Senior VFD Technician

Ambient Enterprises

$136K — $156K *
Technical Services
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience with industrial Variable Frequency Drives
  • Proficient in ABB VFD platforms preferred
  • Expertise in VFD startup, commissioning, and field service
  • Solid understanding of three-phase power systems and motor control
  • Ability to interpret electrical schematics and control drawings
  • Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Modbus, Profibus, etc.)
  • Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
  • Comfortable in customer-facing roles and communication

Responsibilities

  • Lead VFD startup and commissioning with parameter configuration and motor tuning
  • Coordinate project handoff and collaboration with engineering and customer teams
  • Conduct pre-commissioning checks before energizing VFDs
  • Evaluate and recommend solutions for legacy drive systems
  • Manage retrofit projects including upgrades and integration of controls
  • Support customer transitions from legacy systems to ABB technology
  • Provide field service support for troubleshooting and maintenance

Benefits

  • Opportunity to become a key technical expert within the organization
  • Direct customer interaction and project management experience
  • Dynamic work environment with travel to varied customer sites
  • Collaboration with engineering and sales teams
  • Continuous training on new technologies and industry trends
Full Job Description
Job Description

Role: Senior VFD Technician

MIH is seeking a highly experienced Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Technician to serve as our in-house. Product Specialist for all drive-related activities, including startup, commissioning, retrofit, service, and maintenance. This is a senior-level, customer-facing technical role for someone who can independently lead
drive projects from initial startup through long-term service support. A strong preference will be given to candidates with deep, hands-on experience with ABB drive platforms. This individual will be the go-to expert across the organization - and for customers - on all things VFD.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead startup and commissioning of new VFD installations, including parameter configuration, motor tuning, and system verification
  • Coordinate with engineering, project management, and customer teams to ensure smooth project handoff and go-live
  • Perform pre-commissioning checks (megger testing, wiring verification, power quality checks) prior to energizing drives
  • Evaluate legacy drive systems and recommend retrofit or replacement solutions
  • Lead retrofit projects, including drive swaps, panel upgrades, and integration with existing motor and control systems
  • Support customers transitioning from legacy VFD platforms to current ABB technology
  • Provide field service support, including troubleshooting, repair, and preventive/predictive maintenance for VFDs across customer sites
  • Diagnose drive faults, motor control issues, and communication/network integration problems
  • Perform root cause analysis on recurring failures and recommend corrective action
  • Maintain service documentation, drive configuration backups, and maintenance records for all serviced equipment
  • Serve as MIH's internal subject matter expert on VFD products, particularly ABB drives
  • Support sales and engineering teams with technical guidance on drive selection, sizing, and application
  • Provide technical training to internal staff, junior technicians, and customers on drive operation and best practices
  • Maintain relationships with ABB and other drive manufacturers for technical support, training, and product updates
  • Stay current on new drive technology, firmware updates, and industry trends to keep MIH's offerings competitive

Required Qualifications
  • Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience working with industrial Variable Frequency Drives
  • Strong working knowledge of ABB VFD platforms strongly preferred
  • Proven experience with drive startup, commissioning, and field service in an industrial/commercial environment
  • Solid understanding of three-phase power systems, motor theory, and motor control fundamentals
  • Experience programming and configuring drive parameters, macros, and I/O
  • Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, single-line diagrams, and control drawings
  • Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (Modbus, Profibus, EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet)
  • Strong troubleshooting, diagnostic, and root-cause analysis skills
  • Comfortable working directly with customers in a field service/technical advisor capacity
  • Working knowledge of NFPA 70E arc flash safety standards and lockout/tagout procedures
  • Valid driver's license and ability to travel to customer sites (regional/occasional overnight travel as needed)
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for customer interaction, documentation, and cross-team coordination
  • Active electrical license (journeyman or master electrician) - strongly preferred
  • ABB drive certification(s) or manufacturer-specific training credentials
  • Experience with PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens) and HMI/SCADA systems - preferred
  • Associate's degree or technical certification in Electrical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, or related field
  • Prior experience in a field service, systems integration, or drives distributor/OEM environment
  • Familiarity with predictive maintenance tools (vibration analysis, thermal imaging, power quality analysis)
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
  • Ability to work in industrial environments, including exposure to noise, heat, and confined spaces
  • Ability to work at heights, in electrical rooms, and around energized equipment following proper safety
  • protocols
  • Availability for travel to customer sites and occasional on-call/emergency response


Estimated Hourly Rate: $65-$75 with flexibility based on experience and skills.

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