Associate Field Engineer, Controls

About the Role

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering is seeking a travel-ready, entry-level Field Engineer or Technician for their Addison, TX (Dallas) team. This role offers hands-on technical experience with direct exposure to systems, customers, schedules, and real-time decision-making. It provides direct ownership of installation verification, control system testing, commissioning support, and start-up activities across industries including Data Center, Semiconductor, Life Science, Food & Beverage, and other industrial facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Installation & Wiring QA/QC Verification (Level 2 Commissioning): Verify installation and wiring of control panels, field devices, instruments, and control system equipment against manufacturer requirements, approved shop drawings, project documentation, quality standards, and specifications.
• Point-to-Point Testing (Level 3 Commissioning): Confirm field devices are installed, wired, addressed, and configured according to approved system drawings and documentation, including verification of data to and from field devices and network integration.
• Functional Performance Testing (FPT) (Level 4 Commissioning): Verify control system and field device operation as defined by project design documentation, including testing control sequences, alarm configuration, trend displays, system graphics, and control system response during failure scenarios.
• System-Level Testing Support (Level 5 Commissioning): Support system-level testing to confirm integrated operation of the control system and field devices. This includes verifying control sequences across related systems, using SCADA systems, activating alarms, monitoring trends, and supporting failure-mode testing.
• Electrical and controls engineering support.
• Electrical and instrumentation verification.
• Coordination with clients and electrical subcontractors.
• PLC/SCADA/HMI support.
• Commissioning execution.
• Start-up assistance.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• PLC
• SCADA
• HMI

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical, Computer, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• An AA in Engineering Technology or equivalent field technician experience may be substituted.
• Understanding of or exposure to field instrumentation, hardware panels, and low voltage controls design.
• Understanding of control systems, components, PLC programming, and SCADA programming and their applications.
• Strong attention to detail and a consistent focus on quality control.
• Attention to all applicable safety specifications and standards.

Work Conditions & Demands

• This is primarily a field-based, hands-on role.
• Up to 100% travel to project sites may be required.
• Assignments may last multiple months at various U.S.-based project sites.
• Occasional weekend work and weekend travel may be required.
• Project housing, airfare, meals, and incidentals are covered by the company.
• Ability to stand, move, and work on job sites for up to 8-12 hour shifts.
• Ability to climb stairs/ladders, work at heights, and occasionally lift up to 40 lbs.
• Frequent bending, reaching, and working in and around industrial equipment.
• Exposure to construction, industrial, and processing environments, including noise, temperature changes, and moving machinery.
• Ability to safely wear required PPE (safety glasses, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, and electrical safety gear).
• Comfortable performing electrical/instrumentation checkout and troubleshooting (e.g., voltage testing, control panel wiring).
• Periods of sitting/standing at a computer, including in on-site construction trailers.
• Daily use of a computer, standard office applications, and a mobile phone is required.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in both indoor and outdoor environments, including exposure to extreme temperatures, weather conditions, humidity, dust, and other environmental conditions.
• Regular interaction and coordination with customers, subcontractors, vendors, and internal project teams is expected.

Career Growth & Advancement

• This role is designed for ambitious, goal-oriented self-starters.
• Field Engineers and Technicians can advance faster than peers following a traditional office-based path.
• High performers may move into lead field roles ahead of the typical timeline.
• Opportunities for advancement include: Associate Field Engineer → Staff Field Engineer → Senior Field Engineer, QA/QC Manager, Controls Project Engineer, Commissioning Lead, Project Manager, Mentor or Technical Evaluator.
• Advancement is based on demonstrated proficiency, ownership, technical judgment, and field performance.
• Commissioning Levels 2 through 5 represent scopes of commissioning activity.

Training & Mentorship

• Build capability through hands-on training across progressively challenging commissioning assignments (Level 2 through Level 5).
• Mentorship from senior field engineers on every project.

Benefits

• Full company benefits.
• Structured training.
• Mentorship.
• Three weeks of paid time off.
• Comprehensive employee-owner benefit package includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D, Long Term Disability, Voluntary Short Term Disability, Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account, Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays, Tuition Reimbursement, Referral Bonus Program, 401(k)/Profit Sharing, 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), Employee Assistance Program, Will Preparation Resources, Worldwide Travel Assistance.

Note: This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization, including H-1B sponsorship, and does not participate in the STEM OPT training program.