Associate Field Engineer

Wunderlich-Malec Careers • Richmond, VA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Wunderlich-Malec's Richmond, Virginia engineering team is seeking a travel-ready, entry-level Field Engineer or Technician to build hands-on technical experience through field-based commissioning work. The role supports projects in data center, semiconductor, life science, food and beverage, and other industrial facilities. It involves electrical and controls engineering support, electrical and instrumentation verification, coordination with clients and electrical subcontractors, PLC/SCADA/HMI support, commissioning execution, and start-up assistance. The position offers hands-on training, mentorship from senior field engineers, and opportunities to take on greater technical ownership and leadership as capability grows.

Work is primarily at client sites, with occasional office or construction-trailer work. Travel to U.S.-based project sites may be required up to 100% of the time, excluding approved vacation or paid time off. Assignments may last multiple months. Work is typically Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend work based on project needs. Project housing, airfare, meals, and incidentals are covered in accordance with company policy. The position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization, including H-1B sponsorship, and does not participate in the STEM OPT training program.

The expected annual salary range is $70,000–$80,000, depending on qualifications, plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program. Full-time employees may be eligible for a comprehensive employee-owner benefits package.

Requirements

• 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.
• Attention to detail and a consistent focus on quality control, particularly during repetitive commissioning activities.
• Ability to travel to project sites, potentially up to 100% of the time.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in field and industrial environments and comply with applicable safety requirements.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing and work as part of a team.
• Ability to safely wear required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, and electrical safety gear as applicable.
• Ability to perform field work that may involve standing and moving for 8–12 hour shifts; climbing stairs or ladders and working at heights; occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds; bending, reaching, and working around industrial equipment; and pushing, pulling, driving, and using manual dexterity.
• A BS in Electrical, Computer, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering is preferred; an AA in Engineering Technology or equivalent field technician experience may be substituted.

Nice To Haves

• BS in Electrical, Computer, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering.
• AA in Engineering Technology or equivalent field technician experience as an alternative to a bachelor's degree.
• Exposure to field instrumentation, hardware panels, low-voltage controls design, control systems, PLC programming, or SCADA programming.

Responsibilities

• Verify installation and wiring of control panels, field devices, instruments, and related control system equipment against manufacturer requirements, approved shop drawings, project documentation, quality standards, and specifications.
• Perform point-to-point testing to confirm field devices are installed, wired, addressed, and configured according to approved system drawings and documentation, including verification of data and signals received through network integration.
• Perform functional performance testing to verify control systems and field devices operate according to project design documentation, including control sequences, alarms and alerts, trends, graphics, and system responses during failure scenarios.
• Support system-level testing to verify that control systems and field devices operate together as an integrated system, including control sequences across related systems, SCADA status and screens, alarms, trends, and failure-mode testing.
• Provide electrical and controls engineering support and perform electrical and instrumentation verification.
• Coordinate with clients, electrical subcontractors, vendors, and internal project teams.
• Support PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems, commissioning execution, and start-up activities.
• Follow applicable safety specifications and standards and maintain attention to detail and quality control.
• Use computers, standard office applications, and a mobile phone for documentation, communication, and project support.
• As capability grows, take ownership of point-to-point testing campaigns, functional performance testing, customer and subcontractor coordination during system-level testing, and commissioning activities for project areas.

Benefits

• Project housing, airfare, meals, and incidentals for project travel, in accordance with company policy.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Basic and supplemental life and AD&D insurance.
• Long-term disability and voluntary short-term disability.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts and a health savings account.
• Paid time off, including three weeks of paid time off, and 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.
• Discretionary bonus and employee stock program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level