and customer evaluations.
• Drive continuous improvement in diagnostic methodologies, service procedures, and field troubleshooting processes.
• Gather and organize technical information required for the creation of service bulletins, software release documentation, technical publications, service campaigns, and field communications.
• Organize and prioritize deployment of EV Field Service personnel to maximize customer support and effective utilization of specialized technical resources.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators related to fleet health, issue response, product reliability, and customer satisfaction.
• Maintain strong relationships with customers, dealers, and internal stakeholders by providing timely technical guidance and effective issue resolution.
• Maintain accurate documentation of service activities, engineering findings, corrective actions, and customer communications.
• Support new product launches through field readiness planning, early-life failure monitoring, technical training, and rapid issue response.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Expert knowledge of battery electric vehicle systems including high-voltage architecture, battery systems, propulsion systems, charging systems, thermal management, vehicle controls, and electrical distribution.
• Strong understanding of vehicle software architecture, programming, calibrations, firmware deployment, and electronic control systems.
• Advanced knowledge of CAN communication protocols, J1939, CAN FD, vehicle networking, diagnostic tools, and data acquisition techniques.
• Experience utilizing telemetry, connected vehicle technologies, and fleet performance data to drive predictive diagnostics and product reliability improvements.
• Strong understanding of engineering problem-solving methodologies including Root Cause Analysis, 8D, corrective action development, and continuous improvement processes.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, software logic, network architecture, engineering documentation, and technical specifications.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate large volumes of technical data and develop actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication and customer relationship skills with the ability to effectively engage customers, dealers, executive leadership, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Proven leadership skills with demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop highly technical personnel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while leading cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience collaborating with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Product Development, Warranty, and Service Operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and engineering diagnostic software.
• Willingness to travel as needed to support customer operations, product launches, and field investigations.
• Flexibility to work outside normal business hours when required to support operational needs.

EDUCATION AND EXPEREINCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Automotive Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Advanced Vehicle Systems, Automotive Technology, or a related technical discipline preferred.
• Five (5) or more years of OEM engineering-level technical service support, field service engineering, or advanced technical support experience with electric vehicle, medium-duty, or heavy-duty vehicle systems.
• Experience supporting high-voltage electric vehicle systems, software diagnostics, connected vehicle technologies, or advanced vehicle controls preferred.
• Two (2) or more years of leadership or direct report management experience.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing engineering data, telemetry, or advanced diagnostics to support Root Cause Analysis and product improvement initiatives.
• Class B CDL with School Bus and Air Brake Endorsements, or ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment.

*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Blue Bird’s winning culture is fueled by our ability to respect, encourage, celebrate and embrace the unique perspectives of all of our employees. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affidavit Action employer who is committed to providing all of our employees with a work environment free of discrimination or harassment. We base our employment decisions on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, national, social or ethnic origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, past or present military service, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

Qualifications

Education

Required

High School or better.

Experience

Required

Class B CDL with School Bus and Air Brake Endorsements, or ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment.

2 years:

Leadership or direct report management experience.

5 years:

OEM engineering-level technical service support, field service engineering, or advanced technical support experience with electric vehicle, medium-duty, or heavy-duty vehicle systems

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.