Field Engineer Job Description
Recruit a practical, customer-facing engineer to install, maintain and fault-find equipment at client sites across your region.
What does a Field Engineer professional do?
A Field Engineer provides on-site installation, commissioning, maintenance and technical support for equipment and systems, working directly with clients and project teams.
Field Engineer job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Field Engineer
About the role
We are hiring a Field Engineer to deliver on-site installation, commissioning, maintenance and fault diagnosis for [equipment/systems]. Based at [Location] with regular travel across [region], you will work from client sites, keep accurate service records, support project handovers and ensure safe completion of works. Salary: [insert salary range] • Contract: [permanent/contract/temporary] • Reporting to: [line manager].
Key responsibilities
- Carry out installation, commissioning and decommissioning of equipment to manufacturer and company standards.
- Perform planned maintenance and reactive repairs, diagnosing faults and completing timely fixes on-site.
- Complete and maintain service reports, asset records and compliance documentation after each visit.
- Follow written schematics, drawings and test procedures; undertake basic electrical/mechanical/electronic testing as required.
- Maintain and calibrate tools, test equipment and vehicle stock; report parts needs promptly.
- Provide clear on-site customer communication and basic training on equipment operation and routine maintenance.
- Escalate complex issues to engineering leads or manufacturer support and follow up until resolved.
- Adhere to health, safety and environmental procedures, including toolbox talks, risk assessments and permit-to-work processes.
Essential skills and experience
- Relevant vocational or technical engineering qualification (e.g. NVQ, HNC/HND) or equivalent practical experience in a field engineering role.
- Proven hands-on experience installing and maintaining mechanical, electrical or electronic systems.
- Full UK driving licence valid for the role and willingness to travel to client sites regularly.
- Good fault-finding and diagnostic skills, with ability to read electrical/mechanical drawings and use basic diagnostic tools.
- Clear communication skills for customer contact and accurate written record-keeping.
- Right to work in the UK.
Desirable
- Degree in engineering (BEng/BSc) or professional accreditation.
- Experience with PLCs, control systems, HVAC, industrial hydraulics or specific manufacturer systems relevant to your sector.
- Formal health and safety qualifications (e.g. IOSH Working Safely) or industry-specific certificates.
- Experience using mobile job-management or asset-tracking software.
- CSCS card or other trade-specific competence cards where relevant.
What we offer
- Pension scheme (details negotiable)
- Mileage allowance or company vehicle (as applicable)
- Training and professional development budget
- Holiday entitlement (to be specified)
- Company-provided PPE and tools (where applicable)
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Field Engineer role?
A Field Engineer visits client sites to install, test, maintain and repair equipment and systems. The role combines practical mechanical, electrical or electronic work with customer liaison — ensuring installations meet specifications, faults are diagnosed quickly and service records are kept current. Field Engineers often travel between sites, work to safety and quality standards, and escalate complex technical issues to specialist teams.
On-site delivery
Work at client locations to carry out installations, maintenance and repairs rather than office-based tasks.
Hands-on technical work
Use practical engineering skills to diagnose faults, replace parts and commission systems to specification.
Client-facing
Explain technical matters to non-technical users, leave sites tidy and ensure customer satisfaction.
Typical Field Engineer responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Carry out installation
Carry out installation, commissioning and decommissioning of equipment to manufacturer and company standards.
Perform planned maintenance
Perform planned maintenance and reactive repairs, diagnosing faults and completing timely fixes on-site.
Complete
Complete and maintain service reports, asset records and compliance documentation after each visit.
Follow written schematics
Follow written schematics, drawings and test procedures; undertake basic electrical/mechanical/electronic testing as required.
Maintain
Maintain and calibrate tools, test equipment and vehicle stock; report parts needs promptly.
Provide clear on-site customer communication
Provide clear on-site customer communication and basic training on equipment operation and routine maintenance.
Escalate complex issues
Escalate complex issues to engineering leads or manufacturer support and follow up until resolved.
Adhere
Adhere to health, safety and environmental procedures, including toolbox talks, risk assessments and permit-to-work processes.
Field Engineer skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Relevant vocational or technical engineering qualification (e.g. NVQ, HNC/HND) or equivalent practical experience in a field engineering role.
- Proven hands-on experience installing and maintaining mechanical, electrical or electronic systems.
- Full UK driving licence valid for the role and willingness to travel to client sites regularly.
- Good fault-finding and diagnostic skills, with ability to read electrical/mechanical drawings and use basic diagnostic tools.
- Clear communication skills for customer contact and accurate written record-keeping.
- Right to work in the UK.
Useful where relevant
- Degree in engineering (BEng/BSc) or professional accreditation.
- Experience with PLCs, control systems, HVAC, industrial hydraulics or specific manufacturer systems relevant to your sector.
- Formal health and safety qualifications (e.g. IOSH Working Safely) or industry-specific certificates.
- Experience using mobile job-management or asset-tracking software.
- CSCS card or other trade-specific competence cards where relevant.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Field Engineer job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Specify travel and working hours
State expected travel radius, overnight stays and any shift or on‑call rota so candidates can assess suitability.
Be clear about equipment and sectors
Name the types of systems, manufacturers or industry sectors involved (e.g. HVAC, telecoms, industrial controls) to attract appropriately experienced applicants.
List essential versus desirable skills
Make core requirements minimal and achievable; move nice-to-have vendor certifications or software experience to 'desirable'.
Outline training and progression
Highlight available training, certification support and typical career pathways to appeal to candidates seeking long-term development.
Field Engineer salary considerations
Field Engineer pay varies widely depending on the sector, location, required technical specialisms and whether on-call or vehicle allowances are included. Instead of a single market figure, consider the key factors below when setting your salary and benefits package.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Field Engineer candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
How much travel is required and is overnight stay expected?
Candidates need to know typical travel radius, frequency of overnight stays and whether travel time is paid.
What are the usual working hours and is there an on-call rota?
Applicants should understand shift patterns, expected start times and any compensatory pay for on-call duties.
Will tools, PPE and test equipment be provided?
Clarify whether engineers must supply any hand tools or whether the employer provides all specialist equipment and PPE.
What training and certification support do you offer?
Experienced candidates assess whether the employer funds vendor courses, safety training and career development.
Is there a vehicle or mileage/mobility allowance?
Many field roles rely on a vehicle — candidates will want to know if a company vehicle, fuel card, or mileage rate is provided.
Where to post a Field Engineer job
Field Engineer vacancies perform well across general UK job boards, industry-specific boards (e.g. engineering, telecoms, facilities) and professional networking sites. For roles requiring specialised manufacturer experience, advertise on sector forums and supplier networks; for local service roles, use regional job boards and local engineering colleges to attract candidates who can travel to sites daily.
Related engineering / technical services job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Field Engineer job description FAQs
Do I need to require a degree for Field Engineer roles?
No — many competent field engineers have vocational qualifications or substantial hands-on experience. Make a degree desirable rather than essential unless the role needs advanced theoretical knowledge.
What pre-employment checks should I run?
Standard checks include right-to-work in the UK, identity, a basic employment history check and verification of any claimed licences or certifications. Consider an enhanced DBS check only where the role involves regulated client groups.
How should I assess practical competence at interview?
Use practical competency questions, a technical skills test or ask for a site-based scenario to discuss fault diagnosis and safety considerations. Asking for a portfolio of previous site work or references can also help.
Should I advertise specific manufacturer experience?
If your equipment is specialist, list key manufacturers as desirable to attract candidates with relevant training. For more general roles, focus on transferable skills like PLCs, diagnostics and electrical/mechanical competence.
How can I make the role more attractive to candidates?
Be transparent about travel, provide a clear vehicle/mileage policy, offer training/certification support, and set out career progression opportunities to retain engineers long term.
Create your Field Engineer job advert
Use this template to craft a clear vacancy description. Fill the placeholders with location, pay and specific equipment details, then publish across general and sector job boards to reach experienced site engineers.
