Field Service Engineer

Senior Field Service Engineer – Building Automation Systems

This Senior-level Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS) Field Service Engineer role serves as the lead technical expert on-site for complex building automation and direct digital control (DDC) systems. The engineer leads commissioning and troubleshooting activities, optimizes building performance and control strategies, mentors junior technicians, and partners closely with project teams and customers. This position is ideal for an experienced BAS professional who enjoys hands-on technical work, advanced controls and networking, and acting as the primary technical authority in the field.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning and startup of complex building automation and DDC systems, ensuring all control sequences and devices operate as designed.
• Troubleshoot advanced building automation and HVAC control issues, identifying root causes and implementing effective, long-term solutions.
• Serve as the primary technical authority on-site, providing expert guidance on BAS programming, configuration, and optimization.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior technicians, coaching them on best practices, safety, and advanced troubleshooting techniques.
• Partner with Project Managers and Engineers to support successful project delivery, including planning, coordination, and execution of field activities.
• Program, configure, and fine-tune building automation systems using platforms such as WebCTRL and other BAS software tools.
• Solve advanced controls, networking, and system integration issues, including communication between multiple BAS platforms and subsystems.
• Support WebCTRL, networking, system analytics, and integration activities, ensuring reliable data flow and system performance.
• Navigate and integrate into a variety of building automation systems, including platforms such as Siemens Insight, Desigo, and similar systems.
• Ensure high-quality workmanship, accurate documentation, and clear reporting of commissioning results, changes, and field observations.
• Maintain a strong focus on customer satisfaction by communicating clearly, setting expectations, and providing timely updates on work progress.
• Collaborate with design and software engineering teams by providing field feedback and participating in the development or modification of control sequences.
• Use Microsoft 365 and related tools to document work, prepare reports, manage project information, and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Follow all safety guidelines in the field, including safe use of ladders and lift equipment, and adherence to site-specific requirements.

Essential Skills

• High School Diploma or GED.
• At least 4 years of experience in Building Automation, HVAC, or a closely related field.
• Strong hands-on experience with building automation systems (BAS/BMS), including commissioning, startup, and controls troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in troubleshooting HVAC systems and associated control strategies.
• Capability to climb ladders or use lift equipment over 8 feet above grade, and ability to lift items up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to program, configure, and adjust building automation and DDC systems in the field.
• Solid understanding of system integration concepts for building automation systems.
• Expertise with TCP/IP networks, including wireless networking technology, as applied to BAS environments.
• Ability to interact with and manage a large number of simultaneous technical challenges across multiple disciplines.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with technicians, engineers, and project stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications for documentation, reporting, and communication.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, Associate Degree, or Technical/Business School Certificate or Diploma in HVAC, Controls, or a related field.
• Significant experience specifically in BAS/BMS environments, including advanced commissioning and optimization.
• Experience with advanced building automation software such as WebCTRL, including installation and configuration of building automation controls.
• Ability to navigate, operate, and integrate multiple building automation platforms, including experience with Siemens Insight and Desigo or similar systems.
• Advanced knowledge of networking for building automation, including configuration and troubleshooting of TCP/IP and wireless networks.
• Experience working on complex projects that require coordination across multiple disciplines and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring experience, particularly in guiding junior technicians in the field.
• Experience using system analytics tools to evaluate and improve building performance and control sequences.
• Interest in or experience with software-related aspects of building automation, including modifying and manipulating control software.
• Desire for career growth opportunities in areas such as software engineering or design engineering related to building controls.

Work Environment

This role supports a field territory in and around the Harrisonburg, VA area and involves regular travel to customer sites within that region. Work is primarily performed on-site in commercial or institutional buildings where building automation systems are installed. Typical working hours are approximately 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with some flexibility based on project needs and customer requirements. The position requires the ability to climb ladders and use lift equipment to access building automation units and control devices located at heights above 8 feet, as well as the ability to lift items up to 50 lbs. The environment is hands-on and technology-driven, with frequent use of advanced building automation platforms such as WebCTRL and systems like Siemens Insight and Desigo, along with networking tools and Microsoft 365 applications. The culture emphasizes technical excellence, continuous learning, and career growth, with clear pathways into software engineering and design engineering roles. Technicians regularly interact with software, modify and manipulate control sequences, and collaborate with a diverse team of former field technicians and engineers who contribute to ongoing innovation in building controls and system performance.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Richmond, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $60.09/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 Sep 17, 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.

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