A job seeker can take many paths to enter this career. Some start out as Licensed Journeyman or Master Electrician / HVAC Mechanics. It is also common to employ individuals with Military Experience with a solid grasp of the repair and installation aspect of a field service position. We work with many individuals that come from the Military. This includes Navy Nuclear – Navy Nukes, Air Force – Power Production, Army – Power Generation. The exposure these individuals have to critical environments allows for a smooth transition into the data center space.
Moreover, Field Service Engineers typically have their specialized focus on the equipment they service. For example, a data center UPS Field Service Engineer knows how to repair and maintain static Uninterruptible Power Supplies between 500 – 1000 kva. Other UPS Field Service Engineers specialize in Rotary or DRUPS equipment. Other field service engineers specialize in any of the following: UPS, Generators, Batteries, Switchgear, PDU’s, Chillers, CRAC Units, CRAH Units, BMS, BAS, EPMS, Controls, etc.
Field Service is not your typical 9-5 job. In addition, some weekend and night work is usually required. The field service engineer must be prepared to travel. While many positions tend to be regional in nature, sometimes travel outside a given region is required. A typical UPS Field Service Engineer is guaranteed 40/hrs. per week, with company vehicle or car allowance (not in all cases), and tool box. Overtime is also usually available.