Field Service Engineer

Job Title: Field Service Engineer Job Description
The Field Service Engineer plays a key role in designing, programming, installing, and supporting complex electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems for packaging machinery. This position focuses heavily on PLC and HMI programming, machine commissioning, and troubleshooting in the field, working closely with cross-functional teams and customers to deliver reliable, high-performance equipment solutions.
Responsibilities

• Interpret and work from detailed schematics and engineering drawings of electrical devices and systems.
• Conduct electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic design for packaging machinery and related equipment.
• Program machine PLCs and peripheral devices, primarily using Rockwell automation platforms.
• Develop and implement HMI programming using Rockwell FactoryTalk PanelView and related tools.
• Coordinate machine debug, power-up, and validation activities with build and electrical teams.
• Travel to customer sites to perform equipment installation, start-up, runoffs, and commissioning.
• Provide hands-on troubleshooting and editing of PLC and HMI programs on a laptop while in the field.
• Generate accurate bills of materials from specifications and engineering drawings.
• Support the development of technical catalogs and manuals by collaborating with Technical Writers.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams across filler, seamer, and capper divisions to develop customer-focused solutions.
• Provide troubleshooting support for existing machinery in the field, including electrical circuits and control systems.
• Apply knowledge of electrical design concepts, components, circuits, and power distribution to ensure safe and effective operation.
• Use strong customer-facing skills to work directly with customers on-site, addressing issues and explaining solutions clearly.
• Demonstrate initiative in the field, guiding and directing team members as needed to achieve project objectives.
• Ensure compliance with relevant electrical codes and standards, including NEC, NFPA-79, and UL-508.
• Document work performed, updates to programs, and changes to equipment configurations in accordance with company procedures.
• Collaborate with internal travel coordination systems to plan and manage trips, often several months in advance.
• Report on-site to the manufacturing facility when not traveling to customer locations.

Essential Skills

• Approximately 3 or more years of experience in field service engineering or a closely related role, working directly on complex machinery and control systems.
• Strong experience with Allen-Bradley PLC programming and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in PLC programming in Rockwell environments, including RSLogix5, RSLogix500, RSLogix5000, Studio 5000, and Connected Components Workbench (CCW).
• Experience with HMI programming in Rockwell environments, such as FactoryTalk View.
• Ability to perform electrical schematic drafting using AutoCAD Electrical.
• Strong skills in electrical circuit troubleshooting and diagnostics.
• Solid understanding of electrical design concepts, processes, components, circuits, and power distribution.
• Working knowledge of NEC, NFPA-79, and UL-508 standards and their application to industrial equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret detailed engineering drawings and schematics.
• Capability to generate bills of materials from specifications and drawings with a high level of accuracy.
• Comfort working directly with customers in demanding field environments, maintaining professionalism and composure.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 100% of the time, including some nights and weekends.
• Ability to work long hours, including 12-hour days and approximately 60-hour workweeks when traveling.
• Strong initiative and self-direction, with the ability to guide and support team members in the field.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills for working with build, electrical, and cross-functional teams.
• Residence within reasonable proximity to a major airport to support frequent travel.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology (BSEET) is preferred.
• Experience in packaging machinery or food and beverage production environments is highly desirable.
• Exposure to motion control, safety systems, and related industrial automation technologies.
• Experience working across multiple equipment divisions such as fillers, seamers, and cappers.
• Ability to support technical documentation efforts by providing clear, detailed input to Technical Writers.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt quickly to changing customer requirements.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with a busy season from January through April and slower periods from May through Labor Day.
• Organizational skills to manage frequent travel, varying project durations, and multiple customer engagements.

Work Environment
This role is predominantly field-based, with travel close to 100% of the time to customer sites across the United States and occasionally Canada. Typical trips range from 2-3 days to 5-10 days, and can extend up to 3 weeks depending on project needs. When not on the road, the Field Service Engineer reports to a large, modern manufacturing facility with automated equipment in a very clean environment, located near Cleveland. Workdays are often 12 hours, averaging around 60 hours per week during busy periods, and most weekends are worked while traveling. The organization uses an internal system to plan and track travel, allowing technicians to see assignments months in advance. All flights, car rentals, and per diem for meals are covered, with a company credit card provided and mileage reimbursement available for personal vehicle use when appropriate. Overtime eligibility is included. The culture emphasizes teamwork across filler, seamer, and capper divisions, with a strong focus on supporting major beverage and packaging customers and meeting rising demand in bottling and canning solutions. Attire in the manufacturing facility and at customer sites is typically practical and appropriate for working around industrial equipment and automated machinery.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Cincinnati, OH.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $75000.00/yr.
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.
Î Medical & Prescription Drug Insurance Î Dental Insurance Î Vision Insurance Î Critical Illness Insurance Î Accident Insurance Î Hospital Indemnity
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Cincinnati,OH.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 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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