Service Engineer
Modern Process Equipment (MPE) · Chicago, IL · Full-time
Chicago, IL (HQ)
Full-time
FoodSpecialty Coffee
50-70% travel
ABOUT MPE
Nearly 60 years as the go-to technical partner for North America's food processing industry
Over 90% of North American coffee processors run MPE grinders and conveying systems
Family-owned, Chicago-based - Over 100 members, operations on three continents
Industries served: specialty coffee, food manufacturing, craft brewing, pet foodmore
THE ROLE
You're the person customers call when something's wrong - and the one they remember when everything goes right. As a Service Engineer, you'll travel across North America installing MPE equipment, diagnosing complex problems, and ensuring our systems run at peak performance. One week you're commissioning a grinder at a specialty roaster in Portland; the next, troubleshooting a conveyor at a major food manufacturer in Texas. No two visits alike.
WHAT THIS ROLE IS NOT
NOT MONOTONOUS
Every customer site is different - boutique roasters, large-scale processors, craft breweries. No two days look alike.
NOT A DESK JOB
If variety and travel energize you, this job is built around that lifestyle - not despite it.
NOT SOLO WORK
You're in the field with full backing from engineering, sales, and operations. Never on your own.
RESPONSIBILITIES
TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
- Install and commission MPE equipment at customer facilities nationwide
- Diagnose and resolve mechanical, electrical, and process-related issues - often under pressure
- Perform preventive maintenance and system optimization to maximize uptime
- Deliver hands-on training that empowers customers to operate their equipment confidently
CUSTOMER PARTNERSHIP
- Represent MPE as the trusted technical face of the company - your professionalism builds lasting relationships
- Translate complex technical information clearly for operators, plant managers, and executives
- Identify opportunities for customers to get more from their MPE systems
DOCUMENTATIONCOLLABORATION
- Write clear, detailed service reports and technical documentation after each visit
- Coordinate your own scheduling and travel logistics efficiently
- Feed field insights back to engineering and sales - your perspective from the floor is invaluable
REQUIREMENTS
TECHNICAL FOUNDATION
- Hands-on experience with processing equipment, ideally in food or industrial manufacturing preferred
- Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills - real problems in real facilities
- Comfortable with PLCs, motors, drives, and industrial control systems
- Valid driver's license; ability to travel domestically 50-70%
- Occasional travel to Canada/Mexico
PROBLEM-SOLVER MINDSET
- Works through problems methodically and doesn't leave a site until the issue is resolved
- Curiosity-driven - wants to know why it works, not just how to fix it
- Adapts when customer needs shift the schedule - flexibility is part of the job
PEOPLE SKILLS
- Explains technical concepts in plain language without talking down to customers
- Customer success is personal - not done when equipment runs, done when they're confident
- Natural collaborator who works well across departments
- Projects professionalism and inspires confidence on-site
GROWTH ORIENTATION
- Actively adds to technical knowledge - this industry moves fast
- Takes feedback seriously and uses it to improve
- Building a career in technical service, not just filling a role
BENEFITS
Competitive salary
Health, dentalvision
401(k) with match
PTOholidays
For the right person, this is a career that genuinely doesn't get old.
Ready to see the world and solve hard problems? Apply today.
