Field Service Engineer

Job Title: Field Service Engineer

Job Description

The Field Service Engineer travels extensively across the United States to install, commission, service, and repair robotic palletizers, case packing systems, and other large industrial automation equipment. This role focuses on troubleshooting and modifying Rockwell/PLC and Fanuc robotic systems, including reading, understanding, and editing existing code to identify and resolve issues. The engineer works on electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems, ensuring automated equipment operates safely, reliably, and efficiently. The position requires heavy weekday travel with the expectation of returning home every weekend.

Responsibilities

• Travel approximately 80% or more of the time across the United States to support customer sites with installation, commissioning, service, and repair of automation systems.
• Perform troubleshooting and diagnostics on robotic palletizers, case packing equipment, and other large industrial automation systems to identify root causes of issues.
• Read, interpret, and understand existing Rockwell/PLC programs and Fanuc robot code to determine where problems occur and implement effective solutions.
• Make edits, changes, and touch-ups to PLC and HMI programs to improve performance, correct faults, and support new or modified processes.
• Troubleshoot and repair electrical systems, including electrical circuits, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and servo motors, to restore equipment functionality.
• Work on mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic components of automated equipment to perform repairs, adjustments, and preventive maintenance.
• Commission new systems, including setup, configuration, testing, and verification of robotic and automated equipment to meet performance requirements.
• Support field service activities such as installation, start-up, and optimization of automation and control systems at customer facilities.
• Use Fanuc controls and programming tools to diagnose robotic issues, perform adjustments, and ensure reliable operation of Fanuc robots.
• Collaborate with customers on-site to explain findings, discuss repair options, and ensure their equipment operates according to expectations.
• Document service activities, changes made to programs, and issues encountered to support future maintenance and continuous improvement.
• Adhere to safety procedures and best practices while working on electrical, mechanical, and robotic systems in industrial environments.
• Manage travel logistics using company-provided resources and maintain professional conduct while representing the organization at customer locations.

Essential Skills

• Associate's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Robotics.
• 5+ years of field service experience working with industrial automation or related equipment.
• 5+ years of experience troubleshooting and repairing robotic and industrial automated equipment.
• 5+ years of experience making edits to PLCs and HMIs in an industrial environment.
• 5+ years of experience troubleshooting electrical circuits, VFDs, and servo motors.
• 5+ years of experience with Fanuc troubleshooting and working with Fanuc robotic systems.
• Hands-on experience with Rockwell/PLC systems, including PLC troubleshooting and control.
• Strong troubleshooting skills in electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Ability to read, understand, and modify PLC code and ladder logic to diagnose and resolve issues.
• Experience with field service work, including installation, repair, and preventive maintenance of automation systems.
• Proficiency in working with automation systems, controls programming, and robotics.
• Willingness and ability to travel heavily during the week and be away from home for extended periods while returning home on weekends.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of FactoryTalk software is a plus.
• Knowledge of ladder logic programming beyond basic troubleshooting is advantageous.
• Experience with Fanuc controls, Fanuc robots, and Fanuc programming.
• Experience in controls programming and automation systems integration.
• Experience with robotic palletizing, case packing, or similar automated packaging equipment.
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with customers and internal teams.
• Ability to work independently in the field and manage multiple service assignments.
• Comfort working with complex industrial equipment and advanced robotics.

Work Environment

The Field Service Engineer works primarily in customer manufacturing and industrial facilities, supporting advanced robotics and automation systems used for packaging, material handling, and vision-guided applications. The company designs and builds custom automated packaging lines, robotic case packing systems, palletizing systems, vision inspection and verification systems, direct food-handling automation, autonomous vehicle and material movement solutions, and fully integrated end-of-line automation. The role involves frequent air and ground travel during the week, with the engineer typically home every weekend. The engineer may live anywhere in the United States, provided they are comfortable with heavy travel. Work is performed around industrial equipment, requiring adherence to safety protocols and appropriate industrial attire as dictated by customer sites. The organization provides a company credit card to cover lodging, flights, rental cars, and fuel for work-related travel. A daily meal per diem is provided based on a flat incidental rate aligned with IRS methods, with a reduced rate applied on the first and last day of travel. The environment emphasizes helping manufacturers increase throughput, reduce dependence on manual labor, improve consistency, and optimize production lines through advanced robotics and automation.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Columbus, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $52.00/hr.

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 Aug 10, 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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com 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.