Associate Field Engineer - Controls

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, Inc.•Kansas City, KS

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering’s Kansas City engineering team is seeking a travel-ready, entry-level Field Engineer or Technician to build hands-on technical experience through commissioning work at client sites. The role supports projects in data centers, semiconductor, life science, food and beverage, and other industrial facilities. It provides direct responsibility for installation verification, control system testing, commissioning support, and start-up activities, along with exposure to customers, project schedules, and real-time decisions. The position supports electrical and controls engineering, electrical and instrumentation verification, coordination with clients and electrical subcontractors, PLC/SCADA/HMI activities, commissioning execution, and start-up assistance. Work is primarily field-based, with occasional office or construction-trailer work. Travel to project sites may reach 100%, and assignments may last multiple months at U.S. locations. Project housing, airfare, meals, and incidentals are covered under company policy. Work is typically Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work based on project needs. The role offers structured training and mentorship on progressively challenging Level 2 through Level 5 commissioning assignments. Advancement is based on demonstrated proficiency, ownership, technical judgment, and field performance. The position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization, and the company does not participate in the STEM OPT training program for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering is preferred; an associate degree in Engineering Technology or equivalent field technician experience may be substituted.
New graduate or 0–2 years of field experience.
Understanding of or exposure to field instrumentation, hardware panels, and low-voltage controls design.
Understanding of control systems, components, PLC programming, SCADA programming, and their applications.
Strong attention to applicable safety specifications and standards, detail, and quality control.
Ability to travel to project sites, potentially up to 100% of the time.
Ability to work safely and effectively in indoor and outdoor construction, industrial, and processing environments, including exposure to extreme temperatures, weather, humidity, dust, noise, and moving machinery.
Ability to stand, move, and work on job sites for up to 8–12 hour shifts; climb stairs and ladders; work at heights; occasionally lift up to 40 pounds; bend and reach; and work around industrial equipment.
Ability to safely wear required PPE, including safety glasses, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, and electrical safety gear as applicable.
Comfort performing electrical and instrumentation checkout and troubleshooting, such as voltage testing and control panel wiring.
Ability to perform writing, computer work, field work, color perception, hearing, verbal and written communication, teamwork, manual dexterity, driving, lifting, climbing, mounting and dismounting equipment, pushing, and pulling.
Regular interaction and coordination with customers, subcontractors, vendors, and internal project teams.
Daily use of a computer, standard office applications, and a mobile phone.
Work authorization sponsorship is not available; the company does not participate in the STEM OPT training program for this position.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering.
Associate degree in Engineering Technology or equivalent field technician experience as an alternative to the preferred bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

Verify control panels, field devices, instruments, and related control system equipment are installed and wired according to manufacturer requirements, approved shop drawings, project documentation, and applicable quality standards and specifications.
Perform point-to-point testing to confirm field devices are installed, wired, addressed, and configured according to approved drawings and documentation, including verifying data and signals received through network integration.
Conduct functional performance testing to verify that control systems and field devices operate according to project design documentation, including control sequences, alarms and alerts, trends, system graphics, and responses to failure scenarios.
Support system-level testing to verify that control systems and field devices operate together as an integrated system, including checking sequences across related systems, viewing equipment status and navigating SCADA screens, activating alarms, monitoring trends, and supporting failure-mode testing.
Provide electrical and controls engineering support, including electrical and instrumentation verification and PLC/SCADA/HMI support.
Coordinate with clients, electrical subcontractors, vendors, and internal project teams.
Support commissioning execution and start-up activities.
Follow applicable safety specifications and standards and maintain attention to detail and quality control during commissioning activities.
As competency is demonstrated, take ownership of point-to-point testing campaigns, functional performance testing, technical coordination during system-level testing, and commissioning activities for major project areas.

Benefits

Project housing, airfare, meals, and incidentals for project travel, covered in accordance with company policy.
Structured training and mentorship from senior field engineers.
Three weeks of paid time off.
Medical insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Basic and supplemental life and AD&D insurance.
Long-term disability insurance.
Voluntary short-term disability insurance.
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Health savings account.
Paid holidays.
Tuition reimbursement.
Referral bonus program.
401(k) and profit sharing.
100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).
Employee assistance program.
Will preparation resources.
Worldwide travel assistance.