Field Service Technician – Trainee

Goetze Dental

Des Moines, Iowa

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Agricultural Equipment, Audiovisual, Biomedical Equipment, Communication Skills, Customer Support/Service, Customer Training, Dentistry, Driver's License, Electricity, Electronics, Equipment Maintenance/Repair, HVAC, Help Desk, High School Diploma, Information Technology & Information Systems, John Deere Equipment, Lift/Move 100 Pounds, Maintenance Services, Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance, Medical Equipment, Mentoring, On Site Support, Philosophy, Plumbing, Problem Solving Skills, Technical Support, Training Program
LOCATION
Des Moines, Iowa
POSTED
Today
Field Service Technician – Trainee
Goetze Dental  |  Des Moines, IA  (Based in Urbandale)
 
Tired of Harvest Season? We’ve Got Your Next Career — And We’ll Train You Right.
If you’re a skilled equipment technician who’s done with unpredictable hours, weekend callouts, and working in the elements — and you’re ready to learn a specialized trade with a company that will actually invest in your development — this might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
 
Goetze Dental is a family-owned company that has served dental practices across the Midwest since 1884. We’re looking for a mechanically talented person to join our Des Moines service team through a structured training program that sets you up for long-term success — not just hands you a van and wishes you luck.
 
You bring the mechanical aptitude and work ethic. We’ll invest the time to train you properly.
 

About Goetze Dental

Goetze Dental has been family-owned and operated since 1884 — and today, the 4th and 5th generations of that same family are still running the business. We don’t answer to shareholders or worry about quarterly earnings. We make decisions based on what’s right for our customers, our employees, and the long-term health of the company.
 
We believe strongly in the private dental practice — the kind of dentist who knows their patients by name and takes genuine pride in their care. That’s who we serve, and it shapes everything about how we operate. We’re not a vendor to corporate dental chains — we’re a long-term partner to independent practitioners who share our values.
 
That same philosophy shows up in how we treat our own people. Many of our employees have been with us for decades. Our Director of Service has been with the company for 25 years, and several members of his team have been here even longer. We’re not a stepping stone — we’re a place where skilled people come to do great work and stay.
 
To be straightforward with you: the Service Technician role is a craft position. There isn’t a long management ladder to climb — but there is the opportunity to become genuinely expert at something specialized and in-demand, be compensated well for that expertise, and work for a company that will still be here — and still value you — ten and twenty years from now.
 

How We Train You

We do things differently from most field service operations. Rather than handing you a van and sending you out on your own before you’re ready, our Trainee program pairs you with an experienced senior technician for every call during your first several months — typically around six months, adjusted based on your individual progress.
 
During that period, you’ll be in the field every day, seeing real jobs, learning from someone who’s done this for years, and building genuine competency before you’re ever on your own. When you do transition to your own van and territory, you’ll be ready — not just capable of the easy stuff.
 
This approach takes longer upfront. We know that. But we’ve found that technicians who are trained this way become far more capable and confident than those who are pushed out solo too soon — and they tend to stay with us a lot longer, too.
 

What’s Different About This Job

We know skilled technicians in Iowa have options. Here’s why our team members choose Goetze:
 
  • Structured ride-along training for your first several months — you’re never thrown in the deep end
  • Primarily Monday–Friday — no weekends, no harvest crunches, no on-call rotations
  • Year-round, indoor work — dental offices, not fields or equipment sheds in January
  • Competitive pay during training, with a clear path to the full technician pay range of $20–$35/hour
  • All travel expenses covered — hotel, meals, fuel
  • Company service van provided once you transition to solo work
  • Ongoing technical development — from mechanical systems to advanced 3D imaging technology, you’ll keep learning and building marketable skills
  • Full benefits from day one: health, dental, vision, retirement plan, and paid time off
  • A stable, family-owned company with 140 years in business — we’re not going anywhere
 

About the Role

As a Field Service Technician Trainee based out of our Urbandale office, you’ll spend your first several months riding alongside a senior technician across our Des Moines territory — visiting dental offices to install, repair, and maintain dental equipment. You’ll see a wide variety of jobs, build hands-on diagnostic skills, and develop the technical foundation you’ll need to work independently.
 
Once you’ve demonstrated the competency and confidence to work solo, you’ll transition to your own van and territory. From there, the work spans a growing range of technology — from mechanical systems like air compressors and vacuum units to increasingly sophisticated equipment like 3D dental imaging systems.
 
Goetze also serves our customers as a full-service IT managed services provider. While our dedicated IT technicians and remote helpdesk handle the complex IT work, you’ll occasionally be asked to serve as on-site hands and eyes for our remote team. You don’t need to be an IT expert, but being comfortable around technology and willing to learn is a genuine plus.
 

A Realistic Picture of the Schedule

We believe in being upfront. Here’s what the schedule actually looks like:
 
  • During your training period, you’ll be riding with a senior tech — their schedule becomes your schedule
  • The vast majority of days are local — you’re home every night
  • Your territory covers Iowa and extends toward the Minnesota and Illinois borders and partway toward Kansas City and Omaha where our other branches are located
  • Occasional overnight trips happen — sometimes a job runs long, or the team is called to assist another branch. These are not the norm, but they do occur
  • When they do, all expenses are covered — hotel, meals, and fuel
  • Overtime is rare — when long days happen, we work to balance your schedule so your week stays at 40 hours
 
We think that’s a fair trade for the right person — and we’d rather you know it upfront than be surprised later.
 

What You’ll Do

  • Ride alongside a senior technician on every call during your training period, actively learning and assisting
  • Observe and assist with on-site installation, repair, and maintenance of dental equipment
  • Build diagnostic skills by working through real problems with an experienced mentor
  • Assist with customer training on equipment use and care
  • Serve as on-site support for our remote IT technicians when needed
  • Complete work orders and job documentation accurately and on time
  • Attend manufacturer and company training to build your dental equipment expertise
  • Transition to independent territory and company van upon reaching full competency
 

Backgrounds We’re Actively Looking For

No dental experience needed — we hire from a wide range of mechanical and technical backgrounds. Strong candidates have come from:
 
  • Agricultural and farm equipment service and repair (John Deere, CNH, Kubota, dealership techs)
  • HVAC, plumbing, or electrical trades
  • Biomedical or medical equipment repair
  • Manufacturing maintenance or industrial equipment
  • Field IT support, AV installation, or electronics repair
  • General field service or equipment repair of any kind
 

Requirements

  • Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
  • Ability to lift up to 100 lbs
  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • At least 1 year of mechanical, trade, or technical experience
  • Comfortable around technology and willing to learn new systems
  • Strong communication and customer service skills
 

Ready for a Change?

If you’re a hands-on problem-solver who wants to master a specialized trade the right way — with real mentorship, a company that invests in your development, and a stable career that will still value you decades from now — let’s talk.
 
Goetze Dental is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace.

About the Company

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Goetze Dental