What are the responsibilities and job description for the Field Service Engineer position at Modern Process Equipment?
Field Service Engineer
Modern Process Equipment (MPE) Chicago, IL
Full-time
Food and Specialty Coffee
50% to 70% travel
ABOUT MPE
For nearly 60 years, MPE has been the technical backbone of North America's food processing industry. Today, over 90% of coffee processors across North America run our grinders and conveying systems to keep their operations moving. We're family-owned, headquartered in Chicago, and growing, with over 100 team members and operations spanning three continents. We serve specialty coffee, food manufacturing, craft brewing, pet food, and more, building equipment that plants depend on every single day.
THE ROLE
You're the person customers call when something breaks, and the one they remember when everything runs perfectly. As a Field Service Engineer, you'll travel across North America installing MPE equipment, diagnosing tough problems, and keeping our systems running at peak performance for some of the most respected names in food and beverage. One week you're commissioning a grinder at a specialty roaster in Portland. The next, you're troubleshooting a conveyor at a major food manufacturer in Texas. No two visits are ever alike, and the impact you make is immediate and visible.
This isn't a desk job, and it isn't monotonous work either. Every site brings a different challenge, from boutique roasters to large scale processors to craft breweries. And you're never out there alone. You've got the full backing of our engineering, sales, and operations teams behind every visit.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Technical Excellence
- Install and commission MPE equipment at customer facilities nationwide, setting the tone for every relationship that follows
- Diagnose and resolve mechanical, electrical, and process related issues, often under pressure and always under a deadline that matters
- Perform preventive maintenance and system optimization that keeps customer lines running and downtime off the table
- Deliver hands-on training that gives customers real confidence running their equipment long after you've left the site
Customer Partnership
- Represent MPE as the trusted technical face of the company, the reason customers call us again
- Translate complex technical information clearly for operators, plant managers, and executives alike
- Spot opportunities for customers to get more value and more output from their MPE systems
Documentation and Collaboration
- Write clear, detailed service reports after each visit that keep the whole team in the loop
- Coordinate your own scheduling and travel logistics with real autonomy
- Bring field insights back to engineering and sales. Your perspective from the floor genuinely shapes how we build
WHAT YOU BRING
Technical Foundation
- Hands-on experience with processing equipment, ideally in food or industrial manufacturing
- Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills, sharpened on real problems in real facilities
- Comfort working with PLCs, motors, drives, and industrial control systems
- Valid driver's license and the ability to travel domestically 50 to 70%, with occasional trips to Canada and Mexico
A Problem Solver's Mindset
- Works through issues methodically and doesn't leave a site until it's resolved
- Genuinely curious about why something works, not just how to fix it
- Adapts easily when customer needs shift the schedule
People Skills
- Explains technical concepts in plain language, never talking down to customers
- Treats customer success as personal, not finished until they feel confident
- Collaborates naturally across departments
- Brings a level of professionalism that earns trust the moment you walk on site
Growth Minded
- Keeps building technical knowledge in a fast moving industry
- Takes feedback well and puts it to use
- Sees this as a career in technical service, not just a job
BENEFITS
- Competitive salary
- Health, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) with company match
- Vacation and paid holidays
For the right person, this is a career that genuinely doesn't get old. Ready to see the country and solve hard problems? Apply today.