How to Find Quality Field Service Engineers for Your Team

Updated March 2025

Field service engineers are a necessity for many industries, such as manufacturing, telecommunications, and healthcare. But no industry wants to find field service engineers as much as the semiconductor industry, where they’re needed to keep fabrication plants—also known as fabs—running. 

Since this role is seeing a large increase in demand, it’s more important than ever to understand how to find qualified field service engineers. In this article, we’ll go over some surefire methods of sourcing and assessing talent to find strong candidates—but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. 

First, let’s dive a bit deeper into the role itself, why demand has skyrocketed (especially in the semiconductor industry), and challenges that may arise when searching for candidates. We’ve got a lot of material to cover, so let’s get started. 

What is a Field Service Engineer, and Why are They Hard to Find?

Field service engineers—sometimes called field service technicians—install, create, repair, and upgrade products and systems. Depending on the industry they’re employed in, field service engineers may have additional responsibilities. 

However, at its core, this role provides on-site technical services and support to customers in both the public and private sectors. These professionals help troubleshoot and solve issues, as well as provide demonstrations to teach clients how to use the equipment properly. 

Within this role, many individuals have the opportunity to travel by visiting various sites to deploy their services. But this isn’t the case for every industry—those who work with semiconductors spend large portions of their time in-house at fabrication plants. 

Now that you know more about what exactly they do, let’s explore what has contributed to the difficulties in finding field service engineers.  

There are various factors, but what it mainly comes down to is a shortage of skilled workers, rapid technological advancements, and a physically demanding and high-stress nature of the job. 

As the engineering and semiconductor industries evolve, there has been an increased demand for engineers with specialized skills. This creates challenges in finding candidates with the right expertise to meet industry-specific needs.

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 LEARN MORE: What is a Field Service Engineer? Job Description, Skills, & More

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Why Are Field Service Engineers in Such High Demand?

Increased demand to find field service engineers is due to rapid technological advancements, increased automation and robotics across industries, and the need for skilled professionals to install, set up, and repair complex equipment in various sectors, leading to a growing number of opportunities in this field.  

At semiconductor fabs, increasing numbers of field service engineers are needed to make quality chips, circuits, and production equipment. To put it in perspective, it’s estimated that each fab needs approximately 2,000 to 3,000 field service engineers. 

Let’s take a closer look at the factors driving this need: 

Diverse Product Capabilities Equal Profitability

Fabs rarely work on a single product or product line. With so many priorities to juggle, it’s only natural they’d need more hands. 

Also, most businesses don’t just want equipment or integrated circuits for a single season—they need it to last. Fabs that hire engineering cohorts should view it as a multigenerational investment—in the products and its people. 

International Compliance and Adaptation

Semiconductor production requires intense regulation. From effluent to national security export laws, there’s a rule for everything. The fact that most fabs have their eyes on international business further complicates the narrative. 

Organizations need experienced talent pools to customize production practices, as well as expertise in helping clients, both domestic and abroad, adapt to new advancements.  

Prepping for Future Disruptions

The global supply chain took a huge hit during COVID-19 thanks to massive order cancellations and shifting consumer demands. Though the chip shortage may seem like a thing of the past, we’re not quite on the road to recovery yet.  

Talks of overhauling the 2022 U.S. CHIPS and Science Act could be catastrophic for the sector if followed through. Plus, uncertainties amidst new tariff policies and trade tensions have contributed to concerns over the future of semiconductor supply. 

However, one thing is sure—fabs and other organizations in the semiconductor industry have learned to be more cautious and prepared against future supply chain disruptions. For this to work, companies will need engineers conversant with a broader range of processes. 

The Market Is Growing

As for right now, things are still looking up compared to where we were just a few years ago. The semiconductor supply chain isn’t fully healed, however. Demand is recovering, but fabs can’t bank on once-guaranteed sales growth. 

Fortunately for industry players, there is one reliable factor: state-level investment. Governments are just as wary of supply chain shortages as the private sector is. And regulators are ponying up funding to head off future scarcities. 

The CHIPS Act shines light on how countries are trying to boost domestic fabs. This legislation wasn’t limited to cutting-edge infrastructure—it highlighted older process technologies to shore up existing supplies.  

Fabs are just one example of various organizations and areas across different industries that need to diversify, reskill, and upskill. That means hiring more good engineers and technicians who are open to learning.

Screening for Quality Field Service Engineers

So, what specific skills will help your fabrication workforce survive such tumultuous times? 

• Engineering workforces should master distinct generations of process technology to accommodate clients in search of market staying power. Try not to overlook skills involving more mature tooling, like 200mm wafers and 40nm process nodes. 
• Your talent needs understanding and awareness of compliance regimes in your target market. For instance, producing military- or aerospace-grade devices doesn’t just mean using military- or aerospace-grade components. You also need to satisfy testing and other requirements, such as MIL-STD 750 in the US. Building a compliance-ready, culturally sensitive team is integral to achieving market penetration. 
• Soft skills matter. Field engineers must be able to answer questions, devise impactful training, and help you land sales. Knowing your way around a stepper and being good at troubleshooting are only half the battle. 
• Adaptability is key. Capable field service engineers might not tick all the boxes from the start, but they shouldn’t have a problem with upskilling and retraining. Ideally, they’ll be self-motivated to pursue continuing education. 

Don’t neglect the basics. For your staff to dive in seamlessly to accomplish company goals, they’ll need electrical engineering education, project management experience, and cleanroom training. They’ll also need a solid theoretical foundation that complements their skills. 

Keep your workforce capable by drawing talent from industries like aerospace, healthcare, and defense. Sectors that tend to weather ups and downs well are great sources of engineers who can impart valuable survival lessons to your organization. 

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RELATED: 30+ Field Service Engineer Interview Questions

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Find Field Service Engineers for Your Team

Assembling a transformative field service engineering workforce must take many variables into account. Some, such as market demand and supply chains, are beyond your control. Others, like your hiring practices, are. 

Writing a good field service engineer job description is just the first step. Standardizing your interview processes and fine-tuning your hiring matrices are important too, but they’re just pieces of the puzzle. Sourcing well-rounded engineers demands a well-rounded pipeline. 

Building a talent system is a process requiring constant improvements, even if the path forward isn’t always obvious. Partnering with a staffing agency can help you identify the hiring factors you can control—and put a plan in motion to account for the rest.  

Knowing what to look for, which prior experiences contribute to relevant skills, and screening for aptitude for thousands of candidates can be overwhelming. Connecting with an experienced staffing team in the semiconductor industry can be a direct line to top talent. 

Benefits of Using a Staffing Agency to Find Field Service Engineers

1. Expertise: Staffing agencies specialize in finding and placing talented professionals in specific industries. They have a deep understanding of the skills and experience required for different job roles, including field service engineers for semiconductors and other industries. 
2. Access to a larger talent pool: Staffing agencies have access to a larger talent pool than most companies. They can quickly identify and connect with qualified candidates who may not be actively looking for a job but are open to new opportunities. 
3. Time-saving: Finding qualified candidates for field service engineer positions can be time-consuming. Staffing agencies can handle the entire recruitment process, from sourcing candidates to screening and interviewing them, saving companies valuable time and resources. 
4. Quality of candidates: Staffing agencies typically have a rigorous screening process to ensure that candidates have the skills and experience required for the job. This helps companies find high-quality candidates who are a good fit for the role and the company culture. 
5. Reduced risk: Staffing agencies can help mitigate the risk of making a bad hire. They offer temporary staffing options, allowing companies to try out candidates before making a long-term commitment. 

Ready to find field service engineers that not only meet, but exceed your organization’s needs? Get a free consultation today to see how Insight Global can support you!