About the Company

Our client is an early-stage company deploying next-generation high-voltage transformer technology into the power infrastructure market. Products are entering the field, customers are counting on them, and every deployment matters. This is a company that moves fast, builds things right, and holds itself to an exceptionally high standard. This is not a role for someone looking to manage a steady-state operation — it is a role for someone who wants to build something from the ground up.

The Role

The company is seeking a deeply experienced Field Services & Commissioning Manager to own everything that happens once equipment leaves the factory. You will be the technical authority in the field, the voice of quality on every installation site, and the person who ensures transformers — and broader substation equipment — perform flawlessly from Day 1 and throughout their service life. In the near term this means being hands-on: traveling to job sites, commissioning equipment alongside contractors, troubleshooting in real time, and feeding findings directly to engineering and manufacturing. Over 12–18 months, you will build the processes, documentation, and team that scales field services capability as the company grows.

What You'll Own

Commissioning & Field Operations

• Lead all field commissioning activities for HV transformer deployments and associated MV equipment
• Be on-site when it counts — witness FATs, SATs, and energizations
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for contractors, EPCs, and utility customers during installation and commissioning
• Interpret single-line diagrams, substation layouts, and installation drawings; ensure equipment is correctly integrated into the broader system
• Understand how transformers fit within the full substation context: switchgear, circuit breakers, protection relays, grounding, and interconnects

Quality, Reliability & Root Cause Analysis

• Own QA/QC oversight in the field; verify installations meet specifications, codes, and best practices
• Investigate field failures, warranty events, and performance anomalies with structured RCA methodology
• Translate field findings into actionable feedback for engineering and manufacturing teams
• Maintain meticulous records of field events, deviations, and corrective actions

Processes, SOPs & Knowledge Infrastructure

• Build the field services playbook from scratch: commissioning procedures, inspection checklists, contractor qualification standards, and escalation protocols
• Develop and maintain SOPs, technical service bulletins, and installation guides
• Establish and own the warranty and service event tracking process
• Ensure regulatory and safety compliance across all field activities

Team Building & Contractor Management

• Identify, qualify, and manage a network of field service contractors and regional partners
• Begin building an internal field services team within 12–18 months as deployment volume warrants
• Mentor and train junior field personnel and contracted technicians on company equipment and standards

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with engineering, manufacturing, and founders on product development and improvement
• Serve as a critical feedback loop between the field and the design team — your input will directly influence product roadmap decisions
• Communicate with customers with clarity, professionalism, and a solutions-first mindset

What We're Looking For

Required

• 10+ years of experience in field services, commissioning, or a related technical role with a focus on power transformers
• Deep, hands-on knowledge of HV transformer design, construction, testing, and failure modes — non-negotiable
• Proven experience with transformer commissioning: oil sampling and DGA interpretation, insulation testing, ratio testing, protection relay coordination, and energization procedures
• Strong familiarity with QA/QC processes and the discipline to enforce them
• Demonstrated ability to conduct formal root cause failure analysis and communicate findings clearly
• Experience managing contractors and holding them to technical standards
• Ability to read and work from substation drawings, technical specifications, and protection schematics
• Strong communicator — equally effective with field crews, engineers, and executive stakeholders
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively in the near term (up to 50–70% during peak deployment periods)

Strongly Preferred

• Experience with MV equipment commissioning and substation integration
• Background in utility-scale or industrial substation environments
• Familiarity with circuit breakers, switchgear, and protection systems
• Experience establishing field service processes or building a field services function at a growing company
• Exposure to factory environments — understanding how transformers are built helps you know what to look for in the field

The Right Mindset

• Excited about the opportunity to define a function, not just fill a role
• Comfortable with ambiguity — you'll often be figuring things out for the first time, and that excites you
• Bias for action: when something is wrong in the field, you fix it
• Deeply collaborative — you share what you learn and make everyone around you smarter
• Proud of the work — you hold yourself and others to high standards because this equipment will be in service for decades

Why This Role, Why Now

The U.S. power grid is under enormous pressure. Transformer lead times are at historic highs, grid reliability is a national priority, and the energy transition is accelerating demand for new infrastructure. This company is building technology that directly addresses this challenge. As the first Field Services & Commissioning Manager, you will be a foundational team member with direct access to the founders, a voice in product decisions, and the opportunity to build a team and function that will scale with the company. The work is hard, the pace is real, and the impact is tangible.

Interested? Contact root/edge for a confidential conversation.