Field Service Engineer – Mechanical (USA)
OC area, CA
Permanent
Full Time
Open to all levels
Install, align and repair the robotic cells we build — anywhere in the US
We're DHR Engineering — an R&D company building game-changing robotics and automation technologies. We don't do off-the-shelf and we don't do easy. We design, build and deploy custom robotic cells for CNC and CMM machine tending, automated 3D printer farms and AGV systems for US manufacturers, from fast-growing hardware startups to suppliers to leading aerospace, space and automotive companies. No corporate layers, no pointless meetings: just real problems, smart solutions and machines you'll be proud to keep running.
Our machines are engineered and built in Europe, then shipped, built and commissioned on our customers' sites. About 90% of our customers are in the United States, and when things get critical we promise to be at their facility in under 12 hours. We are building our US field service team in Huntington Beach, California, to keep that promise.
The role
We are looking for a Field Service Engineer with a strong mechanical background. You will service our cells on customer sites, keep them running to the highest standards of both DHR and our customers, and fix whatever breaks — without compromise on safety and quality. You don't need to be an electrician: you need to understand the basics well enough to check a sensor, follow a schematic and work step by step with our electrical and controls engineers in Bulgaria over video. You will work alongside our electrical-focused service engineer and back each other up.
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Travel: up to [50–70]% to customer sites across the US
Type: Full-time
What You'll Do
Respond to service calls at customer sites and get machines back to work fast.
Represent DHR Engineering in front of our customers: professional, reliable and the first face of our company on their factory floor.
Diagnose mechanical failures and decide on the fix — repair on site, replace the part, or send a diagnostic report to our engineers: grippers, vises, fixtures, tool-changing hardware, linear axes, ball screws, bearings, belts and gearboxes.
Troubleshoot and repair pneumatic and hydraulic systems: valves, cylinders, regulators, leaks.
Work together with engineers from our headquarters and take part in installations of new cells, to build a deep understanding of our systems.
Set up and adjust robot positions, fixtures and alignment tooling to specification, and recover robots from blocked or collision states safely back to their initial configuration.
Check and replace sensors, cables and motors, and read I/O and alarms on the HMI under guidance from our engineers.
Work with our engineers over video to find the root cause of faults that cross mechanical and electrical.
Carry out preventive maintenance
Write clear service reports with photos and measurements: what failed, what was done, what is still open.
Manage spare parts, source parts from local vendors when needed, assemble and install repair kits, and bring field lessons back to our design team.
As your experience grows, you will lead installations and become the reference for our US customers.
What We're Looking For
Mechanical (your strength)
3+ years in field service, installation or maintenance of industrial machinery or automation equipment.
Strong ability to read mechanical and assembly drawings and pneumatic/hydraulic schematics.
Hands-on skill with precision measuring tools (calipers, micrometers, dial indicators) and machine alignment.
Experience with power transmission and linear motion: bearings, belts, gearboxes, ball screws, linear guides.
Safe work practices, including lockout/tagout and rigging/lifting.
Electrical (working knowledge)
Able to read a basic electrical schematic and use a multimeter.
Understands 24 VDC sensors, solenoid valves and motor connections well enough to check and replace them.
Basic understanding of PLC and HMI operation (reading I/O and alarms), ideally Siemens.
General
A structured way of troubleshooting and comfort working with remote engineers in a different time zone.
Good written and spoken English.
Valid US driver's license and willingness to travel often, sometimes on short notice.
Authorized to work in the United States.
A university degree is not required. Practical skills, responsibility and quality of work matter more to us. You don't need to tick every box; curiosity, rigor and ownership matter most.
What's a Plus
Experience with industrial robots and end-of-arm tooling.
Experience with CNC machine tools (workholding, tool changes), CMMs or 3D printers.
CAD and 3D printing skills: modelling and printing simple fixtures, brackets or replacement parts [e.g. SolidWorks, Inventor].
A network of local vendors and machine shops for fast sourcing of parts.
Forklift certification, welding or machining skills.
Experience with a European equipment builder; Bulgarian or another European language.
What We Offer
Work on custom robotics and automation projects
A founding role in our US team, with a clear path toward service lead or commissioning engineer.
Projects for suppliers to leading aerospace, space and automotive companies.
Direct line to the engineers who designed the machine, not a ticket queue.
Training at our engineering and build facilities in Bulgaria.
Competitive salary based on experience, plus overtime or travel bonus [add pay range before posting].
Company vehicle or mileage reimbursement, phone, laptop and professional tools.
All travel expenses covered (flights, hotel, per diem).
Health, dental and vision insurance; 401(k); paid time off and US holidays [adjust to your package].
If you like finding the fault nobody else could and want to see the machines you support run 24/7 in production, we would like to meet you.
DHR Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic.