Automation and Controls Field Service Technician

Company Summary

Founded in 1980 by Geoffrey Sherwood and Charles Logan as a manufacturers' representative for over ten companies

in the mid-Atlantic region, Sherwood-Logan has grown into one of the premier providers of water and wastewater

treatment equipment. What began with six employees now spans four offices from Virginia to Connecticut and a staff

of 37, with more than 500 years of collective water/wastewater experience. In 1984, we added S-L Controls, a systems

integration division dedicated to the municipal water and wastewater market, which has since delivered nearly 1,500

instrumentation and control systems projects—ranging from small pump station control panels to plant-wide SCADA

systems.

Over the past 35 years, we have steadily expanded our market share by delivering engineered instrumentation, process

equipment, and pumping systems that meet increasingly stringent water quality standards. Our sales, engineering,

production, field service, and project administration teams include degreed engineers, licensed Professional Engineers,

and respected industry professionals. Ownership transitioned in January 2007 to Nelson Bareis, Bob Fairweather, Steve

Rogers, and Ed Zalewski, with Patrick Foley and Jon Casarotti joining as owners in January 2016. In 2019, Sherwood-

Logan became part of the Vessco family of companies—a milestone that built on a stable, successful ownership history

rare in our industry and positioned us for continued growth alongside a broader network of water and wastewater

specialists.

Position Summary

The Automation and Controls Field Service Technician is responsible for supporting the reliable operation of

automation, electrical, instrumentation, and mechanical equipment at municipal and industrial water and wastewater

treatment facilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. This role installs, calibrates, troubleshoots, and maintains

process instrumentation, control panels, motor control systems, and PLC/SCADA platforms, working independently in

the field and managing multiple service tasks across customer sites. Frequent overnight travel is required.

Key Duties And Essential Functions

Technical Fundamentals

• Installs, calibrates, troubleshoots, and maintains process instrumentation including level, flow, pressure, and
  
  

analytical instruments; services and troubleshoots electrical control panels, MCCs, and field devices at water

and wastewater treatment plants.

• Maintains and troubleshoots pumping and process equipment including centrifugal pumps, submersible
  
  

pumps, motors, drives, and associated controls; diagnoses issues with motor control systems including

starters, VFDs, overloads, and protective devices.

• Troubleshoots and supports relay logic, PLC systems, and distributed control systems (DCS/SCADA); interprets
  
  

and works from electrical schematics, control drawings, P&IDs, and wiring diagrams to perform service and

repair tasks.

INDEPENDENT EXECUTION & FIELD JUDGMENT

• Works independently in the field across multiple customer sites; manages competing service tasks and shifting priorities while maintaining quality, safety, and customer commitments.
• Identifies electrical, instrumentation, and mechanical deficiencies and recommends corrective actions; uses sound troubleshooting and problem-solving skills to diagnose root causes rather than treat symptoms.
• Supports equipment startup, commissioning, performance testing, and preventive maintenance; escalates programming, control logic, or integration questions appropriately to engineering and project teams.
  
  

SAFETY AWARENESS

• Adheres to all PPE, lockout/tagout, arc flash, and hazard communication requirements at customer sites; understands and applies NFPA 70E and OSHA electrical safety practices when working on energized or de-energized equipment.
• Proactively identifies electrical, mechanical, and process hazards in the field; stops work and notifies the customer and Service Manager when conditions are unsafe or when site practices do not meet acceptable standards.
• Maintains a clean, organized, and safe work environment within control rooms, panels, MCCs, and field sites; properly cares for the service vehicle, tools, test instruments, and calibration equipment.
  
  

DOCUMENTATION & PROCESS ADHERENCE

• Documents service activities thoroughly and accurately, including work orders, service reports, commissioning checklists, calibration records, and startup documentation; ensures all field work is captured for the customer record and internal project files.
• Follows standard operating procedures (SOPs), electrical schematics, P&IDs, and programming references; identifies and reports drawing or documentation discrepancies discovered in the field for resolution by engineering.
• Maintains accurate labeling, wiring documentation, instrument calibration records, and as-built redlines; treats documentation as a core deliverable, not an afterthought.
  
  

CUSTOMER INTERACTION

• Represents Sherwood-Logan professionally on customer sites, communicating effectively with plant operators, maintenance staff, utility personnel, and customer engineering teams; treats every site visit as an extension of the customer relationship
• Explains technical findings, root cause analysis, and recommended corrective actions clearly to customers and internal project teams; coordinates with engineering, programming, and project management on system integration questions.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None
  
  

EDUCATION

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s degree, technical certification, or trade school training in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Technology, Instrumentation, Electromechanical Technology, HVAC, Plumbing, Water Treatment, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Relevant trade licenses, manufacturer certifications, or industry credentials in pumping systems, plumbing, HVAC, or water treatment are a significant advantage and may be required for certain assignments.
• Prior experience at a systems integrator, with exposure to a wide variety of pumping systems, treatment processes, and modern control technologies (DCS/SCADA)
  
  

Experience

• 4–6 years of hands-on field service experience across pumping systems, plumbing, HVAC, water treatment, or closely related mechanical disciplines; demonstrated ability to work independently on a full range of service, maintenance, and repair activities.
• Proven experience troubleshooting and repairing centrifugal pumps, mechanical seals, motor controls, hydronic systems, and associated mechanical and electrical components.
• Experience performing service work in both commercial building and municipal water/wastewater environments preferred; familiarity with the technical and operational requirements of each market type is a significant advantage.
• Experience with equipment startup, commissioning, and performance verification preferred; ability to follow startup procedures independently and document results accurately.
• Demonstrated track record of safe, professional field conduct and the ability to represent an employer well on customer sites across a range of environments and circumstances.
  
  

Technical Skills

• Strong hands-on mechanical and technical proficiency across pumping systems, plumbing, HVAC, and water treatment applications; ability to work independently across a broad range of equipment types and service scenarios.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, equipment manuals, P&IDs, wiring diagrams, and service specifications; apply this information accurately in the field.
• Working knowledge of variable frequency drives (VFDs), motor controls, pressure and flow instrumentation, and basic electrical troubleshooting as applied to pumping and mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in completing accurate field documentation and work orders; basic computer and mobile device proficiency for field reporting, communication, and parts requests.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record required; ability to travel daily throughout the regional service area and occasionally beyond.
• Working knowledge of OSHA safety regulations, lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, confined space entry requirements, and other applicable field safety standards; demonstrated commitment to personal and team safety in the field.
  
  

CORE COMPETENCIES

Role

The following competencies are central to success in this role and reflect both the professional and cultural expectations of Sherwood Logan:

• Efficiency — Arrives prepared, works with purpose, and completes service assignments accurately and on time; manages the job site, tools, and time effectively so that customers receive reliable, high-quality service and the next technician on the schedule is not left waiting.
• Open Communication — Keeps the Field Supervisor and office team informed throughout the day; communicates job status, parts needs, delays, and findings proactively and accurately, understands that good communication in the field is what makes the entire Technical Services operation work.
• Integrity — Performs every service task honestly and completely; documents work accurately, communicates findings truthfully even when they are inconvenient, and builds GA Fleet’s reputation one job at a time through consistent, trustworthy conduct.
• Respect — Treats customers, fellow technicians, and all colleagues with professionalism and genuine regard; understands that how the technical team shows up on a job site; in conduct, appearance, and attitude; defines how customers see GA Fleet.
• Staff Development — Shares technical knowledge and field experience generously with less experienced team members; approaches every challenging job as a learning opportunity and contributes to a field team culture where everyone is growing.
• Succession Planning & Business Continuity — Documents service observations, equipment conditions, and follow-up items thoroughly so that any technician can pick up where another left off; builds and shares technical knowledge that makes the team stronger and more resilient.
• Leading by Example — Demonstrates through every job the safety discipline, technical quality, and professional conduct that defines a GA Fleet field technician; how you perform in the field sets the standard for those coming up behind you.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS And WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Regularly required to lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing up to 75 lbs.; occasional lifting of up to 100 lbs. with or without assistance. Frequently required to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach overhead, and climb stairs, ladders, and fixed industrial structures for extended periods. Regularly required to work in confined spaces, at elevated heights, and in below-grade environments such as wet wells, pump stations, and treatment plant process areas. Regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle tools, components, and instrumentation; manual dexterity required for mechanical repair, alignment, and electrical work. Frequently required to talk and hear in environments with high ambient noise. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision (for wiring, instrumentation, and component identification), depth perception, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Field: Work is performed at customer water and wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations, and industrial sites with regular exposure to outdoor weather conditions including heat, cold, humidity, rain, and snow. Exposure to wet and slippery surfaces, chemicals typical of water and wastewater treatment processes, biological hazards, high noise levels, electrical hazards, mechanical hazards, confined spaces, and elevated work locations is routine. PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed footwear, hard hat, gloves, and task-specific protective equipment (e.g., chemical-resistant clothing, fall protection, confined-space gear) is required. Travel by company or personal vehicle to customer sites is required, with overnight travel as needed. Standard weekly job hours: 40 hours, with occasional after-hours and weekend coverage for emergency service response.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
  
  

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

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