Job Description
Field Service Engineer – Automated Packaging & Custom Machinery
100% Remote | 80–90% Travel | Two Openings Nationwide
We’re partnering with a growing integrator of highly customized automated packaging and process machinery serving the life sciences, food, and cosmetics industries. With equipment installed across North America and internationally, this team is looking for two Field Service Engineers who thrive in the field, enjoy travel, and want to be part of a close-knit technical organization where your work truly matters.
This is a fully remote position with travel Monday through Friday to customer facilities. Candidates can live anywhere in the U.S. as long as they are near a major airport, though Midwest and East Coast locations are preferred due to client concentration.
If you enjoy variety, autonomy, customer interaction, and solving complex technical challenges — this is the role for you.
Responsibilities Include:
- Install, commission, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair custom automated packaging equipment
- Diagnose mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and controls-related issues in the field
- Perform PLC uploads, resets, replacements, and basic controls troubleshooting
- Read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and pneumatic diagrams
- Fine-tune machinery performance and optimize operational efficiency
- Train customer personnel on equipment operation and preventive maintenance
- Complete detailed service documentation and communicate findings to engineering teams
- Build strong relationships with customers while serving as the primary on-site technical resource
- Travel extensively throughout the U.S. with occasional international travel for training and support
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in automation, packaging machinery, manufacturing equipment, or industrial service environments
- Strong mechanical aptitude with working knowledge of electrical systems and controls
- Basic PLC/HMI troubleshooting experience
- Experience working with automated machinery, packaging systems, conveyors, robotics, or custom equipment
- Ability to work independently in the field and manage multiple assignments
- Comfortable traveling extensively and working directly with customers
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and remote troubleshooting tools
- Valid driver’s license and passport required
Compensation & Perks
- $42–$48/hour base pay
- Average earnings well over $100K annually with overtime and travel
- Time-and-a-half after 40 hours
- Double time on Sundays
- Typical schedule includes 10-hour days in the field
- Estimated 25–50% annual overtime opportunity
- $600/month vehicle allowance
- $75/day meal per diem while traveling
- Company credit card
- Company cell phone
- Paid travel expenses
- International training opportunities in Germany and Thailand
- Fully remote when not traveling
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Elk Grove Village, IL (Remote) |
| Industry | Staffing/Employment Agencies |
| Salary | $42–$48 Per Hour |
| Company Size | 500 to 999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1969 |
| Website | http://www.sterling-engineering.com |
About Company
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
Skills
- Automationunmatched
- Biologyunmatched
- Cellular Telephoneunmatched
- Communication Skillsunmatched
- Conveyor Systemsunmatched
- Credit Cardsunmatched
- Customer Relationsunmatched
- Customer Trainingunmatched
- Documentationunmatched
- Driver's Licenseunmatched
- Electrical Engineeringunmatched
- Electricityunmatched
- Food and Beverage Industryunmatched
- Human Machine Interface (HMI)unmatched
- Identify Issuesunmatched
- Manufacturing Equipmentunmatched
- Microsoft Officeunmatched
- On Site Supportunmatched
- Passport Requirementsunmatched
- Performance Tuning/Optimizationunmatched
- Preventative Maintenanceunmatched
- Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
- Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)unmatched
- Roboticsunmatched
- Schematicsunmatched
- Staff Trainingunmatched
- Willing to Travelunmatched
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